July 15, 2015 - Msg 102016: Good morning, porch. MDC, I'm sorry, I thought PH had posted that. No, I didn't know he was singing about a rat. Actually, I had never heard that song before. A rat? Why on earth was he singing about a rat? A pet, I presume, or maybe a common rat that he befriended. My imagination can spin all sorts of stories around the situation. A lonely, outcast kid and a rat, forming a little bond, perhaps? Well, whatever. He surely had a pure and beautiful voice at that time. Cute kid, too. Wonder when, and why, he jumped the track? For all his fame and fortune, he was one weird little dude.

PapaBear, hope you're doing better. Tom, check in, please!

Later, taters. --Romeena
July 15, 2015 - Msg 102017: I swept again? This is getting to be a habit. --Romeena
July 15, 2015 - Msg 102018: Wow Ro, we need to give you a title or something. Miss Queen Sweeper. Can't catch a rat, but her porch do shine. :)

Asa
July 15, 2015 - Msg 102019: Time to call The Turtleman....yeeeeeheeeee, Live Action! Now there's a REAL Nut!.... If he can't get that Houdini Rat now one can! Yep Romeena I think that is what his name should be... "Houdini"....🐀...The Master of escape!...

G-F
July 15, 2015 - Msg 102020: G'day mates. Hope you all are well.
Sure wish BOO, TOM and Posssum and Maudie and other would check in.
GF--sounds like a neat Mayberry gathering coming up.
BTW, there was a LOT of Pete Rose last night! ha
MDC
July 15, 2015 - Msg 102021: test
July 15, 2015 - Msg 102022: test

July 15, 2015 - Msg 102023: test
July 15, 2015 - Msg 102024: Help! mdc here, i got myself stuck leaning to the right. Won't go back.
Thanks,
MDC
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102025: test
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102026: test
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102027: There you go, MDC. You were leaving out the / in your "cancel" codes. --Romeena
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102028: Yea! Thanks Ro, sometimes I guess I'm just too big for
my britches trying to do the fancy stuff! I'd better stick to serving lemonade. I see it was a sticky 96 on your end today! Yuck! Keep cool.
Now Mr Wheeler, that lemonade was for Andy!
MDC
MDC

July 16, 2015 - Msg 102029: That's alota tests MDC, I think ya passed..lol thanks to your Mother Figure Romeena haha! Trust what she say's she's a Nurse!....👼🏻

G-F.,,,,,*** 🍋Better stick with serving lemonade🍋 ***

July 16, 2015 - Msg 102030: I think the heat is getting to poor old MDC GF. Leaning to the right (that ain't bad though) and repeating himself. He needs to just calm down, relax, let his mind go blank. :)

Hard to think we are halfway through July. And although the calendar says different, halfway through summer in my book. The days are slowly getting shorter and we are entering into that period of the year when we start to see moisture coming in from the south giving us afternoon and evening thunder storms. Very typical here for late July and August weather patterns. After the hottest June on record for us, July has been rather decent with temps in the low 90's and the low's in the mid 60's.

Guess I better get rolling. I have 40 acres of mowing to do for the next few days. Hop on the Kubota and put on my headset and go at it. Romeena, you would enjoy watching it. I must stir up some ground mice when I do it because I always have an Eagle watching me and on occasion sweep down and get him a bite to eat. I feel bad for the poor mouse though. I stirred him from his humble home and he became someone's entrée'. Oh well. The circle of life.

Prayers for all.

Asa
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102031: Hey Asa, maybe you can hire out that Eagle to Romeena, maybe he can "do" rats too?...lol. G-F
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102032: Good morning, porch! G-F, if I thought that eagle could maneuver inside my garage, I'd certainly rent him. That miserable rat is just laughing at those four traps the pest control guy set. He actually stole the bait off of one without tripping it, and tripped another without getting caught. He's amazing. Sooner or later though, I'm going to get him.

I agree, Asa, I do feel a bit sorry for the little field mice. They tend to stay outside, rarely come into a home, and are so little. They're really kinda cute. I hate it when I see those films where they get grabbed by some big old bird's talons.

