redhenfarm

Are we still out on the porch sippin' tea or coffee for the fearless? My son makes the best shortbread cookies and he told me he was going to add a touch of lavender to them this Christmas. Wouldn't that be good with tea! Maybe he should practice early?

Oh, good! This is the post I was looking for.

Getting close to noon here. Two loads of laundry in process. Balanced the checkbook (oh, joy). I put Liquid Plumber in the main bathroom drains but trying to go to a system where I pour boiling water down the drain and is it vinegar or baking soda or both? It's only 44 here right now. Brrr. I loved reading about Buttercup's wood cooking stove. That would be great for warming the house. She mentioned her electric bill being so high and I wonder if there's not enough insulation so the warmth is escaping? Wouldn't it be fun to head on over there while she's cooking up something and warm ourselves in her kitchen?

What a welcome invitation! I've never had rosemary tea and I've got a thriving rosemary bush. The sun is out here but it is cold - 40 degrees. Brrr. Getting my cup of tea and turning the space heater back on.

Karen, Off white is great because whatever color of things you put on it will add the color. I love things that look like something from my childhood, too. I have a rocking chair that belonged to an "aunt's" (family friend) father - so we're talking 1880s I think. I love it and she gave it to me when my kids were babies and I hope some day I'll have grandchildren so I can pass it on. If not, I guess I'll be an old lady rocking in it myself. Buttercup: Your stove fascinates me, too. Do you make coffee on it? We're so spoiled - wake up, grind the coffee in an electric gizmo and just pour the water in the electric coffeemaker and wait a few minutes. Keep telling us about how it works for you. I've heard it makes the best homemade bread. Unike: Aren't ya glad the kids are back in school?

I've been up since 5:30 and it's been that way since we returned to standard time. But I am 3 hours later than some of you. I go to TOPS this morning and see if that halloween candy did any damage. Also need to stop by the post office - I like to go in the next town over where parking is better. When I get to have a choice over stamps I like cute ones instead of the same old thing but now it's even better because I buy them online and I'm not limited to what the local post offices have on hand. Then today it's dusting and . Karen: What color did you paint the hutch? Hope everyone is having a good day.

Everyone votes by mail in our state so my ballot went out a week or so ago and I did vote where my heart is. They are reporting higher ballot returns this year.

One misty moisty morning when cloudy was the weather I happened upon an old man dressed all in leather Dressed all in leather with a cap under his chin Saying "How do you do" and "How do you do" and "How do you do" again. Raining here, too. I get my hair cut this morning, then down the hill to town to pick up some copies of pictures a cousin loaned me. This is my birth family and all of these were new to me. Then a few groceries from the co-op and home to do housework. I don't plan to listen to election results or anticipated results until later tonight or tomorrow even. One of our stations this morning even announced all the complaints about their projections and projections of projections, etc. but on they go. By the way Oregon does all voting by mail. This is a good cup of coffee this morning and I'm heading over to get another.

Happy birthday, Alclary!

We remembered. DH does most of the changing of the clocks. We were up bright and early anyway. When I was a kid it seemed there was one main clock and an alarm clock to change. Now there seems to be a clock on everything.

Good news. The property manager met with DIL and gave her the key so we packed and loaded the truck all day and will take off early tomorrow morning. It's the kids first anniversary so I'm very thankful it all worked out. Unike: So sorry the house fell through but glad you found out in time about the problem landlord. We rented from a fellow once who would come over to fix something on the house with a black eye while his wife sat in the car the whole time. I had to wonder what was up with that. He also told us he borrowed on the house so they could go to Europe and then he could barely make the house pay for what he owed on it. When I found a job he decided to try to raise the rent $200/month so we moved. I hope you find another dream house in a reasonable situation.

