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

[PollyannaMom]

QOTD: Yes, we still have a landline. (It's bundled with our cable and internet.) I like it for a couple of reasons:
1) Automatic tracing of 911
2) a number to give when I buy things online, sign up for rewards programs, etc. - so I don't get unnecessary calls on my cell.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

QOTD: Yes, we still have a landline. (It's bundled with our cable and internet.) I like it for a couple of reasons:
1) Automatic tracing of 911
2) a number to give when I buy things online, sign up for rewards programs, etc. - so I don't get unnecessary calls on my cell.

Same here and same reasons, plus there have been a few occasions (rare, thankfully) when our cell service went out and the landline was our only working phone. So even though we use our cell phones for most things, I feel safer having the landline as our backup.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

@Pea-n-Me: Saw this article and thought of you. Hope you enjoy it!

We would love to do a trip like this. This article gave me some good starting points for trip planning.

https://www.aol.com/entertainment/pilgrimage-yorkshire-why-trip-literary-100000834.html

 

[Snowysmom]

@theluckyrabbit Love the link. The pictures are beautiful and so interesting. Would love to do something like that.

Lynn I hope you can rest a bit today and feel better. Summer really needs to get checked out. And I agree that she needs to cancel the trip and focus on needs not wants.

Pea-n-me Hope you are feeling better today and more rested.

Good morning. It is 59 now with temps heading to 80. I am heading to Jeff's today to see Ellie and Luke's play. It is going to be hot sitting inside an unairconditioned school. Sandal and capri weather. I watched more Britbox last night. I watched the second episode of Pride and Prejudice. So good.

Have a good Sunday.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

@Pea-n-Me: Saw this article and thought of you. Hope you enjoy it!

We would love to do a trip like this. This article gave me some good starting points for trip planning.

https://www.aol.com/entertainment/pilgrimage-yorkshire-why-trip-literary-100000834.html

Thank you, that was sweet of you! I would love to visit Yorkshire someday, and other areas around there including Scotland and Ireland. I met a lady last week in a grocery line at WalMart that I swear was almost half an hour long. She was from Ireland and we talked about all that. She was very persistent that I needed to go, lol. I also have a friend and coworker who is from Thirsk. (We shared a locker at one point, love the accent.) When she goes home to visit she has brought me things from the James Herriot Museum. It seems like life there is much like it’s been forever. I would want a good amount of time to visit, no rushing around. My DH (and kids, obviously) have Scottish roots. (Their name around Scotland is a familiar one.) I have roots in Ireland (and Italy, Sweden and Canada/France). When I was cleaning out Mom’s desk last week I came across a photo of a family gravestone here in Boston and the birthdates started in the 1850s - that’s actually how we got talking once I heard her accent. Those ancestors were from Kerry, and she said it’s beautiful there. I believe it! So it would be nice to visit those places but I have to get past my fear of flying over the ocean, too! (Lynn, idk how you do it going to Hawaii!) DH thinks we should sail over and he’s only half kidding.

@tazdev3225 How did you handle the end of Outlander? I couldn’t stop thinking about it all day yesterday! Enjoying reading all the comments on social media from fans and the show’s cast and creators. I think there will be a continuation at some point, maybe movies or something. I hope so.

Headed out soon to DSGS’s TBall game, last night DS invited us. It’s a beautiful, sunny morning, so we’ll take advantage of it. Not sure if DS is coaching this one, I know he’s doing soccer. I hope I feel ok, just want to make sure I can take care of business before going out. Ugh. I got so tired yesterday afternoon after I finally made it out, that we had to come home, and I fell asleep for a bit. I think I overdid it the night before shopping with DD for some summer outfits, she has that blind date coming up and needed some new things. I didn’t do much but sit there and run back and forth for sizes, but it was a long day between that and my doctor’s appt. I read that it can take a while to bounce back from food poisoning but that I’m doing the right things - rest, BRAT diet, watch what I eat (which I could do a whole post on, it’s scary now for me), plenty of fluids, etc. So I’ll roll with it. Not staying out long today because I still have a lot to do around the house that I didn’t get to yesterday, but if I have to lay down for a bit, I will. I like being off the other med. DH said wait till Monday to restart it. I wound up buying DS’s fiancee a different Mother’s Day gift, this one is nice (nautical sweatshirt) and I think she’ll like it. (She had nowhere for the wall plant I’d bought, I forgot the outside is brick.) So I can get that to her today as well as watch the game.

