April 29, 2014 - Msg 97706: Meant to say: Have a good day....I sounded like Paul Harvey there for a minute.

As Poor Horatio would say: "Goober Fife, I knew Paul Harvey and your NO Paul Harvey...haha
Just a slip in my typing that's all....

G-F again...
April 29, 2014 - Msg 97707: .....But have been known to sweep a floor now and again......
April 29, 2014 - Msg 97708: And a fine sweeping job it is, too.

Wow, G-F, you're a treasure trove of information. I never knew that about the "creek don't rise" saying - I always thought it referred to an actual creek rising and making a road impassable. My grandma always said "We'll be there, if the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise." I'm betting that's what a lot of people mean when they use that expression now. Not that they expect an actual flood, but that's what they think they're referencing. What do you think?

This weather is just crazy. Boo has 103°in coastal Texas, and Asa has snow in Utah, killer storms are raging across the middle and into the south, and here I am, in north Texas with a balmy 63°. High, light clouds, sun peeping out about half the time. Critter traffic in the yard is high, they're lovin' this mild weather. So am I! Think I'll call Eloise and see if she wants to mouse around a little today. I'm so happy to have that income tax finished, I think I'll just drop it off at the CPA and celebrate.

Blessings, friends! Stay safe. --Romeena
April 29, 2014 - Msg 97709: Romeena, With all the rain we are getting here today (right now torrential) I'm thinking I hope the creek and the end of my street don't rise because I live on a dead end road, and that has happened in the past, I had to park at our church above us and walk home. So I'm not worrying about any Indians (except the Cleveland ones) who by the way aren't hitting to well these days sorta like MDC's D-Backs haha!

Asa, I have been watching on PBS about Utah's environmental challenges, conservation vs development and the states right to development.
I see a lot of pros & cons... interesting program.
There are a lot of beautiful areas I can see why you like it there.... Get your Aleve back yet?

G-F
April 29, 2014 - Msg 97710: Rain rain, go away.
Come again some other...
Year.
Or go away and don't come back at all.
Either way is fine with me.

April 29, 2014 - Msg 97711: That fine poem up there was mine.

I know I shouldn't complain. The rain and gloomy weather is more of an inconvenience for us right now. And we haven't had the tornadoes and other strong storms that other states have had, thankfully. Prayers for those with real weather woes.

-Sterling Holobyte
April 29, 2014 - Msg 97712: Hey
He Answers Every Prayer

Give your thoughts to Jesus,
He will give you peace,
Calming every worry,
And with His grace release
The strength to overcome
All problems you must bear.
With love and understanding,
He answers every prayer.

TOM
April 29, 2014 - Msg 97713: Thank you, Tom. That's beautiful.

Sterling, we'll take any of that rain you're wanting to send away. Still on once-a-week watering restrictions here - we could use a recharge on the lakes and reservoirs. Some are fifteen feet or more below normal, with docks, marinas and boats sitting high and dry. Scary.

Well, I got all my errands done. Empty cartons and packing material delivered to the mail place, newspapers and cans dropped at the Humane Society, income tax stuff left with the CPA, lunch with Eloise and a browse through the local Tuesday Morning store, and now I think I feel a nap coming on. Sounds like a plan. Toye Starr will agree, and will stake her claim on my lap as soon as I settle down. Blessings, everyone. --Romeena
April 29, 2014 - Msg 97714: Thanks, TOM! :)

Boo

April 29, 2014 - Msg 97715: Another good one TOM, So true!.. Romeena, your "Tuesday Morning" store looks a lot like our "Ollie's" stores we have around here. Close-outs and neat items. Good place to "mouse around" as you call it..(I like that term)...

Sterling, Your confusing me buddy, which Sterling posted #7710 was that "plain" Sterling or "Walter Mitty" Sterling?? haha!

G-F...
April 30, 2014 - Msg 97716:
Evning all. kinda quiet on the porch.
Prayers continue for the storm areas.
We are inching back up to the low 90s this week.
See u tomorrow,
MDC
April 30, 2014 - Msg 97717: Good morning, porch! Just passing by, on my to the church to teach my little ESL class. Just wanted to check in and be sure everyone's okay. Catch you later... --Romeena
April 30, 2014 - Msg 97718: I love the "Ollie's" stores, G-F! Good place to possum around,too!

Well,Spot never checked in with us after the shootings in his hometown,but I see he is posting on FB,so must be okay. That's good!

Storms coming into the state today,so gonna be under my rock for sure! Y'all take care..

*******************
possum under a rock
April 30, 2014 - Msg 97719: You can have it, Romeena. Really hope you guys get some rain down there.

That was "Plain" Sterling in that message, G-F. "Walter Mitty" Sterling is not a poet.
But then as you can see from my poem, neither am I.

Stay safe, possum!

-Sterling Holobyte
April 30, 2014 - Msg 97720: Morning porch, we continue to have rain and storms on end of the porch. not good for man or beast to be outside at times, lots of wind and storm damage in some areas around us.

Hope everyone is safe and sound.

have a blessed day!
Big Maude
April 30, 2014 - Msg 97721: Morning Folks... Same story on my end of the porch too, rain, rain! Maybe we can pipe some of it to Romenna, Boo, and MDC. Well at least I get to go to Cleveland and hear a wonderful band concert, my Grandson is plays trumpet in the 5th grade band. I hate all the traffic in Cleveland but I guess it's better than LA or NYC traffic.