I hope it's a good day for all of you. Mine is starting out very frustrating. As some of you know my son lost his job in September and his wife was laid off the next week due to budget cuts. She moved back to Portland to look for work, staying with her mother in her small apartment. She found a job which starts Monday. Next we waited to hear if they were approved for an apartment and yesterday we got word they were approved. So daughter-in-law was waiting for a friend to pick her up to take her over to pay the fees and receive the keys. The friend never showed up so finally DIL takes public transit to take care of these things arriving at the property management office at 4:40 as the staff were leaving (she was told they close at 5) and wouldn't let her pay or receive the keys. Unless the person she has been dealing with answers his phone messages from her, we have to wait until Monday. This is soooooo frustrating. We are scheduled to pick up the truck today (son doesn't drive - long story - he chooses not to)and we have 2 days. This takes us into Monday and DH has to be back here to work. We have plenty of time to load the truck but unloading and returning the truck and signing off, etc. is a lot of time. DH may have to ask his boss for Monday off. One part of me is furious that DIL didn't get her little bottom over to that office much earlier in the day - but then she expected her friend to be there. Another part wonders about workers shutting down the office early on a Friday. Well, time to hop in the shower and get ready for the next phase. Buttercup: I'm sorry about the no work for a week but glad DH is still employed. I sure wish our town/state would observe trick or treat on the last Friday in October instead of falling on a Sunday. Turn your clocks back tonight (that always confuses me!).

It's afternoon here. This is the day I go to water aerobics early with a friend. When I got home from that I found out our son and his wife were approved for the apartment so we will be helping him finish packing tonight and load up a truck tomorrow. Things are coming together. She has a job, they have the apartment and now he needs a job when he gets moved up there. I will sure miss having them here but I'm glad for them. The apartment is in a good place for public transit and nearby grocery, etc. I waited until today to buy Halloween candy and then wouldn't ya know I ate four pieces. After all they are those little tiny Snickers bars Unike: That sounds like a neat house you are moving to. Dawn: Even though I'm late I'm praying for your husband's job. Have a great Friday and weekend everyone!

Quilty: Glad everything went well. If you need to put your foot up while you're on the computer I always found a pillow on the tall wastebasket worked. Spider: Hope all goes well for you today. There is some blue sky up there amidst the rain clouds and I need to get out there and replenish the bird feeders. I may have to quit feeding the birds because we've had mice in the house again and I saw a big Norway rat outside one day. Ugh! They come in from under the house in a tiny place where the furnace pipe goes. I put two packettes of rat poison in there now and "somebody" has taken the packettes right away so hopefully they go somewhere else to die and we won't be left with a stinky mess. Also "something" knocked the box of detergent off the washing machine yesterday and I've got that to clean up. Have a good Tuesday everyone.

I've still got some coffee on if you'd care for a cup. Lots of choices of tea, too.

Come on up on the porch and visit awhile.

Do you really live by a creek or is it a dream you have for the future? Hope to get to know you better.

Spider, They say the cyber food has no calories or unhealthy benefits.

10/10-16 14.5 miles 10/17-23 15 miles

Wow! Thank you for the birthday greetings. I don't know how to act dressed like this - I'm usually a corduroy stretch pants, warm top and tennis shoes type person. This is fun for a change and I guess I can sit any old way in cyberland . Jan

True! Since I'm not working I love having time to take care of my house and husband. Now, did you know that the person below loves to sing?

I'm here late again. We had a beautiful day with only a bit of rain at one point. Just what I hoped for since it's my 58th birthday. DH asked what I wanted to do and my request was good weather so we could go for a walk (3 hours out at the state park seeing many wonderful things) and a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. I'm avoiding food/drinks like that to lower my cholesterol and my goal is to be as healthy as I can be. I was out of town yesterday and got to have lunch with Mom and DS#2 - today was DH & DS#1. Welcome Quilty. Good to see you back Snowmom. Unikemom: Was the harvest like the school carnivals I remember? Parents volunteered to man booths of games like balloon darts or throw a ring over the pop bottle and the kids would win a prize. I helped with that one year and one thing all the volunteers loved to do was be sure the kids got a prize. Theyd: I hope it was a good day for you. Jan

Thanks for the input. I am more encouraged that I can improve the LDL (and many other things) with healthy diet.

My thought was I wonder if the water would still be warm by the time I did all that scrubbing and wringing by hand! Or if I'd have energy to enjoy that tea. Jan

Since I now have health insurance again I made an appointment to see my doctor. I've been exercising a lot since July but haven't lost much weight even though I was trying. Good news was the A1C (blood sugar for last 3 months) was 6.2 (good) but bad news was the LDL was 113. Since I am diabetic, my doctor started me on Lescol (prescription to lower cholesterol). I asked what the alternatives were and she told me if I lost weight and my LDL is lowered she will take me off the medicine- so I agreed to that. Since that piece of news I've been eating much more carefully - avoiding fats except olive oil and some canola, eating lots of vegetables, fresh fruits and whole grains. So in that week I lost 1-1/4 lb. - which is great and I also feel better. Anyone else successfully lower LDL or other cholesterol?