Mt_Rider

Thanks everyone. I didn't see this and posted [between watching Lahaina burn on yOutube ] about this in RURR. "home" is always going to be at least in part, where you raised your kids...... Mine burned down last nite. None of Maui family lives on that side of the island tho...thankfully. But still friends there. I'm getting really nervous about a death count. 6 was the last number I heard but they don't even have the fire out yet. Some jumped into the ocean to escape and Coast Guard cutter was sent up to pick them up. The whole Lahaina harbor...including dock and boats not moved - BURNED! The old lighthouse is still standing I think.. BUT it killed the Banyan tree. 2nd oldest in the world. ...thankful all of mine are safe and accounted for....even some of Jen's friends who grew up with her. But some the people I know that live in Lahaina ...I don't know about them yet. MtRider

I get my Crocs from the thrift store. I've just not seen any there lately. I don't get to many stores but that's kinda within my range when "in town". MtRider

Annarchy....Jeepers always tells her stories AFTER she's unglued herself from self and carpet. You guys are in the middle of this one. But of course we want updates to be praying. And you have a heavy load to carry right now...both of you. DH and I always tell on each other too. But I still want him in appts with me. Cuz I don't always remember things .... God, give the Annarchys your stamina and strength to hold up their "basket" together. Heal them in ways that would marvel doctors. Give their doctor the very best wisdom for helping them. Let no small thing go unnoticed. MtRider

Wow.....it's taken me two days to catch up with this thread. Like trying to catch a big ball of yarn rolling down the steps! You all have had adventures..good ones and ......bad stuff. We're doing okay but a bit stretched for time lately. Annarchy? How is MrA? ...and how are you? Miki... poor Peanut! How is his eye doing? He's gone thru it lately but so good to hear how milk thistle (?) was good for what ails him. Later, when he's fine again from the scratch, tell me what you were treating with it, please. LittleSister... YAY!! So good to hear of GSs new behavior and attitude. Milk fiasco, notwithstanding. Folks do say that especially when young folks begin drugs or alcohol abuse, they swim blindly thru those years without any of the process of maturing taking place. They can "wake up...get clean /sober " at age 25 and act like a 13 year old. They flat out MISSED all the growing up by being blitzed out. I've seen this to be true in at least one relative-in-law. If he can stay off the substances, no reason he can't catch up his "gone" time and become a normal young man. Make-up time is not 1 to 1. Maturity can happen faster if they stay-on-the-planet and off the stuff. Good to catch up with all the rest of you too. I'm fine. Have my hearing aids and both ears are accepting them. Reading glasses and over-the-ear control box for the in-the-ear piece are trying to occupy the same space. That's a little sore but it will work out. I'm having trouble scheduling horse rides. DH is temporarily taking on another client for 8 hrs Sat/Sun. So I need to catch a weekday ride -preferably with senior rides to and back. Leave DH some days at home to rest his back. Then there is road construction. You know the story: Winter and Road Construction are the two seasons for mountains. Y'know...this dog knows when it's 6:30pm. TIME TO GO OUT FOR A WALK/SNIFF ...and get the dumb birds in for the night too She just came in here and said that! I added some to my 'Mandatory Relocation' Sci Fi down in Fireside today. {remember...I never finished it} MtRider ...off to feed and walk and .....start supper!

Well my Shoe Goo story wasn't half so interesting. Course it was labeled 'Shoe Goo'. I wear Crocs as much as possible. I don't like tight [what others call "fitted well"] footwear. Slip on and off. So I have this indoor pair that I've worn right thru the bottom under the heel. Tried duct tape but it just gummed up and picked up dirt. While I appreciated the dust collection from the carpet, I needed better. Armed with an ice-cream wooden stick and the tube....outside....I globbed and spread til I had filled in across the 3/4" hole. Let that dry for a day. It was kinda rough texture but you could mold it around a bit. I put another layer on the next day. That was a little smoother cuz I squeezed more out. Let that dry/set up. And now I'm wearing them again. I'll see how durable Shoe Goo is with my scuff-heel walking. I wouldn't be brave enough to mess with superglue too often. Isopropal Alcohol might break down the Superglue? But...that should be what was in the hand sanitizing cloth. Well, I used a bit of 90% alcohol and it cut the little shoe glue I had on my hands...despite having wooden sticks to smear/mold at the ready. MtRider ...sheeesh, trying not to bust out laughing and wake DH! (his sense of humor dwindles after )

Whew.....I'm late to the party but HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY AMBERGRIS MtRider .....running around so much, I don't even know what day it is....

