May 15, 2010 - Msg 79089: Ro, I know my wife well enough to know when she is serious, and she was serious about voicing her reasons for pulling Kai out. If she was just thinking out loud, she wouldn't have been trying for so long now to convince me to take Kai out.
That said, she does like to "yank my chain", but I was trying not to overreact whenever she would bring this up, lest it turn into an all-out battle that she has to "win".
I'm still grateful to the Lord that it has turned out this way so far, and I am taking it day by day now.

Now, I think maybe I should change the subject and talk about something we can all get into: Squirrels.
We have a squirrel that lives in our back yard that Kai named "Nutty Squirrel"(You all know about Kai's logical names for her pets, and this apparently is no different). He is called Nutty Squirrel because he was chasing around some birds one day and he just looked like, ...well, like a nut.
We know him because his tail was pulled, or bitten, off at the tip so he has a shortened tail.
Even though he is a nut, he is also pretty smart. We had put some corn(on the cob, dried) on the squirrel feeder that Kai had made the first time she went to summer school, and later found that Nutty had taken the corn(the whole cob) up his tree and wedged it on the lower part of a branch, I guess so he could eat it in private.

I think he's a nut. Kai named him pretty well.

Night all.
And thank you, Possum.

-Sterling Holobyte


May 15, 2010 - Msg 79090: Wow. Two sweeps in a row. I am on a roll.

-Sterling Holobyte
May 15, 2010 - Msg 79091:
Sterling- God works in mysterious ways, my friend!
I got a letter from PappaBear and he moved to Indiana!! He is one roving bear lately. Maybe he's coming out my way one state at a time! haha
have a good concert Rev!
In the sweet by and by...
MDC

May 15, 2010 - Msg 79092: Well, I thought I was going to sleep in this morning but woke up after a terrible dream...more like nightmare and it is 5:30. I just hate having bad dreams. It doesn't happen often, thankfully...probably ate too late or something. We had company last evening and ended up sitting around the table until after 10 nibbling on brownies.

I have known alot of nutty squirrels, Sterling...funny little animals! I never see one out here on our place, though...not sure why that is.

Well, I think I will try to go back to sleep for a little while since its saturday!

Boo
May 15, 2010 - Msg 79093: I told Spot not to get up and do his Chippendale's dancer impersonation at the Gigolo Club last night, Boo! I almost had nightmares too after that! LOL
Take yourself a nice long nap today!

MDC, Pappa Bear moved again? I just sent him a letter-guess it'll be returned to me soon. Please let me know when you get his new address in Indiana-thanks!

You are welcome, Sterling.

Let's go to IHOP for pancakes this morning. And Spot,lay off the horn when you drive past Boo's place- she's sleeping!

I miss Asa too-hope he's ok.

************
possum u.a.r.
May 15, 2010 - Msg 79094: Good afternoon, porch! Sterling, of course you're right, and it is as I said - I wasn't there, and didn't hear the original conversations. Therefore, I should have kept my wonderings to myself. No offense, my friend, and I'm so happy for you, the way things are going right now.

Squirrel stories? Oh my! I have dozens. Right now, I still have those three little small ones I mentioned a while back. They haven't grown any more, so I think they're as big as they're going to get. They are just so small! Cute as little buttons, though. When it's just them out there, I forget how small they are, until a normal-sized squirrel comes on the scene, and then the difference is striking. As small as they are, though, everything is there and it all works! You should see them racing around the yard, up the trees and down, chasing each other. They are sooo cute!! Just now, one jumped from the tree to the bird feeder, used his little nose to lift the lid and climbed into the feeder, tail and all. He's sitting in there now, just stuffing his little face with seed.

Oh, if you want to have some fun with the squirrels and some dried corn, take a short length of bungee cord, attach a couple of eye bolts to one end and hang it somewhere, with the bolts at least two feet from the ground. Then twist the bolts into the ends of a couple of ears of that corn, and sit back to watch the fun. If the corn is high enough from the ground, the squirrels will jump up to grab onto it, which of course produces a rebound in the bungee, and they'll just go "boinging" all over the place, hanging on for dear life and trying to eat corn at the same time. Hilarious! My corn-bouncer isn't on a bungee, it's a unit made for the purpose, which was a gift from my daughter, but a bungee would work just as well, I think.

Well, the algae war has begun again, in earnest. Every summer, it seems like all I do is clean out that wretched pond filter. I use Algaefix, I use a flocculant, I use enzymes to de-sludge the bottom, and I have an ultra-violet light on one of the water lines. I have a biological filter, and a pre-filter with debris-trapping fluff (that's what I'm always having to clean out) and I use a net to skim off any visible floating algae. I don't know what else I can do, but if I don't tend the thing every day, it gets really bad. Oh well, it keeps me off the streets, I guess.

Sitting here at my window, I can see four squirrels, one fat pigeon (unusual to see just one), two graceful little doves, two ratty-looking grackles and a very busy robin who is searching for worms in the rose island. On Thursday there was a pretty little goldfinch, so I went to Lowe's and bought a metal thistle seed feeder and some seed, but haven't hung it yet. I had a thistle sock, but the squirrels shredded it, the little dears. Maybe they won't be able to destroy this metal one, but I'm not going to bet the ranch on it.