Wow Possum, I didn't know "Ollie's" was down your way too, maybe they sell "Good Stuff Cheap" like umbrellas!!! I really like their huge selection of all kinds of books. I like to get crossword puzzle books for Mrs. G-F and the word search ones for me. (they keep me out of trouble)? Probably Not...but I like doing them to relax, you know everyone needs an "outlet"...haha (color episode)....Stay dry...

G-F....
April 30, 2014 - Msg 97722: Howdy, porch. I'm back from my ESL class. Those folks never cease to amaze me. They're so kind, and so funny. I had three ladies this morning - our lone man wasn't there today - but we had fun. Three distinctly different personalities - one very jovial and outgoing, one a bit more reserved and so anxious to "get it right", and one who has only been there once before about a month ago, and is very closed and shy. When she speaks, it's with her head down, eyes downcast, and a voice so soft I can barely hear her. She appears to be struggling hard with the language.

One of my "teaching methods", if I may presume to glorify it to that extent, is to have them read passages of little stories from a workbook. This brings out pronunciation issues, points out forms of word construction, shows some of the inconsistencies of English that must just be memorized - just shows me things we need to work on. Anyway, to my utter surprise, when Lourdes began to read, it was perfect. Her accent is good, her pronunciation was almost flawless, and it flowed smoothly. She didn't struggle with it at all. I praised her highly, she blushed and ducked her head, but I think was pleased. I asked her if she understood what she had read, and she said she did. I asked her to tell me in Spanish what she had gotten from the paragraph, and she told me exactly what it said. Then I told her that I believe her English is much better than she knows, and her shyness is all that stands in her way. She agreed, and said others have told her the same thing. So, now I know how to work with her. Praise and encouragement, ask her a lot of questions in a casual and non-threatening way, and really listen when she answers in English. She's going to be fluent very quickly. This is such fun!!!

Well, Brad - the carpet-cleaner man - will be here soon, so guess I'd better get Toye Starr's million or so toys picked up. I'm thinking I may take her and go over to Eloise's after Brad leaves, so we won't be walking over the damp carpet. The area he's cleaning is the office and the living room. The house is three rooms wide and three rooms deep, basically a square. The big room in the middle is the living area, and you just can't go anywhere without passing through there, so we'd have that damp carpet tracked and packed down very quickly. Eloise is keeping Bentley today while David is helping Jerry with an a/c install, so I think we'll just go over there and plop ourselves down. God really sent me a blessing, in more ways than one, when He put Brittney and David together. For anyone who might not know - David is my son, Brittney is his wife, Jerry and Eloise are her parents, and Eloise is my closest friend. Oh, and Bentley is David's dog, my granddog, who is very good to Toye Starr.

Well, off I go. Later - blessings, friends! --Romeena
April 30, 2014 - Msg 97723: Hope he doesn't grow up to be selfish....
http://msnvideo.msn.com/?channelindex=4&from=en-us_msnhp#/video/b4cb15c7-6995-8ba2-d9a5-38997db73d9f
April 30, 2014 - Msg 97724: Hey G-F- Ollie's is new to us. I think it has only been in this area a few years.

Oh,yeah,the book section is awesome! I could live in the Children's book section-they have some wonderful kid's books,and like you said- "Good stuff-Cheap!" Are you a member of Ollie's Army? LOL

The weather has been quite nice,actually,even though they were predicting storms. had some bad ones in the Upstate,around Rev's old stomping grounds,but nothing much here. In fact,the sun is shining in my backdoor,just like Andy said it would!

Y'all take care & hope everyone has a nice night!

possum again
May 01, 2014 - Msg 97725:
Hi all. Well, I was at my dad's today and tho he is still of pretty sound mind, it does wander onto some strange subjects sometimes, and I'm never sure of where it comes from or where it is going. Today he started in about wanting to run a horseradish farm. Horseradish? Yup. he told me that he'd like three acres of it and a big John Deere tractor. Maybe he picks it up from TV. ha
Anyways, I told him that that would be a big undertaking for a guy who will be 96 in two weeks, and all he said was that he'd like to drive a tractor just once in his life. Then things moved on to topics at hand, like he had to sit on the throne! ha
RO-- do you have ceiling fans?? You could turn those on to help with the carpet. When we have ours done, I always rent 2 of the blowers from HD.
Prayers for Maudie and her area, and I see that SPOt is getting slammed again.
APB for Poor HORatio.
Sterling, just dont be NBA Sterling!!!
You guys lost me about "Ollie" stories. Guess I better duckduckgo it!
Prayers,
MDC

May 01, 2014 - Msg 97726:
OH possum, thanks for the FB message. I am pondering it! ha
May 01, 2014 - Msg 97727: Oh no, MDC, not THAT Sterling.

Though to some people, being that I am a Christian, conservative, and white, it automatically makes me a racist in their eyes.

Someone needs their eyes checked.

