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

[apirateslifeforme]

So sorry about your trip, dazedx3, and I hope your DH is starting to feel better

Busy weekend, busy morning, and it still feels like the day is dragging. I'm just now sitting down at 11:45. Trying to get everything done before it gets too hot to move, but of course I've felt like needing the AC since about 8:30 this morning. We're all very worried because our electric company increased the "delivery" charges yet again...the delivery is about 2-2.5 times the cost of the supply. People are now getting bills for $500, $600...even some over $700 for electricity! And they are the only company that does the delivery in our entire state; we can change the supplier to get a cheaper rate, but it does nothing to alleviate the delivery cost. The solar panel companies are getting a LOT of phone calls today, based on the posts on our open forum! I just put on the AC because I couldn't take it anymore...praying that it doesn't go too high.

Yesterday we found 2 more fairy tales on the town-wide scavenger hunt, so now we only need 3 more. One of them has me completely lost..."Little Red Riding Hood could have walked my path with her Grandmother and stopped to exercise along the way." Of course my first thought is the one hiking trail along the "river" that we have through town, but there are literally 5 entrances and the entire path is several miles long! Plus there are 5 entrances to the trail, but you have to get there exceptionally early in the morning as the parking lots are filled by 9 a.m. and they are now posting police officers and signs, "PARK CLOSED, NO WALK-INS" (meaning that you can't park elsewhere and walk over). They wouldn't put the sign in places like that. The "stopped to exercise along the way" makes me think it's one of the gyms in town? And you can walk on the sidewalk in front of it? This weekend, we're going to try that, plus try the other 2 places that we didn't get (I think we looked at the right places, but the wrong spots in those places).

Then we went to my in-laws' house and sat outside for a few hours to visit. My SIL was there as well. I love her, but OMG...the squash! Why did she and her partner plant the same amount of squash as in previous years, due to the virus and knowing they wouldn't be able to sell at the farmer's markets? My MIL and BIL only take 2 each, so I ended up with 7 summer squashes, 6 more cucumbers, and another magda zucchini. I do appreciate it, but now I have to think of what else to do with all of this. I guess I'll have to pickle the cucumbers and I found a recipe for summer squash fritters.

We Duo-called with my mom last night and I got to see my aunt. She looks FANTASTIC. I am so grateful! She looks like herself now, despite having no hair. Looks like she's lost some weight, of course, but up and walking around. She tried to clean up some of the dinner dishes and my mom wouldn't let her, but I've had 5 abdominal surgeries myself and I know that sometimes you want to do stuff because it actually hurts more to just sit there. Still don't know when my mother is coming home, though. She's going to miss DH's birthday this weekend, but she's still planning to be home for Josh's 5th birthday on the 18th.

Yesterday morning I made an Eggs Benedict Casserole that came out really good! I used honey wheat English muffins instead of plain, and it was the first time I'd made hollandaise sauce in a jerry-rigged double-boiler. I'm proud of myself - maybe I'm not such a bad cook after all. Today I made chocolate chip zucchini muffins and I just hope they're cooked all the way through. Josh pulled the state of Arkansas for his project this morning and we were happy to be able to order a printed Visitor's Guide from them. Since we can only view or download digital guides from CT and MA, it makes me wonder if we'll run into the same problem with the rest of New England.

So, onto the question...

QOTD - Who was your first crush?

He wasn't just a crush - I had my first boyfriend in kindergarten! I was the only girl in a class of 12 (except for the teacher). His name was Ricky Jacobs. I remember one time when we were playing a game where you'd send 2 people out of the room and they'd have to come back and figure out what was different - Ricky and I got sent out together. So while we were waiting, he said, "Let's kiss like they do on TV" (that meant with tongue, no joke). The next thing I remember is the helper teacher yelling, "Oh my goodness, kissing in school, what are you two doing!!!" They told our moms, but I don't remember anything else being said of it. Ricky and I still played "Superfriends" together out on the playground...

First celebrity crush came just 2 years later. Simon LeBon from Duran Duran. It's been 39 years, he's almost 62 and a grandpa now (twice over), and I still him.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Ok QOTD: Starting with first celebrity crush, well that would be David Cassidy! Got to see him several years back, before things got really bad for him, and it was a lot of fun. Believe it or not, he still looked cute then. I was able to photograph him w my tele lens from stairs on the stage for about an hour and it was really fun seeing LOTS of other women my age still yelling and swooning!