Well, guess I'd better go catch a nap. I have to return to work tonight - yuck. Working tomorrow night as well, so I guess church is out of the question for me tomorrow. I hate when the schedule falls this way, but someone has to cover Sundays, and I guess it's my turn. Be blessed, friends --Romeena
May 15, 2010 - Msg 79095: Shhh possum...now Miss Sherry dont go out of town till tue...mum"s the word...ha ha...gang Storms here last night...worked 22 straight hrs yesterday..got off around noon today...whew...Rev and race fans Nationwide race is on....Gordon on the pole tomorrow... they are racing in Dover Delaware...we have any porchsters from Deleware?...dont recall....well let me get the grill ready and we will have a big bbq tonight...back in just a bit...SPOT
May 15, 2010 - Msg 79096: Uh, oh! Close call with Miss Sherry, spot! Ha Ha

A bbq sounds great! I'll bring the baked beans and sweet tea- see y'all at the doghouse!

*************
possum again
May 15, 2010 - Msg 79097: Could somebody bring me a plate of bbq? A little tater salad and some baked beans would be nice too - and some of Maude's slaw, please. I'll be at work at the hospital, but I'll take time to eat. --Romeena
May 15, 2010 - Msg 79098: OK Ro, I'll stop by SPOT's and get you a plate and bring it to the hospital...hope you have a decent night at work.

Boo
May 16, 2010 - Msg 79099:
Possum- TMI, if you know what I mean! ha
Oh , and I'll email ya PB's new address.
It's a po-duck little town called Cayuga!
Spot, Rev, My D-backs really spanked the Braves! Ouch! Broke us out of our losing streak!
ha ...er...thanks (:
RO- my, I think you have a little animal playboy mansion back there! ha
Well, ya all behave yourselves, it's off to preachin' tomorrow.
MDC

May 16, 2010 - Msg 79100: Wow- what an empty Porch! Can't believe nobody has posted all day- where y'all at???

*******************
possum under a rock
May 16, 2010 - Msg 79101: Just woke up, Possum. Went to preachin', came home and had a good lunch with family...MIL brought over a roast with all the trimmings, then after cleaning up I took a little nap and here I am! Don't know where everyone else is, though. I know Romeena worked last night and works tonight so she is probably asleep, I hope.

Nice day outside...warm but not oppressive yet. Humidity is up, though. Bruce is out working on the fence so hopefully it will be done this week.

Please remember my dad in your prayers today. I am going over to check on him in a little while. He was complaining of some chest discomfort that is "different" than usual but doesn't want to go to the doctor. St. Susan told me this morning that yesterday she came into his room and he was sleeping in the recliner but his color was so bad she really thought he had passed away. He is 84 and has health issues. I am going to try to get him to let me take him to the doctor tomorrow. On a brighter note, you remember we have been praying for him for so many years to come to Christ and I found out that he has been calling his brother who is a retired minister and asking for prayer. That is a surprising step in the right direction.

Well, better finish up my coffee and get ready.

Boo
May 16, 2010 - Msg 79102: Hey Boo! Man, I was feeling like the Maytag repairman around here!
Will be praying for your Dad. That is wonderful about him asking for prayer. I hope God can touch his heart.
Just heard that a girl that grew up in my neighbor lost her husband. He was playing outdoors with his boys last night & had a heart attack. His death leaves her with 4 boys to raise all alone. One has been fighting brain cancer most of his short life. I believe he has been in remission for a few years now. Please remember Kelly and her sons in your prayers. Thanks.

Have a good evening, Boo. Maybe tomorrow the Porch will be nice & full again!

*******************
possum under a rock
May 16, 2010 - Msg 79103: NeighborHOOD. She didn't grow up in my neighbor- geesh! Sorry about that.

possum again
May 16, 2010 - Msg 79104: Good evening, porch! Boo, you're right, I did work last night, came home and went right to bed, slept all day! Then as I was about to get up and start getting ready to go back, the phone rang, and it was the hospital. They're down to five patients, have four nurses scheduled, so need to lose a couple of us. Oh yeah! They know they can count on me. So I'm home tonight. I'm the second cancel, so if things heat up, I can be called back, but that's highly unlikely.

I got that thistle-seed feeder hung yesterday for the goldfinches, and now there's not a goldfinch in sight, naturally. There is, however, a very determined and frustrated squirrel on the feeder. He has examined it from every angle, climbed all over it, tested his teeth on the metal mesh, and is now perched on the bracket that supports it, swishing his tail around in a very exasperated manner. The feeder has one fatal flaw, but he hasn't discovered it yet. It's suspended from the bracket by a nylon cord. He'll soon realize he can chew through that, and when he does, the whole thing will fall to the ground. The design is such that it will open when there's no more tension on that cord, and he'll have a big pile of seed to roll around in. However, my mama didn't raise any dummies. I have several lengths of decorative chain, of various weights, stashed in the garage. Tomorrow I'll replace that cord with a piece of chain, and Mr. Busyteeth will be foiled. Ha!

Possum, that's a prime example of how we read by context and expectation. I never even saw the "neighbor", but read it as "neighborhood" because that's what I expected to see, in the context of the sentence. Prayers for Kelly and her family, of course. That's awful - what a terrible thing to happen.

