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

[flyingdumbo127]

Sorry it's so there, Lynn, and more so about your knees. Take it easy this afternoon, my friend!

Hug, Taz Dev, so glad your Mom surprised you and that you did have a good talk with your Dad Aw, Benny sounds precious

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Thought I’d give you today’s pictures of the cicada saga, taken while I was mowing grass. These are to educate those of you that don’t have the pleasure of experiencing them yourself. I’d post a video with the sound but don’t know how.

First is our backyard shed.

Next a tree picture, one of the dogwoods.

Some of the holes in the ground from which they emerge.

These are piles of the casings on the ground left after they are shed.

The fence corner.

So glad I wore a hat while mowing. That’s one on the top of it.

Now some flower pictures to leave on a brighter note. First is the pot of pansies and lantana. Second is a marigold near my tomato plants.

 

[easyas123]

Delightful! Keep those up your way!

I've only seen one hole so far, but I'll tell you those dang biting flies that swarm for about 2-3 weeks (not to be confused w/ green heads) are hanging about...I can't wait till they move on.

Went into one of our local Acme's - no mask required! Same with my small, local bank. Not sure if I mentioned, the closest Kohls to me as well. I'd say about 1/2 of Acme - a mix between customers & employees - were without masks. Teller at my bank was without as well. We wished each other a happy Nat'l Redhead Day, as we both are and went on my way. It's nice to see folks faces here & there again.

It was sooooo nice outside. Warm with a slight breeze, I'm glad took a break and ran my errands this afternoon. Can't wait to get home and get outside, even if it's work I'll be doing. This weekend looks like rubbish, Saturday in particular. Bah Humbug for 60 degrees & rain.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Yes, keep those creepy crawlies away from me please, carol. Beautiful flowers though, especially like the purple. You were smart to wear a hat!

That is so good to hear, Easyas! I sure can't wait to be able to go to Kohls and maybe Penney's too, hopefully they are still in business.

Mail came super early (for here) today. All junk but I did get a a belated birthday gift from Amazon. I had used money from cousins to get a few books and package of flower/scenic postcards and that all came today. A Quacker family reminder to please PM me know if ever you'd like a postcard of cheer

 

[sparkle78]

Duck, NC beach in the outer banks, not far from Kitty Hawk is where my dad’s family vacationed for a week around 1990 or 1991 . I remember getting a sweatshirt in a beautiful light blueish green color with 4 imprinted shadows of ducks in pink, purple, and darker green on it.. if i find an old picture I’ll post. But that’s what i think of for our Quacker reunion shirt

cicadas.- yep grew up with them and Suppose to get some my way later this summer. A pesky event. I remember watching part of the Memorial tournament ( Golf) from Columbus, Ohio and the bugs being so loud, it was hard for the golf announcers to be heard on the tv

 

[lynxstch]

@Breezy_Carol--yep...your pictures look just like our yard,,full of them. They are on the Hosta's, in the trees, in my flowers, on the side of the house..and the noise is now up high in our trees..it sounds awful

We are under a severe thunderstorm watch till 10..it's gotten windy (but a very warm 88 degree wind), and we go from sun to dark clouds.

Ebay saga still continuing. Since I filed a report against the seller yesterday for violating ebay policy, and posted their first ever feedback,,which was a BIG negative..3 more people have posted the same negative feedback..and lo and behold..seller is no longer a registered user. Ebay removed them. I had another chat with both ebay and paypal today. Since the seller has been banished, ebay is sending the info to paypal, so that I can get my refund. Sad state that there are ebay sellers who join just to scam people. Of the 44 items that person sold..10 of them were $550 gaming monitors, which ebay/paypal have to reimburse the buyers for,,plus the smaller items, plus 3 of the $72 little green carpet cleaners like I bought. That's a lot of money they have to refund I gave up on it and bought one on walmart.com, and had it 2 days later, and it only cost me $10 more.

