Went to a health fair devoted to aging well, held by our area newspaper, and other than enjoying one of my favorite columnists talking about his many years experiences, I came to the conclusion I fortunately have little to complain about except maybe again joints, and who wants to listen to that? Our small busload agreed no more of those fairs, but the ride was interesting as we passed the shipyard and watched one of those newest of the humongous cruise ships preparing to sail. I picture in my mind's eye the graceful ships of past ages, and compare it with these new floating city blocks! No more promenade decks to walk around the entire ship and see people lounging in deck chairs. Still, it's fun watching docks and ships.
ANNE, we missed you a few months ago when you almost left, so there is something to be said for "mundane" living! It's not what you do or don't do, it's the way you share it that makes it fascinating to the rest of us!
PATSY, that goes for you, too! You have a unique way of viewing life we enjoy! Happy Mother's Day!
LIN, did I miss the name of the movie that had you laughing? I need something light and amusing to get my mind off the craziness I hear on my TV!
SANDY, I'm sure your Sunday will be a full and pleasant celebration. Have a lovely Mother's Day.
And JACKIE! Even though all your "children" have problems pronouncing the words, all the barking, meowing, and other noises you hear tomorrow will remind you that you are Mom to so many living and loving creatures! Of course, I don't know if the UK celebrates Mothers' Day!
MARIE, are you feeling any better? Hope tomorrow will be pleasant for you!
Buzz

Sandy ~ When you have a chance can you please move the birthdays back into our list of discussions then I'll make a note in case they disappear again!
Jackie

Thanks Sandy.

Anne ~ Here's advice from the Royal Horticultural Society on onion growing which I'm sure fits your climate too but they should be planted in the Autumn and overwintered. Something to do at the end of summer if your driveway isn't already teaming with veggies!!

Onions are such a versatile vegetable – they feature in so many recipes, so growing your own onions means you’ll always have them to hand. They are easy to grow from baby onions called sets. Although seed is available, sets are the easiest and quickest way to grow onions. Sets are also better in colder regions, and are less likely to be attacked by some pests and diseases.


I've staggered in from my garden after finishing cutting lawns and cleaning out the henhouse as well as cutting back vicious brambles in my wild bottom!! Thankfully my neighbour popped round to say she too has been very busy so is too tired to visit the allotment so it's a case of a cup of tea, chocolate biscuit and couple of Ibuprofen.
Jackie

Thanks for the tip on the onions! Zucchini it is I guess! Just waiting for Michael to appear JACKIE. He's taking some "lucky" lady out for dinner tonight, I offered to go along and give her the once over, but have been rejected. I wonder why, lol. Now what's all this about you having vicious brambles in your bottom! Sounds jolly painful!! And I'm not surprised you need a cup of tea and two ibuprofen! I'm Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Bad Anne.
P.S. Have you all noticed there's an awful lot of aged people jumping out of planes attached to parachutes? The latest chap is 101!

Sorry I have been off for a few days. Received some difficult news x2 this late week/weekend. My son is moving out which will leave me with a few problems to overcome, but maybe things will be a little more peaceful. I will miss my grandson immensely ! My sister in law had a major heart attack. She has blockage in 2 major vessels and has Congestive Heart Failure with extremely diminished cardiac output. She does not want visitors nor phone calls, so a card will have to do. Am saying many prayers. To balance things out with something positive I went to a cousin's bridal shower Saturday and visited with extended family. ….... Not sure but think I missed one day logging in and have to start over again.. I did Sat. food today.
It has been raining almost all week. Saturday was sunny with a light breeze so the BBQ bridal shower went well. My nephew did more work outside so if good weather comes I will plant cold crops outside. I am helping with some community raised beds for the food pantry and will have 2 beds there for myself as well as my 3- 4 beds here at home. My cold crops: lettuce, kale, broccoli, and Swiss chard starts are more than ready to transplant. My warmer crop starts are also ready, but will have to wait for warmer weather or me to get energy to make cold frame covers.

Jackie – Must feel good to get the painting behind you. Hope the diet will help Boris. Good luck with keeping everyone eating what they should be. It is quite a chore going through closets and bureaus to downsize, I have to do it soon. Lovely variegated tulip. …..

Patsy – Art is in the eye of the beholder.

Anne – We are not flooding, but I do wish we and you would have a reprieve from this wet stuff! Let Florida and areas that need the rain get it instead. Nice pic of Jilly. Lovely flower bed. What are the small purple/blue flowers?

Lin – I too enjoy seeing what others do with a craft. I am debating whether I will put up a clothesline because I also love the smell and feel of clothes and linens dried outdoors. Not sure if I will have to sell/move since son is moving out and if would be worth the expense if not staying here. :-( I am sorry to hear of your friend; let his wife know Hospice is there for her as well as him. They will be there to support her during his illness and after his passing.
Pleasant distractions do help us get through tough times, go and enjoy.

Sandy – Grilled Brats and asparagus sounds yummy. Nice photos of Jilly.
Buzz - Chinese is yummy. Glad you decided to indulge. It is nice you have a 'spot' near by to go and feel connected to Mike. (HUGS). My son has been gone to his Ex's for 3 days but 'popped' in with the grandson and a card for Mother's day. They came in, each gave me a hug, grandson handed me a card and started to remove his shoes when his dad said “no time to stay, leave your shoes on.” Son went to dryer took his clothes then grabbed 2 bags of returnable cans from down stairs and left. At least they came, I got a hug and a card.:-)

Enough for now, Will finish catching up later.
Hope every one had a good Mother' Day.
Mae.