-Sterling Holobyte
May 01, 2014 - Msg 97728: Hello Porch: I have been watching Mayberry RFD on Youtube. Is there a connection to this series at Mayberry Days? If not. There should be. This show is awesome. Don Yelton
May 01, 2014 - Msg 97729: Haha MDC, Sterling is busy enough being "Plain" Sterling & "Walter Mitty" Sterling let alone being NBA Sterling too! Also maybe Dad was watching Green Acres and the episode where Gilligan found the radioactive seeds is what gave him the idea of being a horseradish farmer. Bless his heart for wanting to learn something new at 96! Then did he tell you "the job isn't complete until the paperwork is done" haha ;)

Oh by the way Sterling, if anyone needs to have their eyes checked, go to Helen she's a teacher! If she's busy go see Floyd, he's a barber..haha

G-F....
May 01, 2014 - Msg 97730: Morning all.

MDC, That is funny about becoming a radish farmer. At least he chose a plant that is easy to grow, at least in these parts.

I went back to the doctor on Monday and he did more pelvic manipulation. Still plenty sore, but this one took I think. I am back to work today, although limited. Have been recording and watching a lot of Gunsmoke and Bonanza off TV land. Sure do see a lot od TAGS folks on them old westerns. Saw Goober, Helen (as a Nun of all things) Mr. Flint, Judd, Mr. Hendricks was a regular on Gunsmoke. Gosh, a ton of others. Even saw Jennie Boone. Kind of fun to see them in other characters and other shows. I saw a Bonanza yesterday that I swear had The Beavers teacher in it. I always thought she was a pretty thing.

Well I reckon I best go see what the day has in store for me. Just need to pace myself.

Happy National Day of Prayer. Prayers for all, in keeping with the situation.

Asa
May 01, 2014 - Msg 97731: Happy May Day, Y'all!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BweKwFqGHiU

*************
possum u.a.r.
May 01, 2014 - Msg 97732: Good morning, all. Beautiful day here, 64° and clear, beautiful sunshine, and a whole fresh crop of roses and irises opening up. Years ago, when I started planting things around here, I tried to choose plants with bloom times in mind, among other things. It's not quite so "plan-able" with roses, but with irises, they're tagged as very early, early, mid-season, late or very late bloomers. By choosing some from each category, I've extended the show over a longer period of time. It has worked pretty well. Sure is pretty out there right now.

My little bunco party is tomorrow night. I want to have a tiny flower display on each table, so will probably cut a couple of half-open rosebuds for each table. I didn't have but one itty-bitty vase though, so I hit on using glass salt shakers! I just emptied and washed them, and they're really cute!

The carpet dried quickly and looks beautiful. It was dry by the time Starr and I got home from Eloise's, about five hours later. Yes, MDC, I do have ceiling fans - there's one in every room except the dining room. The sunroom has two, because of the L-shape of the room. The only rooms involved yesterday were the office and the living room though, but with the fans and the a/c turned down pretty low, it dried quickly. The a/c pulls the moisture out very well.

Well, I see Eddie out back, mowing. He's so faithful and dependable, and does such a good job. Guess I'd better be sure I've got enough cash around here to pay him. He knows I've got the party tomorrow night, so he'll be doing an extra-good job, I'm sure. He always does. He takes great pride in his work, and he should. He does a very good job. Gosh, Eddie has been looking after my yard for about twelve years now, and I've never had any reason to complain. He's a friend. Sometimes I notice that my big ladder is gone from the side fence where it usually hangs. Then in a week or two, it comes home! If I'm available when he takes it, he'll ask me, but if not, he knows I don't care.

Well, better get busy. I've still got to clear out the front bathroom (closet stuff I haven't put away yet) and bake a cake, vacuum and mop the kitchen and sunroom, and dust the furniture. Dinner for the girls will be salad, lasagna (Stouffer's frozen, I'm no dummy), garlic bread and clementine cake. I'll have the stuff for root beer floats for anyone who wants them, as well.

Gotta run. Blessings, all. --Romeena
May 01, 2014 - Msg 97733: Good one Possum...Faaa,laaa,laa,la,la,la,la!! TOM, the Indians are off today, back home from a big losing streak on the west cost (they did not win a game out there) maybe being back home, their bats will heat up? Might,.....Might Not!

Romeena, With all this rain I won't be able to mow my grass for weeks... Thought about my first mowing before the rains started but it wasn't ready yet. So the old Sears rider is on "stand-by" until the sun & heat come...
I have heard you mention you "Bunko" parties several times so I got curious about what it is, so I Google it sounds like a good time, sounds like that was what Aunt Bee may have been doing when she invited the ladies over. There was a reference to the Washington Post calling it a ladies "drinking" game so I guess with root beer floats involved they were right? haha (sorta like ladies lodge night I suppose)....

I did plant my peppers and Towmadders today in pots so I can bring them in at night until all chances of frost are gone. This year that may be JUNE!!

Asa Hope going back to work went well today, don't over do it buddy....

G-F...
May 01, 2014 - Msg 97734: Hi all
G-F that is bad new about dead bats for the Indians!
and no you can cut your grass on the days that it did not rain?
Romeena make some now and G-F and I will there for the root beer floats!

TOM

May 01, 2014 - Msg 97735: Dead bats? I'm in favor of that. I aim to maintain my senility for a good long time.

The back did reasonably well GF. Thank you for asking. It was nice to get home and get in the massage chair.

Perfect weather here today. High in the mid 60's. Sunny, no breeze to speak of. It's just perfect is what it was.