Well, got to see the doc this morning, a routine diabetes checkup. I'm a little concerned, because I've been having trouble keeping my blood sugar down. The doc had ordered Novolog as my mealtime insulin, and it worked beautifully. Then my supplemental insur@nce provider, at $247 a month, decided they wouldn't pay for Novolog and insisted I switch to Humulog, which they say is the same thing, just costs less. Well, it not only costs less, but it is less effective, also. I have to take at least 30% more of it in order to control mealtime numbers, and even then, the numbers are too high. I can take even more of it, I suppose, and achieve control, but I just have a hard time cranking that pen up to 15 units or more, when 10 or so always was plenty. I fear a reaction when I take that much. Oh well. Guess I'll talk about it with the doc this morning. Won't do much good, though. I'm sure the insur@nce people know much more about his business than he does. Surely that little 30-something MBA up there in Connecticut knows more about medicine than a doctor with 16 years of medical education and 30 years of experience could possibly know. Grrrrr.

Blessings, friends. --Romeena
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102033: Hey y'all- Sorry I haven't been on the Porch much. Just been all out of sorts over different things ranging from a "spat" with someone close to me over differing opinions about the Confederate Flag's removal,to the terrible news yesterday that 2 adults & 2 children were found shot to death in my hometown. An 8 year old child is in the hospital with gunshot wounds. The killer remains at large. I didn't know any of the deceased,though I do know some of the adult female's family. So very sad!

But on the bright side, G-F, I think I will see ya Sat. night! We should come up with a secret sign or handshake or something so we'll know each other- ha!

Gotta scoot- Miss Laci is visiting and needs a bit of attention!

Y'all take care!

************
possum u.a.r.

July 16, 2015 - Msg 102034: Great news Possum, we are going to crown a Miss Mayberry too! .... Just look for a nut and you'll find me...lol
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102035: Good afternoon, porch! I went to the doctor today, and he said I don't need to keep coming in every six months, just a yearly visit will do. My diabetes is under control, I have no nerve, eye or kidney problems resulting from the diabetes, and he thinks I'm doing fine! Good news. After the doc visit, I picked up Eloise and we went to lunch and did a bit of mousing around.

When I got home, there was a huge pile of trash and debris on the curb next to the street. Part of it was the old shelf and posts that had been the exterior decor on a front bedroom window. The wood had begun rotting because there are shrubs too close to it, and moisture didn't dry up quickly. That had been replaced and even painted. Looks like new, compliments of my friend Ted.

Then I opened the garage door, and couldn't believe my eyes. My garage would now easily hold two cars, and about half the "stuff" that had accumulated in there is now out on the street. The remainder is neatly stacked, the floor is swept clean and it looks wonderful. David and the grandsons had been here while I was gone and cleaned it out. Fast workers! They found where the rat had been nesting in a small roll of old carpet, and trashed that. Everything has been swept clean, and all his obvious haunts destroyed. They did not see him, don't know where he is. I hope he will consider himself evicted and not try to return. Anyway, my garage now looks like a human lives here, instead of a troop of monkeys. I am so grateful, and so proud of my son, who looks after me so well. Not only that, but he's teaching his sons to do the same thing. They're always offering to do something for me, and one of these days, they'll show their parents the same consideration they've seen their dad show to me. God is good.

Well, better get moving. Toye Starr isn't going to like it, but I'm going to a dinner at the church tonight. It's our monthly Third Thursday dinner, with entertainment. Usually it's a potluck, but tonight it's catered, and I know the caterer - the food will be great! Should be fun.

Blessings, everyone. --Romeena
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102036: Possum, so sorry about the tragedy in your hometown. It seems that evil abounds these days. I hope the killer is caught soon, and that justice will be swift and sure. --Romeena
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102037: Is anyone but me still seeing the porch in italics? Seems something happened before - though it was in bold that time, I believe - and it was only fixed for some of us. Can't remember the solution to that one or if it just cleared up on its own. Or if was just the browser we were using.

That's great news about your diabetes, Romeena. Praise God!

Possum, have fun with Laci!

-Sterling Holobyte
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102038:
Sterling Holobyte, on my computer using the Windows 7 operating system and the Firefox browser, the italics started with Msg 102021 and ended with Msg 102026. What operating system and browser are you using?
In the meantime, post a test message here by typing the following "< / i >" without any of the spaces in between the brackets and without any quotation marks.

