October 14, 2016 - Msg 105917: Sterling, the other episode as Bernie the furrier was "Emmett's Anniversary" yes, it was also a color episode... G-F
October 14, 2016 - Msg 105918: Good thing I had my leaf blower fired up, so I can blow the porch clean too!... Sterling I don't watch many of the color episodes either... G-F again
October 15, 2016 - Msg 105919: Good Sweep Birt Frack! ha
One color ep that i like is when Emmett takes a job as an insur@nce salesman, but he just is not a coat and tie kind of guy! At the end, he is working in his shop on a toaster all happy! Good moral to the story.
STERLing--glad all went well at school, especially for Noah's sake.
POSSUM---How are things going for you these days?? Hope all power is back on now.
RO--forgot to tell ya that in these parts we also call it a flat. It is about a 24" x 24" plastic frame that holds the seedlings. "Course, now if your from Malcolm's "somewheres else," over there in the old
country, why then a flat is an apartment. Go figure. :)
BOO WHERE ARE YOU??

Nite all,
MDC
October 15, 2016 - Msg 105920: I think MDC is confused with all the Fricking and Fracking and Birting and Squirting going on..lol
How did that line go with Barney & Gomer... How about you just say "Hey Barney" and I'll say "Hey Gomer!"...Lol

Frack the Squirt.... Better known as plain old "G-F"...lol


October 15, 2016 - Msg 105921: Good Saturday morning all.
A cool 56 degrees on my porch. And we are supposed to get more rain tomorrow. That will be great because they turn off our secondary water this weekend. Time to blow down my sprinkling system.

Well GF, I got all my pulls completed yesterday. They all went very smooth, thank you very much. I attribute that to 1. Making all my bends large sweeps instead of sharp 90's, and 2. Installing plenty of pull boxes. A lot more work in the conduit installation, but sure makes the pulls go a lot smoother. Now I just need to make my final terminations and we can call the job complete. Then I can get back on my winterization jobs in which I am way behind on.

Ronnie Schell always seemed like a nice feller to me. I remember his two episodes on TAGS. A good actor.

Speaking of TAGS alumni, I saw Barbara Eden competing on "Worst Celebrity Cooks" on the Food Network. She is still a beautiful woman after all these years.

MDC, I like that episode also. Emmitt enjoyed his little fix it shop way more than selling insu-rance. I can relate to that. I have turned down several opportunities to go into management over the years, because I have no desire whatsoever to be a boss. I tried it many years ago and hated it. I'm just not boss material I reckon. I am the type that feels like I just assign the jobs to the workers, and expect them to go do it. I don't feel I should have to micro manage them on every aspect of how they do it. But I found that with some folks, unless you do so, they will try to take advantage of the situation and screw off. I have very little patience for that. It's one thing if you are uncertain how to proceed, another when you know how to do the job, but milk it out for reasons of laziness. And all it takes is 1 or 2 folks like that on a crew to make the boss's life miserable. No thanks. I much prefer doing the work and only worrying about what I have to do. I appreciate my boss because he knows all he has to do is assign me the job, and it will get done. In fact, because he is in Slat Lake, and I am 40 miles North of him, I hardly ever see him. I know what needs to be done and just do it. I think he appreciates me, and I appreciate him leaving me alone to do my job. I guess it sounds like I am bragging on myself. I don't mean to do that. But I am glad my Dad taught me the joy of hard work. It has served me well over the years, and does seem to be a glaring lacking skill I see in the next generation.

Yea Boo. Where are you? I hope you are not buried under a pile of dirt laundry somewhere. :)

Well off to do my Saturday grocery shopping. As much as I dislike winter, It does give me more time to cook stuff.

Prayers for all.

Asa
October 15, 2016 - Msg 105922: Asa, after meeting Barbara Eden last year at Mayberry Days, I can agree...As Andy said, "Mother Nature has been GOOD to her!... REAL GOOD!.....
Good to hear your wiring job went well, good preparation leads to good results every time....
Speaking of work, I'm going up to Cleveland today to help my Son in his bathroom remodeling, he needs help installing the new bath tub. Him being a computer "IT" guy I'm proud of what he is attempting on his own. It is a a complete remodel.

G-F
October 15, 2016 - Msg 105923: Good morning, porch. I definitely hear and understand what y'all are saying about micro-managers. In my 35 years at the hospital, I endured two of those, including the one who was in charge when I finally retired. About ten years into my years there, I was offered the chance to enter the management side of things, and I refused. I got into nursing to be at the bedside, caring for patients, not to fiddle with staffing charts and sit through endless boring meetings, and not to haunt my staff, nitpicking everything they did.