Asa
May 01, 2014 - Msg 97736: Good evening, porch. I am one tired puppy! I got all the stuff that was piled nearly to the ceiling in the guest bathroom, and was hip deep in a bedroom all moved into the one bedroom I'm going to keep closed. There's absolutely no way it's going to fit in the closets until I've whittled it down - a lot. I just didn't have time to be making those decisions today, so just moved it. I did get the old record albums out of the boxes and into the rack I bought for them. Got everything in that end of the house dusted, and vacuumed the new carpet. You have to, all those little shreds from the installation were everywhere. Also cleaned the bathroom, which was a sight after all that stuff had been stored in there. There's still a lot to do - dust and vacuum the living room, office and sunroom, and mop the kitchen and sunroom floors. I need to have it all done before noon tomorrow so I can spend the afternoon with the food. I'll bake the cake tonight - already boiled the little oranges. I haven't eaten, and don't feel like cooking anything, but I've got some kale that needs to be cooked. Luckily, it's very easy.

Yes, G-F, bunco is typically played by women. It's easy, not much concentration needed, so we can talk while we play. There's no betting, and we don't even have any elixir in the house. Root beer is the strongest thing I've got, unless you count the tea I just made. I make it by the gallon! We do have a lot of fun, lots of laughing and joking. Most of us have known each other for forty years, so there are no secrets, which pretty much eliminates gossip. We just have fun.

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
May 02, 2014 - Msg 97737:
Sounds like a busy day for most on the porch!
I'm tired from just READING about it all! ha
Well, take care folks,
MDC
May 02, 2014 - Msg 97738: Ro, are we gonna see you in an episode of "Hoarders" one of these days? ;)

Boo
May 02, 2014 - Msg 97739: Boo, Maybe it's time to call Frank & Mike from "American Pickers" instead, they will give Romeena $$$ for her treasures...I like that show.

Romeena, Speaking of tea, sometime when I make my sweet tea I put some of Bigelo's "Constant Comment" in too, it gives it a orange spice flavor to it. Also they make one called "Lemon Lift" which is good too. I know how folks are about their sweet tea, but God will forgive you if you change up once in a while...haha

G-F....
May 02, 2014 - Msg 97740: Good morning, porch! Hahaha, Boo! I've asked myself that same question. In fact, now and then I watch a few episodes of that show, just to motivate me not to be like that. Seriously, I do tend to hang onto things for sentimental reasons, but I guess we all do that to some extent. I've got Christmas ornaments that are older than I am (didn't think that was possible, did ya?) They were my mother's, bought for her first Christmas tree as a married person. I treasure them. However, it's not that sort of thing that's the problem. Those things are small, and are all stored on a closet shelf. Actually, I just got rid of six big garbage bags of good, but too small, clothing. There is a floor lamp and several other things in the garage now, waiting for the ARC of Texas to come next Friday, and by then I hope to have at least a little of the Christmas stuff sorted out. I just have too much. Wreaths, garlands, stuffed toys, it all adds up. I do have packrat tendencies, but I'm fighting it!

G-F, being diabetic, I don't make sweet tea. I like it very much, but fortunately, I also enjoy plain tea, so that's how I make it. I do, however, like flavors in it. Dried hibiscus petals give it a lovely, tangy zing, and there are other things. I would use the things you mentioned - provided they're not sweetened. Artificial sweetener is a deal-breaker - I can't stand it and won't use it. I grow peppermint outside the back door, and often snip a few sprigs of it and put it in the tea. Really refreshing on a hot summer day!

Well, I'd better get busy. I still have the kitchen and sunroom to mop, some dusting to do, and I may have to bathe La Starr, unless I can get her in at the groomer. They were full, but told me to call at 9:30 to see if they had any cancellations. I hope so. She's not hard to bathe, but it does take time, drying and combing out her hair. She looks like a ragamuffin right now, so something has to be done!

OK, off I go. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
May 02, 2014 - Msg 97741: Oh, G-F. You mentioned Frank and Mike (I like their show) and actually, I have some things they'd love to get their hands on, but I wouldn't sell them. I've got some metal mechanical toys that are at least fifty years old, and they still work. Frank would like them, I know. It's just stuff, and I know it will go in an estate sale one of these days, but not just yet. --Romeena
May 02, 2014 - Msg 97742: Happy Friday porch, lots to do today. Errands, meting a friend for lunch and the taking Beth shopping for a new dress for
Patrick's graduation next week end.

A beautiful sunny day on my end of the porch.

ya'll come join us at Cheddars for lunch.

Prayers and blessings

Big Maude
May 03, 2014 - Msg 97743: Good evening, porch. Wow, Maude, you're taking Beth to Cheddar's for lunch? I love those buttery croissants they serve - just downright decadent! I'm never content with just the one they serve, I always have to order another one before the meal is over. Those things are just so good they're ridiculous!

Well, the bunco gals have come and gone. We had a lot of fun, lots of laughs, and Toye Starr was just delighted to have so many "aunties" to make a fuss over her. I think she might have decided it was worth the bath she had to endure earlier.

I am absolutely worn out, but it would be worse if Eloise hadn't come over around 3:30 and helped me get everything pulled together. I'd have made it, but I'd have been a lot more tired, if that's possible. She's such a good friend.