Just talked on the phone for and hour.....life-long Missouri friend. We can never stop and she called late. So far the earliest I've gotten IN bed was 1am last nite. But couldn't drop off to sleep til 2am...again. But I got up at 10am....8 hrs. Felt pretty good. DH worked in town with new client 8 hrs. So I need to get supper. After not having energy and brain for 6 months, I'm pleased but nervous about being able to hold up the house while he's making $ {hearing aids are SO expensive.} So I did 2 loads of laundry...that means HOW many times up/down our 15 exterior stairs. Storms threatened, arrived, were noisy/wet, left....and I go down and switch to dryer and load the next one. Wasn't hot today tho. Got the birds in for the night and walked dog quickly between Weather! I also fried up meat/veggies. DH called and said he'd pick up tortillas [no, not making homemade...tho I have] so I got the insides chopped and fried. I also cleaned and chopped up the rhubarb he'd picked several nights ago. So...after we ate, I made rhubarb crisp. He's got the same 8 hrs tomorrow so .... I haven't been doing any cooking until this recent recovery-back-to-almost-MY-normal. It feels good and DH certainly can't do the hours he's doing if I can't cook for us....and other things like laundry. I don't know how he kept up while I was not able. Both hearing aids have been in all day. Right ear is fine now. Computer key boards certainly do clackety-clack, don't they? Lots of little sounds now, that I've not been hearing for years. I have to keep investigating -- hmmm, what is THAT noise? Anyway...I'm going to bed....almost. Couple more things.... MtRider .....stay cool and stay safe in the weather fronts/ thunderstorms that are crossing the country.

but I caught up reading about y'all. So envious of gardens! Someday...we will garden again. Been HOT but our monsoon season arrived which means clouds and rain...thunder/lightning in afternoons. Clears up before dark. Keep missing rides..... Gotta rearrange since DH is now working weekends. Will need to get ride (horse) and then ride (the senior van) to the horse. More but promised myself I'd get to bed before 2AM..... Back to that. Got up at noon today! Sheeeesh. Good sleep but reallly? MtRider ....haven't forgotten you want more of my story... ..and I see stories I want to read too.

Miki it should have quoted just what was highlighted....?? Try it again. Did you see the .... black box with white inside saying "quote selection"....click on that? I had to go up and do it so I could remember what to look for. Anyway, since I was SOOO late getting to bed for the second night in a row, I'm going to try getting on here earlier. Pushing the duck/geese care and road walking so late ...due to sunshine lasting so long... I'm getting things done very late. Not helping me keep on sleep schedule! One minute it's 11pm and the next it's 2:30am and I'm still And no, I don't drink coffee at ANY hour. Lovely A/C is roaring behind this chair. Gonna be hot again today....."relatively hot" compared to some of y'all! 80* in the shallow shade of the porch at noon. Shoot, that late already? I'm missing cooler morning hours. Anyway, that shade is disappearing inch by inch as the afternoon proceeds. MtRider ..Stay cool, everyone.