First crush in first grade was a cutie named Steven. I hadn't thought about it until the other day when the question was asked, but in thinking about it, he sort of had the same "look" that my son has. This may sound strange to some people but I believe that we either "know" or get signs along the paths of our lives that give us hints about things, but we may not "see" them until later. As I said I had never thought about it before but describing Steven could sort of describe my son, too. Blonde hair, blue eyes, smaller in stature, a little shy, and kind. Weird because in picking a mate I was more attracted to the brown haired, muscular type, like DH.

Now here's another similar story. Many years ago when we bought our first house there was a country store we used to love to visit. It was before we had kids. I have no idea why because it was pretty random, but I was drawn to a picture and I bought it that day. It was the first picture I hung in our new home. And it still hangs in the same spot today. So one day several years back I looked at it, and saw something I had never noticed in it before. I mean, I'd walked by the picture probably thousands of times but had not really looked at it in a long time. And there it was. The picture is of a young boy and a young girl around 3 or 4 years old, sitting together. The little boy has blonde hair and blue eyes, and the little girl has brown hair and brown/green eyes. Uncannily like my own children. (DD just stood next to the pic for me and it looks almost exactly like her! Even more so as an adult! And I just noticed today the little boy is holding a boat; DS just got a boat!) But why did I buy that picture? If you had asked me then about children, I was still on the fence, and if I at all pictured children, I pictured one girl with blonde hair, like myself when I was young. Never dreamed of a boy at all! Boys kind of scared me a little bit, lol. (Always much better with puppies than babies!) People used to say to my kids all the time that it was strange that the boy got blonde hair and the girl got brown, not that there's anything wrong with that, but it was one of those dumb comments that people often make to people with kids that sort of drove home the point of their differences. And then the picture. Lol.

One time I happened to go to a psychic that was local and doing readings at a funky little shop I used to frequent. At the time we were trying to start a family but having trouble. I didn't know if it would ever happen for us. (I know @apirateslifeforme can relate to this, and probably many others.) During the reading she described a little boy with blonde hair and blue eyes, and she was moved by how adorable he was. Like, she talked about him for a few minutes. I assumed she was talking about my nephew, who had just visited that weekend. But later, my sister reminded me that her son had brown eyes, not blue. Hmm. At the end of the reading, she asked if I had any questions. The only question I had was whether I would have children. She sort of rolled her eyes and said, "Of course you will. You'll be having a boy and a girl!". I was so disappointed because it seemed so cliche at the time. But years later I thought back on that particular reading and thought maybe that lady knew something I didn't know, somehow.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

With that, if no one minds, I will ask the QOTD today!

QOTD for Monday, July 27th: Have you ever gone to a psychic or medium and did the information turn out to be accurate or true?

 

[lynxstch]

QOTD for Monday, July 27th: Have you ever gone to a psychic or medium and did the information turn out to be accurate or true?

Never have gone to one, never even had the inclination to go to one. But I found your story about the picture you bought in the country store to be very interesting. Sounds a little eerie but also very true, going by what you have written! @Pea-n-Me

 

[Meriweather]

With that, if no one minds, I will ask the QOTD today!

QOTD for Monday, July 27th: Have you ever gone to a psychic or medium and did the information turn out to be accurate or true?

No.....I don't believe in those things

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Quick report to say all went well at the dentist. Thank you all for your prayers As a bonus, something I had been praying about (I do not like to ask for favors for myself, for others no problem) was I didn't think I should need to pay the full amount (since my cleaning would not be a full cleaning). I did not feel comfortable bringing this up or know quite how to do so. Dentist's wife (also his receptionist) when I was done so kindly and quietly asked me what I wanted to pay! I didn't know what to say at first...kind of mumbled I did have the full amount (I was going to offer to pay that today and then maybe not need to pay anything next time) She said how about and named an amount just over 1/2. So thankful for how God orchestrated that being solved. I am praying tonight I am not in TMJ distress don't think I should be.

The cookies do look good, AuntieMe3, forgot to say that and also thank you Easyas123 for all you do for doggies!

apirateslifeforme, the scavenger hunt sounds like SO much fun!

For the QOTD: I'm not of any help there because I don't believe in such things.

 

[easyas123]

Good afternoon all -

Two of the 4 pugs are on their way to their new foster home, and the other two will be going tomorrow morning, so I'm glad this little escapade has worked out!