Well, the irises are finished - just two blooming right now. The roses are done as well, but will bloom again in a few weeks, since I pruned them down. Daylilies are starting, and stargazer lilies are blooming as well. Dianthus has finished blooming, and looks pretty ratty. I'll shear it off very low, and with enough water, it will probably bloom again. Pansies, the sissies, are starting to faint, as our temps are getting above 85. Petunias aren't looking too good. I put a couple of flats of them in the new iris bed we built last fall, and they're just sitting there. I think the compost we put in the bed was too hot, and they don't like that. It wasn't quite finished breaking down. A little dry molasses should sweeten it and help some. Knockout roses are blooming wildly, and the hydrangeas are just making a spectacle of themselves. Impatiens are coming on strong, so there's no lack of color back there. The nandinas are just covered with their little nondescript bloom heads, but by fall, those bloomheads will become huge clusters of red berries and will be just beautiful through the winter. What a great plant! I love nandina!

Well, guess I'll go hunt up something to eat. There are possibilities - I've got a can of chili, a fresh head of lettuce, a tomato, some cheese and some Fritos. Sounds like a taco salad to me. A few dashes of Tabasco, and I'm all set. By the way, have I mentioned the Tostitos brand creamy spinach dip to y'all? Good stuff! I use it for lots of things besides a dip. Instead of mayo in a tuna salad, use the dip. It's delicious! Makes a terrific green pea salad too - just peas, cheese, sweet relish, water chestnuts and the dip. Delish! Try it, you'll like it. Be blessed, friends! --Romeena
May 16, 2010 - Msg 79105:
Possum, no posts you say? What am I , chopped liver? haha (I'm 79099 to your 79100)
Prayers for Kelly and family for sure!
God bless,
MDC
May 17, 2010 - Msg 79106: Oh,I saw your post, MDC,but you mentioned "church tomorrow",so I thought you wrote that sometime Saturday. But,now I see the date of your post as May 16th. I'm confused! LOL

Thank you for the prayers. Just read the obituary- he was only 45.So sad.

Let's go to the Diner this morning for breakfast-see y'all there!

*******************
possum under a rock
May 17, 2010 - Msg 79107: Poor Kelly...prayers for her and her boys. My Dad's father passed away at age 40 and left my grandmother to raise four boys in 1940. Those were some tough times, I'm sure but God was with her and she more than prospered. May the same be true for Kelly.

Glad you got the night off, Ro.

See ya at the diner, Possum....

Boo
May 17, 2010 - Msg 79108: Friends,hope you are all doing good.I hope I can post today,I've been having trouble posting for awhile now.Spot did a chippendales dance at the Gigolo club and I missed it?Please tell me Possum or Boo took pics with thier cell phones!Lol-ky girl
May 17, 2010 - Msg 79109: We can post it on youtube,miss sherry will know about this haha,just kidding Spot-ky girl
May 17, 2010 - Msg 79110: Shhh... we've gotta keep Miss Sherry from hearing about our escapades, ky girl!

YouTube would never be the same, believe me! Spot was a sight! LOL

*******************
possum under a rock
May 17, 2010 - Msg 79111:
Possum- way out here in AZ we still use sundials! ha, so I cant tell the time after dark! teehee
KY girl sent me an email that said she is having trouble posting, so she asked me to say Hey for her, so "HEY!" (:
May the Lord bless your week. Prayers,
MDC
May 17, 2010 - Msg 79112:
Hello porch family...got in from my weekend tour this morning around 2am. Two days before my wife and I take off for our mini get-away. Looking forward to it.

Well I've got to read the archives to see if ya'll behaved while I was gone.

Love and prayers to you all!
-REV.
May 17, 2010 - Msg 79113:
Oops, I just saw KY girls post above!
Ah, I'm so stupid! A scondrel! ha
MDC
PS- Good dover race
May 17, 2010 - Msg 79114: Good morning/afternoon, porch! I just got up about half an hour ago, so it's still morning to me, though it's actually 12:30. This always happens when I've slept all day, preparing to go to work, and then don't go. I didn't go to bed until after 4 a.m. but maybe things will turn around today. Then I have to turn it back around because I'm scheduled Thursday and Friday nights. Oh well.

Eloise is on her way over, guess we'll go find some lunch somewhere. Maybe a burger at Big State Drug Store. So good, and the old-timey atmosphere is always fun. Guess I'd better get moving, she'll be here in a few minutes, and I'm still in my nightgown! Awk! --Romeena
May 17, 2010 - Msg 79115: Good Monday Porch, just stopping by for a minute. home from our week end in Pigeon Forge for Beths 16th birthday celebration. 6 16 year old girls and 2 19 year old boys sure made for a loud but fun week end. The cabin we rented had was well equipped for 12 people, and up the side of the mountain (literally). A good time was had by all and Beth said this was her
"best birthday ever",

got a lot of things to do (laundry and such) to get ready to go back to work tomorrow.

Prayers and blessings to all.

Big Maude
May 17, 2010 - Msg 79116: APB FOR TOM
May 17, 2010 - Msg 79117: Good evening, porch. Hey, Maudie! Sounds like you had a fun trip. You're braver than I am, taking all those teenagers on a trip like that, but it sure sounds like they had fun. I'll bet you're worn to a frazzle!

Eloise and I had our good ol' burger and a rootbeer float at the drug store, and it was gooood! Then we came by John's garden center, and I got a flat of impatiens to fill in a bare spot I noticed out front. I got them planted, packed them in pretty close so they'll make one of those lovely mounds of color, planted some mint and a couple of verbenas out back, cleaned out the pond filters and fed the fish. Finished just in time! It started raining right after I got in the house, and now everything is washed clean and looks so pretty!