Enjoy this beautiful Sunday, everyone.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The fence in the kennel area came out nice after DH painted it.

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning. None of the rain or storms they said we'd get last night ever appeared. They say rain will end by midday, but there hasn't been a raindrop since yesterday afternoon, lol

I was so tired last night that I took a shower, ate, watched a little tv, and was in bed asleep by 11. That's early for me. Woke at 3, went back to sleep until 6. Fed the cats and went back to bed again but couldn't sleep.

It's 62 now heading for 84. Then 2 days of 95, then dropping down. By Thursday it will be in the upper 50's with rain Wed- Sun if the forecast is right.
I'm debating whether to wait to plant the tomato's. If I plant them and we get rain all of those days, I'll end up putting a tarp over one railing of the deck ramp, and draping it over the pots. I can move the pots of flowers to the front porch, even though it's a pain to keep moving them.

I didn't hear anything back from Summer, I'll try getting hold of her today to see how she's feeling and if she's still planning on leaving for OC tomorrow.

Have a good day.

 

[lynxstch]

The fence in the kennel area came out nice after DH painted it.

View attachment 1072510

Looks so nice, he did a great job!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Looks so nice, he did a great job!

Thanks, Lynn! I hope to get out there today or tomorrow to rake it, pull some weeds, clean the bird bath, and maybe put down some grass seed. But from our family room it looks so nice now. I think he made the job easier for himself by taking each section of fence off and putting it up on the sawhorse table so he didn’t have to bend to paint. (His right arm movement is tough w his rotator cuff issue that he’s in PT and can’t have surgery for.)

We are hoping to start the new deck this week, Trex is being delivered Wed (supposed to rain ) and they hope to take the old boards up Tuesday. But DH already took the railings off over there too. I am thinking of not putting railings back up and leaving it open, with maybe a thin bench. On the one side that’s not the house (two are) we have those privacy panels and planters. The one wide side that’s open has wide stairs, and we were thinking of just putting the grill and table onto the ground, which will give more room on the deck, with maybe, like I said, a bench (or just open). It’s only a foot off the ground. Have been looking at pictures and it seems like more people are doing that lately. We’ll see.

Ours would be similar to this [random] one, with the stairs [which do not jut out] next to the sunroom there and the planters closest to us here on the right. Grill and table would take up most of this longest area. I think a built in bench might work there, and DH has figured out what to put on the back of the grill so it won’t be yucky to look at. (One of those metal things you put on a screen door so pets can’t push out.) We’re going to freshen up the table and some other tables we keep on the deck w spray paint. Will post pics when done.

 

[lynxstch]

I am so ticked off right now. I decided to take the new elec mower out and do the side lawn by the 'not good' neighbors. Battery is fully charged. Press the start button, pull the handle back, let go of the start button. Nothing. Flashing green light on the LED display. Try the other fully charged battery, same thing. Call EGO. He tells me it sounds like an electrical problem, take it back to Lowes. Lowes doesn't have anymore, they have been on order for a month. So now I have to take the whole thing back, get a refund, and get a gas mower. I don't trust this brand anymore. They told me I could buy a better EGO one for $899. Why would I pay that much and end up with the same issues?

Summer is on her way so we can take it back (without the box) because I can't fit it in my little car. Pain in the butt.

 

[Judique]

I am so ticked off right now. I decided to take the new elec mower out and do the side lawn by the 'not good' neighbors. Battery is fully charged. Press the start button, pull the handle back, let go of the start button. Nothing. Flashing green light on the LED display. Try the other fully charged battery, same thing. Call EGO. He tells me it sounds like an electrical problem, take it back to Lowes. Lowes doesn't have anymore, they have been on order for a month. So now I have to take the whole thing back, get a refund, and get a gas mower. I don't trust this brand anymore. They told me I could buy a better EGO one for $899. Why would I pay that much and end up with the same issues?

