Quarantine and chill and kindness chatty clubhouse: Jump in and join the conversation! All is welcome!

[Pea-n-Me]

Pea So sorry you have been so sick. Glad you listened to your medical team and went to the ER. You do sound very busy but it seems like manageable things and appts. I hope you continue to feel better. Nice to watch your son fly into Cape Cod.

Judique Car issues are not fun for sure. I hope the fuse fixes the issue.

Bobbiwoz Have fun on your trip.

Good morning. It is sunny here and temps heading to low 60s. I will be heading out once rush hour calms down. So glad to have a more quiet morning. My friend has already texted me. I am leaving my car at her house so her DH wants a key fob. I found my spare fob and had to change the battery. You tube had a good video as I have only changed the battery once. Luggage in the car, need to eat breakfast, take a walk as I will be in a car for hours, and then off on my trip.

Have a good day and rest of the week.

Have a wonderful vacation, @Snowysmom! You deserve it! Glad you got to take plenty of clothing for layering.

 

[lynxstch]

@Judique Sorry about the car issues
@Pea-n-Me What a horrible way to spend Mother's Day. But it sounds like you have an entire medical team that's keeping on top of things. Feel better!

It was cloudy most of yesterday, around 5 the sun came out in full force, just like it had done on Sat and Sun. I did get the lawn mowed while it was cloudy and breezy.

Today will be sunny and 73 today, calling for storms tomorrow.

I texted Summer last night to ask if she had got home from TN okay. She said she was back in the state, but not home. She was out doing Door Dash trying to make enough money to pay their water bill and get gas in her car, which was almost on empty. She said she was going to do that until late in the night, and all day today. Her health is going to suffer if she doesn't stop trying to do that constantly. I offered to go with her to Sheetz and get her some gas (not giving her money, it most likely wouldn't end up in the tank), but she said she'd figure it out herself.

I forgot to mention that Luke texted me on Sunday, saying "Happy Mother's Day", really? He's ignored me, avoided me, driven by my house to go to his mother's at least a dozen times without ever stopping, for over a year, why text me that. I'm done and blocked his number. He wants nothing to do with me, and I feel exactly the same way about him. Okay, vent over, sorry.

Off to clean out the fridge and gather trash. I may plant my herb garden today, I have to look at the weather and make sure we aren't getting any more cold nights. We had a frost warning overnight, didn't happen. Freeze warnings to the left of me, we got down to 36. All of the outside cats were on the front porch in the full sun instead of being on the cold back deck, they aren't stupid, lol

Have a good day.

 

[Judique]

Today was the last day of my little dog's life here on earth. I had put off making the appointment but knew it had to happen very soon, so I called this morning and went in at 4pm.

Last night and this morning he ate well, but when he lay down on his bed he kept calling for me and seemed to be in more pain. I sat up with him a good part of the night. I was hoping he would pass in his sleep so I didn't have to make the decision. DD and I both went and we were with him after they put the catheter in for the injection. They had to put a muzzle on him as I guess he had a wee bit of fire left in him while they were getting him ready for his journey. He was only about 15 pounds but so scared all the time with people poking him with needles.

He's now joined many of his brothers and sisters in my field. I stopped by the garden center and they will be planting a tall Weeping Willow for him to sleep under on warm days like today. He will happily share it with me, I hope, as I've been wanting this tree for many years. He's not being planted with it, just near it.

I will clean his bed from today and will see if the shelter can use all four of them, plus I have quite a bit of canned food to also donate. Or, I should call a friend and see what she uses.

After 17 years it's the end of an era. I don't think I'll be getting any more dogs. It's too difficult to say goodbye.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm so sorry for your loss, @Judique

 

[lynxstch]

@Judique

He knew he was loved, and he loved in return. He's now on the Rainbow Bridge, playing free of pain, with all of our departed pets. In time, may happy memories of time spent with him, overshadow the pain you feel today.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Today was the last day of my little dog's life here on earth. I had put off making the appointment but knew it had to happen very soon, so I called this morning and went in at 4pm.