The first micro-manager was actually a friend, and when our unit was looking for a new manager, I suggested her, and encouraged the powers to give her the job. She was from ICU and I knew her to be a top-notch nurse. How was I to know she would be a terrible manager? I'll never forget one incident. I had just managed to place an IV in an elderly woman's arm, a very difficult start, with papery skin, fragile and rolling veins, the whole scary scene. Once you get such an IV placed, the securing and taping down is crucial. Over the years, I had developed my own technique for doing that, and it worked very well. Well, the manager happened to be walking down the hall, and the room door was open, so she could see what I was doing. She came into the room, gently pushed me aside, and said, "Here, let me show you how to do that." I was so shocked I just stared at her, as she proceeded to undo the taping I had done, and re-did it in a fashion that I knew was not going to work. It might have held up on a comatose patient, but not on someone who would be moving their hand. Then she said, "Anytime you're uncertain about how to do something, don't hesitate to ask for help. That's why I'm here." And she left the room. Fortunately, the patient was not alert enough to understand what had been said. I never said a word, but knew I'd be keeping an eye on that IV.

Sure enough, about a half hour later, I checked on it, and found that the IV line had separated from the hub of the IV needle itself, IV fluid was soaking the bed and blood was leaking back through the needle, had made a dinner plate sized stain on the bed. It has not clotted off, so I just hooked it back up, and miraculously, it ran. I retaped it, using my technique, cleaned it up, changed the sheets. The manager saw me putting the soiled linens in a hamper and asked me whose they were. I told her, without comment. She went to the room, and came back out, and asked if I had changed the taping and why. I simply said, "It had separated at the hub, and she was bleeding. It won't happen again now." After that, she left me alone. We remain friends even today. Not buddies, I guess, but friends.

Well, it started off looking like rain today, but I see a little patch of blue sky to the southeast. That's good. My grandson is now playing baseball for his high school team, and they're supposed to play in a very cool stadium, one that a local minor league team uses. I hope it doesn't get rained out, he's pretty excited. He pitches, and also plays a mean first base, and just loves the game. Eloise and I will go, if they play.

Well, better get busy. Lots to do. Boo, check in! Blessings, all. --Romeena
October 15, 2016 - Msg 105924: I've got to tell you one more story. Landry, the grandson who will be playing baseball today, has been playing since tee-ball days, and I have so many memorable moments stored away. My favorite took place when he was four or five, playing tee-ball. He was supposed to be playing third base, but there was a bug on the ground that was far more interesting. He was actually down on his knees, poking at that bug with a little stick, when miraculously, the little batter actually hit the ball off the tee. He didn't just hit it, he really whacked it, and drove it hard down the third base line, straight at Landry, who was playing with the bug. The ball cleared Landry's cap by about a half inch, right over his head. If he had looked up at that moment, he would have had a mouth full of baseball, and very few teeth. As it was, he never even knew the ball had gone by. His daddy's only comment was "I'm so proud." A stellar moment in a young man's career! I wouldn't take a dollar and a quarter for that memory. --Romeena
October 15, 2016 - Msg 105925: HI HERE.
G-F GIT OUT OF THE CITY BECAUSE THE IND ARE O A WIN SWEEP

TOM

October 15, 2016 - Msg 105926: Don't worry TOM, I got the job done and got out of Dodge!.. G-F
October 15, 2016 - Msg 105927: I do not want to in Cleveland if lost the next two games?
tTOM

October 15, 2016 - Msg 105928: Thanks for the concern, friends! I have just been busy and cant seem to catch up. I am no spring chicken anymore! :) Been working a little extra since we are short a few nurses these days. The paycheck is nice but I need to do some catching up and by the time I get a day off I am tired. Things are going better at the facility, thanks be to God. Thank you all for your prayers.

I am still spending hours and hours helping Sean with his math course. Hope I survive...teehee. As of this week, because of all the extra credit practice quizzes, he is passing. Yay!

I have been feeling a little lonely so wanted to rock with my buddies on the porch this evening. My sister is in Michigan for her mother in law's memorial service and they are in the upper peninsula...beautiful. It is cold there, which I would love.

I have been just a little down in the dumps today. My mind keeps drifting to the events of June and the shooting next door. I think what is bothering me is that this sweet cat we now have that belonged to the little girl, was apparently abused at one point. I have noticed that she is hesitant for us to touch her face in any way. When I took her to the vet for her vaccines, he mentioned that some of her teeth had been broken out by some sort of trauma. I noticed when she yawned the other day that half the lower molars on the bottom left side are missing and on that side the lip is torn away from the gum about half the way around her mouth. To me, it looks like something that would have been caused by a swift kick. Poor kitty was obviously hurt. She is healed up now but I decided to give her a good, quality canned food instead of the dry I had been giving her. I figure it is easier to chew. This little cat is already giving back so much to us. Last night she was laying in Bruce's lap for hours while he watched TV. It was so sweet. She plays, too, which our other cat never did. Anyway, I am glad we have her here safe, sound, well-fed, and loved. She is a very sweet kitty.