It's hot as hell out there today....if the pool contractor came out today with a contract I'd sign it without reading it!! Husband took our one dog swimming in the creek behind the farm last night - that dog just will swim and swim, he loves it. They tried to talk me into going in there, but you know what, I've seen the snakes swimming in there and I've watched them pull the snapping turtles out of the turtle traps. I'm good not going in! As warm as it is, I was glad to ready the following article...I had already heard about Walmart, but now Target is getting in on it. How refreshing - I like it.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/com...thanksgiving-this-year/ar-BB17f2d0?li=BBnb7KzWith the exception of a meeting Wednesday afternoon, it's a quiet week at work. I do have one of the kids who works for us who was in a fender/bender earlier today so I'm dealing with the paperwork involved with that. And we've got nothing planned for this weekend - no complaints though! We will see what the week brings, maybe something worthwhile will pop up.
Dinner this evening is looking like sauteed chicken with spinach & cherry tomatoes. I need to put more effort into supper but I just don't have it in me at the moment.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's almost time for me to start ordering up this years firewood. We started buying a last year - we have lots of wooded property and felled trees, and a log splitter moldering in one of the barns, but honestly, we are at that point in life where we aren't feeling like spending the time cutting wood and stacking and seasoning it. Trouble is, I can't remember who I got it from last year! There are plenty of places around here, I guess I'll call someone -

QOTD for Monday, July 27th: Have you ever gone to a psychic or medium and did the information turn out to be accurate or true?

I haven't. Have never been to a psychic or medium, although I am not opposed to it, I've just never come across one (or have had one recommended to me) that I thought was on the up & up. I think it would be a very interesting experience with the right person possibly.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If anyone wants to add an optional QOTD I wouldn’t mind.

 

[easyas123]

QOTD for Monday, July 27th: Have you ever gone to a psychic or medium and did the information turn out to be accurate or true?

I think it's a interesting question...I'd be interested in hearing about anyone's experiences, good/bad/funny/sad/ridiculous!

 

[PollyannaMom]

“Little Red Riding Hood could have walked my path with her Grandmother and stopped to exercise along the way."

One of the playgrounds I took my niece and nephew to last year had a paved path around it with exercise stops - chin up bars, signs saying do five jumping jacks...that sort of thing. Maybe there is one of those

Since we can only view or download digital guides from CT and MA, it makes me wonder if we'll run into the same problem with the rest of New England.

I live in MA, and found this printed one from from last year in my travel bin, as well as a couple of other brochures. If youcomfortable PMing me your address, I’d be happy to pop them in the mail.

QOTD for Monday, July 27th: Have you ever gone to a psychic or medium and did the information turn out to be accurate or true?

No, I haven’t. That stuff kind of freaks me out a little.

 

[lynxstch]

Good afternoon all -

Two of the 4 pugs are on their way to their new foster home, and the other two will be going tomorrow morning, so I'm glad this little escapade has worked out!

It's hot as hell out there today....if the pool contractor came out today with a contract I'd sign it without reading it!! Husband took our one dog swimming in the creek behind the farm last night - that dog just will swim and swim, he loves it. They tried to talk me into going in there, but you know what, I've seen the snakes swimming in there and I've watched them pull the snapping turtles out of the turtle traps. I'm good not going in! As warm as it is, I was glad to ready the following article...I had already heard about Walmart, but now Target is getting in on it. How refreshing - I like it.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/com...thanksgiving-this-year/ar-BB17f2d0?li=BBnb7KzWith the exception of a meeting Wednesday afternoon, it's a quiet week at work. I do have one of the kids who works for us who was in a fender/bender earlier today so I'm dealing with the paperwork involved with that. And we've got nothing planned for this weekend - no complaints though! We will see what the week brings, maybe something worthwhile will pop up.
Dinner this evening is looking like sauteed chicken with spinach & cherry tomatoes. I need to put more effort into supper but I just don't have it in me at the moment.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's almost time for me to start ordering up this years firewood. We started buying a last year - we have lots of wooded property and felled trees, and a log splitter moldering in one of the barns, but honestly, we are at that point in life where we aren't feeling like spending the time cutting wood and stacking and seasoning it. Trouble is, I can't remember who I got it from last year! There are plenty of places around here, I guess I'll call someone -



I haven't. Have never been to a psychic or medium, although I am not opposed to it, I've just never come across one (or have had one recommended to me) that I thought was on the up & up. I think it would be a very interesting experience with the right person possibly.

You aren't the only one saying it, it's the end of July, and I just last nite said 'time to call the wood guy and put our order in". We have had the same reliable guy for almost 15 years now, and he hasn't raised his prices (at least not for his 'regular' customers) in all that time. $100 for a dump truck full (it's almost a full cord), and it's good wood, oak, locust, maple, etc. No charge for delivery, and he backs right up to the cellar window and throws it in there for me, all I have to do is go down and stack it. He is also our handyman, and has done many jobs around here for us, that others would charge an arm and a leg for. He will be the one painting the entire inside of the house and putting down a hardwood floor in the kitchen very soon. He even gave me his cell phone number, which he doesn't usually give out, just so I could call him if I couldn't get through to him on his home phone. I too am getting to that point in life where I won't want to be using the wood stove for 100% heat much longer, so don't feel bad!