I had a surprise phone call last night from the tribute artist who portrays Gomer on the Cruise to Mayberry. He's coming to Texas and will be performing at my church on September 16. Any porchsters in the area - (Daphne, are you getting this?) - contact me and I'll give you the particulars. Should be a lot of fun. Of course, he'll be on the cruise again, in October. Spot, if you and Miss Sherry don't go this time, I'm going to pull your ears until they're long and floppy!

Well, I need a glass of tea. Got a bit dry, working out there earlier. It was so humid, I just passed right by perspirin' and went straight to sweatin'! Now I can't get enough to drink.

I'm reading a very good book right now - "A Shred of Evidence", by Kathy Herman. It's a mystery, very well written, a real page-turner. The characters are developed skillfully, the plot is intricate but not laborious, the dialog is natural and doesn't read like a bad play, and best of all, it's written from a Christian perspective. I would recommend it to anyone.

Well, I'm going after that tea. Be blessed, friends. --Romeena
May 17, 2010 - Msg 79118: Blessings to all the porch family. Busy, busy on this side of the porch with 3 graduations in this family. Gotta run. ~New Neighbor
May 18, 2010 - Msg 79119: No offense taken, Ro. I know how it sounds when I come on here with a big problem, only to say later that it isn't looking too bad. But honestly, that is how my life works some times.
You said what you said because you were trying to help. There is no animosity in your words. You just keep "wondering" all you want. I appreciate your input.

The guy who portrays Gomer; is he the same one who does Gomer for Mayberry days? If so, I have seen Youtube vids of his characterization, and he is pretty good!

Prayers for you dad, Boo. And I am glad he is starting to look for help in the right direction, if you know what I mean. That is indeed promising.

-Sterling Holobyte
May 18, 2010 - Msg 79120: Oops, that's "your" dad. I don't think you are my dad, Boo. ;)

Seriously though, I hope your dad is ok.

-Sterling Holobyte


May 18, 2010 - Msg 79121: Thanks, Sterling. I appreciate your patience with my tendency to run ahead on things. As for the way your life works, I think that could apply to all of us at times. I've had days when I just didn't think my problem could get any bigger, then the sun comes out, so to speak (or maybe it's the Son coming out) and my problem doesn't look so bad anymore. God is good.

To answer your question about Gary Crain - I wish I could! Actually, I'm not sure whether Gary has done Gomer there or not. He performs all over the country, at Mayberry events and other venues, but this is a relatively recent thing for him, so am not sure whether he has done the actual Mayberry Days. I have the impression that I should know, have maybe even been told, but with my leaky memory, I just don't know for sure. I'm positive that Floyd could answer that, though. Floyd, are you there, lurking in the shadows, twiddling your necktie? Can you help us?

Well, guess I'll toddle off to bed. Toye Starr has huffed her displeasure several times, and is now sitting in the middle of the room, behind my chair, trying to stare a hole through me with her big soft brown eyes. I tell you, when that puppy is ready for bed, everybody else had better be ready too! Be blessed, friends. --Romeena
May 18, 2010 - Msg 79122: Mornin' Y'all! I met a Gomer impersonator once up in the mountains of NC. I was at a festival and all of a sudden " Gomer" walks up to me and says " Surprise,surprise!" I talked with him a while,asked if he knew Alan,and he said he did. Maybe this is the same guy. He was pretty authentic.

Happy birthday to Beth! They grow up fast. Hard to believe that Laci will turn 7 in September!

Ok, I got it straight from the horse's ( er, DOG's) mouth that Miss Sherry leaves TODAY! I'm thinking PARTY at Sherry's house! I'm sure Spot has a spare key and can let us in. Y'all gather all your old vinyl albums,cause we're gonna do some dancing tonight! I've got dibs on ky girl's martini glass skirt, unless MDC plans on wearing it again! Boo, are you up to running with me & spot after the party? We'll steer clear of the Gigolo Club this time!
*******************
possum under a rock
May 18, 2010 - Msg 79123: Come on Boo,we will run with possum and Spot,how much trouble can we really get into? Don't answer that!LOL!-ky girl
May 18, 2010 - Msg 79124: Yep, I'm always up to "runnin' with" you crazy people.

Thanks for those prayers for Dad, Sterling, they are much appreciated. I had a little talk with him on Sunday evening and it was pretty discouraging. He said something about not believing the same way that we do and was pretty sarcastic about it. He had no intention of discussing it further so I left it alone.

Forgot to say "Happy Belated Birthday, Beth!"...

Plenty to do today...the laundry is piling up and while i don't mention it as much as I used to, I still get behind now and then. While I like my new washer alot, I find that it doesn't wash as many clothes as i thought it would. If I fill it very full, it doesn't get the clothes clean so sometimes I am washing less clothes than I could be...I just haven't figured out what the right amount yet. Oh well..not complaining because it sure is nice having an indoor laundry room finally.

Better go...gotta make a run to the store.


Boo
May 18, 2010 - Msg 79125: Yep, I'm always up to "runnin' with" you crazy people.

Thanks for those prayers for Dad, Sterling, they are much appreciated. I had a little talk with him on Sunday evening and it was pretty discouraging. He said something about not believing the same way that we do and was pretty sarcastic about it. He had no intention of discussing it further so I left it alone.

Forgot to say "Happy Belated Birthday, Beth!"...