Ro, that story about the nurse manager re-taping your IV made me cringe. I think I would have told her to back off since it was such a hard stick. She crossed the line on that one. You were gracious but I bet you wanted to smack her when you were cleaning up the mess. I have had some terrible bosses, but more good one. Some great ones, in fact.

Sterling, glad the parent/teacher night went well. Oh, and about the tree..as a nurse, I have to agree with the tribal tree man; fungus in the crack is a bad deal. ;)

Ro, I cant imagine anyone being mean to Brittany. I guess it's like Bruce tells me, concerning his mom. He said as far as integrity goes, his mom has always lived on a lower plane, so to speak, and she has always tried to bring down anyone who lived on a higher one. He says that is why she does what she has always done to me. It makes me sad that he realizes that about his mom. I wish so much that she had been able to be a better role model and a loving grandmother and mom to her family. Now she is sleeping in the bed she made, unfortunately. I see Brittany as one of those people who lives a life of integrity and there will always been those out there who don't and they resent those who do.

Well, I think I will go put my feet up and do a little knitting. Love to all.

Boo

PS- Ro, I enjoyed the snow video, but I think you probably scared Asa to death. ;)



October 15, 2016 - Msg 105929: BOO--LOL, your "crack" line really did have me laughing out loud!! :) Very cute and funny!.
So glad the kitty cat is working out ok for you all, but so sorry you are down in the dumps.
I will say an extra prayer or two for ya.
G-F--what if i called you guys "The Frick and Frack of H-VAC?" haha
Anyone see the ending of the Clemson vs South Carolina State game today. I had tuned in to see
another game, but saw SCS blow a field goal with 2 seconds left in regulation, and then watched
Clemson win in OT. But no cashew fudge. ha
RO--nurses and phlebotomist like my viens! I get
my monthly protimes at Sonora Labs, and they climb over each to do my sticks because my veins are like "right there" for all to see on my skinny arms! ha
ASA--my dad also taught me those values. At ten years old I asked for an allowance, and he showed me my bike, and said that there are lots of paper routes looking for some hard working boys!
My bike didnt have 7 reflectors, but it got me thru 4 years on my route. Built my 'business' up from 49 papers
to 68 during that time. Nowadays of course, they are all auto-routes, so boys dont have that opportunity anymore, but it sure taught me a lot about responsibility (7 days a week) and finances (collecting every week) and salesmanship (door to door to build up the route) etc. So brag on yerself a bit!! :)
TOM--I'm with GF, Indians-Cubs in the World Series!
Good Sabbath to all,
MDC
October 16, 2016 - Msg 105930: Boo, you talking about your adopted kitty, sounds like you both needed each other to try to understand the trauma that went on next door.. I can't imagine going through something like that. But it seems to me there was a reason you rescued the cat... Maybe you both needed rescued....

MDC & Asa it is good to hear our growing up stories of how we were raised, in our generation nothing was given it was EARNED!... ALLOWANCES...there were no stinking "Allowances!"... Raleigh ones or otherwise.... That is what makes us who and what we are.... Even tho it was rough, I would not have had it any other way...Amen?...

Frack of the H-VAC....
October 16, 2016 - Msg 105931: Romeena... Arn't those memories Great... Like a little golden moment in time... As Dr. Seuss said: Sometimes you never will know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory..

I kinda like that one!...... G-F again
October 16, 2016 - Msg 105932: 🏈 The Cleveland Brown's..🏈
They are the BEST winless team in the NFL

But wait they are the ONLY winless team in the NFL

So We ARE #1 👍👍👍👍😂
October 16, 2016 - Msg 105933: Good Sabbath afternoon all. I hope your Sabbath is relaxing and delightful. Rainy day here. Just a nice gentle drizzle with a temperature of 60 degree's. (Sorry Boo)

So GF, How did the bathtub install go? I have never had the pleasure of doing one in a remodel. I bet that was fun. Amen on the earning our way comments. We lived in the country surrounded by a lot of small farms. There was always work available. I think I watered, cut, baled, and hauled hay just about in every field in the area. In fact I remember hauling hay out of the field on which my house now sits. I don't know how much I enjoyed it at the time, but looking back on it now, such great memories. I did enjoy watering. Around here everything is flood irrigated. And I remember we would spend much of the day putting canvas dams in the ditches, and then around midnight (or whenever our water turn was to start) going up to the main head gate and opening it up and letting the water flow. Then walking down to the far end of the pasture and waiting for water to start showing up. Depending on the size of the pasture it might take an hour or more for the water to get there, which gave us a lot of time to talk, watch the stars, and enjoy cooler temps. Once the water got to the end of the pasture, we would hike back to the main ditch and pull the dam and let it flow to the next dam. And keep repeating that until the pasture was watered. I remember how close the stars always seemed to be. And seeing the occasional shooting stars. Great memories that kids today will never know I suppose.