Awwww... so cute. I remember teaching my girls to swim when they came from Korea. Used MILs apartment pool. Poor DD1. Just got to America and the gym class going on was....swimming! Had to find a suit for her in November! Never had co-ed classes...let alone junior high co-ed PE in a swim suit. Now I have 2 Grsons who are fish! One surfs and the other spear fishes with "Hawaiian sling". They went out together recently and caught supper. Their mom and auntie never did take to swimming much. MtRider

Little sister I read that and was thinking the 'fruit of the vine' was FOUR FEET LONG. I'm thinking, dang! She's got great soil and perfect conditions! I caught up to reality when you said it was loaded with blooms. Thankful you're home safe, Annarchy. Glad to hear you're marking off things To Do list at the house, Jeepers. Empty basement with a bit of water is nothing like what you came home to originally... Miki....praying you'll get more sleep.....as I'm sitting here at half-past midnight myself. And I FLEW out of bed to answer the danged phone again this morning. THREE RINGS and it hangs up. Blind with sleep and barely negotiating the path to phone out in our 'hall'.....and they hang up?!?! Probably a dumb robo call anyway but let me sleep!! Took forEVER to get my brains caught up with myself after that dash! But I really can't stop doing that cuz....I'm seriously not awake when my body reflex is to run to answer phone! Last nite I got too hot to sleep so shut off lights, fan on, and read Kindle for a bit. Yeah...quite a bit! Forgot I was reading a new book by one of my very favorite authors and ...... shoot, it was 3 am before I finished the book. Hmph! Did not need that phone ringing! Its very nice to have A/C I can relax and not get anxious about how HOT it will get. But...since my chair in LR is directly in front of the A/C.....I had to move to bedroom. I was freezing. But...I was not in danger of hyperthermia! And we could use the oven without danger of being driven out of the house with the heat! Had salad and baked salmon tonite. Wow...lotta smilies tonite. I must be feeling emphatic! (not empathic, mind you) MtRider ..... to bed....soon.

WE GOT THE A/C IN THE WINDOW TODAY Got a few other things done too. Watched our "church" ...one in O'ahu. DH got to rest today - except for the A/C. He did geese/duck for the night while dog and I went a ways down the road. Not far tonite - 6/10ths. Was nice and cool in the shade of the western ridge. Am trying to find the instructions to my current "sound amplifier". I'm sending it to my mom - so she can hear her TV without turning it up so loud in an appartment building. She lost total hearing in one ear long ago. In her 90s so hearing in the other ear is getting sketchy. Sending it as early Bday (Sept). Turned a lot of areas upside down looking for the instructions ???? Cuz I'm not sure if it has softer/louder buttons or what. I never throw things away.... so it's got to be somewhere. I've actually cleared out the bedside "table"....the file for appliances,...my PURSE....and shelves by my LR chair. Where else could I have put it....in the past couple months....while I turned my house upside down for the electrical work?????? Oye...it could be anywhere! Oh well. I know most of the functions. I guess if it has louder/softer, I could never discern it. It's just a small box and wire/ear piece. Had to send her an adapter plug in cuz I've just charged it thru my laptop. She has no electronics. Her phone is a desk model. I put labels on some parts - in larger letters. Glad you had a good weekend, Jeepers! You're gonna get back to Indy yet! Pray that you'll get more sleep, Miki. Pray your DS stays off the drugs and continues to act as he should, Little Sister! MtRider

