March 14, 2013 - Msg 92769:
Oh, hi RO, you sneaked in thru that loose porch plank!
We're still waiting for the official verification
from Floyd to get that thing fixed! (:
MDC
March 14, 2013 - Msg 92770:
Speaking of porches...
March 14, 2013 - Msg 92771: swish MDC! good job....SPOT
March 15, 2013 - Msg 92772: Thanks, friends. You are such a blessing to me. Good reminder, MDC... Prayers is more important than any med could ever be. :)

Ro, thank you for your words. You just set my heart at ease. "Sean loves God, and God loves Sean, and it will all be fine one day". Love, love, love that statement. Anyone have a tissue? :)

Well, better go get my shower and hit the ironing board. "The man" never came to fix the dryer today but he called and is ordering parts that will take 3 or 4 days to come in before they can even try to fix it. I guess I will be hanging clothes on the clothesline again tomorrow.

Boo
March 15, 2013 - Msg 92773:
FLOYD: Here's that article. Did you know that the Dingo Dog is indigenous
to Australia?
ANDY: What's a Dingo Dog?
FLOYD: I don't know, but it's indigenous to Australia.


March 15, 2013 - Msg 92774: Boo, Sounds like ya need to "Call a DIFERENT Man", to fix your dryer...Maybe the fish were bite'n and the guy was busy catching some fish? Just a thought...Stay Strong....

G-F...
March 15, 2013 - Msg 92775: Good Friday morning all.

Boo, that is heart breaking about Sean and his girlfriend. You have recieved much good advice from folks here already, so I will just echo those words, and continue my prayers for your family. Isn't it wonderful to have your Faith at times like this to see you through some of lifes difficulties.

And same for Lucy and her family. I pray your hubby can find employment again quick, and that it will be better than what he had.

Tom, hang in there my friend. That is so hard going through your stepdads things, I know. I remember going through my Dads items after he passed. It just wasn't practical for me to keep the things he had kept over the years. For one thing, he grew up in the depression, and anyone who had to deal with that learned you just don't throw things away. And he never did. It was hard going through those things, and discarding them, or giving them away if they had some value still. Of course I kept a lot of things that had sentimental value to me (probably way to much) and I'm sure you will also. You have my prayers to see you through the process.

Hey G-F, you got all them A/C units ready to roll? I haven't even started on mine yet. Still testing and repairing back flow devices. Seem to have a lot of problems with them this year so far. Not sure why.

Got up to the low 70's here yesterday. But calling for rain and snow by Sunday. That means I better get serious about getting my lawn work done tomorrow.

Prayers for all.

Asa
March 15, 2013 - Msg 92776: Good morning, porch! My, everyone is up and about early today. Even me! I've got to get some lab work done, and can't eat until I do. Normally, breakfast isn't big on my list, but when I know I can't have it, I want it. Perverse creatures, aren't we? It's going to be a beautiful day. It's 58° right now, but the sun is shining in a crystal clear sky, so it will warm up. I'm so anxious to start planting color around here, but the mesquites haven't leafed out yet, so it's still risky. Besides, I really don't have the money right now. Sure do wish that income tax thing would get settled and they'd send me what they owe me. If I could get my hands on the person who filed using my identity, I'd smack them so hard their grandkids would feel it, even if they're not born yet! I usually have a pretty forgiving nature, but I cannot tolerate a thief, especially theft like this. This is premeditated, contrived, planned and carefully performed. Whoever did it probably filed a lot of these false returns, maybe hundreds, bilked this country out of possibly millions, and is now residing in comfort and ease in another country, for the rest of their life, with almost zero chance of being caught. It's disgusting. What annoys me the most is that it didn't have to happen. I cannot imagine why the IRS couldn't have seen this scam coming. All the thief needs is your name, SS# and date of birth, because that's all the identifiers the IRS tax return computers use. Those three things can be obtained easily, from any number of sources. Just think about all the places that ask you for that information. Your doctor, your ins#rance agent, the driver's license bureau, your credit union, your bank - just about everyone. The IRS should have implemented a PIN for tax returns a long time ago. It should be a number that is used for absolutely nothing else but your tax return, and is therefore not obtainable by a thief, unless they hack the IRS itself. I know, that has happened, but it's a lot harder than what the thieves are doing right now. Oh well. I'm not going to let all that ruin a beautiful day like today. I've got some early irises blooming - faithful old Halloween Halo - so beautiful and so fragrant. Yesterday I discovered a strange iris, not up on a tall stem, but buried down in the foliage, close to the ground, and it's exquisitely beautiful. It's a pale blue/gray color, a huge bloom, and I don't know who it is. I'm hoping I left the tag on the rhizome and can find it, because the thing is gorgeous and I'd like to know its name. I'm going to try to get a picture of it today. So pretty! Well, gotta run. I'm getting hungrier by the minute and can't eat until I have that lab drawn. Fortunately, everything around here is within about fifteen minutes, so I just need to brush my hair and pull on some clothes, and run up to the medical office building. Maybe I'll stop at McDonald's and treat myself to a "sausage eggamuffin" on the way home. Blessings, everyone! --Romeena
March 15, 2013 - Msg 92777: Omigosh! Sorry about that huge, run-on paragraph. The censor stopped me for "ins#rance", and I've learned to copy the text after making the correction, because when you go back to the comment box, it's empty. However, the copy is always run together in one big paragraph, and I forgot to go through and separate it. Sure makes for hard reading, and I apologize.