Well I think I have me a nap coming on just about now. Yes indeed, kick the old recliner into the recline position and let nature have her way with me.

Asa
October 16, 2016 - Msg 105934: Asa, it was NOT a easy install. The tub must have been put in before the walls went up back in the day. So we had to cut a hole in the adjoining bedroom... I told my Grandson we would instal a slide for him to get into it.. A funny look I got!... G-F


October 16, 2016 - Msg 105935: Good evening, porch. G-F, don't be surprised if that kid asks you where his slide is! I don't envy you, changing out a bathtub. The original tub (from 1973) in my front hall bathroom took the dirt from four kids over the years, not to mention the family dogs as well. Finally, it just wouldn't come clean anymore and the tile surround needed to be changed as well. So, we decided to replace the tub. My friend Ted inherited the job. He walked in carrying the new tub, which was surprisingly light. Then he returned with a sledge hammer and said he was about to take the old tub out. I asked him what it weighed and he said "an awful lot, it's cast iron." Imagine my shock when he swung that sledge, hit the tub and the thing shattered like it was glass! Who knew cast iron would break? He then carried the pieces out, installed the new tub and retiled the surround. It still looks great today. As for the connections, the tub enclosure dovetails with a closet in the adjoining bedroom, and there's a little trapdoor in the closet wall that gives access to the tub's plumbing. Very handy.

Boo, I hear your weariness. Hang in there, friend. It gets better. The kids do grow up, they continue to be your children and you love them, but they take on a new identity as well. They become adults that you like, like good friends. Oh, the parental response is always ready, but you learn to subdue it and treat them like the adults they have become. However, sometimes they want that parental response, but you'll know it when they do.

I'm so glad you have the little kitty. Poor little thing, no telling what she endured, and what those children witnessed, in that household. It's all over now, God has sorted it out, and you can give the kitty a happy life. I'm glad you have each other.

Good to hear that Sean is doing better with his math. He's lucky I'm not his mom, because I would be no help at all. You want a word spelled, I'm your gal. Need help with math? Just keep moving, no help here!

When I was a kid, I had an allowance, but like Opie, I had to earn it. I had assigned "chores" even when we lived in town. I helped with the laundry, dusted the furniture, washed dishes, made my bed, fed my dog, and I could iron a shirt quite nicely by the time I was ten. We moved to the country when I was about thirteen, and my dad got me a horse within two months. We also had chickens, my brother had a pony, and for a while we had a cow. We had a pet lamb for about three months. My brother nearly sneezed and wheezed himself to death, until we discovered he was allergic to wool! Yep, even when it's still on the sheep, so the lamb found a new home. Just as well, it was a little ram, and would probably have been a holy terror. The animals were pretty much my responsibility, and yes, I can milk a cow!

Well, I think I'll go open a can of some sort of soup. I'm not very hungry, and I've got lots of choices in the pantry. I like soup. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
October 16, 2016 - Msg 105936: Just heard about the huge storm they had in Portland.
Please keep them in your prayers.
MDC
October 17, 2016 - Msg 105937: Asa, it has been in the 90s and a record breaking 94 predicted today. If you factor in the high humidity, it will feel like 100. Really, six months of summer is just too much. I am seriously thinking of moving when Bruce retires.

Working days today so been up since 5:15 (yawn). Praying for a good day. St Susan is flying home from Michigan today. Susan's husband, Pat, has several siblings and they have been able to see all the relatives as they celebrate his mom's life and scatter her ashes with her husband's and her eldest son's. They have a beautiful spot on one of the great lakes where his parents lived for years. I found out this week that they sold the homestead in a hurry and got only 100,000 for it. Mistake on someone's part, I fear. For what they got for it, they could have kept it, shared the taxes and had it in the family for a retreat. People pay big bucks in Paradise (the name of the town) to vacation there. Oh well.

Ro, you had a wonderful childhood. You have been blessed that way. :)

By the way, I have been meaning to ask; what is that wedding soup you mentioned earlier? What's in it?

Better get a move on...

Boo
October 17, 2016 - Msg 105938: THE LORD US MY STRENGTH AND MY
SHIED, IN WHOM MY HEART TRUSTED
AND FOUND HELP. SO MY HEART REJOICES;
WITH MY SONG I PRAISE MY GOD.