Och! Hard to win, is right!!! Don't I know that one. I had a 10-11am ride today. That means getting up at 7am. But nooooooo.... I'm up at 4:30AM with one of my headaches. Can't lay down - it intensifies! So I got up and had some cereal and took a Nuprin. Thankfully, one Nuprin usually still works...but I was awake by the time it finally knocked it out. I did actually lay on the bed in the midst of getting ready and have a nap. It helped. I was over due for a chiro adjustment in neck! But with DH leaving early and coming home late with extra hours, we just couldn't make it happen. So finally today after our trip "in town" [running into yet a 4th area on our route that had road construction ...on Saturday!!!] ... we finally got the adjustment done. I went to lay down and chill for a while to let it set. Feel much better now. Hopefully, headaches will cease. Usually does. Ride was great...nice morning. Got hot later. Still didn't get the A/C in window cuz ...with adjustment and resting and ......dog and I walked the whole mile tonite (after sun's down). I am so very pleased with that. I've also gotten really excited about the cognitive and physical improvement after all this P.T. - cognitive and of course, the red pills to make it possible!! Proof! Yesterday I actually got on the Internet and read about Instapot. Being SO hot here, I didn't want to use the stove but DH would need feedin' when he got home from 2 clients. So even tho that "R2D2 unit" has intimidated me for a couple years with all it's digital buttons.....I figured out how to turn the (needing to be used) potatoes into potato salad without using boiling water. Pressure steamed them in the Instapot. AND the site said to put two raw eggs on top of the potatoes. The 10 minute steam build up and just FIVE MINUTES to steam it all, will have large-cubed potatoes already cooked soft and the eggs hard-boiled. AND I even found the requisite mesh bowl - exact size needed. AND IT WORKED! Boy I mean that! Cuz what this means is....that my brain really is getting better from all the things L has been telling me to do. Even slightly overheated, I got that potato salad made and in fridge. Fried two burgers on the cast iron slotted fry pan. We had good meal. My brain didn't fritz out like it's been doing - right in the middle of something! Furthermore, as I told my mom about it on the phone later, she said she's noticed a huge difference lately while we talk. Said I sound more like me. And DH was agreeing with her. I went to bed so excited to have confirmation of what I've been feeling too. There's no reason that I can't figure out the Instapot but.... it just seemed to be so complex. Well! Not any more. that Miki gets to sleep better...if not tonite, SOON! Congrats, Becca Anne, on your finished project and bonus and POINTS at work! your plumbers get all prepared for arrival of your friend. Jeepers, hope you're having fun with family..in the pool. Or was it next weekend? But your projects are making progress! Don't wear yourself out and get sick tho. Good haul on watermelon, etc! Annarchy.....how hot is TX and AZ? Lot of power usage on old equipment. Is water restored for your dh and dogs yet? Little Sister.....you seem to have a talent for crunching the numbers and finding the best deal for cost savings. And your GS seems to now be watching these transactions. Pennies add up to dollars!!! MtRider .... Y'all be careful with weather and all the rest of life's challenges!

It's still your birthday in Colorado time (DMT) so Happy Bday Little Sister! Glad you were able to see the close family and talk with the far off ones on your day. And GS is behaving like he should!!! MtRider ...MMMMmmmmm don't mind if I do have a slice!

Iowa on HOT SUMMER NIGHTS..... just when you want to play with the lightning bugs! And northern MINNESOTA Boundry Waters....and 10,000 lakes! Oye! Dont' think I could go back to that. This is the first summer I can remember seeing mosquitoes...and we have a big pond. I may even have a mosquito bite! Thot it was from my almost fall on the steps but it kinda itches and is swelled....not scraped. Hmm.... MtRider

Just to clarify, we were raining as hard as Jeeper's pic showed .....but not the area where the gutters were DUMPING that deluge onto poor jeep! (glad it started for you, Jeepers!) The problem for my friend was the HAIL that was pea size ....fortunately not marble size or bigger which we have frequently.... and was being thrown down hard by wind. There are always stories in CO summer where the hail is breaking windows in cars and even houses if wind is sideways. Plastic greenhouses here are really at risk. (ask me how I know) Tempered glass ones could be. Roofers make a mint some summers here. Today we're much cooler....70* at noon. (thermometer not in sun) I hope my horse ride tomorrow morning is clear.....or at least clear of lightning. Just rain I can handle but CO doesn't do that very often with bringing along thunder/lightning. Miki...did you sleep any better last nite? You're having it worse than me and for me, it's usually just getting to bed at an earlier hour. Have fun this weekend with family, Jeepers. Stay safe in heat, Miki...Annarchy......anyone else in the desperate heat of the south. Hopefully DH and I can hoist that A/C in Sat afternoon or evening. Bad news on the HEAT factor for any of us non-coastal but adjacent to (sorry Mother) or west of the Mississippi river. Here is a pic from AccuWeather for this coming week..... Take precautions for above average heat, friends! MtRider

Yeah, add pea-size hail and that what it looked like outside here today. Thankful for it! El Nino is usually good for CO rain but not elsewhere, I think. MtRider