Summer is on her way so we can take it back (without the box) because I can't fit it in my little car. Pain in the butt.

My old gas one is still doing okay with minimal upkeep. I'm already worrying about having to choose something new when the time comes. John Deere rider is just fine and a new one like I have is selling for about 1 thousand more than I paid for this one. Not sure how much longer I will keep doing my own stuff - plenty of lawn services out there. They'll get us sooner or later.

 

[Snowysmom]

Good morning. It is 59 here now with temps heading to the mid 80s. Ellie and Luke did well in their play. It was a fun play to watch. Today I am back to reality with work. While I was one vacation there was an announcement at work that a private equity company has purchased 70% of the company. The original owners are keeping 30% and will over see the day to day operations. My boss was nice enough to text me to call her while I was away so I wouldn't be blindsided. They say everything will stay the same, same compensation and benefits and will keep our jobs. But You know when there is a buyout like this things do change, if not immediately, then down the road. I listened to the universe and made my decision to retire and it seems now like it was a good decision. My boss says my job will stay the same but you never know. I talked with Jeff who works in finance and business and he says usually when this happens there are changes and people do get laid off. Kenny has seen this happen in the medical side with facilities being purchased and people do lose jobs and things are not for the better. We shall see what happens. So, going back to work today I have to do close week activities as well as play catch up. We have to close the books as of the date of the sale. I feel like every time I go on vacation something happens. Oh well, only so many hours to work each day. Tomorrow is another day.

Have a good day.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Good morning! Today we will leave WDW and begin driving home. I had severe gastro pain and issues Friday evening and into Saturday, but by Saturday noon, I was able to have some chicken and soup, so we went into Epcot and saw The Spinners! That’s a group I remember and we enjoyed very much. We had seen them before, the last time was in Cape May and the last of the original group was still performing. Last night the singer was Josiah Queen, a Gospel singer from Florida who had a huge following. The theater just rocked and just about everyone stood for the whole performance and sang their hearts out. It wasn’t our sort of Gospel music, we enjoy Southern Gospel, but WOW!

I really enjoyed seeing the Flowers and topiaries. A friend of mine had gifted me a Mickey Ears hat, suitable for Flower and Garden show, and I hadn’t been able to get to one with it until now. So, getting some pictures wearing it was defining the agenda. Tina, my friend has autoimmune issues and can no longer go to WDW, but we have hope things will change, and with my sister, the three of us will get to WDW and we will all wear ours! Here it is!

 

[lynxstch]

Good sunny morning . 62 now heading for 95, chance of stray storms this afternoon.

I need to put oil and gas in the new mower and make sure it starts and runs. I may or may not mow the side lawn that I wanted to get done yesterday, but I at least need to make sure the mower works. Other than that, I don't plan on doing anything. 3 days of yard work and planting, leaves me needing a day off.

Feel better @bobbiwoz

Have a good Monday

 

[bobbiwoz]

@lynxstch, I have felt much better since Saturday, noon. Watching what I eat, and we truly had a great time. On Friday night, at the worst of it, we considered skipping Saturday and Sunday nights, and we are so glad we didn’t. Thank you for your concern!

 

[lynxstch]

Mower started on the first pull, and so far the only pro I see from my Cub Cadet is that I don't have to bend down at all to pull the handle, it's high enough to just grab and pull. It cuts okay, doesn't maneuver quite as easily as my other one, but I'll get used to it. It's a 'Recycler" one and cuts the grass into tiny little pieces. Also has a pacer, so you just press the self propelled handle up or down as far as you want, to go slower or faster. I did the whole side with it, then got the rider out and gave the rest of the lawn a quick manicure before the heat and the rains come. Chores done for the day, since mowing was the only one, lol

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Glad you have a mower that’s working, Lynn!