TOM
October 17, 2016 - Msg 105939: Good morning, porch. Yes, Boo, I really did have a wonderful childhood. We were poor as church mice for about the first ten years. Then my parents got into a sales organization and started making very good money. No, it wasn't a pyramid scheme. They started out as sales people, were promoted into management and continued to recruit sales people. So far, sounds like a pyramid, right? Here's where it's different. No one they recruited was asked to buy any product that wasn't already sold. Customers ordered the products, the sales people ordered it from the company (not from my parents) and delivered and collected for it when it arrived. Long-time dealers often did maintain some stocked items, but only for convenience for their customers who would often call and just order an item or two. Anyway, our family's financial situation improved drastically, and within three years, daddy bought our country place, and fulfilled my dream of owning my own horse.

However, our financial upturn didn't change my parents' ideas regarding teaching me responsibility. I graduated from high school at 16, and at 17 I had a civil service job at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio. For my 17th birthday, my dad presented me with the keys to a brand-new Ford Fairlane convertible. Blue and white, a beautiful car. He also presented me with the payment coupon book! He had paid $300 down on it, and I had 36 payments to make. No free ride. I lived at home, of course, and still had my responsibilities there. I helped with the cooking, laundry, cleaning, and tended the animals. Both of my parents had a serious work ethic, and they impressed that on me, early on. I'm grateful for that, and yes, I have been blessed - greatly blessed.

The soup? It's Progresso brand - Traditional Italian Wedding soup. I've always been a Campbell's soup person, and still am, but am learning that Progresso is pretty darned good, too. They make a great tomato-basil soup, and I make it a little bisque-y by stirring in some cream if I have it on hand, or some sour cream if I don't have regular cream. I ALWAYS
October 17, 2016 - Msg 105940: Well, drat! I didn't intend to hit whatever it was that I hit. Anyway, I always have sour cream on hand. The sour cream in the soup gives it a different flavor than the sweet cream, but still very good. As for the Italian Wedding Soup, as it comes from the can it's quite good, but I learned something. Based on my experience with Tom Yum soup at my favorite Thai restaurant, I put the juice of half a lemon in the Progresso soup, and it was delicious! Slightly tart and tangy, just a bright and refreshing flavor. The soup consists of a mild broth, really quite thin and watery, but good. It has marble-sized soft meatballs in it, bits of veggies and some pasta. It's really good, and with the lemon juice added, it's great! I know - lemon juice in soup? Yep. Don't knock it 'till you've tried it! If you like Tom Yum soup in a Thai restaurant, you'll love this Progresso soup with some lemon juice added.

Well, guess I'd better get busy. I don't have to leave the house today, but have some home health charting to catch up on. Boo, that's one thing I like about doing home health work. I can chart whenever I please, at home, on my own computer! Pretty convenient.

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
October 17, 2016 - Msg 105941: Quick check in back from Kansas city and International Linemans Rodeo brought home First AND second in the EMC division and 1st in the Seniors division Yall go 47+ guys...ok..lots of clothes to wash ..ha ha...Prayers and peace for the world SPOT
October 18, 2016 - Msg 105942: Yayyy! Let's hear it for Spot and his team. Yaaaayyyy! --Romeena
October 18, 2016 - Msg 105943: Way to go Team Spot!
TOM, thank you for that nice prayer!
Just a quick hello tonight.
Had out-of-town relatives today, NOT like Uncle Ollie
thank God; but lots of visiting, a little touch football, etc, and then they continued on to points west. And not a word about the gas works either! ha
Nite all,
MDC
October 18, 2016 - Msg 105944: HI ALL
G F YOUR INDIANS ARE NOT HELPING MY B P
AND NOW FOR TONIGHT IT A DO OR DIED GAME.
I SAFE FROM CLEVELAND IF WIN.

RUN G F RUN AWAY FROM THERE.

TOM

October 19, 2016 - Msg 105945: I look like everyone was pretty busy today TOM.
Lots of Ohio teams pretty good lately.
Nascar coming to Phx in November, and my
Cards won on Monday night.
Now we have the whole election mess coming up.
Lord Jesus help our country!
MDC
October 19, 2016 - Msg 105946: STAY A WAY FROM DOWN TOWN OF CLEVELAND
GOING NUT TONIGHT.

TOM

October 19, 2016 - Msg 105947: TOM, I was in Akron, at a restaurant there, it was not too crazy at that place. But I'm glad they are on their way to the World Series.... G-F
October 20, 2016 - Msg 105948: What are they putting in the water in Ohio these days? ha Good for the Indians.
Hope everyone is OK.
Prayers, PLENTY of prayers for all, to paraphrase
Mr. Tucker. :)
MDC
October 20, 2016 - Msg 105949: Where on earth is everyone? Oh, guess who I heard from? Rafe Hollister! I had an email from him, guess he's doing okay. I told him to come visit, that the porch misses him.