Romeena, congratularions to your family for cleaning out your garage. I was going to post earlier that because the rat was avoiding some of your food, it is possible it was finding food somewhere else. That led me to believe that it although it might be using your garage as a home, maybe it has been coming and going through some opening. Check the two sides and bottom of your garage door with it in the down position to see if a rat could gain access. Also check for other possible openings, such as where pipes or wires are passing through any garage walls. And if you have a floor drain, make sure it has a metal grate cover.

from Poor Horatio
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102039:
Romeena, if the rat does return, try this natural extermination method https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MccshcsLxDo
But if your rat turns out to be like in the next video, then it's time to get our your pistol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPK_ij0llc8

from Poor Horatio

from Poor Horatio
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102040:
Anyone else seeing double?
Anyone else seeing double?

from Poor Horatio
from Poor Horatio
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102041:
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102042: Poor Horatio, I am on an imac using OS X 10.9.5 and the browser is Opera.
Come to think of it, never tried it on Safari yet. Let me check that.
Ok, Safari is working normally.

-Sterling Holobyte
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102043: Msg 102041 was my test message.
Doesn't seem to have worked, since my next message is still in italics.
-SH
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102044: Still in italics on Opera, I should clarify. I supposed I could just use Safari for everything, but I don't want to. :-)
-Sterling Holobyte
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102045: test
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102046: Good evening, porch. I remember when we had a similar problem a while back, and I think you were the one who fixed it, PH. However, I can't remember how you did it. It does seem to me it had something to do with the browser Sterling was using.

The only suggestion I can offer would be for Sterling to enter several of those < / i > codes, since he had multiple < i > entries above it. I had to enter the cancel code several times before it finally canceled all of them. (Remember, Sterling, to close those codes up - no spaces. --Romeena
July 16, 2015 - Msg 102047: As for Mr. Rat, he was finding plenty to eat in the garage, as he had discovered a bag of dry molasses in a hidden area and had ripped it open, spread it out, was apparently sleeping in it as well as eating it. There are no holes in the wall, and the garage door fits snugly. There was one half-inch hole where a water line was brought through into the garage from the bathroom on the other side, to connect to the icemaker in a fridge out there. That's all gone now, I have a different fridge out there, that has no icemaker, so that line was removed. There is a wad of aluminum foil blocking that little hole, and it has not been disturbed. The scraping I thought I heard coming from the attic turned out to be a small dry limb on the roof, which the wind was blowing around. I really don't think he's made it into any area but the garage. David said they never saw him when they were working out there, but he could have been under the fridge, or in one of the cabinets. Also, there are three free-standing cabinets, so he could have been behind, in, or under any one of them. I'm hoping that now that all his bedding and food sources are gone (the birdseed is in a locking metal trash can) that he'll just give up and leave. I'll soon know, because he does leave his nasty little calling cards. I love the rent-a-cat link! However, I don't want a cushy little lap cat, I want a big saber-toothed alley cat, a hungry one! Miserable rat. --Romeena
July 17, 2015 - Msg 102048: RO--I have a Humana RX medicare plan, pay $48 a month and get great pricing even on my name brand coumadin. My former plan before medicare tried to get me to go on
generic warfarin, but my doc stood up to them and said, no, dispense as written. (for coumadin.)
You might look into humana, but I am also glad of
such a good report from your ole doc andrews! ha
STERLING--I am sorry to once again be the culprit
with the italics. I didnt do the "close" procedure correctly. Hope you can figure it out.
SO now it is Chattanooga folks, my goodness Lord help us! I pray that it is not isis, but who knows for sure anymore?
Well, at least the Dogs ep was on Me-TV tonight and cheered me up a bit.
Possum, good to see you. hang in there girl.
Have fun at the mayberry gathering with GF.
ASA--we will soon be getting the rennants of hurricane Delores as she heads up Baja into AZ,
and then probably up your way.
PH, PH, double, double?? naw, naw. :) :)
mdc
July 17, 2015 - Msg 102049:
MDC
MDC
thanks for that confirmation
thanks for that confirmation

Sterling Holobyte, as I mentioned before, for me, the italics started with Msg 102021. How do the postings before Msg 102021 look on your iMac?