Well, I'm off to put this aching body in the bed. Blessings, everyone. --Romeena
May 03, 2014 - Msg 97744: Nite Ro, Nite Lizabeth, Nite JohnBoy...(:
May 03, 2014 - Msg 97745: Good Sabbath eve porch family. I hope the day finds you healthy, happy and at peace with the world.

Glad your bunco extravaganza went well Ro. Does Eloise use the interweb? She should join us.

I hear that the Mayberry RFD season 1 is now available on dvd. I am still debating on including those to my collection. I don't remember much about the show. What do you think. Guess it wouldn't hurt.

Well my back is improved from where it was. Still pretty tight, but definitely improved. Thank you Lord. It has been a miserable couple of weeks. And now I am so far behind at work. It's ridiculous. But it is what it is. That reminds me of a joke I read on the digest. Did you hear about the butcher who accidentally backed into the meat grinder? He got behind in his work. BAA DAA DOOM.

Well I best get going. I need to go grocery shopping this morning. The cupboards are a little bare. I like to go early before it gets crowded.

Prayers for all.

Asa
May 03, 2014 - Msg 97746: Asa, I made burgers last night for dinner and they did not sit well, so maybe that was my problem haha.
I purchased Mayberry RFD Season 1 when it came out. A lot of the themes and characters carried over from the Griffith show, Andy drops in from time to time, Aunt Bee is the housekeeper for Sam Jones who replaces Andy as the "Father Figure" to the show. A lot of the story lines are the same I guess now one really wanted Mayberry to end I guess. Jodi Foster has her acting debut in it since her brother was a star on the show. Even Danny Bonaduce (Partridge Family) had a part since his Dad was one of the writers. All in All it was worth the $ to make my collection complete.

Hope Romeena doesn't have a Root Beer Float hangover today...ha!

TOM, The Indians came home and yes the dead bats did come alive with 12-4 win....

G-F....
May 03, 2014 - Msg 97747: Goooood morning, porch!! I feel great today. It's amazing, what a good night's sleep can do. I got everything cleaned up last night, except for putting the card table and chairs away, but that will only take a minute or two. I was just too tired to face carrying them to the garage last night. Today, I'm good.

Eloise and I are going to an estate sale in a little while. Just what I need, to go look at someone else's junk and buy some of it and bring it home to add to my own junk. Oh well. Sometimes you find really good stuff at those sales. That little baker's rack I bought at the last one is now holding all my old record albums, looks interesting, and the albums are no longer filling one whole end of a closet. Those old albums are really kinda cool. Some of them were Dale's, that he had when we married. There's an Al Hirt jazz album, "Stompin' at the Famous Door." I'm not a big jazz fan, but Dale liked it, and had that album. There are about eight Elvis albums, lots of "cool pop" stuff, and a lot of gospel albums. Some Jim Nabors, some Ernie Ford, and there are several good country/western artists. Jim Reeves, even an old Gene Autry, of all things. Fun to go through them, and after Heather and Edwin got me that cool player, I can hear them all again. Oh, there's some classical music as well. Scheherezade, 1812 Overture, and of course, some Broadway show soundtracks - Oklahoma!, The King and I, Sound of Music. Good stuff. By the way, I do know I'm supposed to be using Italics or apostrophes on these titles, but it's too much trouble, so ignore it.

No, G-F, I don't have a root beer float hangover, but was that thing ever good. It was a big hit with the girls, everyone really enjoyed it, and what could be easier? I just let everyone make their own. All I did was sit the ice cream and cans of A&W root beer on the island, along with glasses and spoons, and away they went! I don't make them often, because of my diabetes, but two or three times a year, I get a hankerin' for one, and take some extra insulin, make the float, and thoroughly enjoy it!

Well, guess I'd better get dressed, I'm supposed to pick Eloise up in 45 minutes. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
May 03, 2014 - Msg 97748: Where is everyone? Busy Saturday, I guess. Eloise and I went to the estate sale, but didn't buy anything there. Not much left. We went on to a few garage sales, and I found a beautiful, heavy glass salad serving bowl for 50 cents, and a really nice, heavy glass mixing bowl for a quarter! Those people understood garage sale prices. They look like new, no chips or cracks. The salad bowl would have been $20 new, at least. At another sale I found a Corningware casserole dish with lid, for $1, and at a church parking-lot sale I bought a pretty crackle-glass tealight holder for a quarter, and two lovely little disks of thin, etched glass for a quarter. They have a hole in the middle, and are designed to slip down over a taper candle as a little collar to catch drips. Very pretty. So for $2.25, I got some nice stuff. Not bad.

I've got a big bag of "already read" National Geographics, and will take them up to the hospital in a little while, to a nurse friend whose son likes them. My friend works weekend nights at my old hospital, and works on call at two other hospitals, usually about four or five shifts a week. In other words, she's busy. She also home-schools her son, who is about twelve now, I think. He loves science, and really enjoys the Geographics, so I'm happy to supply them for him.

The sprinklers are running in the back yard, and there's a silly little squirrel out there, just having a ball with it. He's rolling in the wet grass, then he'll sit up and face into the spray, letting it wet his fur. He shakes now and then, and goes back for more. He's really enjoying it. We hit 90° today, so I guess the cool water feels pretty good to him. Cute little thing.