Snowysmom, that happened to DH’s company too. Small company bought out by a major, overseas company. (Not the first time he’s had that happen, either, with a domestic sale.) Early on it drove good changes in DH, like going to school to get his culinary degree, which paid off in the long run. But in later years, it got a bit nuts. They like to bring in their own people who then tend to treat longstanding employees like they don’t know what they’re doing. I was glad DH was able to retire last fall and recruited by a better, well known company to help them with special projects. Currently he works two days a week with them. And of course, his old company called freaking out about some things DH used to take care of. He helped them out (verbally) and his old boss asked if he’d come to work part time for them, at his convenience. DH thought about it thought he might be able to do that (was thinking maybe twice a month) but that boss has had family emergencies and been out of town, so who knows. They brought in a lot of “higher ups” into the company (including that guy) when they really didn’t need so many ‘cooks in the kitchen’. This seems to be the ways companies are going today. It’s so dumb because then they have money issues and have to shave off the top of- the bottom has nowhere left to cut from. And I agree with Kenny on the medical side. So many of these higher ups are making ridiculous amounts of money while the people at the bedside, who are the hearts and souls of the operation, are expected to be happy with what they have. I’m glad you’re retiring. Maybe see if they do plan to lay you off if there might be some sort of incentive.

Bobbi, I’m so sorry to hear you had GI issues at WDW! Last week I was thinking how glad I was I was home. I am going to give advice here (a PSA) that if you have from something you ate, GET A STOOL SAMPLE and have a medical facility run it. I am so thankful I thought to do that, otherwise we’d have no idea that the restaurant I ate at is serving bad food. This way, now that it’s proven via the sample, that there is an issue there, the DPH will investigate, and hopefully no one else gets sick. The thing we always read, that bad food mostly affects “children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised” is very true. DH and I both ate the same thing (in fact, shared a plate). We both got sick, but he was able to shake it off because he’s healthy. I got worse because I’m immunocompromised. Fortunately the antibiotics have done their job, but there can be side effects from those, I had to come off my chemo, and there can be very bad sequelae from the germ I ingested which I’m praying doesn’t happen to me. Bobbi please make sure you stay hydrated and don’t hesitate to go to the doctor’s when you get home (bring a stool sample and make sure they run it) you could easily be deyhydrated and if you have a germ it can still make you sick. Hugs. Love the pic, btw, looks like Garden Grill, we really enjoyed our meal there. After this experience I have to really think about where and what I’m eating from now on.

Well didn’t intend to write this much, lol. Yesterday we went to the tee ball game and it was fun. There was a ten year old team playing next door and it really boggled my mind to think that not that long ago, we were on those fields with DS playing. Even when DD an DS played tee ball it was really funny because DD was out in the outfield with a pocket full of cheeze its looking at the sky when her team came in. No one could get her attention so the coach, who was really funny, waved his hand and said, “Eh, just leave her out there, she’s having a good time!” Seems like just yesterday! And of course DS playing baseball for so many years yet there he was just being a Dad. Time goes by so fast! But it was nice to be out in the sunshine watching the little guy play. Got a little too much sun, forgot to put on sunscreen.

Today I have a lot to catch up on.

Enjoy this Monday!

 

[Judique]

It's hotter here than Disney right now! No break till Thursday and then we plummet 30 degrees from 94 to 64. Plus rain and thunderstorms - what am I saying? Crazy to believe the forecast will be correct!

Hopefully it will cool off on Thursday and that rain will come as my backyard crackles when I walk across it and I have to water everything. I was out from 6 to 9:40 doing stuff and it just got too warm so I came in. The upstairs AC was on so it wasn't too bad in here early but now I'm turning downstairs on.

I was moving some stones and found a little snake. It didn't move so I thought it wasn't alive. Left it alone and it disappeared. Hopefully I don't find it again tomorrow as I move around the underside of the deck weeding and rearranging. Since it's hot today I'm back inside and watched a couple of Judy Justice shows just to hear some noise in the house. So quiet! Cats don't make much noise.

