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

[PollyannaMom]

6 more weeks of winter, it’s official!

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I want to love the picture and sad face 6 more weeks of winter at the same time. - Phil is just so cute!

 

[lynxstch]

I just don't get the groundhog prediction thing. Whether he sees his shadow or not, winter officially lasts for 6 more weeks, doesn't it?

 

[bobbiwoz]

They called it the largest midweek crowd in Punxsutawney ever. People are desperate to do anything these days!

I watched it live from Wilson NC. On our way first to Disney’s Hilton Head Resort, then WDW.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Good morning.

I started a post but then started watching the funeral service for the 3 firefighters who died in a row house fire in Baltimore last week on TV. So incredibly sad.

I'll post later. Doesn't seem right now.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Good Morning and Happy Groundhog Day,

ITA with you Lynn! Much like Daylight Savings time, Spring will come when God chooses Spring to come has zip to do with a groundhog! The groundhog idea is fun. Sort of anyway.

Big hug, Snowysmom. I'm glad you treated yourself!

Two more days including today until dad's birthday! I decided how I'll organize all the crosswords will be by state. I was able thanks to Google and some people sending me actual cards, find postcards online for all 50 states. I'll order pictures of them at CVS (discount photo code). I'll be able to have 25 pages of two horizontal 4X6 postcards. Under or next to each card such as one from CA perhaps, I'd write "Mickey Mouse in Anaheim." Dad is off to the Dollar Tree this morning where I'm hoping he'll find me some index dividers so I can divide up the binders. I am glad Friday is almost here. This has been quite an undertaking but a most blessed one indeed. So grateful to God to get to spend another birthday with my dad.

Happy Wednesday to all!

 

[lynxstch]

We have bright sunshine and 48 degrees. Walmart had a lot of empty shelves again. There were 2, and exactly 2 cans of cat food on the shelf. Bread row looked like a bomb went off in it. Hardly any frozen potato products. Registers were't all that busy, but I used a U Scan. Aldi's was busy but not packed, and they had no empty spots of anything. Also stopped at the discount store over the PA line. They had jars of Kraft may for 1.99..I paid almost $4 for one in Walmart 2 weeks ago..I picked up 4 jars today, so basically got 4 jars for the price of 2 in the grocery stores. Off to unpack groceries, scan them, and then fix lunch. @Breezy_Carol--I agree..very sad about the fire and the 3 deaths..

 

[flyingdumbo127]

So very very sad about the fire and deaths Awful.

 

[tazdev3225]

Good Afternoon.

Off to the grocery store soon as my cats are meowing LOUDLY at me. Their feeder is empty. My cats only like dry food and I keep a feeder filled for them BUT I forgot to check on how much was left when I decided not to head out yesterday.

We have had an up and down start to February. My son called yesterday with bad news. Our beloved grandpuppy Roscoe had to be put down. He was exhibiting some bad symptoms so they rushed him to the vet that saved another grandpuppy's life. After a couple tests they found out his liver ruptured and he was bleeding internally. I am so saddened at the loss of our Roscoe but at least he is out of pain and not suffering anymore. It will be hard on my Chewie when we go over on Superbowl Sunday because they were pals. This is Roscoe



On the positive side today is my grandson Kyle's 18th birthday. Losing Roscoe was a lousy present and he took it hard. Of course he has decided he is now a man and can move out. Kyle is autistic and we doubt he will ever be able to live completely on his own but he could surprise us one day. He has surprised us since the day he was born. He was 6 weeks early and a peanut at 4 lb 3 oz but he was a fighter. No matter how they tried to swaddle him he got free. His was in the NICU at birth but home in a week on a monitor since he exhibited Apnea which they explained wasn't uncommon in premies. I am proud of the young man he has turned into. He can be very caring but extremely stubborn. He has a creative mind and can tell you anything and everything about any shark that exists. To have something in common with him I watched every shark movie there was - all the Sharknados, Sharktopus vs Godzilla, any odd movie that showed up on the SciFy channel. He also knows every horror movie out there. Those I refuse to watch.
Here are a couple of Kyle this is a favorite of my son and his new son


Jay and his little brother.

This is one of the most recent ones I have since my computer is not cooperating with editing pictures today


QOTD - February is a mixed month for me. I have Kyle's birthday and my daughter's birthday in February. But my estranged brother's birthday is in February and it's painful that he will not talk to any of us. And my SIL died, and a nephew committed suicide at the end of February. I don't like it for a not politically correct reason though and it's hard to make people understand my reasoning so I try and avoid all news in February.

The Olympics - I will watch some of it. Winter Olympics I like the Ice Skating and Speed Skating. My husband like the Ice Hockey. I actually started watching Curling a few years ago and while I don't completely understand it I like watching it. When I was in Scotland a couple of years ago I saw Ailsa's Craig which is where the stones for curling come from.