I finally got my 2014 income tax done today, and glory be, I'm getting a bunch back! I knew I would get some back, that's why I wasn't worried about fines or penalties or interest on a late return, but I didn't expect as much as I'm getting. God is good!

Well, I'm off. Tonight is our monthly dinner at the church. This is a potluck night, got to pick up some chicken tenders as my contribution. I've been busy all day, no time to cook anything. There's a place here where I can get 30 tenders for $15, so that's what I'm doing. They're good, too! Blessings, friends! --Romeena
October 20, 2016 - Msg 105950: Im here..just been sick with a bug for the last 2 days. Feeling a lot better but not great yet.

Its still hot here in south texas with record breaking temps. Yall know how I feel about that but what can you do? According to Calvin Coolidge, everyone talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it.

Well, not a lot of anything to report. I made a pumpkin pie today just to try to get into the fall frame of mind. It turned out real good. I just followed the directions on the back of the pumpkin can..pretty easy.

I was thinking, maybe we could all coordinate a time to watch the Remshaw House episode on Halloween...might be fun to do that like we used to.

Better go..hope you all have a wonderful evening. I am working tomorrow but will try to check in.

Boo
October 20, 2016 - Msg 105951: PS-Awesome about the tax return, Ro!!! Let's celebrate...how about the Gigolo Club in Yancey? They got a floor show there.

Boo
October 21, 2016 - Msg 105952: So I tune in to Bonanza today, and it starts out at Myers Lake! Same trees, same road that Andy and Opie walked down, but there's a guy with a campfire! I've seen the tags opening sequence so often that i knew right away that it was the same area. ha
Then tonite I saw the Mr. Tucker ep, and for the first time it dawned on me...if Wally's is closed on Sundays, then why is Gomer pumping gas? That part should also be closed. Oh well!
BOO--I am sorry you had that nasty old bug again!
Please take care of yourself. Keep up your immune system. I bet that pie smelled goo-o-o-od tho!
RO--hope you had a good potluck. Did you get the tenders at Babe's? Glad you heard from Rafe.
Well folks, we are three weeks away. I don't think
I have ever prayed so hard in my whole life! For her to so calmly and coldly state what she did about a 'woman's health' frankly scares me to death.
Lord Jesus be with us.
Prayers,
MDC

October 21, 2016 - Msg 105953: Wind got us busy here at work ..Can someone drop me by some lunch .. anything will please ..SPOT
October 21, 2016 - Msg 105954: Good morning, porch. Well, it's a few minutes after noon, but it still feels like morning.

Boo, I'm sorry you're feeling poorly. Those bugs can make you so miserable. Sure hope you get better soon. As for the weather, keep hoping! Cool weather is on the way down. It's 69° here today, with beautiful sunshine, busy squirrels, lots of birds, and butterflies everywhere. A huge, beautiful black and yellow swallowtail just drifted into my yard, floated from flower to flower, and is still out there. Such a beautiful, ethereal creature.

MDC, the tenders weren't from Babe's, but they're good. It's a place called Chicken 'N Rice, and they're very reasonable. It's a chain, there are several here in the D/FW area, but I don't know if they're across the country. They're not "southern fried" because the breading is more like a tempura batter, but still, it's crispy and light, and the tenders are quite good, at least while they're fresh and warm. Cold - not so much. Have you ever noticed that most of the time, "store-bought" fried chicken just doesn't hold up when it's cold? Home-fried chicken is delicious cold, (think picnics) but the fast-food kind loses its punch really fast.

Spot, I can bring you a PB&J - will that do? That's what I'm having. I've got some of those little Clementines - the little bitty oranges - and can bring you a couple of them, too.

Well, I've got a home health call to make, guess I'd better get moving. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
October 21, 2016 - Msg 105955: Hey SPOT, how about some homemade beef vegetable barley soup? Corn bread just got out of the oven too!..

It's a cold wet rainy day here on my end of the porch... Yep, a good soup day!. Y'all come ya hear, I have plenty!..G-F
October 21, 2016 - Msg 105956: Soup, and a PB&J... Can't beat that!....
October 21, 2016 - Msg 105957: And a door prize! --Romeena
October 21, 2016 - Msg 105958: A little late, but I've always referred to a "flat" of flowers. That's the experts at the nursery call it so it's good enough for me. I never did see one of them flower making machines but I looked every time.