Plenty to do today...the laundry is piling up and while i don't mention it as much as I used to, I still get behind now and then. While I like my new washer alot, I find that it doesn't wash as many clothes as i thought it would. If I fill it very full, it doesn't get the clothes clean so sometimes I am washing less clothes than I could be...I just haven't figured out what the right amount yet. Oh well..not complaining because it sure is nice having an indoor laundry room finally.

Better go...gotta make a run to the store.


Boo
May 18, 2010 - Msg 79126:
Helen: If you're all gonna use a "vulgar" term like "running with," then you can all meet meet me
at the PMS club! haha!
BOO- Just curious, did you read the owners manual that came with the new washer? My wife still does 20 towels in ours and all come out just fine.
Ours is a Maytag no-agitator style.
I sent an email to Alan. he may be able to answer the gomer question.
Prayers for all,
MDC
May 18, 2010 - Msg 79127:
Hello folks.

The other day, I watched the Sermon For Today episode probably for the twentieth time when I suddenly realized a major problem.
This episode involves a traveling minister who preaches at the church in Mayberry about people making an effort to slow down their lives and not be in such a rush.
Then after the service, Aunt Bee, Barney and Andy are relaxing on the front porch when Barney gets the idea to go and get some refreshments. When Aunt Bee asks Barney something like "Where's the rush?", he changes his mind and sits back down.
Then Gomer comes over and mentions that he also wants to get some refreshments. Once again, Aunt Bee interjects and Gomer changes his mind to relax on the front porch.
Then when they get the idea about having a band concert to help them to relax, they all begin to rush around to make the preparations.
Doesn't that seem like a contradiction?

Boo, regarding your clothes washer, is it a top loader or side loader?

from Poor Horatio
May 18, 2010 - Msg 79128:
PH - I see what you are saying, and actually i have often thought the same thing that they stupidly tried to put together something of that magnitude for THAT evening! Also, the preacher himself heads out to another town, so, in a way, HE is contradicting what he just said! haha Writers! whadda you gonna do! lol
MDC
May 18, 2010 - Msg 79129: Gary Crain has done Mayberry Days a few times. I'm not sure which videos you've seen of him? There are several folks that do Gomer but Gary is the best at doing Jim Nabors voice for certain.

--Floyd
May 18, 2010 - Msg 79130:
I see Floyd came by twiddling his necktie, cutting uneven sideburns, and dispensing witch hazel and talcum powder! haha
May 18, 2010 - Msg 79131: Thanks, Floyd! I felt sure that Gary had performed at Mayberry Days but didn't want to say so because I wasn't absolutely positive. I wish all of you could be at my church on Sept. 16, and see him, because he's really good. Or maybe you could go on the cruise? Hmmmm?

PH, Of course it was a contradiction, but I think that was the whole point of the story. I believe the writers knew exactly what they were doing. Don't we all do what the Taylors and friends did? We rush around, work up a lather trying to get things just so, and wear ourselves out. I can remember my parents, working and sweating to get our yard looking like a park, and when it was done, the sun was setting and my dad would say, "Well, that's that. Now I'm going to go take a shower and then watch "Gunsmoke", because it was too dark to enjoy the yard. By the time he carved out a little time when he could have enjoyed it, it needed mowing again and the weeds were sprouting in the flowerbeds. To me, the whole point was the fact that the Taylors and their friends were sitting on the porch, resting and relaxing, not a care in the world, but they couldn't just enjoy that. No, they had to get up and rush around like mad, chasing an idea that was doomed from the start.

Well, I think I'll go put away the rest of my groceries, put a suet cake out for the birds, and play with Toye Starr for a while. Be blessed, friends. --Romeena

May 18, 2010 - Msg 79132: Ok gang im still here....promise I will read tonight....just been busy on my off days...Possum you and Boo still want to have a shin-dig throw down at the barn?...let me know and I will put some boston butts on the smoker...Idol tonight....SPOT
May 18, 2010 - Msg 79133: Hi PH...my washer is a large capacity Samsung front loader. I looked at the one MDC is talking about, the maytag large capacity without the agitator and it probably works better at cleaning large loads because the tub fills with enough water to do the job. These front loaders are supposed to be energy efficient because they use much less water, so it makes sense that if you over-fill them, the clothes won't get as clean as they should. If the clothes have enough room to tumble inside the drum as they should, they do come out quite clean, though. I just have to be careful not to overfill. I am learning how to tell how much is too much I think. I have read the user's manual but probably need to look it over again. One thing I am having a booger of a time with is my stove top. I have one of those ceramic cooktops and I know alot of people love them but I am having heck keeping mine clean. It is white and every single time I cook anything on it, there are these black marks and spots left on it that are really hard to get off. I use the cleanser the manufacturer calls for but it just doesn't work. I even resorted to using a razor blade on some of the spots but that is not good because it might scratch. I do alot of cooking and it is beginning to be quite the chore trying to keep the thing clean.

I made Amish bread today and boy, it was good. I used half the dough to make some cinnamon roles and the other half to make a loaf of bread. It was alot of work so I don't think i will be doing that often. I am going to try to make some wheat bread at some point. I had a hard time getting the bread to rise so if any of you bread-makers have any suggestions, I'm all ears.

Well, I have not seen TAGS in over a week now that they seldom put it on TVLand, so don't boot me oof the porch. I think I will go put in a DVD and watch an ep before bed. Hazel used to watch TAGS right before bed and it helped her get to sleep. Think I'll try it.