My back yard is full of pretty birds this morning. There's a big beautiful cardinal out there, a very tidy robin just bathed in the birdbath, with much splashing, and some little wren-type birds are flitting all over the place. Not sure what they are, but they're cute. I've just got to get myself a good bird ID book. I know, they're online, but I never seem to be able to find what I'm looking for that way. I like a book better. Set in my ways, I guess. --Romeena
March 15, 2013 - Msg 92778: Nothing to apologize for, Ro!

Asa, you have such a way with words. Your kindness comes through so loud and clear. Maybe you shoulda worked for Hallmark or something. :) Did you ever right poetry...or would you admit it is you did? I can just imagine that you were one romantic devil when you and Mrs. Asa were dating. ;)

Sean and I went for a drive last night..it was beatiful out and we drove to our old neighborhood where we lived when he was a little boy. His best childhood friend (Jace..you remember praying for Jace who had a battle with leukemia a year or so ago), was outside in the yard so we stopped and visited for awhile. I think it was good for Sean to see his old friend. Jace looked fantastic...healthy and just full of energy. It blessed my heart.

I just got a call from Michelle..she is the girl from the rehab that I have helped from time to time. She seems to finally be doing fairly well, is working at denney's, going to technical school and found a low-rent apartment she could afford. She told me she deleted all the bad influences from her cell phone and is staying on track. I pray she continues.

G-F, I finally did hear from "the man" yesterday and turns out they have to order parts that will take at least 3 or 4 days, then they will make an appointment to come out and try and fix it, so I am still without a dryer. I am going to have to wash some clothes today and I guess I will hang them out to dry again. :( At least I don't have to wash them the way my great grandmother did...with a washboard over a fire!

Boo
March 15, 2013 - Msg 92779: Oh one more thing...Possum, I wanted to tell you that Jubi had her scan this week and is still free from cancer! :)

Boo
March 15, 2013 - Msg 92780: Wow, Boo, you're just full of good news! Sounds wonderful. Actually, even the idea of hanging the wash out to dry sounds good. I wish I had a clothesline somewhere, because sometimes I just want to hang sheets, and especially dishtowels, in the sun. All the dryer sheets in the world can't produce that fresh-air fragrance in the linens. Unfortunately, there's no place in my yard where a line could be strung that wouldn't place it across the rose island, the pond, or the iris beds. Oh well.

Asa, I second Boo's opinion of your way with words. You express yourself so well, and it's obvious that the words come from your heart. You always seem to know the perfect thing to say to encourage or comfort someone. That's a gift, and it's born of love.

Well, guess I'd better get busy. I've finally grown tired of the Christmas tree, and it's coming down today. I have to pick David up from the airport at ten tonight, and when we get back here, he'll help me tie it up and wrap it and put in its place in the closet. Then I can set about getting this dirty house cleaned up. I can't take it any longer. My kitchen and bathrooms are clean, but I think I could plant a crop on the coffee table!

Blessings, everyone! --Romeena
March 15, 2013 - Msg 92781: Asa, Not ready for the A/C work quite yet we are suppoose to get 3" of snow tomorrow. Spring is note quite here yet...G-F
March 15, 2013 - Msg 92782: Hi All
Nice day out so gong out for a walk.
G-F stop that bad tak of snow because I do not want it here

Mr.TOM

March 15, 2013 - Msg 92783: You make me smile, Ro. Finally taking the tree down, eh? Well, if I were you, I would drag it into a spare bedroom, cover it with a sheet, and "presto!"...tree is ready to display 8 months from now. ;)

Boo
March 15, 2013 - Msg 92784: Trouble check! (:
March 15, 2013 - Msg 92785: Ha! Don't think I haven't considered that, Boo. Problem is, when the family visits, they'd have that huge tree blocking access to a bedroom, and sometimes we have all three extra rooms filled. Nope, it's all stripped now, except for the top which I can't reach without a small ladder, and I'm not doing that. David will be here tonight, will finish taking those ornaments off, and we'll store it away. He's just going to stay here tonight because he's getting in so late, and will meet his family at a ballpark in the morning. Both boys have games. I'll make him some bacon and pancakes in the morning and he'll be a happy puppy.

Blessings, everyone!--Romeena
March 15, 2013 - Msg 92786: Yes, I see your point, Ro. Doesn't it seem like Christmas comes along quicker each year?? Last Christmas all the decorating wore me out and then before I knew it, it was time to take it down, pack it up and take it back upstairs again.

Well, I am sleepy...think I'll hit the ironing board with a book. I won't last long, though. I am one of those lucky folks who falls asleep in less than a minute on most nights. Its been that way since I started using a CPAP machine 3 years ago. Fall alseep quick but often wake up too early. Hope you all have a great weekend.

Boo
March 15, 2013 - Msg 92787: what is a CPAP?

March 16, 2013 - Msg 92788: At work!...keeping the light on till 6 pm I hope....SPOT
March 16, 2013 - Msg 92789: Its a machine for sleep apnea.

Boo
March 16, 2013 - Msg 92790: Happy Birthday Mavis may all yor wish a good one
Fron a Mayberry family friend

March 16, 2013 - Msg 92791: Hi All
Will it a rain little cold day!
This one was on fb so I think you will like it.