Are you and MIL .....and your dh doing okay? Beastly weather you're having. Be ever so careful, friend! High in the Rockies....we're reaching the 90's. I can't even imagine that hot and HUMID! Do you ever go outside? We don't have the A/C in yet. Our schedules aren't matching now that DH is working 2 clients MWF. I was gone to another appt. today but took the senior service to let him stay home and rest for a change. However, just after I arrived for appt, the rain began - combined with ice chips. I was on the second floor and you could hear it plainly. Then it began to serious throw down pea sized hail. That got noisy. While I was waiting in lobby for my ride, the secretary upstairs came down to go home. Still raining hard and employee parking lot is down an outside long flight of stairs. I offered her a plastic bag for some protection but she said she wouldn't melt. Unfortunately, just after she would have only gotten a short way, larger pea hail began slamming down with strong wind. OW! Bet she would have liked to hold the plastic bag up to protect from that onslaught! CO Rockies.....gotta be tough out here. She sure wasn't wearing jeans and a hoodie tho...dressed for office and no coat. We drove out of the storm cell and tho it had rained hard, our place was sunny and cooler when I got there. End of the day isn't a good time for this type of project involving moving furniture inside and hoisting that heavy thing into the window. Glad your Indy folks can move up to a good home to raise a small family, Jeepers. Your D-ex can be a dear, can't he? We do need to support our families in these harsh economy days. And support private schools if possible. My Grsons went/are going to private school. Just not possible for all tho. Aw....too bad about your vehicle, Becca Anne! Just in the wrong place! Storms are wild right now! Ambergris...can you put up a puppy barrier that the cats will just leap over? Fun times till she gets the OUTSIDE thing going! MtRider .... yeah, bed sounds good!

We'll win them all over to the prepping sooner or later! Oh.....y'know. I have JUST WHAT YOU NEED! Aren't you glad I was prepared! MtRider

Another hot day here....tho there were some clouds. It helped but then the sun would come out again. I got a big package of bacon...thick slices, out of the freezer. With a knife warmed up with hot water, I separated out 6 long slices. But the rest back in freezer. We've got some ripe tomatoes and some lettuce. BLTs! Cooking the bacon slowly in my huge cast iron skillet wasn't too hot. I usually bake the bacon....all of it at once. Not this month. So when DH finally got home from 2 jobs today, we'd have BLTs with no work. That was Walmart bacon and it was NOT the quality I expected. Couldn't even taste it. It wasn't gone bad.....just wasn't tasty. Rats! What will we do with the rest of that package? Add it to something that has strong flavor? Rats! But it was still supper. With DH working another client MWF, I need to be able to have supper for us. I'm so much better now.....but ....I hope I stay that way. I haven't been the main cook in quite a while. But....I was the only cook for decades so I'll come up with something.....even if I DON'T want to turn on the oven. Wow, Jeepers. That was unexpected news. Will little mister adorable still have the same school? Have fun this weekend with family! for Annarchy driving in dangerous heat. Hope you're hauling several gallons of water, friend. If you had to stop for any reason... you could at least pour it over you - clothes and all. Save you from hyperthermia. Mmmmm..... Miki's muffins look good ...wait. You're baking in THIS heat? Must be southern born! Little Sister, glad your storm didn't do damage...especially your wonderful producing garden! MtRider ....to bed, of course.

Yes, Ivermectin turned my DH's case around in a couple days. And then he got the ALL-over-the-body-rash. Fortunately, I also had a stash of antihistamines for itches. Since I don't drive all the way to town, he didn't have to in his red polka-dotted state. MtRider ....good one, Jayceef! Preppers rule!