Summer Olympics I watch the Swimming and Diving, mostly because my kids were swimmers. I love the Diving competitions and like to score the Dives. I am usually pretty close. My youngest daughter was a competitive diver when she was young and I was pressed into service at meets as a judge.

Well I am off to get some cat food and maybe some people food. Have a great afternoon all.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I'll try again now.

You all have been chatty. I missed over a page of posts since yesterday morning.

DS and DDIL have been going to her medical appts at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore a lot. She has many appts and they are becoming more frequent and DS goes with her every time. He texted and invited us to meet them next Thursday in Baltimore for lunch with them after appts. Looking at restaurants in Fells Point now. Sounds fun.

This afternoon we are planning to go to Bel Air. DH has wanted a pool table for years. Now that we passed the due diligence date on the office and know we have at least that amount of $$, we are going to go and order it. And go to dinner in a restaurant we like near there.

So, tonight is my last night on the Dis until at least Sunday

I hope the move goes smoothly and we will welcome you back.

the dog checks all the peemails left by other walkers and takes a few minutes with replys and sometimes emojis.

I love this. Makes be remember walking all of my male dogs.

Walgreens used to (they still might. Dad really has not gone there much during the pandemic) on the first Tuesday of every month.

Still do but Walgreens is so expensive that just brings it down to affordable.

get comfy and watch The Amazing Race.

I am looking forward to that too.

My yard slopes down so the back side of my shed is exposed underneath by about 2 feet while the front rests on solid ground. That gopher/groundhog has a huge hole dug right at the edge of the back. He digs, I fill it in, rinse and repeat.

Our shed has that too but not quite as much on the back. Never, that I know of, had a groundhog there but there was one that had a hole come up under our back fence. We kept trying to block it after the stand off with one of our Shelties. Toby was in the yard and the groundhog started chattering at him, and almost as big. I was screaming like a madwoman to get the dog in.
And once I couldn't find one of the Goldens in the yard. He had belly crawled under the shed and we couldn't find him. Dogs can't belly crawl backwards and I had no idea how we were going to get him out but finally he managed to escape. And then we put cinder blocks around the base of the shed.

Hardly any frozen potato products.

I noticed that also.

Our beloved grandpuppy Roscoe had to be put down.

Sorry to hear that.

On with the day.

 

[Snowysmom]

Sorry about Roscoe. Losing a furbaby is always hard.

@flyingdumbo127 Your surprise for your Dad is really wonderful. Let us know how it goes and how he reacts. He will be wowed!

I went to the house to put out the trash and bring back some bins. Younger DS and I are getting to the house early Saturday to move things around so the cleaners can have access to most of the house. DS is cleaning the laundry and utility rooms so we can put stuff there for the short term. I am not sure if older DS is coming or not. He told me that he is not sure how much more he can come to the house and do things. I am not sure why. I try not to take too much time from them so they can spend time with their families. Younger DS feels that the sooner we get this done then Mom can be settled and we can have weekends again. I am of 2 minds about selling the house. I know it is the right thing to do but I am finding it hard to do. My sister told me the house is just a building you sell. You take the memories and sentimental items with you. I have to keep that in mind. It is just a difficult time and lately I have been very sad and missing Chris immensely. I hope that when I do get settled I can maybe find some comfort. It doesn't help that the world is becoming a more crazy place and Chris was the one who could ground me and make me feel rational again. I miss that so much.

Have a nice evening.

 

[dazedx3]

tazdev---- So sorry to hear about Roscoe, always hard to lose a pet.

Flyingdumbo-- you have put so much effort into that birthday gift. I can't wait to hear your Dad's reaction.

I hope that none of you are in the latest path of snow and ice. We ended up being 2 hours north of pathway. It is cold here but I'll take that over snow.

I ordered two swimsuits this afternoon, seems so weird when it is so cold. But I hate buying suits so I want time to return or exchange as needed. We used to have a pool but took it down 2 years ago, we just didn't use it enough, plus it just isn't warm long enough here.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Sorry about Roscoe. Losing a furbaby is always hard.

@flyingdumbo127 Your surprise for your Dad is really wonderful. Let us know how it goes and how he reacts. He will be wowed!

r I am of 2 minds about selling the house. I know it is the right thing to do but I am finding it hard to do. My sister told me the house is just a building you sell.

Have a nice evening.

I get you....it is a monument to you....I grieve over our californina childhood ranch being totaly gone, my first house divided by divorce being a totally wrong color now after all those decades of painting the walls and my childhood oregon farm I want to walk the orchard again. I then, being on the west coast see blocks destroyd by fire the mayfield tornado blocks, it brings to a painful reality that is just building.

 

[tazdev3225]

Just a bump up as we are on page 2.

 

[Kirby]

Chickapin Parterre, I don't think Ralph's (part of Kroger) offers 10% off out here for seniors.