Billy Ray the Postman
October 22, 2016 - Msg 105959: RO--so true about the chicken, there was even Peggy's cold chicken with 'crust' in TAGS. ha
GF--Soup and Sandwich is a great combination on a rainy day!
I sure hope ASA is OK. He hasnt posted for a few days.
Also POSSUM, please check in, thx.
Billy Ray, if you Feds call it a flat, I guess its a flat! haha
We havent seen AU-H2O in a month o Sundays either!
Are u out there buddy?
I got my pick-up coolant leak fixed. It was a cracked hose that comes from the water pump to
the heater core. I would have changed it out myself, But several hoses were 'swollen', so had them do those too, and new coolant, so now its good to go for a while. I have a
10 year old Chevy 1500, 140,000 miles on it, I like it
and hope to have it 'right on thru', if you get my drift.
Yall have a good weekend.
MDC
October 22, 2016 - Msg 105960: Happy National Nut Day... I think this IS on the Morrison sisters list of special occasions.... lol. G-F
October 22, 2016 - Msg 105961: Good morning, porch! Wow, is it ever beautiful here today. It's 64° (sorry, Boo,) with bright sunshine, absolutely clear skies, light breeze rippling the leaves on the trees, which are still green, almost none have started to change yet, and all those Gerbera daisies and snapdragons Joe planted last week are just blooming so nicely! Eddie came Thursday and mowed, so the yard is neat and staying that way. The grass is growing very slowly now, and the leaves aren't falling yet, so it still looks like it was just mowed. The weeds have slowed considerably too, so I think I can give it a once-over myself and pull what's left. Then a good scattering of corn gluten meal should prevent a lot of the seeds that have fallen from germinating. It won't get them all - some weeds aren't affected by it - but it will help a lot, and it does double duty as a fertilizer. Love the stuff! Between that and dry molasses, I don't use any other fertilizers out there, and my lawn turf is four inches thick and green as emeralds.

Today is National Nut Day? Well, how 'bout that? Does that honor pecans and walnuts and such, or does it honor people like Ernest T. Bass and Barney? Just askin'....

Thanks, It seems that "flat" is the term of choice for just about everyone, and it's all I've ever known, but a friend (a non-gardener) surprised me by asking what a "flat" was, and when I told her, she said she always thought that was called a "tray." So, before using it in a book title, I figured I'd better clear that little question up. There will probably be others who use "tray", but apparently only a small minority. So, I'm going with "flat."

I've got to get that book to the publisher. I'd like to have it in print by Christmas, so I can give copies to family, but if that's going to happen, I need to get it in pretty quickly. It's finished, I'm just giving it one more proofread, about the sixth time so far. I think I could recite the bloomin' thing by heart!

I agree, MDC, where are the regulars? Check in folks, we worry about you when we don't hear from you.

Oh, boy! Here come the squirrels! Either they slept late this morning, or they had another yard to visit, but here they come. This could get interesting. There are about five out there right now, one has staked a claim on a nest box, and is sprawled on top of it, clearly saying "Mine!" The others are chasing each other around the yard, in a swirling pursuit up a tree trunk and back down, rolling and tumbling in the grass, and charging up and down the pathway. One slightly confused but enterprising little juvenile male is chasing a thoroughly annoyed and unwilling little female. I wish I could speak squirrel, because she's really giving him what-for. I would imagine she's telling him "Are you out of your mind? Do you think I want to be responsible for a passel of helpless babies this winter? Forget it! Check with me along about February, if you think you're man enough!" Too funny!

Well, guess I'd better get to proof-reading. Take care, everyone, and blessings! --Romeena
October 22, 2016 - Msg 105962: GF--just a little comic relief-- did you know that it is also national presidential candidate day....oh, wait that IS the
same as national nut day! harhar
Happy Saturday!
MDC
October 22, 2016 - Msg 105963: Good one, MDC.

What fun, Romeena. I would love to see the squirrel show you are describing. With two dogs in on this place, I don't get to see much of that. The dogs chase the squirrels when they see them. They got one once and Bruce was very upset, but how do you teach a dog how to leave a squirrel alone? Its impossible with these two hooligans.

Our cat, Gracie, continues to adjust well and is becoming a ninja. She is pretty happy here, it seems and is playing and opening drawers and getting into them, batting things around. The other night right after we got into a bed I hear a loud crash in the kitchen and jumped up to find my basket of vitamins that I keep on top of the frige had been knocked off and bottles were everywhere. I guess she jumped onto the counter and then tried to get on top of the frige and got more than she bargained for. She hasn't tried it again. She's pretty cute and we have fun playing with her. I have been having trouble knitting with her around. She like to see on the arm of my chair and bat at the yarn.

Well, glad you are enjoying good weather, Ro. It is better here but still in the 80s. It was very nice last night but I can tell things are warming up already and the humidity is coming back.