SPECLAL FRIENDSHIP PRARYER
Yuo have Blessed us O God
with the gift of friendship the
bonding of persons in a circle of love
We thank you for such a Blessing;
for friends wholove us who share
our sorrows who laugh with us in
celebration
Who bear our pine, who need us as
we need them, who weep as we weep,
who hold us when words fail,
and who give us the Freedom
to be ourselves,.
Bless our FRIENDS with health
wholenss lif and love.



March 16, 2013 - Msg 92792: Sorry for that
Mr.TOM

March 16, 2013 - Msg 92793: Beautiful, Mr. Tom. Just perfect. It describes very well what this porch means to us. Thank you for sharing. --Romeena
March 16, 2013 - Msg 92794: amen

Boo
March 16, 2013 - Msg 92795: OK, I have a recipe that MUST BE SHARED. I tried it today and it is beyond good, and easy, too. I think you would really like it, ASA. It's a hashbrown casserole. All you do is get a bag of frozen hashbrowns (the kind where the potatoes are in little cubes..Ore-Ida makes them in the red bag). you also need 4 or 5 strips of bacon, one onion, a 10 oz can of cream of chicken soup, 3 cups of shredded cheddar and...that's it. First fry the bacon in a large skillet until crisp, remove. Dice up an onion and add it to the bacon grease in the skillet and fry the onions until tender. Dump the frozen hashbrown potatoes in the skillet with the onions and stir. Salt and pepper the potatoes, then put them in a lightly greased casserole dish (can use a 9x13 baking pan). In a bowl, mix up the can of soup and 1 cup of cream of chicken soup; spread it over the potatoes, top that with the 3 cups of cheese and cook, uncovered at 350 degrees for one hour. When done, crumble on the bacon and serve. This would be a great dish for a family gathering or a pot luck, because it makes more than you can eat in one meal.

Boo
March 16, 2013 - Msg 92796: I forgot to mention 1 cup of sour cream in the list of ingredients.

Boo
March 16, 2013 - Msg 92797: I really should proof read!!...I said to mix the soup and a can of soup...what I meant to say was mix the cup of sour cream with the can of cream of chicken soup!

Boo
March 16, 2013 - Msg 92798: Oh, and dot the top with butter before baking...this is not a heart-healthy recipe and should only be made for special occasions. ;)

Boo
March 16, 2013 - Msg 92799: Well, heart-healthy or not, it sounds like my kind of dish! Potatoes, onion, bacon, cheese and sour cream, held together with the chicken soup - how could it fail? I will definitely be trying this one. I've already copied it into my recipe file. Thanks!

I found something at the store today that I hadn't seen before. An elderly lady (about my age!) asked me if I knew what kale was and where it could be found. I happen to really like kale, but usually only find it either canned, or in large bunches in the produce section, which would require a lot of preparation. Then the lady found a small bag in the bagged salad greens display, labeled "kale salad." It was actually fresh, cleaned, chopped kale in a little bag, ready for use. The lady was happy and so was I. We both bought a bag. I'm going to mix half of mine with a bag of spring greens and have a good salad for dinner. The other half will be stir-fried tomorrow with a head of dark green cabbage. Yes, I like greens - all of them, any kind. Anyway, I don't know if that bagged kale is something new, or if I've just missed it all this time, but I know where it is now!

Well, speaking of that salad, here I go. It sounds pretty good. I've got some good pomegranate vinaigrette to go on it, and it should be delish! Blessings, friends. --Romeena
March 16, 2013 - Msg 92800: That sounds great Boo, and sounds like one right up my alley. I love good tater recipes. I'll need to pick up some of those ingrideients on my next trip to the store. Thank you.
And thank you and Ro for the nice compliments about my expressions. Y'all make me blush. I sure don't consider my ramblings anything great at all. But you are so kind to say those things. By golley, Barney had it right when he said "nothing like an adoring woman to build a man up". :) Thanks again.

Very nice poem Tom. You always inspire us with those.

Well I got my lawn dethatched and was about to aereate it when my mower broke. Front axle went blewie! Not the first time it's happened with this mower. Fairly easy and cheap to fix, but my back said "not today boy"! I have learned to listen and obey the back. So next week one day I'll do it.
Well speaking of backs, I think I'll take this one to bed and rest it. Maybe plug in a Matlock dvd and watch an episode or two. Anyone else like Matlock? I know Ro cottons to Perry Mason cause he's got Dales eyes and other manly traits. I enjoy P.M. also, but I like Matlock. I have almost all 9 seasond now. Just need 2 more and I'll be there. You see a lot of old TAGS folks on those Matlocks. Andy seemed to have a lot of loyalty to his friends.

Prayers for all to have a restful Sabbath tomorrow. NO BAND CONCERTS! :)

Asa
March 17, 2013 - Msg 92801:
BOO- I could feel my arteries hardening with each new ingredient! haha But it sure sounds good, like Cracker Barrel's HB Casserole!!
RO- I love greens too, but have to watch intake due to Coumadin vs Vit. K. But when I go to Olive Garden, I always indulge in their salad.
ASA- I used to watch the first runs of Matlock,
but not on DVD. However, I saw a re-run a while back where the ep ended with Andy singing "Kickin' Mule" to a group of kids! Very cute! I also agree that you have a great way of expressing your thoughts. I know that I probably express to many of mine concerning BO,
but I am so concerned about him and his admin.
All goes pretty well in my neck of the woods. We're back to the 80s tomorrow after a string of record breaking 90s!
Good Sabbath to all.
MDC
March 17, 2013 - Msg 92802: Oh yes, Asa, I'm a fan of Mr. Matlock. He's Perry Mason with a homespun twist. Then you throw in the fact that he's our "Andy", and it all works out fine. I agree, I love the way old familiar faces appear so frequently. It speaks well of Andy that he didn't forget his friends.