Up really early (for me this is the middle of the night). I had a really marvelous Mother's Day. Who ever invented this was a true genius. I am sure it was first started as some sort of economic plot but I truely believe everyone enjoys the celebration. Our daughter came to spend the afternoon and have dinner with us. Great visit! Our son called and we also had a great visit with him during and after breakfast. It was a feast of love and food. It is true that we need our children! That includes children of fur and feather.

More coffee! I hope I can post in the right spot. Thanks Sandy for correcting my errant post of yesterday. As you have noticed I am not a computer person. About that cougar business...bawhahahaha! If only......well you know the rest of that story. Thanks again, I hope I haven't messed up the birthday list.

Will try to do a bit of exercise before Kate is up and ready to rock and roll. I will not confess all my food sins of yesterday. The chocolate cake was amazing. The leftovers are stashed in the freezer. Today is the day I start back in reality. John will be my cheerleader and drill sergeant. Yikes!
Patsy

Off to meet my friend to chatter. The air conditioner is serviced (and running full speed). My friend's husband died early this morning. Most everything is planned for the funeral except the date/time.

Hugs. Enjoy the day to the best of your ability, I will.

Lin

Hello, me again with a quick reply to SANDY. Mark tells me he's been given no medication to remove stones here. Just told to drink lots of water to naturally remove. However if no results by next week he will see a specialist for the next step. He has a trip to Europe in July so I really hope they or it are a memory by then. 52 and here's me worrying the same as when he was 4 and had badly infected tonsils removed. Some things never change!
Annie.

Oh dear, how I remember this sort of weather not so long ago.... soaking drizzle and low cloud or mist, what we call mizzle!! The morning walk was twice round the woods under the canopy but even so we all got very wet as huge droplets off the leaves hit us as we strolled and caught up on news because yesterday bright an early an electrician followed by plumber arrived to install a new shower so I took George out later just around the village. A fresh brew of coffee was waiting in my mother's 1970's percolator and although they had to almost climb over each other in my small shower room all was good humored. Unfortunately the electrician didn't have the right wall switch so had to order one but will hopefully be back today to finish the wiring. In Cornwall everything is "manana"!!

Buzz ~ My new reclining chair and sofa arrive in about a month's time so I shall be falling asleep all the time!! It does sound as if your internet system needs updating if an event like Mothering Sunday grinds everything to a halt as I remember the days when I couldn't get online if my next door neighbour was on the internet. Thank goodness things have moved on.

Mae ~ From my experience I've found some events that have crept up without me seeing them and so disrupted what I felt was a contented lifestyle have usually, in retrospect, been for the good so although I completely understand how you're feeling right now about the changes occurring I'm hoping you too will look back in a while and feel it was for the best. As Anne says, absence really does make the heart grow fonder and you are going to be missed unless regular visits take place. Meanwhile your nephew is a star to be so supportive as he obviously helps out with chores so no rush to head for a retirement facility!

Sandy ~ Diamonds are for wearing, not stashing away and accidents happen so let's hope that missing stone will suddenly appear in the middle of your carpet one day soon!! No outdoor chores in the mizzle even though when I let George out late last night to chase off a cat that had Hebe running through the catflap like the devil was after her I noticed in the torchlight an army of garden snails on the move looking to destroy any young plants so there's plenty to be done out there to remove their hiding places!!

Anne ~ We've done the same at the allotment only because I forgot to plant onions last Autumn and with your weather being so much warmer I'm sure you can get seeds up and running very quickly whereas I went with sets. Great news that Mike may have found someone and hopefully she'll appreciate what she's got and treat him better than the last lady in his life! For all that tell him mother knows best so you'll need to meet her soon!! Mentioning mothers, my understanding of Mothering Sunday is the same as yours, it was a religious event during Lent when people returned to the church they were baptised as they considered it a sort of mother church and this then extended to appreciating their true mothers with flowers and homemade cards. Like all religious events it got hijacked by commercial businesses.

Lin ~ How sad that you've lost another friend to cancer and in such a short space of time after his diagnosis but perhaps a happy release for him. I send loads of hugs to you as you find yourself once again supporting a friend in need.

Patsy ~ What a treat for you and John that your daughter visited on Sunday when you hadn't thought it would happen and I can tell from your post you're feeling more upbeat. George is tiny compared to your Katie and I know how much time I spend grooming his coat when it's longer so can only imagine how much work goes into a curly Lab!! Even with our wet weather George is so much happier and bouncy in his summer coat, it's as if a dead weight has been lifted off his back and that was only 2 months growth!

Marie ~ Dear Missy, what a cute dog she is and I'm so glad she's finally settling in with you. How are you doing with those ribs?

Brr, I'm getting chilly sitting here so will get the ironing board out to get my 2nd hand ebay curtains ready for hanging. Yoga this evening but nothing else planned.... what a treat!

Everyone have a peaceful and contented day.
Jackie

Hello girls. Isn't it lovely! I've been notified by email and warned by my "server" Bell, that they have been hacked and over one million accounts have had their information and addresses illegally assessed. That includes me. I'm not sure this will really have much affect on me but it's made me wary so I've decided to disappear for a week on both this site and emailing my friends. My server warns don't press any web sites that are unknown. This is an anonymous hacker, not the recent global little charmers.
SANDY, you are the expert, any comments?
Hugs to all,
Anne.

Thanks for responding JACKIE. To be honest it would be like getting blood out of a stone as far as cash and definitely not worth anyone's time. Whilst on the subject, the "police" are phoning and threatening me again about tax papers. You would think they would give up this year after all the publicity last year! I also received 4 calls yesterday about having my ducts cleaned! All from men with strong Indian accents and named John, Bill etc. Didn't know western names were so popular in the east!
All this criminal activity! Thank goodness we Sneakers get pleasure from simple things like watching our seedlings grow!
Annie.