Sandy: safe journey my friend! Have a great time in warm, sunny Florida. We will be thinking of you.
We are the same as the rest of the sneakers...it is very chilly and cloudy today. Mother’s Day is to be sunny but as always, it is subject to change.

Chocolate cake, champagne, and a nice salad. Perfect lunch for Mom’s Day. For goodness sake! Please! No gifts! I am happy to see their cherubic faces or hear a happy voice on the phone. I fear space for more “mementos” has been overfilled and overstuffed.

John oiled my sewing machine and ripped out it’s guts and put it back together. It now runs beautifully. I was very worried there for a while.
Patsy

Hello and what a gloomy, rainy, murky day it is. The furnace is still coming on and one bit of good news, the rain is still rain! No funny stuff. I'm getting quite worried about my lawns because the professional mowers haven't shown up yet and at this rate they will need a scythe and a guide dog!

JACKIE think about a new washer soon. Prior to mine grinding to a halt I found bits of rubber dotting the smalls. What on earth, I thought, did I leave something in a pocket? The next wash found me with a tub of water and a dreadful time dragging out soaking sheets and towels. I'm still pleased with the new machine and I'm ever so glad I got a top loader and no bending with the sciatica, which is improved by the way. Whether from shoes or not!

Mothers Day. I'm keeping quiet about it because I hate the lads spending their hard earned cash on yours truly especially as I seem to be outliving all the other Moms around me and so the lads are forking out for a longer time! Fortunately I'm one of those oddballs who isn't at all keen on chocolate. I know! I'm a weirdo because I also break out in blotches if I so much as look at a strawberry and I get migraines from champagne! Therefore I always end up with plants, which actually suit me fine. If I get carted off to the gardening centre I'll choose geraniums. They are so practical and beautiful and economical seeing you can bring them inside in November. Otherwise it will be pots of tender beauties I'll be struggling to keep alive. Mark won't forget Mother's Day because he has to remind Derek, but Michael could well be looking sheepish! If he forgets, and I know he's coming over tomorrow, he can take Jilly out for extra walkies to compensate. This dog LOVES to go walkies.

Well everyone, enjoy Saturday whether you're trudging through mud or up in the air like Sandy.

Time to get moving because tomorrow is my day off!!!
Anne.

Hello my dear sneakers. Sunny day after all. Yea! Our sweet neighbors have mowed part of our grassy area. They are such great neighbors. John is now involved in trying to figure out how to thank them and show our appreciation. As you may remember, I have been wringing my hands on how to get John to think
about regular lawn care help. Maybe this will be the beginning of a regular thing. If not our neighbor...some one else.

There is never enough time o do everything. One must choose what is important to do first. Trying to do that as well. First...time in the dungeon.

Open windows, open drapes, turn on great music, hang out in the dungeon with the door open. John is in and out, Katie is next to the window, next to the painting table, chewing on a milk bone.

Drink in that fine spring air, pollen and all.
Patsy

That's a lovely thing for your church to do LIN. Shall you take a photo of your beloved grandma as well?
More later from yours truly,
Anne.

Jacean1935 wrote: »

That's a lovely thing for your church to do LIN. Shall you take a photo of your beloved grandma as well?
More later from yours truly,
Anne.

Anne, I am taking a photo I ran across last week, my mom in the center of the photo, her parents on either side (all seated on a couch), her sisters standing behind.

I am ready to go. All packed, Tai Chi done. Still cold and overcast with some drizzles.

Lin

Beautiful day here as well. I'm cutting back bushes with Michael. The honeysuckle was a goner!
Anne.

I've just collapsed on the sofa along with a worn out Bean. All the family came over. Mikes Mother's Day present was cutting back the bushes and he took one look at the high grass with only the tip of Jilly's tail showing, yes really! and out came my old mower and he cut the lot. I'm not sure what to do about the professional mowers who still haven't shown up, but probably will tomorrow morning! He brought treats for The Bean as well and I so appreciated his help. Mark, Mary Jo and Derek showed up with two of the biggest hanging baskets full of red and blue flowers, just gorgeous and must have cost them the earth! Lots of laughs and it feels very quiet now they've all gone home. I am so lucky.

Derek's little kitten I showed you earlier is actually a Norwegian breed something like a coon cat, or a Maine cat? They grow huge and Hobes is already bigger than Jilly.

Golly I can hardly keep my eyes open. See you all tomorrow!
Anne.

Good day. The serviceman arrived this morning and my air conditioner is all checked out now. It was time to change a special electronic filter and I left that task for the service person. Surprise, they had sold me, at the time of the last visit, the wrong size filter. He called in to the shop, they had the proper ones but they had no one to bring them out here. Surprise, they sent an Uber out here with the filters. Wahoo! All swapped now, one of the new filters now installed. I also took advantage of a special they had going on to have a surge protector installed that will protect my air conditioner and furnace. Seemed like a good idea since just static electricity fried one of my thermostats in the past year and that was a very expensive event.

So all done and onward to do some laundry and work on some cards. Going to the new Tai Chi class a bit later and tomorrow morning I am going to meet a friend to see the Avengers movie. It is discount day. Yippeeee.

Yesterday after a lovely service and the expected emotional reading stuck smack dab in the middle of a solo, didn’t see that coming, I walked to the car in light rain. By the time I pulled out of the parking lot is was heavy rain. And when I got on the Interstate it was pouring, the road was flooded and then the hail started. Oh my! What an adventure. I was happy to get home. My sump pump was doing its job. Then the rain stopped, the sun came out a bit and another surprise, the handyman and his son showed up and started mowing and trimming. They mowed a different set of lawns than the guy did last week. Color me confused. But glad to see familiar people walking around my house. I did wonder how angry his wife was that on Mother’s Day that both of them were out working. Hummmmm

Anne, I am happy that so much was accomplished at your house yesterday. And rest up, you will feel younger soon. Just as usual. And how wonderful, lovely finches!