I hear ya, concerning the back. Mine has been screaming at me all day, after I sort of overdid it yesterday, getting that Christmas tree undressed. It had to be done, because my window of time with David was narrow. He was going to be here anyway, and I needed to take advantage of that fact. It might be a week or more before he's in town again, and when he is, I hate to call him away from his family to do my little chores. He'll do it, he never complains, and neither does Brittney. She's so sweet about sharing him, but that just makes me all the more unwilling to make too many demands. So, the tree had to come down, and it did. It's now safely tucked away until the end of November, my furniture is back in place, and my living room doesn't look like it's stuck in a time warp. It was my joy to cook my son a good breakfast, we had some great conversation, and all is well.

And now I think I'll go tuck this aching back into bed and see if some of the kinks will relax out by morning. I don't mean to complain, because it's soooo much better than it was, or could ever have been, without the surgery. The pain I was having then was not something I could have tolerated - something had to happen. Now, it's uncomfortable, it's an aggravation, but I can live with it. Some weight loss would probably improve the situation, and I need to just grow up and face that fact, and do something about it. You know what? That's hard to do.

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
March 17, 2013 - Msg 92803: Hey, MDC. I saw that ep you mentioned. It was fun, wasn't it? Kinda took us back to Mayberry for a minute there.

As for you expressing your thoughts, we all do from time to time, though I think we're doing a pretty good job of keeping it in check. It's hard to just never express one's self at all, but it's better when it's kept to a minimum. I don't think you overdo it a bit, and nothing you've said has ever bothered me. Those who are on my email list know very well how I feel about the subject you mentioned, and I suspect I'm definitely not alone. I think we're all concerned, and with very good reason. The signs are there, and they're troubling. Thank God for term limits, though I wouldn't be surprised to see him make some sort of bid to alter that in some way. Pray, America!

Our weather has been weird. It's cool during the day, was quite chilly this morning, then warmed up significantly, and is now 75° at 11:30 pm. It's been doing that for two or three days now. The result is that I have to switch over to heat in the morning, because my little carpet-dwelling friend, down there where it's even cooler, is shivering, and so am I. The house warms up, feels great, but meantime it's warming up outside as well. Because the house is so well insulated, the temperature exchange is gradual. The result today was that I was comfortable with the heat on all day, then tonight about nine I suddenly realized I was too warm. I guess so! It was 81° in here! So now the a/c is on, and it will be fine all night. It's set on 78°, and feels fine. By mid-morning tomorrow, however, the a/c won't be coming on and it will be cold in here again. It's nutty! You don't know what to do. Opening windows would be nice, would equalize the temps better, but the way this house is built, that's not an option. Besides, that would destroy any security I've established around here. Oh well. I'm just grateful that I have ways to manage it.

OK, now I'm really going to bed. Nitey-nite. --Romeena
March 17, 2013 - Msg 92804: Too bad you can't open windows, Ro. I open mine alot this time of year, but you have to deal with the occasional dust storm. ;) When we built the house, I made sure we had windows across the back that faced north so I would get the north breeze. You know, I was thinking yesterday that you really need to come visit me, Ro. Sometime when you can relax and take your time visiting.

It's supposed to be in the 80s here today and was yesterday so we have had the a/c on for a couple of days now. I think the cold stuff is over for the year. :(

Better dry my hair and get ready for preachin'!

Boo
March 17, 2013 - Msg 92805: Good morning, porch! I hope everyone slept as well as I did. I'm well-rested, back is much less bothersome, and I'm getting ready for preachin'. Hope I can find my dangly earrings.

Weird weather. It's 68°, with heavy, wet-looking dark clouds overhead, the air is very still, and the birds are just huddled in the trees, not doing much flying. As my Dale would have said, I think it's fixin' to rain on our heads!

I've got to go turn my TV off. I just heard one of those obnoxious talking heads on a news channel, referring to both Social Security and Medicare as "entitlements." That makes my blood boil. They are NOT entitlements. An entitlement is something given to a person by the government, not earned, received only because of some real or perceived low spot in the playing field. If it's a real need, more power to them. If it's just a government-perceived need, it needs to stop. My SS and my Medicare are not entitlements. SS is an annuity, purchased and paid for by me out of every paycheck, since I was sixteen years old. My payments were matched by the government, using money obtained from the income taxes I paid. Medicare is an ins#rance policy, premiums also paid for by me out of every paycheck since I was sixteen years old! If you aren't aware of that, just look at your latest W-2. Boxes 4 and 6 reflect the truth. How do they dare to call those things entitlements? Our news media is in Washington's pockets, trained like lapdogs to talk the party line, and to be very careful what they say. Makes me so mad!!!

OK, now that I've got that rant out of my system, maybe I can go to church and let God calm my spirit a little. Heaven knows I need it. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
March 17, 2013 - Msg 92806: Happy St. Patrick's Day, Y'all!