Romeena, we have had multiple incidents where the bold was activated and not turned off. And each time, one of us was able to fix the problem. But on December 3, 2014, we had a strange problem with the bold text. A few of us tried everything that worked for us in the past. However, it did not eliminate the bold for all of us. My testing revealed that "What is strange is that with Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera running with Windows, the text from Msg 99970 on appears correctly as non-bold text.
But with Opera running with Mac OS, and AOL Desktop, the text from Msg 99970 on appears as bold text." The only thing that fixed the problem for everyone was when Floyd (our host and owner) forced the problem page to transfer to the archives and that brought up a new blank page for our posts. Rather than bother Floyd with this problem that we can live with, let us wait until the next sweep to see if this clears up. What do you folks think?

from Poor Horatio
July 17, 2015 - Msg 102050: Goob check, check....
July 17, 2015 - Msg 102051: That's fine by me, Poor Horatio.
And MDC, don't worry about it. As PH has stated, "we can live with" it. Though I may try a couple more closing "i"'s, as Romeena has suggested.

Have a good night all!

-Sterling Holobyte
July 17, 2015 - Msg 102052: It's ok on my device, iPad uses Safari browser, so mine is Ok.

Well I'm gonna be off shortly to Mayberry, good to hear that I get to meet a talking Possum, maybe someday I'll meet the talking dog SPOT too!
This meet-up would have been a great gig for our Rev, he coulda played and sang too, we'll someday be a part of that, Amen? At our final "meet-up"....

I will send greetings and salutations from the Porchsters.... Pray for safe travels for Possum and I, so as Hymie Williams a sportscaster from the Canton area used to say: " I'll see ya next time..... Which will be theist best time!"....

Goober Fife.... Over & Out... Over & Under,....10-4,.... Bye!....

July 17, 2015 - Msg 102053: .....The best Time... Darned fingers!
July 17, 2015 - Msg 102054: I'm good with that, PH. I run Mozilla Firefox, and it's working fine. Love Firefox! I also have Internet Explorer, and use it for some things, but Firefox is my default. I don't know anything about any of the others, except AOL. I've never used it as a browser, used it for a short time with email years ago, and hated it. It came installed on the PC I'm using now, and though I never tried to use it for anything, actually didn't even realize it was on the machine, it suddenly began to poke its nose into other applications. It was so intrusive I finally just wiped it off the computer entirely. My computer guru in Florida did it for me, because when I did it, it left little bits and pieces, and would still appear at odd times. We finally did a link-up, and he rooted out all the remnants of it. I used Mozilla as my browser until it morphed into Firefox, and really like it.

Well, I just saw George mosey into the back yard, electric clippers in hand, and in five minutes, he's already trimmed the eleagnus that lives on my fence for about a twenty foot run. That man always appears to be moving at a snail's pace, but he gets more done in less time than anyone I've ever seen. No wasted motion at all. Everything he does is accomplishing something. Amazing.

Well, later, taters. --Romeena
July 17, 2015 - Msg 102055: GOOD MORNING MAYBERRY! (:
July 17, 2015 - Msg 102056: Good afternoon, porch. Well, it's 3:30, Joe and George have finished and gone, and my yard looks wonderful. Or it will, when Eddie finishes mowing. All the shrubbery trimming, weeding and volunteer tree removal left a lot of debris on the lawn. Eddie will mow and mulch, and it will all be smooth and pretty. As for me, I feel like I've been mowed down myself. I'm dirty, itchy, and probably smell like a goat, and I'm tired down to the bone! Now I have to shower and dress and go change a dressing on a patient's foot! The office just called and pleaded with me to take the visit, so I did. His regular nurse is out of town, so I'll see him today, and Saturday and Sunday. He's not far from me, it's an easy call, and it's good pocket change. Guess I'll clean up and go. I guess I should be grateful that I'm the one doing the dressing change, not the one needing it. Obviously this man's diabetes is a lot worse than mine.

Blessings, porch! --Romeena
July 18, 2015 - Msg 102057: HI porchsters, looks like folks are off to Mayberry. Actually, I will also be AFK starting on Monday. I am heading to Cal for a week for a much-needed vacation. I saw on FB that BOO's family was also just on vacation. It will be nice to just get away from all this craziness that's happening lately, get in some beach time,
and just commune with God as I lay there and listen to his creation. So pretty much all of next week, I'll be awol from the porch. I DID get a
nice letter from Pappabear today. Still having health issues. He asked us to keep up the prayers. Thanks,
MDC

July 18, 2015 - Msg 102058: Hey MDC, have a nice vacation.