Buzz, I am sorry you are not feeling well. I know you love to help people and that is good but I hope you take enough time to look after yourself as well.

Sandy, I hope the sunshine returns soon! Enjoy your week with family.

Patsy, did you eat out on the patio? I hope you had a lovely time.

Jackie, are you very busy? Or is your Internet giving you fits? I hope it is happy busy-ness! Hello George.

Well, best tend to the dryer, get some lunch and get ready for class.

Hugs.

Lin

Good morning dear sneakers! How great to hear about the sweet Mothers Day celebrations. I just love that! I too had a lovely Mother’s Day. Our daughter and our grandson showed up with cards and we all sat around the table reading the cards, eating my Mexican Ceaser salad, champagne, and a huge piece of chocolate cake. Katie then entertained with a ball game, showing off of her various toys. We also had a long chat with our son. He had a sailing event late afternoon. But we had a fun phone visit. We are planning a Father’s Day picnic, where (as our son says) we will do manly things...like burn meat on the BBQ. Oh Baby!

Buzz: well sweet friend! This is bad news about your pain and swelling. I guess it might be time to call in the heavy artillerary. Pain meds? Anti-inflammation meds, special topical pain meds, those arthritis gloves that help deal with arthritic fingers. Do it all if it will help you feel better.

Anne: how delightful! I can envision those flower baskets hanging from the tree limb. Birds tweeting around, Jilly lying in the shade waiting for her next walk about the neighborhood. My sympathies concerning your old friend. It isn’t very much comfort to see old friends suffer

Sandy: hope you come back tanned and relaxed. Your move to the new condo will just cruise by and you will be settled in no time. First order of business is to enjoy your visit. We are excited to hear about your adventures.

Washing is started. Load of dishes is done. Next to empty trash etc. in dungeon. I am Trading out space heater for a small fan to move air around in there. Paint creates some toxic vapors. I Must keep windows open and a fan going to expell the bad air. John is like a building inspector. He walks into the dungeon , sniffing the air, and looking at my trash can. “That is a potential fire hazard!” I guess I failed my inspection. Okay! I will clean the dungeon.

The week begins.
Patsy

It's turning into another warm and sunny day so having walked George early on rather foggy and damp moors the coffee is perking and I will do some much needed housework before more gardening. I love this time of year! I've been in touch with my neighbour's handyman to construct an area of decking outside the garden room that is currently a rather sad flower bed and having waited to see what might be salvageable now have the task of sorting Spanish bluebells from our native ones because cross pollination is wiping out our English species. I hate to destroy any growing plant but do understand the importance because more and more plants and creatures are disappearing for the same reason.

Buzz - our wet winter certainly increased my joint pain so I'm sure your theory is correct. Just as soon as that low pressure moves away you must get yourself a dose of warm sun on your body.

I'm delighted to read PATSY and ANNE had such a wonderful mother's day and LIN enjoyed her service even though emotional. It must have been a relief to see your regular handyman back too. I know my neighbours' because he did a good job for me a couple of years ago when a facia board came adrift so know how important it is to deal with someone trustworthy.

Coffee brewed so I'll get on and hope everyone has a good day especially SANDY floating in that pool surrounded by loving family.

Jackie

Hummmmm...woke up to a wet morning. Not sure if this will last throughout the day. It might but if so , we will have a small change of plans. John mowed again yesterday. He also did a lot of “beating the jungle back”. Blackberry vines, English ivy crawling up and strangling trees, scotch broom (sort of like gorse) and just old fashioned WEEDS! It is better but by no means under control. There are many noxious plants that have a foothold here. They got here on the various plants with dirt balls attached. The alien plants are very hardy.

Need coffee and a slurp of yoghurt. I skipped dinner last night so I am hungry. John will be sleeping late as usual. His bio-clock is set slightly odd. He sleeps late and goes to bed late, very late. We somehow adjust. Katie works with everyone. Many naps, lots of playtime, several outdoor runs, treats and her regular meals along with several ball games etc. Life is flexible for our Kate!

We have a robin that is setting up shop in the rain gutter. I hope the crows don’t find the eggs and the babies. the crows are keeping a close watch on everything. It doesn’t look good. How do robins raise a family? There is danger everywhere. This looks like a bad idea for mother robin. I would have suggested the birdhouse, but what do I know?

Patsy

Darn, lost my post!! BUZZ I'm so sorry you are feeling more than icky but perhaps a strong antibiotic has your head spinning so rest and more rest until you feel better. I'm sending as many hugs as you can take!

Raining here too but after picking Scruff and her mum up from garage where her car has been left for servicing we walked in the woods I used to take George when first adopted. The dogs were immediately off running and exploring so we guessed Bob the dog carer must have made it a regular spot for their walks. Home now with coffee and a plan for more housework.
Sandy - keep busy and ignore the rain!
Anne - how frustrating for you but wouldn't know how to begin sorting other than a phone restart.
Pasty- robins are tenacious little creatures and born survivors despite their unusual choice for a home. Unfortunately Brady the brat discovered a bluetit nest in an old box at the bottom of my garden at the weekend and killed the chicks.... reminds me why I've always adopted older cats until him!!!
Lin - it seems rude of people not to allow you to join them at mah jongg not that I play so wouldnt understand the importance of a closed group. Perhaps set up your own as i know you would welcome anyone and everyone!

Coffee finished and jobs to do.
Jackie