Well, guess I'll rustle up some supper. I'm not very hungry, Eloise and I ate lunch at Arturo's - good Tex-Mex food. I've got salad greens, I think that might just be it. Blessings, friends! Don't forget about preachin' in the morning. I'm wearing some new dangly earrings! --Romeena
May 04, 2014 - Msg 97749:
Evenin' ya all. I was sipping my mint julep, and drinking in the
showmanship of the 140th Kentucky Derby today! ha Will we finally have another triple crown winner?
I hope you are OK today. Prayers continue for ASA's back misery. Funny joke tho Asa.
Preachin tomorrow, even tho Sat. is "techically" the Sabbath. :)
RO- do you realize that it took MORE key strokes to type "I do know I'm supposed to be using italics or apostrophes on these titles, but it's too much trouble, so ignore it," than it would have been to just type the apostrophes? haha
Well, goodnight gents and southern belles. Which reminds me, I wonder what ever happened to ky girl?
MDC
May 04, 2014 - Msg 97750: Romeena, Sounds like you had a good day "mouseing around" (see MDC I used italics) with you running buddy or is it budtress? Been cool and rainy here so I've been cooped up, suppose to be better by the end of next week so maybe I can go then... Suppose to be in the 80's by Thursday,...I'll believe it when I see it!

TOM, The Indians won again yesterday 2-0 I guess as Dorothy said: "There's no place like home"..ha

Where's Sterling & John Masters been? Haven't heard much from Spot or PH either. Maybe "Walter Mitty" Sterling took over and he is out on an adventure?...haha

G-F...
May 04, 2014 - Msg 97751: Good morning, porch. Yep, MDC, that thought occurred to me later. It's just that putting all those symbols in for italics, or remembering to insert the quote marks takes specific thought. To type a sentence, I just think it and my fingers take over. Back in the day, when I was a secretary and typing a lot every day, I typed 95 words a minute, without errors, on a manual typewriter. I lost some of that speed when I was no longer typing as much, but the ease of an electric keyboard made up for some of the loss. On the other hand, errors are more frequent on today's keyboards, because they respond to the slightest touch, they don't require the deliberate effort that a manual did. I don't know what my speed would be now, but it's nowhere near what it used to be.

I'm up a little early, just fell awake, so I got up. It's beautiful out back, the air is still, with just a tiny breeze now and then. The sun is warm and soft, and the critter traffic is busy. Lots of birds and squirrels out there. I love it when it's like this. The irises are almost gone, but the roses are coming on like gangbusters. There's one delightful little bush, just about two feet high, and round as a ball, dark green foliage and at least twenty big orange roses all over it. I wish I knew its name, but the tag has disappeared. It's just gorgeous, and there's a late-blooming purple iris right beside it. Irises and roses make such nice "bed-fellows." They're pretty together in a vase as well.

I also see that there's a pretty healthy stand of nutgrass right near the rose. That will have to be dealt with today, before it spreads any further. I absolutely hate that stuff. It's so hard to eradicate, because it spreads underground. Pulling it is dangerous, because it snaps off the root, which then just continues to burrow and pop up elsewhere. Spraying is fairly effective, but in my yard I only use chemicals when absolutely necessary. This may be one of the necessaries. Yuck.

Well, time to get ready for preaching. Toye Starr is trying to tell me that she hasn't had breakfast yet, so that comes first, then I can get dressed. I'm so glad my church isn't a formal one. Dress code is casual. Not sloppy or tacky, but casual. We have a few ladies who dress like they were going to the Easter Parade, but most of us don't. I've never been a fancy dresser, and really don't have the wardrobe for it, so getting ready on Sunday morning doesn't take much time. Nice slacks and a blouse, maybe a jacket, simple jewelry, and that's it. I don't own any heels (bad ankles) and haven't worn hose in years. At my age, comfort is the key word. The three Cs - Clean, Comfortable and Casual.

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
May 04, 2014 - Msg 97752: Hey Y'all! Guess who I met yesterday??

Floyd!

And Barney, Ernest T., Colonel Harvey, Andelina,and lots of other Mayberry tribute artists! Oh, and saw Karen Knotts,who is Don's daughter.

No,I ain't been in the squeezins-ha! Oh yeah, I was-forgot about running into Briscoe! LOL

But seriously..

I went to "Mayberry Comes To Westminster" in Upstate S.C. They have a festival with parades,arts & crafts, Mayberry-themed contests, and a tribute show that is just awesome! The tribute artists were very accessible and just as friendly a bunch of folks you'd ever hope to meet. Let me tell y'all- Allan does a fantastic job as Floyd and is quite the entertainer. I did get the opportunity to tell him on behalf of all of us how much we appreciate him for "The Porch." He's a really nice guy!

Now that David Browning-y'all,he is a mess! LOL He is "spot on" as Barney-looks and sounds amazingly like the character.

The tribute show was a hoot- Colonel Harvey "chastised me" from the stage, Floyd did a magic trick (I later asked him how he did it-his reply was: "I can't tell ya!") Then he said,in typical Floyd fashion: " I don't know how I did it!"

Andelina sang about Ernest T to the tune of the Beatles' " Let It Be" and there was even an appearance by Hoggette,as she chased poor ol Ernest T. off the stage!

Oh, and the young man who portrayed Gomer sang a rendition of "Santa Lucia" that would surely do Jim Nabors proud-wow..

It was a memorable fun day in "Mayberry" yesterday-wish y'all could've been there!