It is 3 am and I am up. Tornado sirens just went off a few minutes ago, so I thought I'd better check the weather. Got a Severe thunderstorm warning, but it will not be here for about 45 minutes, so I don't know what the siren was all about. Somebody jumped the gun?!

Well, I don't know whether to try to go back to bed or wait for the thunderstorm and keep watch, or go back to sleep and wait for another tornado siren to wake me up.

Hope you all have a nice, peaceful, tornado and thunderstorm-free day today.

-Sterling Holobyte
July 18, 2015 - Msg 102059: On AOL, the italics starts with Message 102021 and is corrected with Message 102026. Interesting on 102026, the date and message number are still in italics although the word "test" is not. Can I again recommend just not messing with all the fancy stuff? I'd hate to have to call in Floyd or summon up Count Iz Van Telecky to fix things.

Billy Ray the Postman
July 18, 2015 - Msg 102060: We had a fun night watching TAGS under the stars at the Gazebo after a big day meeting Thelma Lou. She signed autographs until 4:30 at the Andy Griffith Museum, she is such a sweetheart! She IS Mt. Airy's Rock Star!! Some folks visited the local haberdashers and places of businesses.
Tonight is dinner and TAGS under the stars along with crowning "Miss Mayberry" and a Graduation party for one of the young fella's. Yep it's a FUN day.... Your fellow Mayberry friends send their best!... Watch out on Facebook I'm sure Floyd will post pictures and I believe he is doing a podcast to post on the "Two chairs no waiting" site. We even had Judd Fletcher the dog in attendance.

Hopefully our Possum will show up to join in the festivities too!

Gotta run, a lot to do today.... End of Report

G-Funnin'
July 18, 2015 - Msg 102061: Good report GF. You are there in proxy for me buddy. Sounds like you're having a good old time. I hope you and Possum can hook up.

Hope your storms were not to bad Sterling. We are getting some coolness here this morning. Supposed to rain but it don't look to threatening.

Have fun in California MDC. You going to Santa Barbara again? Nice area. Don't get a sunburn while you are pondering.

Gotta take the Mrs. up to the hospital in a minute for her monthly steroid infusion. That will take a couple of hours usually.

Y'all behave and act like you got some smarts.

Asa
July 18, 2015 - Msg 102062:
This is in response to Billy Ray the Postman's Msg 102059 and is addressed to ALL PORCHSTERS.
Regarding these HTML problems that we have experienced occasionally here on "The Taylor's Front Porch", we have been lucky most of the time because one of us has been able to fix the problem very quickly. But the most recent one, and the one from last December, were unique in that all of our efforts failed to fix the problem for everyone.
In my case, although I have had formal computer programming training and practical experience using HTML to modify web sites, I still make mistakes. That is why I use an application to test my posts before I post here. Unfortunately, I only do this about 75% of the time so the occasional error does get posted. But since I always read my message after it is posted, I catch my mistakes immediately, examine the source code for the culprit, and then correct them quickly.
Rather than recommend the more advanced HTML editor that I use to preview my postings, I found a very basic version that you all can access online. Check it out at http://www.onlinehtmleditor.net
The best part about using this online editor is that it is FREE. I'm using it right now. So if you plan on using any HTML commands for a posting, type your text in the "upper input-text section" of that editor, and you will see how it will appear in the "lower display-text section" when you post. When satisfied that there are no mistakes, select (CTRL+A) the text that you created in the "upper input-text portion", then cut (CTRL+X) or copy (CTRL+C) that text into your computer's memory, and then paste (CTRL+V) that text in to the Comments box at "The Taylor's Front Porch". One final point I need to mention. When you view the results in the "lower display-text section", it will all appear as one giant paragraph with no breaks, unless you included the HTML break command with the text. But we never need to use a break command when posting at The Taylor's Front Porch because every time we press the ENTER key when we want to start a new paragraph, that generates a "carriage return" that causes Floyd's software to automatically start a new paragraph. So there is no need to include the HTML break command. I hope that is clear for all to understand. If not, just ask. So don't get confused when you see paragraph breaks in the "upper input-text section" and not in the "lower display-text section".