Last night and this morning he ate well, but when he lay down on his bed he kept calling for me and seemed to be in more pain. I sat up with him a good part of the night. I was hoping he would pass in his sleep so I didn't have to make the decision. DD and I both went and we were with him after they put the catheter in for the injection. They had to put a muzzle on him as I guess he had a wee bit of fire left in him while they were getting him ready for his journey. He was only about 15 pounds but so scared all the time with people poking him with needles.

He's now joined many of his brothers and sisters in my field. I stopped by the garden center and they will be planting a tall Weeping Willow for him to sleep under on warm days like today. He will happily share it with me, I hope, as I've been wanting this tree for many years. He's not being planted with it, just near it.

I will clean his bed from today and will see if the shelter can use all four of them, plus I have quite a bit of canned food to also donate. Or, I should call a friend and see what she uses.

After 17 years it's the end of an era. I don't think I'll be getting any more dogs. It's too difficult to say goodbye.

I’m so sorry @Judique. Even when you know it’s coming, it’s still one of the hardest things ever to do. Thank you for staying with him. I was trying to find something I saved from a vet saying pets are looking for you when not there. When you are, they are comforted. You gave your baby a great life and a good passing, TLC even under tough circumstances, and I believe you’ll be reunited some day at at the Rainbow Bridge. Until then…

FROM FRIEND TO FRIEND​

You're giving me a special gift,
So sorrowfully endowed,
And through these last few cherished days,
Your courage makes me proud.

But really, love is knowing
When your best friend is in pain,
And understanding earthly acts
Will only be in vain.

So looking deep into your eyes,
Beyond, into your soul,
I see in you the magic, that will
Once more make me whole.

The strength that you possess,
Is why I look to you today,
To do this thing that must be done,
For it's the only way.

That strength is why I've followed you,
And chose you as my friend,
And why I've loved you all these years...
My partner 'til the end.

Please, understand just what this gift,
You're giving, means to me,
It gives me back the strength I've lost,
And all my dignity.

You take a stand on my behalf,
For that is what friends do.
And know that what you do is right,
For I believe it too.

So one last time, I breathe your scent,
And through your hand I feel,
The courage that's within you,
To now grant me this appeal.

Cut the leash that holds me here,
Dear friend, and let me run,
Once more a strong and steady dog,
My pain and struggle done.

And don't despair my passing,
For I won't be far away,
Forever here, within your heart,
And memory I'll stay.

I'll be there watching over you,
Your ever faithful friend,
And in your memories I'll run,
...a young dog once again.

In Memory of Asta, Feb. 1997
(c) Karen Clouston

 

[Judique]

The last few days have been a blur and I have missed a lot of posts. Fell asleep exhausted.

DD and I were doing the site prep in the back when my dear neighbor came by and helped us finish.

@Pea-n-Me you asked about windows somewhere. Most of my house was done by Home Depot and we bought the Simonton brand. I like them, although we did have to have the installer come back a few times for adjustments. I refuse to have windows that don't open and close and lock easily. Except for maybe a sonic boom, it's almost soundproof inside my little house.

The basement has five hopper style windows and they are on the back and on one side. I ordered these from Home Depot but had my son in law install - he did a great job! They are roughly 2 feet by 3 feet, double paned. They are American Craftsman brand. None are really seen as most are under decking. One is under my bay window which overhangs it.

 

[bobbiwoz]

@Judique, I am so sorry. It’s unbelievably sad when you have to let your dog go. He’ll always be in your heart.

 

[bobbiwoz]

@Pea-n-Me, I just read about your ER, Hospital stay, and I am glad your kidney function is a bit better! I smiled when I read how good the hot dog tasted, sometimes they really hit the spot for me too!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

@Judique I’m glad you got some rest, and glad your little guy is at peace now. The tree will be beautiful.

