Lin Diane, I have bought shoes online for years. I buy the same size and style of the ones that are wearing out. That worked great til the shoes I wear for dog walking in cold wet weather were marked unavailable for months. I tried something different and they did fit and were too stiff so I sent them back (Amazon try before you buy) Then I tried some others from a different company and they fit and looked great and were about a fourth the cost of the ones I've been buying. Good luck to you on your shoe search.the


Lin Happy Birthday 🎊🎉

We had a visitor here today. We sat on the patio in the sun and talked for an hour

Barbie

Well, I'm still busy. Did a huge wash and Mark and Mary jo showed up to put plastic bags on the sticking up posts on the new deck because rain was forecast and they didn't want the posts to become sodden before the railing is installed on top. Opening the front door for them standing on the new deck I realized the way I've placed my desk and leather chair isn't good for opening because the door catches on the leather and I don't want it damaged. Once they were safely out the way I dismantled a bookcase and put it where my desk had been, the desk already having been dragged across the floor to the old bookcase site. I'm hoping they won't notice next time they are over because they treat me as though I'm fragile and I aint which means I periodically get told off when a moving spree overtakes me.
Jilly took off for the back room but has now decided its safe to return to the comfort of the sofa. Me, I'm having a cup of tea, knowing the next time the grocery man shows up my leather chair won't get damaged.
Won't be this week though because with no work due to rain and Mark at physio on Tuesday I will be shopping at the organic garage again. Mark doesn't want the delivery man falling off the edge whilst we have no railings. Its quite a drop! Roughly 5 ft and the deck is reached by 5 steps.
Having written such a long saga all about me I will toddle off and feed the Bean. I've read you all though!
Anne.

Hello everyone. It’s a typical autumn morning but dry at the moment. George slipped out through the cat flap twice in the night which meant a disturbed sleep for me but I still got up early and took him with Betty to the moors for our walk. Naughty boy, he wolfed down cat food meant for Brady yesterday and I think it has upset his tummy!

Unfortunately I forgot my new hat when we went out so my hair annoyingly blew in my face but both pooches enjoyed their run about. We crossed paths with a dog walker and his Alaskan Malamute and naturally got on to the subject of our new chancellor’s plans for our economy that are currently not going well. Whoever imagined our pound would only buy $1.07? Good news for me though was an email received from my electricity supplier today advising they will reduce my monthly payments from £104 to £35 because I have been economising and built up credit. I’m sure once it gets a lot colder it will go up but every little bit helps!
My outdoor tomatoes are ripening so I’ve picked a few to place in the garden room until they are ready to eat. A pleasant surprise is more French beans that have grown and the plants are producing a fresh flush of flowers. We never managed a 2nd crop at the allotments so I’m chuffed! Beetroot and turnips slowly developing too.

The promised rain hasn’t materialised but I will continue with my plans for housework, a touch of DIY on a wall and perhaps finish painting the kitchen. Another reminder text from my GP about receiving a booster just pinged on my phone but I’m a little concerned about what I’ve read on this Pfizer jab so will decline. A number of friends have tested positive with no symptoms and I like to think I’m a fit ol’ girl!

Lin, that’s pretty blue and white china, especially the willow pattern. I’m guessing the teapot is designed for a single cup of tea although it’s deceptive because it’s sitting on a stack of saucers.

George is barking at nothing but has reminded me I need to get on. Aah, and here comes the rain!

Happy Tuesday. Stay safe.
Jackie 🥰

Hello, sunny and chilly this morning. I have been sweeping leaves from the sidewalk and edge of the garage and clipped a few hardy weeds! I will work on the deck again this afternoon and grab the last of the tomatoes and see what else I want to save from the cold tomorrow. I have several free programs today to watch online live. One starts in a few minutes, the other is this evening for at least an hour. It should be interesting.

Jackie, ah George, eating the cat’s food. He has hurt his digestive system apparently. And he has definitely disrupted your sleep! I hope he’s better by this evening. Good for you on reducing the power bill, even temporary credits or reductions help. I am on budget billing but I still hold my breath when I open the bill each month. They have been telling me each month that I only have to pay a dollar- but I have paid the full monthly budgeted amount that they set and I still have an unpaid balance carrying forward. I have been whittling it down so it’s only a little over a hundred dollars. I see another budget billing increase coming my way next time they review my account. 👀 I didn’t cut back well enough.

Anne, oh a holly bush. So beautiful! I have been reading scenarios related to the pound. No one seems to have a good idea of what will take place next. Some have said the bank will raise the interest rates like our Fed has been doing but how would that help the pound if shipping issues etc. have not been settled? Ah politics! Any deposits cheerfully accepted though right?