AsaA few days ago here near Chicago, we had a golf-ball size hail storm with tornado warnings. It sure was noisy with a lot of wind. Yesterday, I discovered small pieces of roofing shingles on the ground. Later, I discovered the roof of my house was missing some shingles. Although I have spare shingles inside my garage, I need to hire some young person who can go on my slanted roof and install them. At my age, I no longer go up on my roof anymore because of the pitch (slant angle).
p.s. Regarding your last comment in Msg 102061, the only "smarts" I've got is my smartphone.

from Poor Horatio
July 18, 2015 - Msg 102063: Ok gang, don't want to bring up a old subject but.... While I'm in NC I picked up some "Duke" mayonnaise, so I can see for myself what's best! Along with some "Cheerwine" soda. Maybe if Possum shows up here tonight we can toast our Buddies with some soda pop!... I Asked Floyd to post a link to the pictures that have been taken so you can see what your missing... Going to be a FUN night again tonight. We're doing Subway so I can test out my "Dukes" mayo.... 👍..G-F
July 18, 2015 - Msg 102064: Thanks Asa. It turned out to be a whole lotta commotion for nothing. Yeah, we had about 10-15 minutes of hard rain and some wind, but that was the worst of it. I did try to go back to sleep after I had initially checked the weather report(after the stupid tornado siren went off 45 minutes early, before there was any wind, rain or anything) but then woke up when I finally heard the thunder and rain starting, so I figured I may as well go downstairs and keep an eye on it for a little while. Thankfully, I should say, it turned out to be nothing. Not even any tree limbs down. Oh well, better safe than sorry, I suppose.
I do wonder if the city has received any complaints about the tornado siren going off in the (very calm) dead of night. 2:45 am is a heck of a time to be testing it. ;-)

G-F, sounds like you are having a great time. Wish I was there.

-Sterling Holobyte
July 18, 2015 - Msg 102065: Hey y'all- Just walked up to the gazebo at the Mayberry Motor Inn and asked the 3 men sitting there if any of them went by the nickname of "Goober-Fife"- and one of them said "I do!" and he then jumped up & said "Possum!!" Yep, I met Goober-Fife! Gonna have a fun time-wish y'all were here!

******************
possum under a rock
July 18, 2015 - Msg 102066: Yep, that's right! I met me a real walk in' talk in' Possum!
Party Tonight!🎉🎊✨💥. G-F....
July 18, 2015 - Msg 102067: Yay Possum and GF. Way cool for sure. It's a special thing to actually get to meet folks from the porch.

Now PH, You got plenty of smarts. How steep a pitch do you have on your roof? Glad you know your limitations. That proves you got smarts. To many fellers just don't know when to not do something they have always done in the past. Then they hurt themselves. I know that day is running at me in a gallop for sure. I am figuring I will need a new roof in about 5 more years, and I am already wondering if I should do it or not. I most likely will not. My son in law has numerous rentals and he uses workers from his other business to do jobs like that. I suspect if they are available in a few years when it's time, I will use them. They do good work, and there ain't a Wheeler amongst them.

Glad your storm was not too bad Sterling. Sure was a nice cool morning here this morning. No rain, but at least a break in the temps.

Well I better go see what I can round up for supper. Any ideas anyone?

Asa
July 18, 2015 - Msg 102068: Good afternoon, porch! Wow, G-F and Possum. That's really great, that you two got to meet and spend a little Mayberry time together. What a treat! Wish I could be there too.

Asa, I'll second that opinion about being careful as we get a little more "mature." Lots of folks get hurt doing things they could always do, but they forget to factor in age and the slowing of reflexes, diminished muscle strength, and little things like that.

Asa, one of my fall-backs for a quick meal is a non-bake version of Frito pie. Just put some regular-size Fritos in a soup bowl, heat up a can of good chili and spoon it over the Fritos. Sprinkle on some chopped onion, maybe some diced tomato, and some shredded cheese. Takes about ten minutes, and it's good. In fact, I'd have that tonight, but I'm out of Fritos. Oh well. I've got canned soup.

Now there's an idea. I have a can of Campbell's Chicken Corn Chowder soup. I'll drain a small can of Niblets corn and stir it in, heat that up, stir in a couple of generous dollops of sour cream and some shredded cheese, and a big splash of Tabasco. Good!!! I actually get two meals out of it, because it makes a lot when you add the corn. One night when I was hosting bunco, I used that canned soup as a base, and prettied it up like I just said, but also got one of those roast chickens from the supermarket, pulled it off the bone and diced it bite-size, and put that in there, too. Be generous with the sour cream and cheese. Four of the guests asked me for my recipe! They thought I had made it from scratch. I've even added well-drained cut green beans to it. Just use your imagination.