Bruce and I went to eat tonight and ended up going to Lowes and Walmart. We are looking at the Christmas lights to try and figure out what we are going to do this year. We are wanting a change from the usual white lights and design we put on the house. I want to go with the colored LEDs this year. Bruce has spent so much time replacing bulbs on the garland outside that I just don't want him to work so hard. Some of the new colored LEDs are better than they used to be because they are making them to look more like the old fashioned ones. I think we should change things up and make things easier on him. We deserve it this year. Our tractor has been in the shop for a month now and we have piles of dirt and now weeds all over the front of the place. I don't know what we are going to do! One of these days it will all get done somehow.

We are having some struggles at work again because we are so short handed. I think my boss is ready to walk out. I am hanging in there as long as I can but not always happy with the situation. I am working some crazy shifts and nobody can get sick because there is no one to replace them. They refuse to hire agency nurses because they cant afford to pay them. I don't know what is going to happen, just waiting it out. I may be doing home health by next year.

We are now in the market for another vehicle, MDC. My old Yukon has been the best I've ever had but its time to trade her in and get something else. We are looking for a used Suburban or Yukon with low miles. I am not willing to pay 50,000 to 60,000 for a new one. Forget that. I bought this Yukon when it was 5 years old and it has been the best..saved a lot of money.

Erin is grounded this weekend for not obeying her dad. She has been doing a list of chores today. I tell ya, raising teens is not for sissies. :) Honestly, she is getting so much easier than she was even a year ago so I don't have a lot to complain about. She stays busy with school and homework and she has a group of friends that she is always going to football games or skating with. High school has been very good for her and her anxiety is so much better. The situation with the boy that was a threat seems to have resolved after the trip to see the principal, thankfully. They are able to be in the same classes and he behaves himself. I wish Erin wasn't so involved with the boy she likes now. He seems like an OK kid and he does ok in school, plays football and so on, but it is just hard for me to look at him because, even though he is Erin's age, he looks older. He is tall and looks like a man. Yikes. I know she has to grow up, but it sure is hard to let her.

Well, I think I will retire to the TV and watch a little TAGS tonight.

Boo
October 22, 2016 - Msg 105964: Hey, Boo. Sounds like your plate is pretty full, as always. About the Christmas lights, I've been extremely happy with the LEDs. I've gone all LED now, except for some low-voltage landscape lights that still remain, and some of them have LED bulbs in them now. I've been replacing the incandescent low-voltage bulbs as they burn out. The LEDs just last and last - one I know for sure is over a year old. It was the first low-voltage LED bulb I bought, just to try it out, and it's still burning. The others would burn out within weeks most of the time. There are about five old-timers out there now, but they should be failing soon. As for the Christmas lights, yes, they do look a bit different, but when we got them all changed over and there were no more "old" lights to compare them with, they look great. Actually, I've come to like them better. They're a crisper, almost icy light, and can be quite beautiful. Here's a link to a website where I've bought most of mine: holidayleds.com. Their prices are competitive, they have a good selection, and ship quickly. They also offer a case-lot discount. You can buy a case of 24 strings for just about what 18 strings would cost bought individually.

My tree was three years old two years ago, was pre-lit, the lights just kept going out and it's no picnic to replace a string on a decorated tree! So, when I took it down, I ordered a case of lights from Holiday, and had a Christmas store restring it. My arthritic hands won't let me do that anymore. It was absolutely beautiful. It took 17 strings (I think) and the rest are used under my nativity on top of a credenza, and under the cotton beneath the tree, just anywhere I need lights. Since they stay cool, you don't have to worry about fires, or scorching a tabletop or such as that. Also, no more powerstrips with multiple lines plugged in, because you can string up to 43 of them together, you're not limited to three. That comes in very handy with the twinkles in the shrubbery, too. I light up my back yard as well as the front, so I can enjoy it from my window, and I lit up the fence shrubbery, and the flowerbeds, using only two timers. I could have done it all with one, but didn't want to cross the lawn at one point with lights. Eddie would mow them! For the lights roof lights, David was practically on his knees in gratitude, because all he needed was one timer and a good plan for crisscrossing the roof lines, and it was done. Just find a starting place and keep hooking them together!

Talking about mileage on cars - David's Tahoe is approaching 500,000 miles! Original engine and tranny, and really very little engine work done on it. He's meticulous about oil changes and does minor repairs before they become major, but he puts that car over the road! The time is coming, but he's like you - he priced a new one, and it was over $75k. That's ridiculous, and he won't do it. So, he's looking for a used one too. Hey, you might mention it to my Robbi - her husband, Richard, might be able to put you onto something. He works mostly with older classics, but he sees other "standard" cars as well, and knows a good car when he sees one.

Well, guess I'll turn in. Blessings, everyone. --Romeena