Ach..Miki, it's too bad your dh couldn't travel right now. It helps to gather with the whole family at these times. Can he "be there" on zoom? Is his health is doing better? Sheeesh, Becca Anne! I hope you're compensated for your double duty! Glad you can work from home....or Oregon! C0v!D did move remote-working into the 'normal' category. Yeah, that would have been an idea, Jeepers. But electric is all done....and just in time for running the ceiling fan in this heat. So today DH had to travel an hour to the surgeon's office to get last of stitches removed. It went well and he's glad to be done! Driving hurts his back too tho. But we didn't want to have him straining those stitches with heavy lifting or maneuvering. I was feeling pretty good today so before the heat climbed over the ridge too far, I went to the basement [which is accessed by the outside stairs ] and ....ahem, burrowed my way into where we store the A/C box during winter. Not bad, really. Also rearranged some things. A/C unit is in a big, awkward, heavy box. BUT.....years ago I grabbed a couple of light 2-wheeled dollys after suitcases began coming out with their own wheels. Those things are The Best for those of us who don't necessarily wait for someone bigger/stronger to get something accomplished! Hmph! Or when it's a toss up - who's in better physical shape today?? Right? Well I huffed and puffed and got the box onto the dolly and wheeled it right out. There are 15 open steps up to porch. Fortunately, the only window that would work with the air conditioner is on the porch. Better than ground level! 'Course I had to clear out stuff on porch from my reorganizing earlier this summer....things still sit there that would go to the dump if it didn't cost and arm and leg! Don't get me started. No...I did not attempt the stairs myself. After DH was home, ate, relaxed his back, we went down to pull that up the stairs. I'd grabbed a couple of my leather belts, hooked them together so that DH could use that to help lift from the bottom without bending over. I was on the top...definitely bending over, but one by one we rather easily [and safely] got it up the stairs. We didn't get any further. Both kinda spent and ...it's HOT. But clouds were coming in. I could see us with the awkward thing half in the window and the thunder starts to rolllllllllll.... We live way too high to chance lightning. We'll probably finish on Thurs. cuz DH is taking extra hours for a while. Won't be home til late tomorrow. It does take some maneuvering from outside and inside. Gotta move my big heavy chair outta the way....{and the stuff I stash behind it} But with the cloud cover, evening has been much better. Still had to take a shower after being TOWED like I was on water skis....down the road behind several feet of the strong ribbon of the retractable leash. Dog isn't getting out enough with heat so she's been speeding down the road....with me as anchor. Cardio indeed! Last night, with the same scenario there was a problem. As I took dog retractable leash handle and ski pole [aka: hiking stick] in my right hand....and following "orders" to not take the stairs without hanging on [see previous unfortunate collision of my eye socket with aforementioned stairs] my left hand was on the railing. Dog was up ahead on leash, on the porch already. Two steps from the top, I misjudged lifting foot and tripped. I have ALWAYS tripped going UP stairs! Well, yes. The left hand did hang on and all I got was a barely skinned R knee and elbow. Did not fly off the edge. One drop of blood. Cool in house now. Sleep soon! MtRider

My doc informed me that I have to get the tetanus shot [or probably the whole D-tap] from a pharmacy. She isn't allowed to give those. Turf Wars? Still praying Miki! Glad you're not in pain! HOT today. I was actually wearing a chilled gel pack under my baseball cap, ice packs moving around my torso, Chilly Towel strips around my neck and wrists......while DH drove me in for Cognitive Therapy. Soooooo DH and I decided I need to curtail expeditions until fall. Our car's A/C just isn't strong enough. L understood since he actually poured water and squeezed out my Chilly Towel strips so I'd be comfortable during our hour. Said he has a shirt of that hydrophilic material for bike rides. So he gave me the cognitive test again and I scored 27 out of 30... Previously it was 23 or something. All these appointments = Improvement cognitively and certainly physically - walking my tenths of mile daily. Since heat drains me so badly, I didn't think I would be cognitively great but ... I didn't remember the 5 words tho. I've scheduled the next appts in Sept. And I've got homework. And I'll have my hearing aids next week. So I'll be used to them by that time. He warned me not to get frustrated and give up on them. Give the brain time to adjust to hearing/processing the high tones again. Hmm....this should be fun. With DH's back so bad and working and driving too much, I hate to even try to get our window A/C unit in......carried up the stairs from basement. But...we're gonna die here without it. House is not even cool tonite....and just heats up from there in the mornings. DH leaves the back door open at night.....{lions and coyotes and bears....OH MY!} Dog would alert tho....hopefully. She is not Koa. She did alert me that someone was bringing a package today. Right outta the shower with no nuthin' on So I jumped into a pair of shorts and a sweatshirt only. Gracefully accepted package and went back in house. Sheeesh! 'Course I coulda been IN the shower.... MtRider ....ya all take care in the weather ...