I watched a movie this afternoon - "The Sweeter Side of Life" - on the Hallmark channel. It's a nice, happy movie, and the good thing is, James Best is in it in a major role, and he does a beautiful job. Really, really nice. I checked ahead, and it will be shown again in a few days. I'd highly recommend it.

Well, guess I'll go heat up some soup. Blessings, everyone! --Romeena
July 18, 2015 - Msg 102069: Ok, if G-F gets to report from Mayberry,then I do too!

Good evening,Porchsters and Lurkers! Night Two of the Mayberry Meetup proved to be lots of fun. The evening consisted of a graduation celebration,the crowning of Miss Mayberry, watching "The Beauty Contest" and "A Feud Is A Feud" episodes under the stars and what was my personal highlight of the night-having a man with a head cold sing me a song about a dead possum in the road!( You had to be there-ha!)

Yes, folks, it has been quite a time,and if Tom only knew how much fun Goober-Fife and I were having,he'd throw us in the jail house for sure!Right, G-F?

Well, this has been a special report from your roving reporter possum out from under her rock and having a ball in Mount Airy. Y'all take care & remember to act like somebody!
July 19, 2015 - Msg 102070: As the "T" shirt in one of the stores said: "What happens in Mayberry stays in Mayberry..... Yes a good time was had by all!... Hey Possum, since TOM has been quiet maybe we got away from any jail time..lol

Good thing Floyd is having Bible study in the A.M. We have time to get Right?...

G-F...

July 19, 2015 - Msg 102071: This is the song Possum is referring to http://youtu.be/nsmrLiK1efw
July 19, 2015 - Msg 102072: GF and Possum...glad you two got to meet! I hope ASA and I can do the same later this summer. It sure
sounds like a lot of fun in Mt. Airy. But will they still have mayberry days in the fall??
GF--I saw a little interleague baseball between Cincy and Cleveland tonight. Pretty good.
PH--thanks for all the info, but I think I shall resolve to just not try to do it anymore for the sake of all! ha, as Billy Ray suggested, I'll leave it be. :)
Getting a little rain tonite here as I pack for Cal....Bathing suit, check. Beach towel, check. Beach umbrella, check. Sunglasses, check. OK, all packed!! Haha
Godd Sabbath,
MDC
July 19, 2015 - Msg 102073:
I tried searching for more information about this weekend's Mayberry Meet-Up. I was surprised to discover that even the Mt. Airy NC official web site does not mention it, even on their calendar of events. Was it was meant to be a private affair?

from Poor Horatio
July 19, 2015 - Msg 102074: Good Sabbath Porchters.

OK GF and Possum. Sounds like you are having a good time. Good on you.

Yes MDC. Let me know when you plan on being in Salt Lake and we will hook up. I'm about 40 miles north, but will be glad to travel down for a meet and greet if the timing is right.

Thanks for those cooking tips Ro. That is what I love about good cooks. They can take something ordinary and spruce it up and make it dazzling like you described. I guess it just takes thinking outside the box, and boldly moving forward. Kinda like "adventure cooking". :)

Better go get scrubbed up for preachin. I have missed two weeks in a row due to this cold. But my barking is much improved.

Prayers for all for a blessed Sabbath day.

Asa
July 19, 2015 - Msg 102075: PH, Floyd posted it on the Mayberry sites & Facebook, but I guess it was not a sanctioned event...haha. We had other guests at the motel join us, a fun time foe any who wanted to come.

G-F....
July 19, 2015 - Msg 102076: Good afternoon, porch! Just got home from preaching and Sunday School. We have started into a study in Revelation in SS, and it promises to be very, very interesting!

Asa, when it comes to cooking, just use your imagination. There are a few basic things to remember, but you can still do it, regardless. For me, if I'm making something that contains milk, like starting with a cream soup, then I'll usually add a good dollop of sour cream. That little tang seems to appeal to everyone's taste. Sometimes it's best not to tell anyone you put it in there, though, because some people think they don't like sour cream, wouldn't put it on a potato or anything. However, I've never had anyone refuse something I've added sour cream to, and they usually comment on how tasty it is. Buttermilk is another good fall-back, too. I'll put buttermilk in a potato casserole instead of sweet milk, and you wouldn't believe how good it is. And of course, shredded cheese never hurt anything! I'll add a little cheese to everything but ice cream, just about. Also, a pinch or two of sugar goes well in everything from green beans to squash, pinto beans to cream gravy. Not a lot, not even a tablespoon, just a literal "pinch" or two. You won't taste the sugar, but it brightens the flavors. Just experiment. What do you have to lose?