I even got a haircut from Floyd-ha!

Took some pics and will try to get them posted on FB soon.

Well, better get going around here-y'all take care & good Sabbath to all!

*******************
possum under a rock
May 04, 2014 - Msg 97753: What about your dangly earrings Romeena? You wearing them to preaching?

We better add Boo to the APB list. I miss her not being in her rocker as much. I hope that her Mom is ok. Check in when you're able Boo.

Thanks for the prayers and concern for my back. It feels a little better each day. So I just am trying to take it easy. I remember Andy chastising Aunt Bee about getting c ocky and throwing her back out when getting the house ready for Ollie and Nora. That is so like me. How quickly I forget how crippling the back pain was one I have had a few days away from it and I am back to not overdoing it. I reckon I'm just a flawed man.

We hit 80 yesterday GF. I was right out there in it. Just lounging though. Nothing else.

Well I best go get myself ready for preaching also. It takes a lot to make me presentable, no matter how casual the event. Wonder what causes that?

Prayers for all.

Asa
May 04, 2014 - Msg 97754: Possum, ya sneaked in on me. How cool a day. And getting to meet Floyd. Way cool. Newsome..... I mean awesome. :)

Asa
May 04, 2014 - Msg 97755: Possum, Glad you had fun @ Westminster, Yep, they all do a great job. Now you can see why I go to Mayberry Days every year! Later this month they are having another Mayberry event in Danville Indiana (close to Indianapolis) "Mayberry in the Midwest". It is closer to me so I had to choose Westminster or Danville so I chose the closer of the two. This is the first year for this event so we'll see how it goes.
The guy who does the take-off of "Deputy Gomer" is a dead ringer, he is new to the "tribute artists" his first time was at MD's last year. Tim, who does Goober lives close to me, he does a great job too. But Dave Browning (Barney) is the best! (Our Floyd is no slouch) he is really funny too, best to say they ALL do a great job in keeping the "Spirit of Mayberry" alive....Amen??

Asa, Glad to hear you were relaxing right out there in that sun & recharging your batteries. Now, after preachin' get right back out there in it you hear! So you'll have a full charge for Monday :)

G-F again....
May 04, 2014 - Msg 97756: Aw, thanks Asa. :) I am lurking around. Seems I just don't have as much time as I used to, although having Erin in school has been very helpful. My mom is holding her own, but poor St. Susan is having a struggle having to be home all the time and caring for mom. We have a provider that helps twice a week, and home health, and I come and sit with mom while susan gets out of the house, etc. Mom is starting to have some episodes of dementia now and that is tough for Susan. This morning she didn't want to take the last dose of her antibiotic because she was convinced that her doctor was trying to kill her. It took some talking, but Susan was able to get her to take it. I think I am going to have to get over there more and relieve my sister, especially before I have to start back to work.

Sounds like a great time you had, Possum! Wish I could have been there with you. We could have gotten into some trouble. ;)

Boo
May 04, 2014 - Msg 97757: Good afternoon, porch. Possum, I'm so happy to hear that you got to go to the Mayberry event, and meet all the tribute artists. I've met them several times on the cruises, and you are absolutely right - they're great folks! Floyd is a delight, and his wife is a sweetheart. Very nice folks. Andelina is just as cute as a bug, and you'd swear you were watching the original Charlene. Incidentally, I understand that she now goes by Andelina because Maggie Peterson objected to anyone using Charlene's name, so they just changed her to Andelina. At least that's what I was told. Was Howsard Sprague there? You mentioned Briscoe - he's a very nice guy too. Good memories from those cruises. I probably won't go anymore, but we did have a lot of fun.

I'm watching a bunch of little newly-fledged sparrows out back right now. Their little tails are short and stubby, and they don't fly well, lots of fluttering and occasional they don't land on their target. The big old tree trunk is a favorite landing spot, because it's hard to miss. I think there are at least two, and maybe three clutches of them out there. I've seen five or six adults feeding and tending them, so unless they picked up some volunteer babysitters, there are three families. It's hard to count the babies but there are at least eight. They're so cute. The babies tend to stay in one fluttery little flock, mostly on the tree trunk, with occasional short flights to the ground, and if they get very brave, they try to fly and land on the bird feeder. That takes more skill than plopping on the tree trunk, but they're getting there. I tell you what, I wouldn't take a dollar and a quarter for this window. The things I see out there!

Asa, I'm glad your back is better. Mine locked up on me right after church, so I didn't go to lunch with the girls, I just came home. Spent a couple of hours in my chair, in the position that usually eases the right muscles, and it did. Feels much better now.

I'm trying to find some place that makes the old-school puffy tacos like we used to get in San Antonio, and nobody in the whole metroplex has any idea. If you ask, they'll grin real big and assure you that they make "puffy tacos", but if you ask if it looks like a balloon, they smile proudly and assure you that it does. That is NOT what I want! That is a "puffed" taco, and has no resemblance to the kind I'm looking for. Oh well. The search goes on. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
May 04, 2014 - Msg 97758: Who is Howsard Sprague? I've got to start proofreading! --Romeena

May 04, 2014 - Msg 97759: Hey Boo-You & I should go on the road with the TAGS tribute artists-we could be the "Fun Girls"!