**********************
o'possum under a rock

(Check out my Irish name-ha!)
March 17, 2013 - Msg 92807: I thought entitlements were things that you were entitled to because you have them coming to you.

Happy St. Patty's Day to you, Possum. :)

Quiet day here on my porch..warm and windy outside. I guess I should do some laundry and hang it out on the line.

Having a cup of coffee and trying to get rid of a headache. Maybe a little nap is in order...the laundry can wait...what's my hurry?

Boo
March 17, 2013 - Msg 92808: Hey Boo..possum check FB..hey MDC...well race fans it was a good weekend for Bristol! and Kyle...congrats to Kasey!..well here at work till 9...73 degrees here and its this late..yall ever eat those ramen noodles?...man those things are super cheep and not a bad snack here at work...well this ph is ringing...backi in just a bit prayers SPOT
March 17, 2013 - Msg 92809: Hey SPOT. :)

Boo
March 17, 2013 - Msg 92810: Hey SPOT. :)

Boo
March 17, 2013 - Msg 92811: Hey, Boo. Technically, you would be right. However, the government has perverted the term and taken great liberties with the whole idea. In "About.com", I found this: What is an entitlement program? It is a program that establishes certain eligibility criteria and anyone fitting that criteria may receive its benefits. Medicare and Social Security are the two largest entitlement programs. Anyone meeting the eligibility requirements may receive benefits from these two programs.

The cost of entitlement programs is soaring as members of the Baby Boom generation retire. Many people say that the programs are on "automatic pilot" because it is extremely difficult to cut their cost. The only way that Congress can decrease the cost of such programs is to change the eligibility rules or the benefits that are included under the programs.

Politicaly, Congress has not liked to change the eligibility rules and tell voters that they no longer can receive the benefits they once were entitled to receive. Yet entitlement programs are the most expensive portion of the federal budget and are a major factor in the national debt.

"Change the eligibility rules"? This would be like you buying car ins#rance for ten years, then when you have a wreck and make a claim, they tell you they have changed the rules, and will only pay to beat out the worst dents. The rest is up to you. I'm quite sure that Congress doesn't like to tell voters (key word - voters) that the rules have changed, but that hasn't kept them from doing it. The truth is, if they would have kept their grubby little hands out of the fund's treasury, there would be no problem. As originally established, and properly administered, it would have been self-supporting forever. However, all the raids on SS over the years have depleted the fund and now it's in trouble, so they want to cut the benefits payable out of the fund that so many of us have paid into. It stinks. For more, just Google "Federal entitlement programs."

Blessings! --Romeena

March 17, 2013 - Msg 92812:
Howdy porch family.....summer day here in SC (80's)

I ask you guys to please pray that I can finish in the studio tomorrow mixing and mastering the new cd.
By the way....I forget sometimes what I've posted so not sure if I told you all the name of the new cd.....It's kinda Mayberry sounding..."Front Porch Praise".

Well gang I better get some sleep....gonna be a long day tomorrow!
Love and prayers
-REV.
March 17, 2013 - Msg 92813:
Prayers for you REV as you "mix" your latest "recipe," Front Porch Praise! I like it. (:
Ro and Boo, I don't know about your areas, but here on the west end of the porch we are being bombarded with TV commercials now for the "free" phones!! Talk about a government waste of money!
If they took just that entitlement away, they'd save half the sequestration amt. OK, bluey goes
my soapbox for today!
Yes, HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY to all! Thank God for another good man of the past in spreading the Word!
God's blessings. May the wind alays be at your back, and that aint no blarney! (:

McMDC
March 18, 2013 - Msg 92814: Morning Porch.

Amen Romeena. I whole heartily agree with all you have said. From the lame street media being lapdogs to "the one", to the mishandeling of S.S. funds. They raid the money for all their giveaway programs (designed for nothing but their own re-election), and now want to make it sound like those who have paid into the system all their lives, are somehow greedy and selfish for wanting this benefit. Makes my blood boil!!

Rev, prayers for your session to go today as planned and you can get her done. What a nice title.

I'm seeing those commercials also MDC. I'm seeing a bunch for the Postal Service as well, and how the world is going to end because Saturday mail service may come to an end. I suspect those are being done by the carriers unions. I feel for those employee's who may be affected by this, but just about everyone I know has been and is being affected by the economic recovery we are enjoying. (yes, I'm being obtuse)

Well better get rolling. Lot's to do this week.

Asa
March 18, 2013 - Msg 92815: Good Morning gang !...storms moving this way to Ga..hey Rev,Boo,Asa and all...lets all meet at Cracker Barrell and eat...I will bring a news paper and Boo Can drive the porch bus...prayers,..SPOT
March 18, 2013 - Msg 92816: Yep...makes you wanna crawl under a rock and stay there. :(

Well, wanted to hang some clothes out on the line but looks like it might rain.

Great title for your CD, REV!! Prayers today that all goes well and you can finish it.

Boo
March 18, 2013 - Msg 92817: Just watched the local news and its supposed to be 93 here today???!! Crazy for it to be that warm already. Hope we don't have another summer like last year, I really hate to think what will happen...we are going to end up as dry as Arizona soon. We have lakes here in south texas that are all but gone and have been for awhile.