Now for some lunch. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
July 19, 2015 - Msg 102077:
G-F, yes I did find a short post about the "Mayberry Meet-Up" at the "Two Chairs No Waiting Podcast" main page on Facebook. But I could find no mention of it at the "iMayberry.com" and the "iMayberryCommunity.com" web sites where I expected to see it advertised also on their home pages. Also, I listened to Floyd's last podcast (the Fix-It Shop) and it was not mentioned.
I am also surprised they scheduled this Meet-Up within two months of "Mayberry Days" (an event that can easily be found advertised with an internet search). But I am glad that you and possum are both enjoying being there.

from Poor Horatio
July 19, 2015 - Msg 102078: Wish I was there "mayberry" too, but the beach will have to do for now! :)
This will probably be my last entry til next Sunday or Monday, unless I find a computer somewheres.
I hope BOO and others will help keep the rockers full.
I left plenty of lemonade and Nectarine Smash in the big ice chest near the back of the porch. Overhead fans are on, and skitter candles are lit. See ya all on the flip-flop.
Prayers,
MDC :)
July 19, 2015 - Msg 102079: Hey y'all! I'll get caught up on the Porch activity soon- just wanted to let G-F & everybody know that I made it safely back to my rock.

It was really nice to meet a fellow Porchster-wish we all could get together! Hey,that will be really cool if Asa & MDC have the chance to meet-y'all keep us posted on that.

I know what happens in Mayberry stays in Mayberry,but I've got to share this..

Worshipped this morning in the very church that Andy Griffith was baptized in! He attended that church up into his early teens. The preacher was wonderful (not dry as dust!) and the congregation has some of the nicest folks you'd ever hope to meet. Very friendly and welcoming-just what you'd expect in Mayberry! I really received a blessing today.

*****************
possum under a rock
July 19, 2015 - Msg 102080: That's Really Cool Possum! Floyd did a great job on the Bible study this morning too. Sarah & Collin still haven't come down off their clouds yet either! So glad you got to experience the True Spirit of Mayberry at it's finest!....

PH this started out as a spure of the moment thing 3 years ago as part of Floyd interviewing Thelma Lou for the pod-cast, and grew into a kinda Mayberry family reunion where everyone gets along and not fighting like most family reunions...lol

MDC watch out for sharks at the beach!

G-F....
July 19, 2015 - Msg 102081: Going to Andy Griffith's boyhood church. That's pretty cool, possum! Did the church have a nice organ? ;-)

-Sterling Holobyte
July 19, 2015 - Msg 102082: Mrs Floyd will post pictures soon... They are still there, they are not leaving until tomorrow...
July 20, 2015 - Msg 102083: Wow have I got some reading to do ! lunch at the diner on Boo and I SPOT

July 20, 2015 - Msg 102084: It did, Sterling! Real nice-and a fine piano too!

Really was something to sit there and think about Andy going to church there,singing hymns and even being baptized there.

Since Spot & Boo are springing for lunch, I'll do breakfast- I have a good stash of muffins that Ms. Alma (Aunt Bee) from the Mayberry Motor Inn gave me yesterday for the ride home - y'all help yourselves!

************
possum u.a.r.
July 20, 2015 - Msg 102085:
Well it seems that possum under a rock and G-F both enjoyed this past weekend at the Mayberry Meet-Up.

possum under a rock, you mentioned the Andy Griffith attended that church up through his early teen years. I can understand why you are excited about sharing something indirectly with Andy.

G-F, so Mayberry Meet-Up was a spur of the moment kind of thing that started three years ago? This is the first year I heard about it, and only because you mentioned it here. Do you have any idea how many attended?

I just read an interesting newspaper story online. It is a "Where are they now" article that I believe you folks would enjoy even though it was written three years ago. Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/o7kj9g2
Also, near the bottom of that page, be sure to click on the link "Ron Howard Exclusive: What I learned from the Andy Griffith".

from Poor Horatio