morning folks

Marie

Hello, I couldn't get on this page this morning until just now. Wonder why. Everything else okay, I.e. Email, internet etc.
Anne.

Hello again. I am going to read and maybe crochet. Another very chilly day here with drizzle and the sound of the sump pump running periodically. Again, I didn't do much other than going to the library to play cards. Funny though the only other stop was my local library to pick up a few books before my hold expired.

I think after a Tai Chi tomorrow I will try to get a few errands out of the way. Saturday is a papercraft day at my local library. Wahoo!!!

Jackie, I hope you adapt to the time change soon. I always find that a struggle.

Sandy, hope the meeting was good.

Marie, good to see you.

Anne, happy shopping tomorrow. I hope you are having better weather.

Hugs.

Lin

We are back to slippery muddy paths in the woods after a lot of rain showers but did manage a couple of rounds to see the wood anemones still flowering. Now I'm home after dropping in on my housebound neighbour and we chatted for an hour before her carers arrived to prepare a light lunch. She is certainly more compos mentis than the last time I visited which is a relief so we managed some lively conversation. It's now housework and an eye on the outside in case rain arrives early because I want to visit our allotment plot to start a tidy up there. Yesterday seeds were planted in trays that will hopefully pop up in the next week or two.... sugar peas, beetroot, courgettes and patty pans just to be getting on with!

Buzz ~ Goodness me dear friend, considering all you have been dealing with these past few months you should never consider yourself deficient in any way. I don't have such worries but know I'd still struggle if I had to do my own tax returns or even hold on to receipts for a year. Ha, I barely know where any are from 2 days ago!! That's so right about finding a variety of brain teasers to keep the mind active, something I tried to impart to my older brother who sits over sudoku every morning for hours and thinks that will be enough!

Lin ~ So far so good today; I'm in touch with the time of day and so haven't missed a meal although George's antibiotic was a bit late but that was due to stopping off with my neighbour. Not much in the way of good drama on our BBC channel for me to recommend at the moment but I'll keep you in mind if you can now view them again.

Sandy ~ Welcome home and with some money still in your purse!

Marie ~ Hello sweetheart. Do try to keep in touch with us if only a few lines so we know you are ok.

Anne ~ Are you back with us or barred again? You must have been a naughty girl somewhere along the way!!

George still has a bit of a loose tummy and this morning the local feral cat chased my girl Hebe into the conservatory where she pee'd out of sheer fright so mopping up to be done!! George did his best to chase the moggy off but it was already running when he set off out the door..... fun and games!!

Enjoy your Friday. I lost 2 lbs in the past week so am encouraged to watch what I eat today and the weekend.

Jackie

We don't tink we got a leak for no standing water any where

Marie

Jackie – I use a heat mat for growing plants and the sun in my front bay window keeps them warm.
Grandson and I watched 'Angry birds' movie and snuggled,...love it! Hope you had a good weekend. Glad you have a neighbor where you can go to have a shower. Hope your plumbing issues a fixed soon. It was nice to see where you live, I enjoyed your video.

Buzz – The hair cut is lovely. Blueberry pancakes sound yummy!
Your grandson obviously had a love for music from the very beginning. I tried the link but it says Sorry the page you're looking for may have moved or does not exist. It is the MSO page though.
You are insightful my friend. You have a “mother's ear”, listening yet ignoring the frustrated misdirected anger. How true that no one really knows what goes under the surface or behind closed doors in others' families!
I love that type of music as well, so no, not hokey.

Sandy – Cute pic of the kids with the Easter Bunny. My grandson is 8y.o., his birthday is coming up next month. He will be 9 on the 9th! His parents have gone in together to do a party at the new trampoline park for him and 10 friends. His father and I went in together on a new 'big boy' bike and new helmet .His father lives in my finished basement and we have Logan 3-5days each week. We live in a nice residential neighborhood so he can ride to his friends the next street over.
I am forgetful, sorry, remind me who Babe is. It was nice he gave you $$ for your Casino trip.
How long is your trip for? Are you going with anyone? Fun Fun Fun … Enjoy!

Lin - I have The Explore Air Cricut as well. You have to use their site and only so much is free so may not have what you want. I have several of the cartridges from my original Cricut (expensive) that can be used with the Ex air. The Brother Scan and Cut 2you can make anything you can scan in. I have not used it yet as it is new ad I have not been up to sitting and doing anything beyond basic folding laundry, meal prep and light housework. Working on building stamina and looking forward to getting back to crafts.
What is Sling TV? I am not familiar with it.

Anne – You do have a good sense of humor! I liked your rain poem.


BBarbie – My Keisha was a rescue dog but I was lucky she settled right in in less than a month.
I was told that it usually takes 6 to 24 months for a rescue dog to feel safe and settle in. I no longer have my girl and miss her. We have been discussing rescuing another dog but will wait til I am a little more steady on my feet. I am sure Bessie feels how much you love her.

Patsy – sorry to hear your relationship with your daughter is 'strained'. My family may be a bit dysfunctional, but when it comes down to it we are always there for each other. I will pray your daughter 'wakes up' so you may have some quality time together.


Marie – Have heard it takes from 6 to 24+ months for a rescued dog to start to relax and feel comfortable. Hopefully Missy will relax soon. Glad you got most of your days back on here. Marie do you have windows 10? It allows you to 'talk' / dictate and not type.