 

[apirateslifeforme]

QOTD for Monday, July 27th: Have you ever gone to a psychic or medium and did the information turn out to be accurate or true?

I did. In the days before social media really became a "thing." She was a local lady who didn't advertise. You could only make an appointment by phone, first name only. You had to pay by cash. During your visit, she would only accept "yes" or "no" answers, no elaborating. I.E. - she really couldn't do any research on you ahead of time or "read" into your answers and tell you what you wanted to hear.

I admit that I'm a skeptic when it comes to psychics, because I believe that many of them do look you up (especially with the advent of Facebook) and that they let you talk in order to come up with their predictions. But at the time, I was interested and since I was going through a divorce from a very unhappy marriage, I was looking for some hope.

She got many things wrong. The biggest thing is that she told me I would find love again with someone much older, who I'd meet through work, and his job would have something to do with words and writing. Well, my DH is the same age as me (2 weeks younger, technically), we met through eHarmony, and he's a banker, so completely the opposite!

Two things stand out as correct, though. One was asking me about a friend who lives far away, whose wife was ill with something in her chest. I do have a friend who lives 3/4 of the way across the country, but as far as the wife being sick, I had no idea. 2 months later, the wife was indeed diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on her lungs... (she beat it). The second thing was saying that she could see an "older man, your father? Glasses, mustache? He's got a big white dog with him...I don't know what kind, I'm a cat lady...a weird name, starts with a T..." Well, my grandfather - with whom I grew up, so he was more my "dad" than my actual father - did indeed have glasses and a mustache. And in his entire life, his favorite dog was a white German Shepherd named Tripoli. This was 10 years after he'd died (and Tripoli had passed in 1979). There really is NO WAY she could have known any of this.

I was also in a local paranormal society group for a couple of years. I'm also skeptical of Ouija/spirit boards, but I typically won't take part...because if it's true, why take the chance? But I did participate once and it was really weird. There were only 4 of us using it at this one particular meeting and it truly didn't feel like anyone was pushing the planchette (we all only used one finger instead of the fingertips of both hands like you see in the movies - Michael, the group leader, said that using only one finger makes it harder for someone to push it). It also wasn't a typical "Ouija board" like what you'd see if you googled, this was completely different. Michael started off by asking if there was anyone who wanted to speak to one of us, and the planchette immediately went to the picture of a rose in the corner of the board. Nobody said anything, so I think Michael tried asking a few different things. The planchette kept circling around and coming back to the rose. Finally Michael said - to us - "Doesn't anyone here know someone named Rose?" So I finally spoke up that my "other grandmother" (my father's mother who hated me) was named Rose, but I didn't want to talk to her. The planchette moved back to the middle of the board and never went back to the rose. Michael finally said, "I guess she heard you." Then it went on to focus on another member of the group who had a secret that NONE of us could possibly have known, it was her first time meeting us, but we certainly learned some very sensitive information about her (that Michael admonished us, "This goes no further than this table, everyone knows that, right?"). The woman in question was very freaked out and crying because it was all true. Michael made us all do the closing ritual and prayers twice with that one.

 

[AuntieMe3]

@apirateslifeforme My dad uses zucchini to make a mexican dish something like this....https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/213707/calabacitas-con-elote-zucchini-with-corn/ This recipe uses chilies and mexican cheese but my dad makes it with the chilies and just used mexican blend cheese or colby jack. Its sooo good. Super flavorful.

QOTD for Monday, July 27th: Have you ever gone to a psychic or medium and did the information turn out to be accurate or true?

@Pea-n-Me I love the story of your painting and totally believe it was meant to be.

I totally believe in pyschics and mediums(love Tyler Henry....lol) I mean, I'm sure there are some that aren't true but I believe there are people with these abilities. I personally have not but I have family members that have and have had many things come to light from their visits. I think I would like to, it just makes me nervous to what I could find out. LOL We have a lot of women on my mom's side of the family and I wouldn't be surprised if some have some abilities, sometimes things are said or done and its a little freaky. My mom went to one before I was married and the psychic told her I would experience a loss and then I would only have a daughter after the loss, she never told me until after I was married and had my daughter. But she never knew that before I was married to hubby, I did have a miscarriage with a former boyfriend that I didn't tell anyone about. It was a situation where we had broken up and shortly after I discovered I was having a miscarriage and didn't even know I was pregnant. I just didn't tell anyone at the time. I also have an aunt who had a friend who has some psychic abilities, she told me my aunt one of her sisters needed to pay attention to her health and she was in a very dire situation. She actually distanced herself for our family after revealing this because my aunt thought her friend though she wasn't talking it seriously, a year or two later my mom had her brain aneurysm, which we believe was caused by her (uncontrolled) high blood pressure. After my mom was in the hospital, my aunts friend contacted my aunt to let her know she could feel come physical discomfort when she was around the family before the aneurysm and it was too much for her to handle so that was why she had to distance herself from us.