Hope @Snowysmom is enjoying her vacation so far. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Looks like we’re finally having some beautiful days consistently now. It’s 48 and sunny and I’m sure it will warm up a fair amount today. I have an appt later this morning I have to get to. I took something to help my stomach this morning, something’s got to give. I didn’t eat much yesterday at all (eggs and a few home fries in the morning and half of a piece of lasagna in the evening and one meatball, that was it, and as soon as I ate, pain and ). I should be skinny by now! I’m still puffy but going to do my best today to combat that. Two can play at this game and I can be a warrior when I want to.

Yesterday we decided to clean out my mother’s Governor Winthrop desk which is still in the in law apt. There’s a perfect space for it and I asked DD to keep it even though she doesn’t love it. I wish I could have it or one like it on my side but I don’t have a space for it. It’s so good for holding books and office supplies and papers, etc. Anyway, I came across a lot of my mother’s writings as I was going through the books in there, which, actually, were a lot of my cookbooks she’d borrowed. She had papers stuck in pages with recipes she wanted to try. I also came across a picture of her family’s gravesite going back to 1859. (I started to do a little research on that last night but remembered my cousin had done a whole family history on that side, I’m going to contact him soon as he’d offered to give me the password to his Ancestry.com and now I’m curious.) That was my Irish side. But it was nice to see my mother’s handwriting, and today would’ve been my father’s bday, so I’m feeling a little nostalgic. Checked bindings of all books before putting them aside for donation as my mother was known to put important papers and money in them, lol. Got two boxes for donation and threw a lot away. Kept the cookbooks, Mom’s bible and some prayer books, so I’m glad we got that done.

I never got to the floors but later today when I come home I am going to try to wash the ceiling in there, after the storms this year the roof leaked a little and there are some water spots, hopefully they’ll come off, if not she’ll have to repaint and she just had them done. At some point we’ll need a new roof but I just think this winter was tough on most homes. We are still dealing with all the broken trees and such in our yard.

So yesterday guess who came by knocking on the door to see if he could get started with the leaves? Yup, my good kid, eager to work. Love it. So I said sure, go ahead. He was out there all day and DH joined him when he came home from work. He’ll finish up today. Last night DH’s arms were full of bloody scratches from getting under the low branches of the cedar trees in order to get the leaves out, and he cut a lot of bittersweet vine off. There’s more to do but it looks better than it did. One section of fence broke so we have to replace that. Kid also wants to get started on taking the deck apart, gave us a great price and said he’d help put the new one down for free as he wants to learn how. Smart kid! (We’ll pay him if he does help with that, I know DS was planning to help, too.) So DH went and ordered the new Trex decking. Came home and said he got the dark brown. I was like, what, I said I wanted grey, like on our front porch. So he ran down to the cellar and showed me an extra board from the front and it was originally brown, but it’s grey now from the sun. So I just took a deep breath and said fine, we’ll keep the brown. I’m sure it will look nice and there is a lot of brown out there. My only worry is that dark shows up every little thing but he promised we’d keep it clean so that wouldn’t bother me (or should I say my OCD). So I’m happy and excited about that, it’s been a long time coming.

I hope everyone has a good Wednesday!

Not bad for 90s

 

[PollyannaMom]

I love the list, Pea! It's so nice to find random things like that. I hope they can sort out your stomach issues, and I'm sure the deck will look good!

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning. It's going to start raining any minute. Calling for storms this morning, another chance this afternoon with temps near 67.

@Pea-n-Me That was a lovely poem you shared with Judique. I hope it helps her with her grief.

I'm heading out to do errands before the weather gets too bad. I need to stop at the bank, CVS, the flower place, Walmart, and get gas at Sheetz. Hopefully I can do it all between downpours.

Have a good day.

