redhenfarm

Good morning. Snowmom, I'm glad you are here and that they invented the pacemakers. I'm always amazed at the things people invent like this. It surely has made a difference for you. The camper sounds like a great way to travel. When my kids were little bitty things my sister gave us an old canvas tent that we camped in for quite a few years - usually just here in Oregon or Washington. The last time for me was about 1992, the kids were teens. The air mattresses got mighty hard, felt like my hip bone was imbedded in the ground from sleeping on it and when I needed to get up in the night to make a trip to the bathroom I had to crawl over everyone to get out. So a camper sounds like a good way to go. Brigid, What color are you painting the bathroom? We just did that and I'm sure glad it's done. DH put bead board about half way up the walls because of damage so it's now white bead board and light yellow walls like butter color. It's 46 and raining here. I think you'll hear that a lot from me. Jan

Joan, What a difficult situation all around. Praying you'll know which way to go. Jan

Snowmom, Great information. Jan

I hope everyone is enjoying Valentines Day. The rain has come back so the old groundhog was right - spring isn't here yet. My husband told me he saw lambs a couple of days ago so we're going to drive out to see them some time today. Bobbi seems to be more peaceful (not running from cat box to cat box) but I can't tell if she is "going" yet. I'm thinking the antibiotics are working. Snowmom: Where will you go when you get a camper? Do you travel a lot? I saw the campers and RVs out here on Friday-some people are taking a 4 day weekend and then our traffic picks up with people going to the coast. The highway runs right through town. Raccoons can be treacherous. We have a wandering band who visit us regularly but Bobbi lived outside year round til we took her in and she is very crafty about getting around those critters. Hope everyone is feeling better. Jan

Happy Valentines Day to everyone. I agree - I love that cheshire cat and all the hearts and swirls. Jan

Here I am at the tail end of the day again. So glad it's Friday. That means tomorrow I get to sleep in and no rushing around for anything. Yay. One of our cats has been making many trips to the cat box without being able to "go" beyond a drop so DH called the vet today and found out he had surgery and is having to refer his patients elsewhere until he can be back (sure hope he gets back okay because I like him). We are giving Bobbi antibiotics-sure hope it kicks in soon. Jan

Good afternoon. It is sunny and will be about 61 today (I can almost feel the snowballs coming my way!). The rest of the news is the rain is coming back. So I walked in the garden at work today while the weather was good. The wind was blowing and making strange noises in the trees on the hill. No birds or deer today because the students have been working on a project there (looks like they are putting in a sprinkling system). The student assigned to my office is being a major pain today. He is just sitting at his desk, sulking and doing as little as possible. Imagine one of your kids in their worst teen moods and you've got it. I think if it continues this afternoon I'll send him back to his classroom. Who needs it? Lois: Sounds like cutting your Mom's meds was just the ticket for her. I've heard it's good to have seniors meds evaluated now and then. The worst car ride with cats I've ever had was when we moved here. DH drove the moving van, DSs went in a pickup and I got elected to drive the car with the cats. I had a beautiful Ragdoll (like a long hair siamese but with a regular cat face, not like a persian) but she was crazy and I thought she was going to have heart failure the whole way down-2 hours worth! Did I ever drive fast that day. I was the first one here. Snowmom: I think you've had enough snow. Is this a typical year or how long will it last? Jan

Hospice is a great program and I'm forever greatful for the help they gave my Dad. (((((((((Goose Liver))))))))))))

Here I am at the end of Wednesday. Busy day for me. Becca Anne - Sure glad the fire didn't turn out worse. Your children are well-prepared. Snowmom: Both of my cats were strays who lived outside. Jane (the fatty) was rescued from an industrial parking lot by my son when she was a few months old. She ballooned after she was spayed. Is that like us gaining weight after we had kids?! Still I've had other cats that were inside cats who didn't have the problem. The vet says she is healthy. I'll probably have to sign her up to the group. Today was so beautiful and I didn't get out except to the car and back.

Well, it's good afternoon now. I'm home for lunch. It's such a beautiful day I don't want to go back to work! I could do some weeding and plant my sweet peas and it would be so much more fun than what I usually do. I enjoyed chat last night, too. I have a tabby cat who should join our group - she is 20 lb. Only cat I've every had who is fat. We have monitored her food and she doesn't eat that much. Life isn't fair sometimes! Wonder what Dr. Phil would say to her? Or me? Diinmi, Hope all goes well with your dogs. Vet trips are hassles. We take ours one at a time.