I'm surviving our heat. Wearing a Chilly Towel (damp, hydrophylic cloth ) around my neck. And shower/wash hair. Left hair wet - put in a bun and it will be a curly MESS that I'll deal with tomorrow. DH isn't really able to get the A/C window unit up the stairs and into the front window this year. Back hurting from long ago injury and more recent re-injury. Also, he hasn't gotten his stitches out from his surgery on back yet. So....I'm working around this heat. Like an idiot, I baked scalloped potatoes and used the last of the ham two days ago. Add to the heat in the house?? Sheeesh! We did switch very quickly from being on the nicely chilly side to Way Too Hot For Me! But I've learned ways to beat it here. And once the sun dips below the ridge west of us, we're good. Cools down and fans keep going to draw it into the house. Going into town tomorrow tho...... My cognitive appt for which I've spent several interesting hours on 'homework'. Our vehicle does not have strong A/C...... so I'll be bringing the large and small ice/gel packs. And I really can't go with DH to his In-Town surgeon follow up appt on Tues. It's too far with low functioning A/C. He gets the final stitches out tho. The long drive is bad on his back. for Miki and GS to get thru this painful stone issue. Haven't experienced it. Is there a way that you don't get a repeat? I'm envious of Kappy/CSMary and Becca Anne and Little Sister for the fresh garden eating they can enjoy. Jeepers..... I'll just pray everything for you. Health. Banking. House ...both of them. Just ready to call it DONE in Ohio.....just a little longer..... Glad you were able to have some fun in Amishland tho. MtRider

Good to hear from Kappy/C.S. Mary. So sorry you had to do the back surgery TWICE! I'm sure rehab was just as "fun" the 2nd time around. Hope your hand can be rehab-ed too. Total envy of your own garden produce, of course. Chickens in the bathtubs..... Yeah, we had them in the basement but ...they are messy cute critters! A puppy, Ambergris? You're settling in, aren't you? Glad you'll have a dog then. Yay for the new freezer, Annarchy. Especially in this so called "Heat Dome". Can't imagine what it's like to walk outside for even a minute in your heat. Dry heat or not! for Jeepers' house repairs/maintenance.....and for just the right people to absolutely LOVE their new home! Soon! for GS and Miki ......to be relieved soon! So glad, LittleSister, that you could normalize your relationship with your GS!! that he never goes back to the drugs that warp his mind/emotions!!! I 'bout had a heart attack when Doggie Dear was barking on the porch this morning...at the lone duck on the pond quacking her head off. WHERE is everyone else down there? We've had a couple indications there might be a predator but.... I'd just staggered out of bed so had to change clothes and get some shoes on...and grab phone [cuz w/o DH home, I really should never go without it...even with life alert device] Had to go way over to see the near end of the pond and .... The rest of the crew was there on the bank sunning and preening. Loud Mouth had joined them by then and all was well. So starts the day with critters! Have been trying to do my Cognitive assignments but kept getting interrupted. I did walk dog. And keep whacking off the flower heads of the gigantic thistles growing along the road. When we first moved in....long long ago, DH and I uprooted SO many of those from the berm and ditch and around everywhere. Took years to get rid of them. Digging them out by hand. So while they have a lovely purple flower, the spikes on those things are nasty. My old horse used to chomp off the flower and eat it. Welcome to it. Then I didn't have to lop off their heads with my aluminum walking stick [aka: old ski pole] . So yeah, the walk was cardio too. Have primary doc appt tomorrow. 'Bout every 3 months check-in since I'm now actively doing things regarding M. S. Sheeeesh. It consumes so much time...and sometimes co-pay. $$ But.....I'm in much better shape than 3 months ago!!! MtRider