 

[Judique]

I’m so sorry @Judique. Even when you know it’s coming, it’s still one of the hardest things ever to do. Thank you for staying with him. I was trying to find something I saved from a vet saying pets are looking for you when not there. When you are, they are comforted. You gave your baby a great life and a good passing, TLC even under tough circumstances, and I believe you’ll be reunited some day at at the Rainbow Bridge. Until then…

FROM FRIEND TO FRIEND​

You're giving me a special gift,
So sorrowfully endowed,
And through these last few cherished days,
Your courage makes me proud.

But really, love is knowing
When your best friend is in pain,
And understanding earthly acts
Will only be in vain.

So looking deep into your eyes,
Beyond, into your soul,
I see in you the magic, that will
Once more make me whole.

The strength that you possess,
Is why I look to you today,
To do this thing that must be done,
For it's the only way.

That strength is why I've followed you,
And chose you as my friend,
And why I've loved you all these years...
My partner 'til the end.

Please, understand just what this gift,
You're giving, means to me,
It gives me back the strength I've lost,
And all my dignity.

You take a stand on my behalf,
For that is what friends do.
And know that what you do is right,
For I believe it too.

So one last time, I breathe your scent,
And through your hand I feel,
The courage that's within you,
To now grant me this appeal.

Cut the leash that holds me here,
Dear friend, and let me run,
Once more a strong and steady dog,
My pain and struggle done.

And don't despair my passing,
For I won't be far away,
Forever here, within your heart,
And memory I'll stay.

I'll be there watching over you,
Your ever faithful friend,
And in your memories I'll run,
...a young dog once again.

In Memory of Asta, Feb. 1997
(c) Karen Clouston

That's beautiful @Pea-n-Me . I've read it three times now. I'll have to print it out. Just waiting for our tree from the garden center.

 

[Judique]

@Judique I’m glad you got some rest, and glad your little guy is at peace now. The tree will be beautiful.

Hope @Snowysmom is enjoying her vacation so far. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Looks like we’re finally having some beautiful days consistently now. It’s 48 and sunny and I’m sure it will warm up a fair amount today. I have an appt later this morning I have to get to. I took something to help my stomach this morning, something’s got to give. I didn’t eat much yesterday at all (eggs and a few home fries in the morning and half of a piece of lasagna in the evening and one meatball, that was it, and as soon as I ate, pain and ). I should be skinny by now! I’m still puffy but going to do my best today to combat that. Two can play at this game and I can be a warrior when I want to.

Yesterday we decided to clean out my mother’s Governor Winthrop desk which is still in the in law apt. There’s a perfect space for it and I asked DD to keep it even though she doesn’t love it. I wish I could have it or one like it on my side but I don’t have a space for it. It’s so good for holding books and office supplies and papers, etc. Anyway, I came across a lot of my mother’s writings as I was going through the books in there, which, actually, were a lot of my cookbooks she’d borrowed. She had papers stuck in pages with recipes she wanted to try. I also came across a picture of her family’s gravesite going back to 1859. (I started to do a little research on that last night but remembered my cousin had done a whole family history on that side, I’m going to contact him soon as he’d offered to give me the password to his Ancestry.com and now I’m curious.) That was my Irish side. But it was nice to see my mother’s handwriting, and today would’ve been my father’s bday, so I’m feeling a little nostalgic. Checked bindings of all books before putting them aside for donation as my mother was known to put important papers and money in them, lol. Got two boxes for donation and threw a lot away. Kept the cookbooks, Mom’s bible and some prayer books, so I’m glad we got that done.

I never got to the floors but later today when I come home I am going to try to wash the ceiling in there, after the storms this year the roof leaked a little and there are some water spots, hopefully they’ll come off, if not she’ll have to repaint and she just had them done. At some point we’ll need a new roof but I just think this winter was tough on most homes. We are still dealing with all the broken trees and such in our yard.