Kroger used to do that here but they stopped it because not everyone getting the discount were seniors. I know I wasn't, didn't realize that you had to be a senior to get the discount. When I got my Kroger card 20 years ago the person signing me up must have put me down as a senior. Apparently they did that to everyone until someone at Kroger caught on.

So, 6 more weeks for PA! But Maryland spring will be pushing up jonquils in my front yard starting mid to late February. And my Japanese Quince usually blooms in early February snow or not, but I cut it down so far in fall I'm not really sure I'll get blossoms.

My daffodils have broke ground. DH is concerned about our oak trees. They have begun budding out and the temps will turn the rain to ice. Our Live Oak is just now beginning to look normal. Several years ago we had a bad ice storm and the top of the tree broke off. We chose to keep it instead of cutting it down. Hopefully the new growth will be strong enough.

We have bright sunshine and 48 degrees. Walmart had a lot of empty shelves again. There were 2, and exactly 2 cans of cat food on the shelf. Bread row looked like a bomb went off in it. Hardly any frozen potato products.

Went to Kroger this morning, braved the crowds but it wasn't too bad. It was worse in the parking lot with everyone jockeying for position than it was inside the store. Pasta still has empty shelves as did the lunchmeat. You know how I got 18 count eggs for 97 cents a week or so ago. Now they are over $2.

Snowysmom, I wish you were able to do like my mom did. When my dad died six years ago, she stayed in her home until she was ready to move out. A year later she moved in with us. She wasn't in as good of health as you are, she couldn't live on her own anymore. But she was able to grieve in the surroundings of her own home. They had lived there for over 20 years. I know that each person's situation is different. Grieving is personal to each person, take as long as you want.

Most of the school districts have closed for Thursday and Friday due to the winter storm. DD's district is closed tomorrow but plans on opening for Friday which is not a good idea. Tomorrow's high is expected to be 29 and that is at 2 am. We're forecast for freezing rain and snow until 2 pm tomorrow. Lil Joe is all hyped up for some snow. We'll see, we don't usually get that. I'm hearing sleet against the windows right now.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Big moving day...
DH didn't move my computer yesterday, so I'm taking advantage of his lapse to read some threads while I have a cup of coffee and eat some trail mix. (weird combination, I know..but everything else is packed, lol). He'll be up soon, and will come disconnect me, so I need to get moving.

My knees are hating me today. I must have done 100 trips up and down the stairs the last two days. I loaded the car 3 times by myself, and unloaded it at the new place twice by myself. The last trip, I had so much space in the car; I would have been able to fit all of DH's hanging clothes in there, along with my computer and both monitors, and the printer, but I just couldn't do another trip up/down. I can walk straight forever, but give me an incline or stairs and my knees start protesting. DH was working when I was loading, but is taking today and tomorrow off. He did 4 trips the last two days with DS, but DS was asleep each time I went to do a load....

DH and DS are loading up the tv, the internet/tv stuff, and whatever else they can fit this morning, and running over, while I'm here with the movers. Internet guy supposed to show between noon and 2, and DH wants to be there when he shows, to talk to him about where we want stuff, but then he has to come get me and another load after the movers are done here. We are leaving the cats overnight, and getting them tomorrow, when we come with the uhaul to get whatever the movers don't move. We're planning on having to move DS's bike, the computer chairs, all the stuff in the storage shed, and maybe a couple wire racks. Hopefully the movers can fit everything else!

I am going to go run out the trash (oiy, another stair trip), and get a quick shower. Tonight, I'm soaking in the tub; I'm going to stop and get some Epsom bath salts, lol.

Have a good day all.

 

[Snowysmom]

Good Morning, It is 37 here with rain. However we are supposed to be getting icy mix later and it will be slippery, There is an advisory from 1 am Friday to 7 pm Friday. I would rather snow than ice. I worry about losing power at the house.

@Kirby I wish I could stay at my house but Chris passed suddenly there, we worked together there, and our lives and our routines were so together there. It may have been different if he passed in the hospital after an illness or something similar. My kids said they would worry about me at the house alone and it is too big for me. Plus he was a pack rat and it was mess downstairs. I believe I should move to a place that I can be for the long term, feel safe, and start new routines with Chris in spirit with me. Thanks for the good wishes. It was nice that you took good care of your mother,

Have a nice day.

 

[PollyannaMom]

@Kirby, good luck with the plants!

@Bianca and Bernard, sorry about your knees!

It should be a pretty quiet day here. I need to return a book to the library, and maybe I'll pick up some fresh fish for dinner on my way back. Otherwise, just some decluttering, and (currently) serving as a cat bed.