I had a sprig from a crape myrtle start growing under my japanese maple and I had marked it and left it to replant later. That happened yesterday, but when I lifted it with my shovel it was kind of heavy so I sat it down to try to ease it up by hand so as not to disturb too much. Snapped off the center root accidentally but there was quite a bit left plus some little roots so I took it and planted it in the back anyway. We'll see if it survives - they are quite hardy and beautiful when they bloom. Usually when I've collected ones before they've been much smaller and survived easily.

Counting my empty pots and tomorrow I will add new earth to most and some fertilizer. I still have a tomato and cucumber plant on the deck and want to put the cuke in the ground and the tomato in a pot. Also planted a yellow pepper in a pot.

Remaining pots will hold flowers, maybe some geraniums and whatever else looks fun. I have other things I have to move - a japanese quince, a rose bush and 2 bushes I can't remember the name of. I'd love to create an english garden but it's a lot of work. Plus creating paths may be too heavy lifting for me.

Glad @Pea-n-Me and @bobbiwoz are feeling better.

@Snowysmom - retire while you still have time to have fun!

 

[lynxstch]

It's hotter here than Disney right now! No break till Thursday and then we plummet 30 degrees from 94 to 64. Plus rain and thunderstorms - what am I saying? Crazy to believe the forecast will be correct!

Hopefully it will cool off on Thursday and that rain will come as my backyard crackles when I walk across it and I have to water everything. I was out from 6 to 9:40 doing stuff and it just got too warm so I came in. The upstairs AC was on so it wasn't too bad in here early but now I'm turning downstairs on.

I was moving some stones and found a little snake. It didn't move so I thought it wasn't alive. Left it alone and it disappeared. Hopefully I don't find it again tomorrow as I move around the underside of the deck weeding and rearranging. Since it's hot today I'm back inside and watched a couple of Judy Justice shows just to hear some noise in the house. So quiet! Cats don't make much noise.

I had a sprig from a crape myrtle start growing under my japanese maple and I had marked it and left it to replant later. That happened yesterday, but when I lifted it with my shovel it was kind of heavy so I sat it down to try to ease it up by hand so as not to disturb too much. Snapped off the center root accidentally but there was quite a bit left plus some little roots so I took it and planted it in the back anyway. We'll see if it survives - they are quite hardy and beautiful when they bloom. Usually when I've collected ones before they've been much smaller and survived easily.

Counting my empty pots and tomorrow I will add new earth to most and some fertilizer. I still have a tomato and cucumber plant on the deck and want to put the cuke in the ground and the tomato in a pot. Also planted a yellow pepper in a pot.

Remaining pots will hold flowers, maybe some geraniums and whatever else looks fun. I have other things I have to move - a japanese quince, a rose bush and 2 bushes I can't remember the name of. I'd love to create an english garden but it's a lot of work. Plus creating paths may be too heavy lifting for me.

Glad @Pea-n-Me and @bobbiwoz are feeling better.

@Snowysmom - retire while you still have time to have fun!

We're expecting storms anytime. Starting Wednesday our forecast is rain for the next 8 days. It's 93 degrees outside and there are big thunder clouds in the distance.

I turned the AC on for the first time this morning, feels nice and cool in here. Just played plant tag again and moved everything from the back deck to the covered front porch just in case.

I have 2 big crepe myrtles near the front of the house and 3 smaller ones along the edge of the lawn where it goes down the bank. They are so pretty when they bloom.


Summer, Gracie, and her boyfriend got to OC about 30 min ago. Sent me a video from their hotel room. They have the same oceanfront room Don and I had the last time we went there, lol.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hi @Pea-n-Me, I sure will do as you suggest if it appears warranted, but for sure we are both drinking lots of water. Yes, our meal was at the Garden Gill, and we only asked for turkey, passed on steak. The menu was just what I wanted, nothing fancy, what I needed, and I loved the idea of eating things grown in The Land! The strawberry shortcake was particularly delicious!