See you all in the mornin' with my coffee. Tomorrow is St. Susan's birtday, so it is one of favorite days of the year! She doesn't like to celebrate it but I sure do...I am very thankful for that sister of mine and she has been having a tough time trying to help mom and dad. I have been having to go over more often and try to reason with dad to take some of the pressure off of her. Ya'll say a little prayer for St. Susan tomorrow...

Boo
May 18, 2010 - Msg 79134: "Birtday"? hahaha....that sounds funny.

Boo
May 18, 2010 - Msg 79135: Yep, Ro, that is the whole point of the "Sermon for Today" episode. And why it has consistently made the list for top 20 episodes when voted by TAGS fans. Because most people can relate. You want to slow down, relax, and take the attitude of "what's your hurry?". But in order to do that, we must rush around and get things just right, then we say, we'll be able to "just relax". But we often get so carried away with the things we think we need in order to be able to relax: a clean house, an imaculate yard, a band concert, and next thing you know, we've rushed around all day. It's one of my favorite eps.
You seldom watch TV land, Boo? I can top that. I never watch it. I do still use my DVD player to lull me into sleep, but at this time I'm watching season one of "Monk". I change it around. Before Monk, it was best of "Mister Ed". And I believe before that it was season 1 of "Bewitched.". Since I always fall asleep pretty quickly when watching them, I use the same DVD over and over for several weeks. I tell my husband, if I ever have to go into a nursing home, I sure hope they allow me to bring my DVD player, because I'm adicted to the thing.

-Hazel
May 19, 2010 - Msg 79136: I don't really know what the videos were called, Floyd. All I know is I was meandering around Youtube and found them. Most of them were of the guy doing Gomer wandering around with the guy who portrayed Barney at Mayberry days.



Amish bread, Boo? I never heard of that. Is that bread that you bake while wearing a beard? ;)
Just kidding. I don't want anyone to think I'm "dissin" the Amish. We have a lot of Amish around these parts, and I've always respected them for their faith and the simple but tough way that they live. I have a lot of respect for them.
...Well, except maybe in my first comment. ;)

Boo, if anyone is going to be booted from the Porch, it would be me. I don't even own TAGS dvds yet.(Yes, I do mean to be visiting Weaver's Dept. Store and rectify that. All I have bought from there so far are two calendars. But when I do buy TAGS dvds(or Gomer Pyle if they have them) it will be from Weaver's, I know that much).

Hazel, that's the same type of thing with computers. They were supposed to give us more time and let us do less work, but all it does is make us try to do ALL of our work quicker, so we can get even more work done. Some times I think we were all better off with a pencil and paper.

-Sterling Holobyte



May 19, 2010 - Msg 79137: Good middle-of-the-night, porch! I'm up late, just can't seem to get my days and nights shifted back to normal, and I probably shouldn't anyway, since I have to work Thursday and Friday nights.

Boo, have you tried a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on that cooktop? I'm very impressed with those things - I had a spot on my countertop where some ink had transferred to it from a label or something, and it just wouldn't come off. Liquid cleaners had no effect, nor did SoftScrub. However, about four swipes with a Magic Eraser, and it was gone. Use it lightly, don't scrub hard, and it works.

As for washers, I have a pair of Maytags, both large capacity, and I can wash a set of king-size sheets and pillow cases, plus about six large towels in my washer, and they come out clean. Those machines are over fifteen years old now - Dale bought then for me a year or so before he passed - and they still look and perform like new. I really don't anticipate replacing them - I expect they'll end up in the "estate sale" one of these days, unless one of my kids has an attack of smart and claims them.

Hazel, you're right! Isn't it sickening, how TV Land has abandoned the policy that made them popular, and is now showing stale movies, the same ones over and over, and reruns of "Roseanne"? I do watch "Home Improvement" and "Cosby", but the rest is bor-ing, to say the least.

Amish bread? Is that the one where you feed the dough every day, eventually use part of it to make something, give part away, and keep0 some as a starter so you can do it all again? Makes some really good bread, as I recall. I used to keep a starter of it going, until it nearly overran my kitchen. I would call a friend, say "Would you like.." and the friend would hang up! Starting that stuff is a bit like planting zucchini - you just don't know what you're getting into!

Well, guess I'll play a few rounds of Mah Jongg and then head for the bed. I'm just not sleepy! Be blessed, friends. --Romeena
May 19, 2010 - Msg 79138: Ha! Reading back over the above, it sounds like I have two washers. Not true. I do have a pair of Maytags, but one is a dryer! You probably figured that out, but thought I'd set the record straight. --Romeena
May 19, 2010 - Msg 79139: Hazel?...another reason to celebrate this morning! Great to hear from you. :-):-) So you're a DVD-aholic? I can understand that and if I have anything to say about it and you get to the nursing home before I do, I will smuggle one in for you. BTW, I like the Mr. Ed show...some funny stuff in those eps! That sarcastic, quick-wit of a horse was funny. Now, if they would do a sitcom of my donkey, it would certainly be a smash hit. She is still up to her mischief and would be a great sidekick for Mr. Ed...hey, that would be a good idea for a movie...a remake of Mr. Ed...(with his donkey pal). Work on that will ya Hazel? ;-) You know, you really hit the nail on the head with your explanation about why we can't relax...that is SO me.