 

[lynxstch]

Good rainy morning. 36 outside, going to be 45, calling for rain all day, rain overnite, and rain tomorrow morning, when it's supposed to be 37. Then the temps drop, and we 'might' get some wintry mix, but it says just cloudy by afternoon and 30, so maybe it will stay as rain. Glad we did all our errands yesterday. I cleaned the fridge out when we got home, washed down all the shelves and drawers, then put everything away. Did 2 loads of laundry so all of that is done, I might just dust and vacuum this morning and then work on my puzzle, since it's going to be gray and dreary for the next couple of days.

@Kirby..I forgot to mention the pasta row in Walmart. Once again, pasta sauce shelves full..but only about 10 boxes of Barilla pasta, and maybe 25 or so of the Great Value brand. Glad that I stocked up a few months ago! Eggs had been 89 cents in Aldi's not too long ago..then they were up to 2.47 2 weeks ago..came down to 2.17 and that's where they were yesterday. I only buy half gallons of milk, so don't pay much attention to the up and down price. It was 1.47 yesterday. Meat department was full, as was produce for a change. And I hope you stay inside if you get the freezing rain, stay safe!

@Bianca and Bernard--good luck with the move, and please take it easier on your knees. If your son was sleeping while you were working, you should have just woken him up to help! I hope it all goes smoothly.


I have to laugh again at Groundhog Day. We have 2 stories in the paper. One says he saw his shadow, one says he didn't. One says 6 more weeks of Winter, the other says early Spring..I need to start my seeds for herbs and tomatoes and squash, cukes, etc..but how can I plan when to start them if they can't agree? LOL!

Have a nice morning all

 

[Judique]

Good rainy morning here! We are at 43 going to 54 and will rain all day tomorrow. On the weekend the temps will drop below freezing at night but high of 31 Saturday and 38 on Sunday and on upward for the rest of next week.

I have stuff ready for Goodwill that I'm working around so may either store it in the van or run between the raindrops. Whenever I gather some things and decide to let go, they need to go before I invent a reason to keep.

Some glassware and a printer plus a bunch of mugs and some bed coverings, older sheets that I didn't like or use. I need to also cull out my shower curtain collection. No one needs as many as I have. I do change them out often and use a liner also they are in good condition.

Need to shop for a floor covering for upstairs bedroom and office. I may match downstairs and do hardwood and area rugs as that is pretty timeless. Easy to change the look also. DD and I can do that also, unlike carpet although she may not be quite so willing as I am to have her do the bulk of the work, lol. The upstairs bath has tile and will stay that way. Then we have the stairs and I'm not sure there. I'll have to look at some decorator stuff and see what is up to date for stairs.

All this will keep me busy til it's time to go outside and play with plants again!

 

[footballmouse]

Good Thursday morning everyone .

Well we got hit with the beginning of the ice storm. Rained all night, temperatures dropped and now getting some sleet. Will all be changing over to ice by noon. Ds1 runs the plowing and salting trucks for the landscaping company he works for so he'll be out in this in a few hours. Can't treat the roads or parking lots until it stops raining. Ds2 just started a new job a couple of weeks ago so he has to go to work and Ds3 was told that it was up to him if he wanted to come in or not, I doubt he will.

Of course Ds2's girlfriend was texting me last night about their dog . Seems she has some sores on the top of her paws which resulted in her paws swelling yesterday. I told her the roads will be too bad to go to the vet today, and put some socks on her so she stops licking and biting at the sores. Hopefully she can get an appointment tomorrow or Saturday.

Ds2's apartment complex didn't treat the parking lot the last time it snowed. They live in the building at the bottom of 2 hills so when he tried getting up one of the hills something broke on his car because the road wasn't cleared off. He was a little upset, called the office to company and was told the tenants were responsible to call the city for them to be cleared. What the hell?! I told him that's not how it works, it's not the city's responsibility, it's the apartment's, that's what some of their rent goes to. I suggested last night to park their cars at the top of the hill in the office parking lot and just walk to the car in the morning. He said that he was thinking the same thing so they already did that. They're going to have quite a walk in the morning but you gotta do what needs to be done. He did say since they had so many complaints the last time, they hired a plowing company.

I've been doing the clicklist for my Kroger orders, seems to be saving me some money each time. I put one in yesterday to be picked up last night but before I left for work I got a notice that it won't be ready until today. Well forget that. The whole point was so I didn't have to go out in this weather today. Called and cancelled my order and just stopped in the store on my way home from work. They were out of so much! I only got about 1/2 of what I needed.

Bianca_and_Bernard - good luck with the move. I feel ya with those sore knees, pop some Aleve and hope it kicks in quick.

I had to laugh this morning watching the news. In the "Funny Memes" thread in this section, yesterday there was one saying "Oh yea, now starts all the pictures of patio furniture with snow on it." It was funny but it's so true. Sure enough, I've probably seen 5 pictures of people's decks and furniture they send in to the news station for their winter pictures.

Gotta go, stay safe if you're getting this ice and snow, if not, lucky you.