I hope everyone is having a safe day!

Lin🙋🏼‍♀️
❤️❤️

A bit chilly here as well. I am still recovering from sore arm and a bit achy muscles from our flu and booster shots. I was worried about doing both at once but it really hasn’t been a problem. If you are considering getting the booster, having a flu shot at the same time will not make the side effects too much worse, if at all. At least that has been our experience.

Still trying to decide about John’s reluctance to get help with what is now a looming issue. Rains coming and our little road could get stopped up completely with downed trees and limbs. John is not able to manage a chain saw. As you can see I am walking about with a dilemma. How on earth can I deal with this? The overgrowth is quite a problem at this point. As we age our brain goes into a strange denial, men refuse to admit a loss of strength. Woman refuse to admit a loss of youth. Some woman still try to go about in high heels and bright red lipstick. Maybe not the best idea.

Tonight is salmon and pasta with green peppers and onions. John likes this a lot and I will not nag that sweet old guy about our landscape issues. Must try to press on. Tomorrow is our day to chat with Damon. Working on the kid story again.

Stay safe and healthy. The shot wasn’t too bad. 24 hours of naps and an aspirin.
Patsy☘️

Problems typing and posting so will try later. Meanwhile moving furniture… weird MFP!!
Jackie

Hello. Yes, sunny but chilly here as well but the temperature didn’t dip as low as forecast. I think it was only 40 degrees this morning not mid-thirties. I am starting to line up the items needed for an online card class. I thought it was weeks away but surprise, it is in early October. Also, surprised, the heating and cooling company called me to pay my annual maintenance bill over the phone and gave me an appointment before the end of October. That is quite early. It has been January or February the last couple of years before they got around to me. Also, I ordered a pair of heavier pants/slacks given winter will be coming and the ones I liked are in stock right now.

Off to do some little house chores now.

Be safe everyone.

Jackie, yep, MFP, you never know what will happen! Or what won’t work.

Sandy, happy babysitting.

Barbie, wow, garlic planting. I have never planted any in the fall, always a spring thing around here. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because the winter temperatures here can be so severe?

Patsy, hi! I try to plan but I have reached a point where I realize most things are out of my control and cannot be put under control by planning. I hope John is feeling better.

I have 3 friends in Florida, they all live along the West Coast, Sarasota, Bradenton and North Port. All in Sarasota County. I have my eyes open and listening to updates. One friend had been posting updates on Facebook but she just said she would not be posting. They are on generator power now and they want to keep everything charged for as long as possible.

Be safe.

Lin🙋🏼‍♀️
❤️❤️

With the seasons changing for all of you I can see everyone is starting to get ready for the cooler weather. My day begins with opening up all of the screened windows to allow the wonderful fresh air inside. It may only be 65, but cooling it down without having to use the AC is where we are at right now. Once it reaches 80 inside we close up knowing the temps are still up to the low 90s. Recently we have been hearing about ac bills running as high as $450 a month. Not so anxious to receive our bill because I know with this record high month it will be higher than the usual $245. Fall can not get here soon enough !!

Like many of you I too am working in the yard doing what our blow and mow gardener doesn't do though he is supposed too. Less work and I hear from neighbors the $$ are increasing. So I started pruning the hedges a little at a time. Next day I decided to clean out the agapanthus. Got half of them done getting some sap from the plants on my arms and a bit on my legs. Though I washed up well by last night I had developed a rash, which I assume is an allergic reaction to the plant. So now I have to get rid of that before I finish up the other two agapanthus. Hard to wear long sleeves and pants when it is 70+ degrees. Of course I am assuming we will get rain in Oct like we have in the past yrs though NOT the last few yrs. Like others we are praying for rain again.

Patsy....Have you considered having a company come to give you an estimate to trim your trees by the drive way ? From our experiences at our last house the older the trees the more the limbs tend to break and your safety becomes a concern. Loved my trees at our last house, but after awhile the maintenance of them became too much for us and I don't care to ever rake leaves again.... Thinking
of you....

Sandy.....I know you have a daughter in Florida, but I don't recall where she lives. Hopefully she and her family are safely away from that storm. You got back home just in the nick of time. Feel for those poor people having to go thru that.

Our son in Tennessee is moving into his home on Sat inspite of the rain that is due there on Sat. They have spent any free time painting the interior before making the actual move. Hopefully the 12 and 14 yr olds will be of some help as they try to get back to a normal life again. So glad I do not have to make a move again like that though they did want us to leave California to join them back there. Too much rain and humidity for us. Would much prefer their gas prices however ....

Well hi to Lin, Anne, Barbie and Jackie too. Thinking of all of you as you prepare for the coming season.

Diane