Yes, Ro, I have certainly tried Mr. Clean magic eraser and use it on the cook top often but it still takes lots of elbow grease and it doesn't get off all the spots.

Oh Sterling, you're too much. Yes, I was able to make Amish bread yesterday because I forgot to shave (there is some truth in that at my age);-) Actually, it is just white bread with a bit of extra sugar in it. Anyone could make it with or without a beard but wearing a bonnet and a long dress helps the dough to rise....hehe.

Ro, you left out "Everybody Loves Raymond"...they show that for several hours everyday on TVLand, i think. I like the show but you can only watch so much of it, it's not like TAGS. TAGS is, "..the gift that keeps on givin', Clark"....uh-oh, is it already time for quotes from Christmas movies??

Well, St. Susan brought my day over yesterday and he just doesn't look good. He has an appointment today at his cardiologist to have his pacemaker checked, but I doubt that is the problem. I am afraid his time is short...hope I am wrong. He is not ready to go yet.

Better get Erin going....only 9 more days and school is out for summer and I will be going on medicine for high blood pressure!

Boo


May 19, 2010 - Msg 79140: HAHA...somehow I missed that part of your post about the starter for bread, RO! You are talking about "Friendship Bread" and no, I don't mess with that....I have seen people go down that road of destruction! ;-)

Boo
May 19, 2010 - Msg 79141: Morning porch, just stopping by before my getting started at work. cool and cloudy this morning, around 65 degrees or so. supposed to warm to aabout 75 today.

I too am pretty bored with tv land much of the time. I much prefer the old classics as well. I have enjoyed some of the b/w episodes of Bewitched they have been showing on week ends though. not much on regular tv as far as I am concerned.

Beth has about 4 days of school left and she will be finished with 10th grade! Patrick has decided to go to summer school, taking a chemistry class and a history class.

Romeena, have you heard anymore from that specialist?

Better go to work.

Lunch at Olive Garden.

Big Maude
May 19, 2010 - Msg 79142: Ha - had to laugh at the Amish bread and beard joke - we call Amish bread the frozen loaves of bread we get at Kroger or Walmart because it is very common to see the Amish here buying it like that here. Not made from scratch all the time like you think.

Well - Casey has had the cast on one week. He has a bipartite navicular bone that is facing some serious degeneration for his age (13). It is unfortunate for him that we can only treat symptoms because he has some growth left in his feet. (He is at a size 15 right now.) One more week in the cast and then back to the foot ankle orthopedic guy. Ro and Boo - he got his specialist stuff at Baylor - and his practice is called Lone Star Orthopeadics. Eventually it will have to be fused and pinned. I am trying to limit his use of pain meds (he has Vicoden and Ibuprofen and he eats lots yogurt to keep his digestive system working well).

We are done with baby goats for awhile - our last doe kidded with triplets last week. So, Boo - when do your babies come!!?? You will love them so much. We have two new puppies too - to help with the goats eventually. They are anatolian pyrannese and just absolutely the cutest things you will ever want to see.

Need to run!! Hugs and hugs to everyone. . .

hm


May 19, 2010 - Msg 79143:
Hey Folks

Well, it looks like I'll have to kick off an Amish moulage... just kidding. We have a large Amish community around here too. They always setup a fresh baked goods table outside of the local grocery store. Also, a few years ago I was leaving the local gas station, which is the area bus stop, when an older Amish couple got off the bus. They asked me for a ride "to a friends house." We, my daughter was with me, gave them a lift. He spoke nearly none stop until we reached his friends farm. After they got out of the car, my daughter, who was wide-eyed during the trip, asked me why they looked like they were from "Little House on the Prairie."

Good to see ya Hazel.

auh2o
May 19, 2010 - Msg 79144:
Ha, good one Asa! BTW, some shake-ups yeaterday!
HM- Size 15 !! Really? that is one big kid!
RO- What was the name of that super advil you mentioned a while back? I am having cataract surgery next week and might ask if i can use it.
Well, Rev is on vacation, so watch your behavior! ha Especially ky girl, possum and spot! lol
Prayers,
MDC
May 19, 2010 - Msg 79145: Homemaker, sounds like you are taking good care of Casey. Sean sees doctors and residents from Baylor when I take him to Texas Children's hospital in Houston several times a year. We have had some really good and caring residents working with us, alonside his regular doctor.

I am still not sure if my goat is pregnant, HM. When I talked to the owner last time he told me that the goat had kids that she had already weaned but that they had started trying to nurse again so he isn't sure she was able to get pregnant...maybe it kept her from being fertile of something. I guess we will see...is there a way to tell if she is pregnant before she starts showing?

Neat story about the Amish folks, Auh2o.

Boo
May 19, 2010 - Msg 79146: Good morning, porch! Boo, beyond the magic erasers, I don't have a suggestion for that cooktop. Eloise has one, and she has a lot of trouble keeping it clean, too. Stuff burns on, and she almost has to chisel it off. As for me, I think I'll stick with my electric stove. Gas would work as well - for me the attraction is that when something boils over, it's caught in the drip trays, and I can put them in the dishwasher. If that doesn't work, I can replace all four of them for about $10, which I do about once a year. Anything that gets on the surface of the stove usually cleans right off with a little Lysol kitchen cleaner. I was wondering - can you use something like oven cleaner, or would that pit the ceramic surface?

hm, that foot problem of Casey's sounds like a serious thing. Poor kid - it's tough to be battling something like that at his age, but please be careful with the Advil. That stuff isn't as simple and harmless as we've been led to believe. Prayers for him, indeed.