So yesterday guess who came by knocking on the door to see if he could get started with the leaves? Yup, my good kid, eager to work. Love it. So I said sure, go ahead. He was out there all day and DH joined him when he came home from work. He’ll finish up today. Last night DH’s arms were full of bloody scratches from getting under the low branches of the cedar trees in order to get the leaves out, and he cut a lot of bittersweet vine off. There’s more to do but it looks better than it did. One section of fence broke so we have to replace that. Kid also wants to get started on taking the deck apart, gave us a great price and said he’d help put the new one down for free as he wants to learn how. Smart kid! (We’ll pay him if he does help with that, I know DS was planning to help, too.) So DH went and ordered the new Trex decking. Came home and said he got the dark brown. I was like, what, I said I wanted grey, like on our front porch. So he ran down to the cellar and showed me an extra board from the front and it was originally brown, but it’s grey now from the sun. So I just took a deep breath and said fine, we’ll keep the brown. I’m sure it will look nice and there is a lot of brown out there. My only worry is that dark shows up every little thing but he promised we’d keep it clean so that wouldn’t bother me (or should I say my OCD). So I’m happy and excited about that, it’s been a long time coming.

I hope everyone has a good Wednesday!

Not bad for 90s

View attachment 1071715

My son in law installed my decking. It's 2 shades of the grey, a light and dark alternating. It's Trex Transcend and it's all lightened up since it was installed around 2015. Mine is due for it's annual powerwash. I'm guessing I got a great price and two shades because they do a lot of deck jobs and there are always leftovers because most contractors build at least 10% extra into material cost. Plus, they work on the luxury houses and my whole deck is only about 300 square feet. The really expensive part is the railing and spindles. I have white with black spindles. It's all required by county code.

Also, no nails. All hidden screws.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

That's beautiful @Pea-n-Me . I've read it three times now. I'll have to print it out. Just waiting for our tree from the garden center.

I’m glad you liked it. It’s brought comfort to me over the years, too.

You can find it for printing on petloss.com under Healing and Inspirational Poetry.

My son in law installed my decking. It's 2 shades of the grey, a light and dark alternating. It's Trex Transcend and it's all lightened up since it was installed around 2015. Mine is due for its annual powerwash. I'm guessing I got a great price and two shades because they do a lot of deck jobs and there are always leftovers because most contractors build at least 10% extra into material cost. Plus, they work on the luxury houses and my whole deck is only about 300 square feet. The really expensive part is the railing and spindles. I have white with black spindles. It's all required by county code.

Also, no nails. All hidden screws.

That sounds interesting! It’s funny how it lightens up. I was shocked when he showed me that original board yesterday being brown as out front now they’re very light grey and I never noticed them changing over the years. We put it down in 1995. The front porch gets morning sun and the back deck gets afternoon sun.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Good morning!
Our last day in Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, and the sun is shining. We are enjoying the resort, even though I was disappointed that I couldn’t swim because it was too soon since the fatty things were removed from my thighs.

We did get to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Site in Beaufort. The building it’s housed in was originally a firehouse. There was a Ranger Talk that was very interesting. We had done a tour of Beaufort two years ago, and the site was closed by the time we saw it, and I knew I wanted to learn more about the history of the town, it’s very lovely!

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning. It rained on and off yesterday until dinnertime. Then we had a heck of a storm. Dumped down the rain, had to have been close to an inch in a short time, with strong winds and lots of thunder and lightening. Calling for morning showers, temp is 50 and only going to 54 today. By next Monday it will be 95??

I didn't leave for errands until the first batch of rain came through. Walmart wasn't busy at all, which was surprising. There was only one person in front of me at CVS, and no one but me at the bank. But of course my luck, the money machine jammed when the teller was cashing my check. I had to stand there for 15 min while they tried to unjam it so they could get the rest of my money out. This was at 2:45 and they were closing at 3 for a community event. I got out of there at 2:58.

