Very nice! Now write inside your card:

To LIN, hugs from Jackie, Patsy, Sandy, Buzz, Jeri, and Anne. xxxoooxxx

Then put it in your journal so you will always know how appreciated you are by this little group.

Another badly timed walk this morning because as I parked on the moors I had a view across the valley into Devon and a mass of low cloud, sleet and hail coming in our direction! George had his raincoat on so I thought it best to get on with the walk sticking to the lower paths even though the storm had by then arrived over us. Luckily he did what he needed to do within a few hundred meters and about a half mile further on he went on strike with an "are you crazy" look on his face so we turned round and headed back! A quick trip to the farm shop and on the way home I stopped to take a couple of cuttings from a gorgeous burgundy red hydrangea that grows outside a now defunct intensive egg farm. As I'm sipping my coffee I've noticed the odd flake of snow drifting past my windows but am sure it won't come to anything.

Buzz, it's extremely difficult to put what's going on into a few words but certainly most observers here are still incredulous when he continues to blatantly lie with little opposition. More coverage is given to his followers and their blind faith and belief in the man. It's obvious to us as it must be to you your country is being torn apart and I completely understand your Kristallnacht fears because why wouldn't you draw parallels but who's it going to be aimed at... the hate is aimed at a number of minorities? This awful time will pass, hopefully with not too much collateral damage although I read somewhere his son may well stand when his dad steps down.... what a ghastly thought!

Anne, a lovely idea for Lin's card so I'm all for it! Oh dear, is that where Harry's logs stay or will be stack them neatly? I've an awful feeling it won't be the latter!
America has sits own history to deal with when it comes to racial issues so I'm guessing some organisations are sensitive. Laws that were introduced here to protect minorities were needed at the time because if you remember even the Irish were treated like 2nd class citizens and what happened recently to the group known as the Windrush generation, all British passport holders, was dreadful but in many cases the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Of course your Northern grit wouldn't take umbrage at any of it!!

Lin, I decided yesterday the easiest way to make my soup was to chop the veggies up and put them in my crockpot on low for a couple of hours. It's been blended and some frozen although I don't think it will be with me for long! You put so much time and effort into your cards but I'm sure the recipients must be over the moon to get one.

Patsy, oh dear, I'm cross enough when bits of tissue end up stuck to my laundry and then, with me hanging washing out on the rotary line I find them scattered like snow in the grass or hanging on to shrubs! That must have been quite a chore to clean out your washing machine. Robbie the smithy told me in the week he was talking to his wife, also Jackie, about George and how cute he is but she then mentioned how their lovely Collie Jess had been attacked by my naughty boy when we met walking one day.... oops!! Jess is the friendliest, sweetest dog and female so shouldn't be a problem to George but it was instant dislike on his part and luckily he was on his lead at the time. Blotted his copybook with the other Jackie that's for sure!

Sandy, I have the same concerns for you and your financial arrangements with Babe as the rest of the group and I'm sure you do too so do your best to find a way to persuade him and the bank it's in both your interests. There's only one reason his son persuaded him to sell the property.

Lots to do so I'll bid you all a peaceful Saturday.
Jackie

Good morning friends

My mail arrives quite late in the day now. I liked having my mail around lunchtime but those days are long past. I say that to say, a t-shirt I ordered arrived yesterday, late yesterday, so this morning I washed it along with a couple of other things and paid some bills online. I hadn’t planned on those chores. Haaaaa.

Then I started on my soup. I make it in my InstantPot but I make my own Mirepoix and sauté it before loading in everything else. It takes longer but I think the soup is tastier. Anyway, now everything is in the pot and I can ignore it for a while. It already smells yummy

Jackie and Anne, I feel a bit guilty. We have a day of sunshine and temperatures are mild. Top that off with no wind, it is heavenly but since I am staying indoors for the most part, I guess I won’t get full benefit of it. I am sorry for the cold and wet conditions. I wish you had your stove Jackie and Anne, little Bean must be unhappy as well as she loves her walks (translation: sniffing and exploring). Clever George, ready to go home. So sorry he made a bad impression on the owner of the collie. Darn.