MDC, I think you're referring to Toradol, and it is a great drug - just has to be limited in its use, because it has the same inherent dangers as regular Advil, only more so. As for pain medication after cataract surgery, my guess is you won't need anything. I've had both eyes done, with lens implants, and I never took so much as a Tylenol. I had absolutely no pain. It's a quick and simple procedure. Eloise and I drove out to the eye surgery center, met my doctor there. They started an IV, zapped me with Versed and I remember nothing more. Woke up feeling great, with a light patch over the eye. We went across the highway to a big shopping center, had lunch, poked around a bit, and I returned to my doctor's office, where he checked things out, gave me a metal patch to cover the eye at night, some dark glasses and some eye drops, with instructions, and sent me home. Still no pain. Never did have any. Later we did the other eye, same story. I now have 20/20 vision, which I had never had before in my life. If you've been living with cataracts, you are just going to be amazed at the difference the surgery will make. I was given the Restor lenses (pronounced "restore") and I love them. I can see near, far and in between.

Boo, bless your heart. I certainly understand your concern about your dad. I cannot imagine how hard it must be to face losing a loved one when you aren't sure in your heart that they're right with God. I vote that we here on the porch make that situation a matter of specific prayer, at least daily. Let's do it!

Well, guess I'd better go get dressed. Eddie will be coming through the gate with his lawnmower soon, and I'm sitting at this window in my nightgown! I'd hate to scare the poor guy like that, so I need to put on some clothes and at least brush my hair. Be blessed, porch! --Romeena

May 19, 2010 - Msg 79147:
RO- Thanks for the info. Sounds like it may not be so bad. I usually dont do well coming out of anestisia, but maybe the versad wont be so bad. I do have to tell you something humorous that my brother told me. I mentioned to him that I am having cataract surgery next week, and how they make a small incision, pull out the clouded jelly-like lens and then slip in a piece of acyllic.
He looked at me straight-faced and said, "then why didnt God just use acyllic in the first place!" (:
Brothers! Whatta ya gonna do! and his name isnt even Don. ha
Take care all'
MDC
May 19, 2010 - Msg 79148: Boo - there are a couple of ways to tell if a goat is pregnant but unfortunately, there is no little strip that says yes or no. A vet can do an ultrasound or you can use a doppler. Both cost money. Since it takes 5 months for a doe to kid, you won't know for sure until about 3 1/2 months when she starts forming an udder. And sometimes goats won't drop any milk until right before they kid. And, I have had does get bred a week after they kidded. Sometimes those bucks don't necessarily understand a woman needs some time. It is called quick breeding and not recommended (although done frequently in South Africa where they originated).

MDC - Casey is 6 foot, 230 pounds, 15 shoe and a heart (except for his brother) of gold. Check out the website to see just how big he is or go to our FB page - either way it is Diamond B Boer Goats.

Nightgown Ro - WOOEEEE - don't let Eddie see that!

hm
May 19, 2010 - Msg 79149:
of course i meant acrylic, not the other strange word up there!
MDC
May 19, 2010 - Msg 79150: Ha! You're right, hm, I wouldn't want Eddie (or anyone else) to see that nightgown. It's old enough to vote, and more holey than righteous, I assure you. It would scare the poor man to death! You know the kind I mean - reeaaal comfortable! Besides, Eddie is ever the gentleman. If he got enough of a glimpse to realize I wasn't fully dressed, he'd suddenly get very interested in something at the back of the yard. He's a jewel, that Eddie.

As for Casey, that's a whole lot of young'un you've got there, and I'll bet he's not fully grown yet. My Dale got another half-inch taller after we married, and he was 20 at the time.

MDC, no one could handle anesthesia any worse than I do. Any general anesthesia will cause me to wake up sick, throwing up and miserable. Versed, however, doesn't do that. It's not general anesthesia, it's conscious sedation. You will be able to talk to the doctor and cooperate with the team. However, you will remember nothing about it, as it blocks the imprint of memory while it's in effect. Honestly, if it hadn't been for the dramatic improvement in my vision, I would not have known anything had been done. No pain, no irritation, no discomfort, nothing. Just wonderful vision immediately, and it even improves a bit over the next few days! You are going to be thrilled. Oh, and tell your brother that God didn't use acrylic because He hadn't invented it yet!

Well, I need to go stake up some stargazer lilies. They've gotten too tall, and are now bowed over and lying on the ground. Not too attractive in that position, I must say. Big old beautiful blooms though, and smell sooo sweet! I keep bamboo stakes and some jute-string ties in a hidey-hole behind the arbor, for just such a purpose. A lot of the irises require staking too, they get so tall.

Have a great evening, everyone. Is there a band concert this weekend? --Romeena

May 19, 2010 - Msg 79151: Oh, thank you for being so understanding about Dad, Ro. Prayers for him would mean the world to me.

Boo
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79152: You've got 'em, sweetie. --Romeena
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79153: Well Prayers Boo...and HM I will check him out on FB....well been busy here a t work....caught up now...its about 2 am thu....good old movie called the Plaza suite on the tube...Walter Matthau...its a good one....well I will catch breakfast in the morning at waffle house....ok...gona read sone of the post....SPOT