Boo
March 18, 2013 - Msg 92818: Good morning, porch! It's beautiful here today, about 60°, light breeze and some high, filmy clouds. So pretty. I've got tulips blooming all over the place, all colors, shapes and styles. Some have fringed petals, some are doubles, and there's one little group that are so dainty and fragile, it's hard to imagine they're tulips, but they are. Several irises are blooming, and buds are rising everywhere. The rose bushes are all dressed in red, as they begin to leaf out and send up new canes after the heavy pruning they received in February. I love that red color. The leaves will turn green as they mature, but they're so pretty right now.

REV, I really, really like the title of the new CD. I'm thinking it will become a favorite of mine, and I haven't even heard it yet!

Well, better get busy. David will be here soon, for me to take him to the airport. He's been traveling a lot here lately, but that's where he earns the best money. Brittney is a strong girl, and cheerfully holds down the fort while he's gone. She manages those two boys very well, and gets them to every baseball practice and game, and works on her photography business at the same time. She definitely has more energy than I have!

Well, off I go. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
March 18, 2013 - Msg 92819: McMDC? Didn't McDonalds try that for a samich? Cold on one side Hot on the other, unless you did not eat it right away then it was cold & cold. Maybe that's why it didn't work out so well.
O'Possum under a rock, that was a good one too!

Romeena,....Fragile' Tulips? They must be French, were they a major award too?

Asa I just hate when you're obtuse!....haha

G-F
March 18, 2013 - Msg 92820: Hi All
G-F I told you to keep the rain there.
Good old Springtime for all you lover out here to fall in love!
To injoye the warm days that are comming to summerdays.

Mr.TOM
March 18, 2013 - Msg 92821: Good afternoon, porch! If you will permit me, I'll brag just a bit. My nephew (well, technically Dale's nephew, but I guess that makes him mine too) plays baseball for OSU on a scholarship. Here's a link to a write-up about him: http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/031813aag.html

The boy is very talented. He's the one the Rangers tried to draft, but he elected to go to school instead. He hopes to play for the Rangers after he graduates. The nicest part of the whole thing is that he's a fine young man. Polite and respectful, kind-hearted, good with the little boys who look up to him as a sort of hero, and is just generally a pleasure to have around. He comes down here now and then for a holiday, when he can't get all the way home to Michigan, and we're always happy to see him.

Well, guess I'll go rustle up something to eat. I've got a little bacon and an onion, and some dark green cabbage and some kale. I had intended to cook it over the weekend, but never did. So it will make a nice supper tonight. I'll just stir-fry it all together, add a dash of vinegar/pepper sauce, and it will be gooood! --Romeena
March 18, 2013 - Msg 92822:
Howdy porch family....Well I got it done...The cd is finished...Very proud of it. Should be released on May 6th.

Storms in the area but not too bad here.

Ro....that is a great write-up on your nephew and yes you should be very proud of him. He's got a heck of a record......sounds like he's got a good future ahead.

Well gang it's been a long day so I'm heading to bed.
See ya'll at breakfast.
Love and prayers
-REV.
March 19, 2013 - Msg 92823:
BOO- I posted a "funny" on your FB page.
You can remove it if you want, but I just couldnt resist.
ASA- You are a regular Frick and Frack! ha
GF- you must be thinking of the McBLT or the McRIB. ha Both have come and gone in our area.
Don't know if anyone here ever goes to the Andy Griffith Show FB page, but I posted a funny photo there.
RO- very cool article, you've got bragging rights for sure!
TOM--it will soon be time for good ole 14-A.
Prayers,
MDC
March 19, 2013 - Msg 92824: Morning all.

What a nice article about your nephew Ro. Can we say he's a big fish in a big pond? :) And his personal attributes you mentioned I'm sure are more important than his athletic talents. Sounds like a fine young man. You have a lot to be proud of there.

Rev, glad your session went well and you got it completed. I look forward to hearing the tribute song to your Daughter. Didn't you say that was on it?

93 Boo. That's hot. Dang hot! We are getting snow this weekend with highs in the upper 30's. Looks like winter is back for a spell. Even though tomorrow we will be singing good old 14-A.

Well best get going.

Prayers for all.

Asa


March 19, 2013 - Msg 92825: I got your laundry photo, MDC. Thanks. :) It was a heck of a day hanging out all those clothes yesterday.

I couldn't believe how hot it got yesterday. It was just one of those busy days and I was tired from not getting enough sleep the night before. I also had to do the grocery shopping yesterday and that is always tiring.

I went to a local seafood shop yesterday to find out what fresh fish was available. There is always somethng good, living on the coast. I bought some very fresh flounder and pan fried it last night. It was some kinda GOOD! I am not a seafood person but I remember eating fried flounder as a child and loving it so I gave it a try. Wow, easy and so good. I am trying to get fish into our diets since it is so healthy and the only way I can get anyone around here to eat it is to fry it. I did use a little butter and mostly coconut oil, which has health benefits. I coated the fish with a little bit of the fish-fry cornmeal mixed with some flour and just used salt to season it.

Well, I am draggin' my wagon this morning but life goes on and there are always responsibilities. My brother David and his wife are coming from California for a visit this week and we will be having a family dinner here at the end of the week. I am really looking forward to seeing them. Good people.

It is warm and humid here this morning so I guess I won't hang anymore clothes unless it dries up. The towels I washed yesterday don't smell so good since the breeze was from the southeast (a sea breeze) yesterday. ick.