 

[gwynne]

QOTD for Monday, July 27th: Have you ever gone to a psychic or medium and did the information turn out to be accurate or true?

Not against it, just never have.

 

[Snowysmom]

@easyas123 Thank you for taking care of pets in need. I love when they are taken care of and can find their nice forever homes.

I have never gone to a psychic or medium. I do read about the subject and have watched shows. I think I would be a bit skittish about someone telling me about the future or what to expect in life. It would be nice to some warnings so you could change the course of your health or some not go great aspects of your life. But, I think I will just stick to reading and TV.

@flyingdumbo127 Glad to hear your dentist appointment went well. Hope your TMJ does not act up.

 

[gwynne]

Dinner tonight is salmon, rice and roasted asparagus.

I am particularly grateful for our online church service. I find hope and peace in those moments. Tomorrow I drop hubs off for his infusion day. No visitors still, but so thankful for the treatment as it's a big help.

Hoping you all are having a good start to your week.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

for your husband tomorrow, Gwynne!

 

[sparkle78]

Crush - Kirk Cameron , of course, I loved Growing Pains

Halloween - I started when my kids were little making a mini thanksgiving dinner for our parents, sisters , etc to see the kids dress in their costumes. I do a turkey and just a few sides. We take turns taking them to a few houses in the neighborhood then come back watch college football and eat desserts

Dinner - crab cakes. Yumm

 

[NYCgrrl]

So jealous! This is one of the field trips on my NYC list of things to do on our next trip. Many of my things to do involve going to specific neighborhoods and eating our way from place to place. I can just smell (!) how good it will be when you walk into the salumeria! Mmmmmmmmm!

I hope the following is true when you make a visit:

You don’t go on a Sunday or Monday. I knew many of the shops were closed on Sun but not Monday massive sigh. On the bright side the pork and cheese shops open around 7:00 AM on Tuesda so the return trip can be accomplished without too much change to existing plans.

The Botanical Gardens and zoo are opened so you’ve a shady bench to eat some of your goodies .


@Pea-n-Me Thanks much for the iPad heads up. The KB you have is the one I’m getting

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Good morning DIS family! Supposedly this will be the last day of our almost week long 95 degree hot spell. Will only be upper 80's the rest of the week. The rain from the storms last week, and the humidity was good for the garden. Finally getting to pick more squash and cukes, and there are a lot of tomatoes starting to ripen. I may have made a mistake in planting 6 of the 'crazy yellow cherry' tomatoes we tried this year instead of 'golden pear' ones. I swear there must be at least 1000 tomatoes on those 6 plants, lol! I have no idea what I am going to do with all of those, on top of all the regular ones I planted. I'm sure I can find some takers..at the price for home grown tomatoes at the farm stand (3.99 and 4.99 a lb) ???? Those are ridiculous prices. Hubby is telling me to just set up a table out front with a for sale sign and a box for money, and let people buy them, but I am not a fan of doing that, especially in a pandemic. I would rather just give them away. I see a major canning session coming up next month for spaghetti sauce, maybe ketchup, I may try making that this year, will get the recipe from my sister in law. Not a fan of canned tomatoes any other way than sauce though. I know , I know..I have been complaining about my tomatoes still being green and not ripening, just wait a week and I will be complaining that they are all ripe at the same time, lol!
Have a lovely day eveyone, lets keep this thread near the top of the page!

What about doing a salsa with the tomatoes? Chili base?

QOTD for Monday, July 27th: Have you ever gone to a psychic or medium and did the information turn out to be accurate or true?

Never have gone to one, never even had the inclination to go to one. But I found your story about the picture you bought in the country store to be very interesting. Sounds a little eerie but also very true, going by what you have written! @Pea-n-Me

No. I figure if they really know something I need to know, they should know how to contact me. LOL

Had planned to fry fish tonight for dinner. Power outage put a stop to that...lost power about 4:30pm, and it just came back for us about half an hour ago. I ended up ordering Five Guys for dinner, and just left the fish in the fridge for tomorrow.