I did 3 miles. Jan

I feel like I blinked and the weekend was gone and Monday is here . The student working with me until mid-March tries to demand a lot of attention - like if he's sitting still for one second and the phones aren't ringing he has to whine about being bored or wanting special attention. Bleah! Okay, attitude adjustment. I have to do this. Jan

I plan to be there. Jan

The English Breakfast Murder by Laura Childs. Also DH is reading to us "A Light In the Window" - one of Jan Karon's Mitford series.

Good morning all. I'm the first one up. Grabbed my robe but not my slippers and my feet are coooold after trying to call the cat back in a couple of times (no, she didn't come in). Our birthday dinner last night was a real treat. The restaraunt is in an old Victorian house. The chef also bakes and sells his bread locally (best bread you can get around unless you make some yourself). His wife is a potter and makes her things in the basement. First course is the fresh bread and butter, then potato leek soup, salad of mixed greens slices of orange and slices of kumquat in a light dressing, then a small slice of quiche, then a choice of about 4 things. I had a braised chicken which was great. The guys all had pork with homemade apple/pear sauce and my daughter in law had ravioli with sweet potato and don't know what else. It usually takes an hour and half for dinner and you're always too full for dessert even though each course seems small. We talk and visit the whole time-somehow we don't manage to do that at home. Of course, if we were at home it would be me jumping up and down and cooking, serving and cleaning up! I can imagine those of you who get a lot of snow get tired of it. We had 3 days in January which I didn't enjoy because I had to get to work. We get so much rain we don't plant until late May or June for most things. It can look dry but you kneel down and your knees get soaked through. Snowmom: What colors are you using in your new quilt? Cat: Ditto to Snowmom about adult kids. My oldest is 33 and just got married in October. My heart aches for my youngest son who would like to settle down but his big criteria (my words, not his-just what I observe) is whoever the lady is she will have to listen to him on a number of subjects and be able to talk about them and he's been discouraged about ladies who act interested and then when he asks them out announce that they already have a boyfriend. Makes a Mom's heart sore that he doesn't have anyone. On the other hand, there could be someone I'm not so thrilled with. All that to say, yes, it's a lifetime job. Momo: Hope that extra sleep helped your husband heal a bit.

I switched from the natural to the Synthroid generic about last March, the month before gall bladder surgery. After the surgery I told my doctor I didn't feel well, low energy and she insisted my thyroid "numbers" were right. I will have to pursue this. Thanks for the input. I know the stuff I was taking was very cheap, too. Jan

I am Hypo. When I first started on thyroid meds I lived in a large city with a lot of alternatives. I was seeing a naturopathic doctor so when my MD prescribed Synthroid, the ND gave me a natural thyroid which worked fine up to last year when my levels were increased; however, my current doctor (and all doctors in the small city I live in now) do not know how to work with alternative medicine so I am back to Synthroid or the generic.

Wow, Snowmom, what a process in laying out the quilt! I'll bet it will be beautiful. I think it is going to be clear here today (meaning no rain). I've been out to replenish the bird feeders. I'm just about to start my luxurious third cup of coffee (usually I can get in one and a half before I have to dash out of here and I don't like feeling rushed). Our youngest son is here and we're all going out to a favorite restaraunt to celebrate his birthday tonight. Today when the lawn dries off a bit I want to go out and see what's happening in the yard. I love the lavender which stays green all year long. My husband brought back some neat pieces of driftwood (big) to put among the plants on the side of the driveway. I love Saturdays! Jan

How funny! DH "brews" most of the time but in case he complains I have an answer now. Jan

So much fun reading about what's going on in England. Made me want to run out to see if my tulips are popping up and I could just about smell the orange curd. Jan

This sounds like great fun. Count me in. Jan

Welcome. Come sit by me on the porch, I'm pretty new, too. I'm thinking the cocoa and treats being offered here are calorie free for those of us in the weight loss group. Jan

Welcome. Tell us what you are painting on rocks. I have one with a curled up cat on it. I'm an empty nester with two adult sons. I live in Oregon. Jan

Surprise! It's raining here again. Rained yesterday and will rain tomorrow. High 47 Low 39. It's still dark here and I have to blast out of my chair in a minute to get ready for work. It is so hard this winter to do that some days because this is the first winter my husband is retired. Wah! I wanna stay home, too. But private health insurance is so expensive - off to work I go. There's got to be something good today. Getting done with work? Jan

Thanks for the input. I would try cinnamon but will research before I take the Lotensin. Jan