Ro,Howard was there-he did a really funny skit with Floyd about visiting Clara Edwards in the hospital. You might have seen them perform it before. I'm not going to give the joke away,but all I will say is "Poor Clara!" LOL

Andelina was a carbon copy of Charlene- a real cutie pie. I ran into her later in the day when she popped into a downtown store I was in.

It was so much fun, y'all! I'm going to try to make it to Mt. Airy for Mayberry Days this fall.

Well, better go grab some supper, or "Sup-pah" as Aunt Bee would say! Y'all have a good evening-love to all!

possum again
May 04, 2014 - Msg 97760: I didn't even notice your typo, Ro!

possum once more
May 04, 2014 - Msg 97761:
Boo, I found a web site for the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (also known as DADS). Maybe you and your sister can find some help through them for the care of your mother. Click on http://www.dads.state.tx.us/services/index.cfm

from Poor Horatio
May 04, 2014 - Msg 97762:
Exactillioso! (:
May 04, 2014 - Msg 97763: Prayers for the family situation,Boo. Love to you..

*************
possum u. a.r.

May 05, 2014 - Msg 97764:
HI ALL, we had our first 100 degree day this weekend, (bleat)
but it is suppose to be 78 again by Wed! woohoo.
Speaking of which, I cannot figure out why birds
poop in their own birdbath. I rinse it out and refill it everyday for that reason. Does this happen everywhere?
Well guys, Hamlin takes Talladega(days!)Patrick had the lead for a bit.
Hello to PH. Good to see ya.
Possum, you are a bird in this world! I saw some other Mayberry postings on FB, very cool stuff.
Glad to see you enjoying life!!
Also, our SPOT posted a photo of himself and a special someone. it may end up in M A M. Ha
G-F---so what do you do these days? hang out at the hardware store with Tim Allen? lol
God's blessings this day. Jesus loves you!
MDC
PS--PH, that pull down arrow for the comment was a great find! thx
May 05, 2014 - Msg 97765: Good late evening, porch. Headed for bed, just stopped by to say good night.

MDC, about the birds, I think they do it just because they can. The birdbaths around here require frequent washing out too, but the biggest problem is that they also poop in the pond. They sit on the fountain rock to drink - they love that moving water - and while there, they leave their calling card on the rock, where it usually gets washed into the pond by the fountain. Sometimes it stays on the rock, but then the sprinklers wash it into the pond, so either way, it gets there. This contributes greatly to the debris in the pond, and encourages algae to grow as well. Oh well. Nature is what it is.

OK, sleep tight, everyone. Blessings! --Romeena
May 05, 2014 - Msg 97766: Well gang...first of all...we were at the Ga. Linemans Rodeo this past weekend..(google it)..Cobb EMC...(our boys) won it all...good job men...back in just a bit....im hungry...SPOT
May 05, 2014 - Msg 97767: I think this reporter in Romeena's neck of the woods is what you call "a stick in the mud!" He is now another page of Dr. Phil's: "What were you thinking" book.
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Reporter-Gets-Stuck-in-Mud-Rescued-by-Photographer-257674861.html

Wow, you guys out West are really in trouble with the water supply it's not even into summer yet, and that's no joke...

SPOT, glad to see you guys had some fun with your jobs, instead of being under the gun to get repairs made all the time.

G-F


May 05, 2014 - Msg 97768: Happy Birthday, Big Maude!

Party at O'Malley's later tonight- MDC, swing by the Morrison sister's house & pick up some of that "celebrating elixir" for us! Maudie just joined the "Double Nickels Club"!

*************
possum u.a.r.
May 05, 2014 - Msg 97769: Thank you, Possum, and thank you PH for the link.

Boo
May 05, 2014 - Msg 97770: Good morning, porch. Or afternoon, I guess it is. Yep, that's how the lakes look around here. We need rain so badly, and not just here, but north of us as well, to recharge the aquifers. I have to say, the reporter was a good sport about it, and laughed at himself. Apparently he learned a long time ago that the best way to deal with someone laughing at you, is to join them. Takes all the fun out of it for them! It's even better if you're the first one to laugh.

I've hit on an idea to help me clean this house out, and "de-junkify" the place. Every day, I'm going to get rid of five things. Just five. Big things, small things, middle-sized things. They can either be trashed, re-cycled or donated, but they must leave the house. At first, it won't show very much, but in time, the clutter will gradually disappear. For example, today I'm going to raid the cabinets above my washer and dryer. There are things in that cabinet that could have voted for Kennedy, I think. I know there's a can of liquid floor wax, and I haven't had a wax-able floor in many, many years. There's a can of furniture polish that's about the same age, and I'm sure it's separated and discolored and is totally unusable. There's a little bottle of Elmer's glue that I knew was clogged when I put it back in there one day. Why didn't I just throw it away? At least it's a small bottle. I finally quit buying the big, economy-size bottles, because it's not economical if you have to throw 90% of it away. Now I buy the tiny bottles. Well, anyway. I'm going to do this clean-out in small bites, and maybe I'll actually get it done. Facing the whole project at once is self-defeating, and I don't do it.

Happy Birthday, Maudie! Hope it's a great one.

Blessings, friends. --Romeena
May 05, 2014 - Msg 97771: Thanks to everyone for the Birthday wishes and the party at O'Malleys. It has been a good day. 55 may not be so bad.
Big Maude