Sandy – Vacations, mini or otherwise, are for enjoying so if you came happy then it was a good vacation. :-)

Went out to eat twice in past week or so and was not good! I have no will power! At least I can eat 2-3 more meals off when meal out, have to love those leftovers! Went to Longhorn tonight and have enough leftover for the next 2 days. At least I got my required sodium intake without having to 'eat' a spoon of table salt!
The weatherman is reporting expected snow for next 2 days ...ENOUGH ALREADY! It should not stay long as our day temps have been getting up to low 40's with overnight dipping as low as single digits to teens. This has made for 'black ice' during AM commutes and several fender benders.
Well bought a new area rug for living room and looking to see if can 'fanaggle ' funds to afford a new couch, one I can get off of easily and not sink into it.
I have rambled long enough. God night all.

Mae in Maine

Rainy morning all!
We splashed our way to the pet store and the pet store man spent ages adjusting a harness on our pint sized Jilly Bean. I sincerely hope THIS one is wiggle proof. I could hold a garage sale on very small collars and harnesses.
Then we waded to the organic store to buy among other things, peanut butter and purified pumpkin for the making of doggie biscuits. The man on the internet says he prefers these to eat rather than his wife's baked cookies, we will see! On the way out I spotted organic dog biscuits and bought a packet to try. She is not enthusiastic about them so they could go to waste. The homemade ones I, at least can nibble on IF I watch yet another rerun LIN.
Then we sploshed our way home, and Jilly sneezed and sneezed and peered at us through runny eyes which makes me wonder if dogs DO catch cold.
Reading everyone's posts it seems most of us have water problems of one sort or another. We must take a positive view that all the mud will give us wonderful soft skin if only on our feet. Remember girls the Trumps and other rich folks spend fortunes on mud packs.

Anne, with the not so glowing skin, but ever hopeful!

Well, the homemade treats have been happily enjoyed so far by my spoilt dog. I secretly had one too, and although a little bland with no salt etc they aren't half bad, especially with a bit of cheese! Now to find bone shaped cutters, I used my old mincepie cutters this time.
Now how on earth do I get her first tick pill of the season down her. No problem last year when a little puppy, but now at a year old, forget it!
Tried coating with peanut butter, ate the butter spat out the pill.
Tried butter, ate the butter spat out the pill.
Tried butter mixed with sugar, ate the mixture but spat out the pill.
Tried buttery mashed potato, ate the potato but spat out the, by now, soggy pill.
Aaaaaaaagh! It's a good job she's loved!
Anne.

Thanks SANDY, but she is so tiny, we are a bit afraid using that method might choke her. I know it works for big dogs like Daisy. But I do thank you for the tip and your concern. Our vet prefers these tick/flea pills, but I'll ask about the liquid one squirts on the neck instead.
Anne.

Bad Day at Black Rock! I tried downloading the software for my new wireless keyboard and mouse, but my computer would not take the download. Dell started to examine my folders and files to see why not and as I watched, we could see that program after program (files) all read stopped beside it and the technician asked for permission to examine the entire software. He returned saying that I have been hacked by what appeared to be foreign hackers, and while my programs and sites had not been broken into, it 's possible my internet address is being hijacked and use to break into other computers. They discovered several Social Security numbers in one file (neither was mine) and several passwords belonging to someone else, and my WiFi was tampered with. The Dell technician asked if I would agree to being connected to a Microsoft technician-Level 5- who would examine and diagnose the problems free of charge, but a contract to prevent it ever happening again would have a charge. This was not MY computer, but the internet. I was terrified it was a scam; how would I know? But there were 7 hacked files I could see for myself and I agreed to have them examine the computer, which took almost 4 hours, and I could see the mess, with action stopped on dozens of programs I had been having problems with. I finally agreed to purchase the service and they will continually monitor my computer for everything and anything that might happen. Pretty scary. This was all because I could not download my new blue tooth keyboard and mouse! It's working fine now and since the keyboard is lower, it is much more comfortable to type and I'm loving using a mouse instead of the touchpad! The service covers my iPad and Kindles, too. And should I finally break down and get a smart-phone, it would be monitored, as well.
Had dinner with people different from the usual ones, and sat listening to talk about basketball teams and baseball, etc., and I had no idea what it was all about! But then, tables of bridge and card players leave me out of conversations, too. Do I have to learn about these things really?
Jilly is one feisty li'l character, but ANNE, SANDY's suggestion about pills being placed way back on the tongue (holding jaws open with thumb and fingers way back in the jaw, and making sure the pill is not too large) is the proper way to insert medication, since they cannot eject it from the back of the tongue.I did this with my "babies" and they don't even have to swallow!
MAE, great post! So pleased you are back!
JACKIE, glad you have your water back, though I must say, I always use cold water showers! Of course, Florida water is never really cold. It's gorgeous here now.
LIN, do you ever take time off to do nothing at all? Your mind seems to be always planning the next action!
Has anyone watched the TV show (here it's on NBC) This Is Us ? I resisted when it was 1st recommended, so now I watch it On Demand, to catch up from the beginning. Those of you with Comcast know that you can replay almost anything in their On Demand programming. I seldom take advantage of it, as I don't watch much TV.
SANDY, I can't believe it's been 5 years! And it's not that Babe's kids don't like you; they are jealous and worried about their inheritance! So they ruined their father's life! You may have the best of both worlds now, lol!
MARIE, did you ever straighten out that horrendous water bill?
Off to bed, since once more I'm trying to turn over a new leaf!
Buzz

LIN that would be helpful when you have the time to mention Jilly's pill taking problem. She is very small and a mix of Pomeranian/chihuahua /Shihtzu. The wise guy wasn't joking when he asked if I was taking a rat for walkies! We thought she would get much bigger, but no. Anne.

I've just met little boy and his mommy, little boy said mommy is a dog groomer. So.....I asked about the pills. She said, if you have to, cut them in half as it's better than nothing and then either use pill pockets or SANDYS method. Back of throat, close mouth etc.
Thanks everyone for help, we'll give it a shot.
Anne.