Better finish my coffee and get going.

Boo
March 19, 2013 - Msg 92826: Oh, forgot to mention to Ro...really great about your nephew. If he makes it to the Rangers, let us know so we can watch him play.

Boo
March 19, 2013 - Msg 92827: Hey there, Asa...we were posting at the same time. Can't believe the difference in our weather! I wish we had some of that cold down here, at least one more time. This has been the mildest winter I have seen in ages.

Boo
March 19, 2013 - Msg 92828: Boo..I guess the sea breeze that blew in to dry your laundry is why ya had a hankering for sea food for dinner?..Just an observation...

Hey Ro, Have that Nephew of yours sign with the Indians, they need more help than the Rangers do.

Same here Asa, No good old 14-A here yet either!

Hey REV, How about a "back brace prayer" for O'Goob the load is heavy these days, but as like last nights dinner...it to shall pass! God is GOOD he's just putting a extra weight on the bar to see if I can take it.

G-F....
March 19, 2013 - Msg 92829: Good morning, porch. Thanks for all the kind words about my nephew. It does make me wonder, though, about the way we use the word "proud." REV, you said, and rightfully so, that you're proud of the new CD. You should be. You wrote the songs, you sang them, you were the driving force behind the whole thing. I'm sure it's beautiful, and of course you're proud of it. I had absolutely nothing to do with the rearing of Zach, so what right do I have to be proud? And yet I am, since I can't think of another word to express my feelings about him! Go figure. Sometimes English is inadequate. We're missing some words, or maybe I just don't know them.

Boo, the clothes smell bad when there's a sea breeze? I guess that shows how much I know. I would have thought that a sea breeze would make them smell fresh. Maybe it's the difference in a breeze from the open ocean, like you smell on a cruise ship, or one coming off the coastal waters.

Would you believe I've got a rose blooming? It's "Pink Peace", and it's gorgeous. The bush is one we missed when we pruned all the roses. so it's blooming on an old cane. Nice, but unfortunately, the bush won't do too well this year. The ones we pruned heavily will flush out with lots of new growth and will bloom profusely. Poor little Pink Peace will have two or three blooms and not much else. Oh well, we'll get it next year. It's too late to prune it now, as the heat that's coming would be hard on new growth. Sure is pretty right now, though. I guess you could say it's having its fifteen minutes of fame.

Well, I have an appointment with my endocrinologist this morning. Labs were drawn last week, will find out how I'm doing with my diabetes today. I'm not worried, I keep pretty close tabs on my sugars. I am too heavy though, and he'll be peering at me over his little glasses. I really need to lose about forty pounds. I know I'd feel so much better, but it's so hard to do. I can't exercise like I should, can't work in the yard like I used to, and weight control is difficult. Still, it has to be done, and I'd better get after it.

Blessings, everyone! --Romeena
March 19, 2013 - Msg 92830: Hi All.
G-F the CLEVELAND team can sit end the season.
ASA callling for some bed weather here for the week and Spring come in at 7:45 am Wednesday.
Now it time to hit the family up for some help to get the stonr ! It going to go about 1,oo1..00 for a small oneand I help from the all?
wish me lock on that .

Mr.TOM

March 19, 2013 - Msg 92831: No, Ro, the sea breeze is too humid and the clothes don't smell good. The drier the air, the sweeter=smelling the clothes. :)

Ro, I have had roses blooming on my rose bushes for about a month. Can you believe that? Like I said...warmest winter I can ever remember. My roses are a deep pink.

Boo
March 19, 2013 - Msg 92832:
Morning porch family.....the storms passed on by and now it's sunny. Supose to get in the 70's today.

G-F....you bet buddy..."back brace prayer" even as I post this!

Ro....I understand what you're saying about being proud but you're not saying "look what I did, so I'm proud"....I know you and I know that you're proud for what HE has done and is doing.....and again I say "You should be proud"!

Asa...yep, the song I wrote for my daughter's wedding is on the cd. It turned out really good for me. I know she'll love it.

You all have a great day!
Love and prayers
-REV.
March 19, 2013 - Msg 92833: Couldn't hang out any clothes today..far too humid and no wind. Probably a good thing because I am so out of shape that I am still tired from yesterday.

Glad all went well, REV!

Went ot help mom get a shower this evening and the poor dear is just not doing very well. She can still get up and walk some with a walker but she needs more help. Watching her struggle to do the simplest things is hard. I feel for her so deeply...I wish the Lord would just take her home in her sleep. She has been suffering for 15 years. Please pray for my mom today. Having my brother come for a visit this week will cheer her up. He is such a wonderful man, and devoted to his family. The love and respect I feel for my brother are great. God bless him for coming in the spring of each year.

Well, I think I will turn in early tonight. This daylight saving's thing is kicking my tail around the block this time!

Boo
March 19, 2013 - Msg 92834: Good evening, porch! Sure looks like it's "gonna come a-somethin'" around here. Leaden skies, air is still and heavy, critters and birds have disappeared. If we don't at least get some rain I'll be surprised. Fine with me - we need it.