 

[easyas123]

We are under a severe thunderstorm watch till 10..it's gotten windy (but a very warm 88 degree wind), and we go from sun to dark clouds.

Ladd, my faithful mutt & I are having a cocktail and sitting on the porch. We just cleared and bush hogged that part of the fence line the trees are going in. It’s cloudy, the breeze has picked up and I’m starting to hear some booms- although I’m thinking they might be Aberdeen Proving Grounds and not thunder! Still, we are holding out hope of enjoying a nice storm on the porch before the evening concludes. I think our storm watch is till 10 PM as well. I do love stormy weather, something about it just speaks to me-

I am attending my first large work gathering since we flew out of LAS on the 14th of March 2020 tomorrow- 60 people. Looking forward to it-

 

[easyas123]

It’s real thunder now- watched some southwest planes fly low and over us- that’s not ordinary- so guessing they are diverted around storm on the way to BWI or Regan.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

We ate dinner on the screened porch. It got dark and breezy and we were hearing thunder. A little rain but no lightning. I like storms too, specially on the porch. We have a watch til 10pm also.

Had chicken breast on the Foreman grill, a left over vegetable, and I had a piece of bread and DH had mac and cheese.

Must really get packing.

 

[lynxstch]

It’s real thunder now- watched some southwest planes fly low and over us- that’s not ordinary- so guessing they are diverted around storm on the way to BWI or Regan.

Not doing a thing here. Breeze died down, no rain yet. Thunderstorm watch is gone and the temp is down to 75, heading down to 60 overnite. Too bad, cause we really do need more rain!

 

[PollyannaMom]

(pics)

We really need an ewwww smiley for those bugs, but I love your marigold photo!

 

[easyas123]

Not doing a thing here. Breeze died down, no rain yet. Thunderstorm watch is gone and the temp is down to 75, heading down to 60 overnite. Too bad, cause we really do need more rain!

I jinxed myself.... no rain here

 

[flyingdumbo127]

That shirt sounds awesome, Sparkle. I would love to see its picture if you find it Plain yuck to the bugs!

That is just terrible, Lynn and makes me angry I truly extra hope you get your money back! You absolutely should! Please stay safe tonight! Just read your later post and am glad the storm has calmed!

You stay safe tonight as well, Easyas! Enjoy tomorrow! Things truly are so much more hopeful now all-around.

Safe travels, Carol! And, of course, you also in MD, stay safe tonight, too.

Well said, PollyannaMom! Ewww indeed to all things buggy!

Good evening and sweet dreams to all of you.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

We are having a good thunderstorm now, with lightning and rain.

 

[Kirby]

QOTD: WHAT DO YOU TYPICALLY DO ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ?

We usually don't do anything. One year we had a familyl reunion down in Galveston. This year, on Monday, DD, GKs and I are going to the zoo.

I really did enjoy and would recommend one of my library books, Maggie's Miracle by Karen Kingsbury.

I enjoy reading Karen Kingsbury's books!

@Breezy_Carol, yikes! That reminds me of the cricket invasion we get every Fall.

Same old, same old today. Took care of the GKs, made a bank run, actually two. Work in the office, read books, have lunch, etc.

Dinner tonight was beef tacos.

 

[sweetpeama]