Buzz, I will get off this but honestly I am continually amazed that anyone can be so enamoured of you know who. Frankly, I don’t think we have had a leader during my adult years that I gave blind loyalty. Never ever. I reserve some skepticism in most cases which probably explains my voter registration of Independent.

Must move along. Thanks for the nice words about my card. I make some cards that take forever and a day, I also make cards that take little time but at least they are something to send. And no, I don’t think most people care that much about them. Maybe two or three people have mentioned that they have kept a card I made for them. I have made a couple of cards for a little girl at church and her mom and grandmother have told me they are putting them in the scrapbooks they are making for her. That is sweet.

Onward. I need to listen to the latest installment on gut/brain connection. Each segment is available for just 24 hours. I skipped last evening as I fell asleep.

Hugs.

Lin

I didn't know anything about the Windrush scandal JACKIE. I've just been reading up on it. It would appear it's a case of "let him who is blameless throw the first stone" when it comes to various countries. Something to ponder upon this afternoon.
It's going to snow around midnight apparently. I'm trying NOT to ponder on that.
Annie.

Heavy heart today, but the shootings and bombings keep right on! This maniac leader then says "we must stick together and not be divided!" as if he was not the divider - in -chief! LIN, dearest, I respect your political feelings, as I do everyone's, but as an Independent, you are still responsible to VOTE! Your country needs your opinions in the voting booth, and Republicans who are not part of the bamboozled mob must also get to the polls and VOTE!!! As an old lady who lived through the Hitler horrors, I beg everyone to stand up for morality, humanity, and just plain decency and get to those voting booths. The United States NEEDS your vote!!! OK, I'm climbing down and getting ready for dinner, but please , y'all, we MUST take our country back to a place we can love to lie in once more! Right now, we are a shameful weak loud MOB!
SANDY, please talk to your lawyer before accepting what you are feeling! Update the papers or whatever. Phil is dangerous for your health and well-being!
JACKIE and ANNE, thank you for your support in my angst! DT is actually becoming more popular!
Hi PATSY...gotta run!
Buzz
.........................Always Believe Something Wonderful ! is About to Happen!!!.........................

I voted last week. And to this I must add my thoughts. I volunteer at the political action center and GASP! There are people who still think mid term elections are totally unimportant. There are a lot of people who don’t think this out. If you don’t get good senators and legislators in Washington, nothing will change. Young voters seem extraordinarily uninformed on most issues. What are they learning in school? Anyway don’t climb down from your bandstand Buzz! We need to keep yelling....VOTE while you still can!

Patsy

Our clocks don’t move back until the first Sunday in November which is next week. Would be nice if they would move automatically.

Get some rest Jackie.

Back to work. Oh, and the soup is yummy.

Lin

Just a quick good morning from me on a rather chilly morning. Never mind, I'm going to make a comforting shepherds pie for me and Mike if he ventures forth. If not, leftovers!
Bye for now,
Anne.

Yesterday was WET! And a bit chilly And some wind and the power went off for a while. All in all, a typical Oregon north coast weekend. This morning looks quite nice but cold.

This is football day for John. I hope we get to chat with our son. That is always a matter of what is going on in his work. Deadlines never move. They are just things to be met!

The world looks in wonder at our man in charge. We try to understand, we try to make changes in the normal legal way we have in the past. Things are cracking apart, we are angry and scared. The only thing we have to work with is our votes. Even that is being manipulated. Do I sound a little terrified? I calm my self by remembering we are a nation of laws and in general very humanitarian. I know things are changing and they will never go back to what used to be. We will be brave and keep trying to find a way back to honor and sanity.

I am baking blueberry muffins for John. He has been steadily avoiding the news. Football is a nice diversion for him. Also putting a log in the fireplace for morning coffee and Sunday Baroque concert.

The sun is up and out from behind the trees in our little forest. Yea! Muffins look pretty good in the oven.
Patsy

Wow!!! Grantchester marathon

Lin