Stopped at the flower place, wow did they sell a lot last weekend. I wanted some of the smaller pots of begonia's, they didn't have any, so I ended up with 2 bigger pots. Bought a new rose bush, one I planted last year did great, this year it looks like it's dying. I told the lady if I come back, tell me I'm not allowed. This was my third and final trip for flowers. I think I have enough now, lol

Summer's court date is this morning at 10:30. They told her they had no idea if it was pre trial, or if it would all be done today.

Have a good day.

 

[easyas123]

By next Monday it will be 95??

I know! It's damp and chilly here now, but this weekend is looking great and the beginning of next week is looking downright hot as compared to the rest of this wacky-doodle spring weather.

@Bobbiewoz - that museum looks pretty cool, and very interesting. I've never been to the Hilton Head area, I'll have to keep that in mind. If you ever find yourself taking the ferry over and in the mood to keep heading west I HIGHLY recommend the Harriet Tubman Underground Railway Nat'l Historical Park - it's amazing. The Hyatt in Cambridge isn't to bad for a overnight stay either

It's breezy and cool and damp here at the moment, remnants of last nights rain storms that came thru. Like Lynn, I have a pile of flowers (and a few vegetables) that I will be concentrating on getting potted up and planted where they are meant to live for the summer this weekend. I have a rare weekend of nice weather, no real obligations and husband out of town + two decent book to read AND I'm smack in the middle of a good audio book! So my plan is to get my big tractor mowing done tonight or tomorrow night so I can listen to my audio book in the cab of the tractor. Spend the weekend cleaning up the porch and potting my flowers & plants and enjoying some time weather on the porch in the afternoons to get some book reading in. At least that is the plan - we will see how much I accomplish by Sunday afternoon!!

I have an appt. to get my hair trimmed at noon, set a alarm on my phone so I don't forget it! And I'm due in a Teams meeting in 4 min. Best get off of here and signed in, have a good day -

PEA - continued good thoughts going out to you as you continue your treatments and manage you meds & your stomach thing. I admire the way you continue to stay busy, doing your day-to-day thing and also being able to listen to your body as needed. I imagine it must at times be difficult to stay motivated and in a good head space, you are really a good example of going thru this mess with grace.

 

[tazdev3225]

@Judique - so sorry for the loss of your furbaby. My pup just turned 12 and I think I have some hard decisions in my future. It never gets easier.

@Pea-n-Me - hope you are feeling better. I had those symptoms a few times and always thought it was bad seafood, chicken not cooked enough, etc. Wasn't til I broke out in head to toe hives that my doctor realized I had a severe allergy. I'll take the hives over the gastro issues

Not much going on around here. I'm stressing over this weekend. I have the bedrooms mostly cleared out, finally picked up the windows and flooring but we need to get the furniture a friend is giving me on Sunday. I cleared out my China cabinet for the most part, I can't move the china until Sunday because of the cats and nowhere safe to put it. I have some antique lead crystal that I do not want damaged having lost a few pieces 16 years ago when the downstairs was painted and carpeted. I found a camera I forgot I had and threw the battery charger away. I also found my small camcorder with batteries and no charger. I need to order the chargers, because the camera is great for fitting in my pocket and I have tapes I can try and see whats on them to get them transcribed to a DVD. I'm still waiting to hear from my son about a U-Haul truck. He works for them as a truck driver but can't get ahold of his friend/boss to set something up for Sunday. If I have to we will go to Home Depot and rent a box truck from them. I only need it for 3-4 hours depending on how long it takes to move everything around.

I have just been in a really bad place for the last month, snapping at little things and stressing over everything. Tomorrow is one month since I lost my dad and I just really miss him. I am glad he's in a better place and no longer in pain but I keep thinking of all the firsts still to get through over the next year. The upcoming Disney trip is no comfort as I am stressed over that too. Thankfully Jay starts a new job with the Union on Monday so at least he can get the house finished.

Hope you all have a good day.

 

[bobbiwoz]

@easyas123, definitely will look into the Harriet Tubman Underground Railway! TY. We have a Harriet Tubman museum in CM, too!