Not much going on here in my life. Trying to decide how I want to celebrate my birthday which is today on the weekend. DH did take my birthday off or more correctly his boss told him to take it off. A little background. DH's company has New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the Employees Birthday as paid holidays along with 1-4 weeks of vacation time which is given after being employed with the company for a year (holidays are automatic for everyone). DH takes off the girls' birthdays, and our anniversary if they fall on a weekday along with Easter Sunday and a week around Christmas. Along with this he takes a week in the summer on the years that there is a reunion on his dad's mother's side of the family which normally take place every three years. We were supposed to have one in 2020 but due to the pandemic it got canceled-though since we had not even been given exact dates at the time the pandemic began there were rumors that it was going to just be over a long weekend so he would have only taken a day or 2 off work. Plans when it was canceled were to postpone until this summer but obviously that has not been able to happen. Not sure if there will be an attempt to hold it in 2022 or if wait until 2023 when the next one would have been scheduled if reunion had happened in 2020. I think a lot is going to depend on if we are completely back to a semi normal including masks being optional in all situations for everybody within the next 3-5 months as for summer 2022 everyone would need to know by October/November this year at the latest so those who need to get vacation time from work could do so regardless if requests need to be in late this year or early next year. My guess is that DH's boss has been told from the overall company that they would rather not pay a large amount in January for employees not using their vacation time the previous year and DH's name was on the list. DH came home after his shift on Monday so early Tuesday morning and told me that he was taking Wednesday as a vacation day for my birthday because his boss asked him when his wife's birthday was and told him to take it as a vacation day.
I am thinking of trying to convience DH to take some time in late September so we can take a short trip to the Black Hills. I have priced out that we can arrive on a Saturday and check out on a Thursday where we stay in a 2 bedroom suite at the most expensive hotel in Rapid City for around 900 so figuring in a total of 600 for gas, meals other than breakfast which would be included in the hotel cost and entry fees into places we want to attend we could do the entire trip for under 1500. Though since 16 year old is also working we might need to change it to checking in on a Monday and checking out again on a Thursday in order that she only needs to take one day off work as we could be back early enough for her to go to work on Thursday even leaving around noon. I would also look at some of the other towns such as Hill City, Keystone, and Custer for places to stay as well during that time not just hotels but other ideas as well provided it is not taking the tent and camping-which due to health issues I can not even consider doing anymore.

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning all. @sweetpeama--HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Very mild outside at 63, but only going to upper 70's today. Must have had at least a little rain overnite, as there's a puddle on one of the back deck chairs. I didn't hear anything and the windows were open, so it wasn't much of a rain. At least I will be able to finish weedwacking today without dying in the heat. Maybe till the garden one more time and put the landscape fabric down. I want to be able to get the tomatoes planted, and the seeds for zucchini, summer squash and cukes in the ground Sunday or Monday. That is my usual Memorial Day weekend activity to answer yesterdays QOTD. We used to go to the cemetary's to put down flowers, but hubby can't do that anymore, sister in law is doing it for all of us this year.

Cicada's are quiet at night, which surprises me..but I do see quite a few of them 'mating' on the side of the house..ick..more of them in another 17 years!

Hubby got up at 1 am and stayed up for 2 hours, no idea why. Then got up again at 4 and stayed up, so I know he will be asleep in his power chair before 5:30, lol.

Have a nice Thursday morning all!

 

[PollyannaMom]

@sweetpeama

 

[easyas123]

Happy B'day Sweetpeama!

To continue the conversation of refunds for stuff that never arrived - we've disputed our credit card charges from Burgess with positive results. Basically we ordered 90 trees from them at the beginning of April, at which time I was told 2 weeks to ship. Sounded good...long story short, almost two months later, many phone calls, being told that the order was partially sent w/o being able to provide tracking info, not being able to cancel the order on the phone w/ customer service - could only email and got no response to that email - finally just said screw it and called cc to dispute. Chase was very easy to deal with, quick to resolve the matter and within 48 hours we will have our card credited. And I'm done with Burgess. I understand delays, I get that this is a difficult time but I can't work with zero communication. Maybe we will head out to one of the local nurseries on Saturday when it's raining to pick up the last of the trees we needed.

Headed to lower DE for a work function in a few minutes. I kinda don't really feel like it, basically driving 1 hour & 45 minutes to stand around and shoot the you know what with pipe salesman at a BBQ with 60 other folks. But a bit of schmoozing here and there is sometimes what you gotta do. Plus a very big client will be there.

I should water the plants in my office -

 

[dazedx3]

Happy Birthday, Sweetpeama!!

It is cold here, brrrrr 50 degrees, cloudy, and windy. It is supposed to rain this afternoon.