Many years ago, Dale put in a chainlink fence across the back of our lot, inside the existing wooden fence. This created a "dog run", and we had four dogs back there. That was in the days before I realized that dogs were just a whole lot more fun and rewarding if they lived in the house. Anyway, I planted some wisteria on that fence, thinking it would be really pretty. Well, the foolish thing ran wild over the fence, but never bloomed, not one single bud. All it did was shelter yellow jacket nests. So, Dale chopped the plants down - I think there were four. They tried to send up sprouts from the roots, but he just kept mowing them and they finally went away. Well, guess what. One day Dale was working on our back fence, and he called me to "come see this!" I stood on a box, looked over the fence, and there, on the chainlink fences on the other side of our wooden fences, there was wisteria blooming, both directions from our house, as far as we could see! The things had tunneled underground, came up where they didn't get mowed, and engulfed everyone's fences! They're still there, and one has climbed a tree that's just outside my fence, and at this moment is sending long, beautiful purple wisteria panicles drooping down over my little arbor. So pretty!! I don't know why it never bloomed in the yard, but I'm glad it didn't. That fence is long gone to make room for the pond and everything else, and I would have had a hard time taking it down if the wisteria had been blooming on it. Things have a way of coming out for the best sometimes, don't they? It's out of my way, the fence is out of the way, but I still have the wisteria to enjoy, with none of the responsibility to care for it.

I just ordered a copy of "The Velveteen Rabbit" for my little grandson. Amazon is carrying an issue of it that's a reproduction of the original printing, when it was first published. The illustrations and everything are authentic. He's a little young for it, but his mom will take care of the book. It's such a beautiful story, a real classic.

Well, I got distracted after I started this post this afternoon, and never entered it. So I'm finishing it now, and I can report that we never did get that rain. Oh well. Maybe tonight. Blessings, everyone! --Romeena


March 20, 2013 - Msg 92835: Hi .
Rom I have a copy of the Velveteen Rabbit on a dvd and I just love it.

Mr.TOM

March 20, 2013 - Msg 92836: WELCOME SWEET SPRINGTIME WE GREET THEE IN SOONNGGG... :)
Prayers for your Mom Boo.

Asa
March 20, 2013 - Msg 92837: Thanks, Asa. :) I just watched the Welcome Sweet Springtime ep last night with Erin. I just love the scene where they are all hiding at John Master's house to practice without Barney. They are singing when the doorbell rings...the look on Hazel the piano player's face! I enjoy that episode but it really makes poor Barney look like an idiot and I keep thinking, 'why don't they just Barney the truth?!'...wouldn't be a very fun episode if they did, though.

Ro, I wish I had some wisteria out here....we plant things, care for them, water them and what do we get?...heartaches, nothing but heartaches! ;)

Better get going...busy day ahead.

Boo
March 20, 2013 - Msg 92838: Good afternoon, porch! I'm on the puny list today, with what I think is a bladder infection. I've put a call in for my doc, to see if I can just get a prescription for an antibiotic, because I absolutely do not feel like getting dressed and going to his office. Anyone who has ever had a UTI knows what it feels like, and does not need a doctor to confirm it! I sure do hope he'll cooperate.

Boo, what you said about the look on Hazel's face just confirms what I think is true about us porchsters, and why we watch the eps over and over. We're no longer watching for the story - we already know it. We hear the dialog differently too. We know what they're going to say, so we're listening for the little subtle vocal inflections, and watching for the facial expressions. It's all those tiny, subtle things that make it so great, and those things are often missed the first time you view a show. I guess you could say our viewing is more fine-tuned now, and that makes it so much fun.

Additionally, I think we all have our "favorite moments", whether it's Luke Jensen leading a cow that's wearing army shoes, or Barney practicing his karate and growling, or whatever it may be. We all know when those moments are coming, and sometimes will watch a whole show just to see those favorite parts. I guess that's what defines a true "fan."

Boo, I'll bet your soil is very sandy. That can be a problem, because you can water all you want, and it just drains away. It's that way at my son's home in Florida. Of course, Florida is really just a big sandbar. They truck in dirt to mix with the sand when building a house, but it still drains so fast that you can walk over bare ground half an hour after a heavy rain, and get no mud at all on your shoes. I have a different problem here. Our soil tends to be a heavy clay, bakes hard and dry in the sun, doesn't absorb water very well, and I have to water the lawn in two sessions. If I tried to run a sprinkler for thirty minutes, the water would be running down the street for the last fifteen minutes. So, I split it into two sessions. One program runs twice, three nights a week, in fifteen minute sessions for each zone. That way, there's no waste and the water soaks in deeply. This clay is ridiculous. Remember that crossfence I mentioned, that Dale built? Well, when he dug the post holes for the aluminum posts, it rained before he got the posts put in. The holes filled with water, and three days later they were still full of water. There's just almost no percolation to the soil around here. He got a tuna can and bailed the water out so he could set the posts. It's better now, because I've added soil amendments, and Eddie uses a mulching mower, rather than removing the clippings. The mulched clippings will break down quickly, and that has gradually built up a layer of humus-y soil. Using dry molasses has encouraged microbial and earthworm activity in the soil as well, so it's better than it was, but it's still very heavy. That's why Joe dug out my flowerbeds and backfilled them with good, loose soil and lots of humus. I can dig a hole to plant a petunia with my hand in most of my beds.

It's just beautiful out there right now. Sure wish I felt better, I'd love to go do some weeding or just sit out there and let the breezes blow, but I feel so rotten, I guess I'll stay in the house. Oh well. Tomorrow is another day. Blessings, friends! --Romeena