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

[Kirby]

I will add that to my Want to Read on GoodReads. I looked it up some and it is the third in a series. Didn't look like the books had the same characters. Do you know if they should be read in order or is it a stand alone book?

My go to site to look up books and authors is fantasticfiction.com. When I looked up what each book was about it got a little puzzling. The first two take place in the town of Archangel in CA and is centered around the Bella Vista apple orchard. Books 3 and 4 take place in San Francisco. I think that the 3rd book, which I mentioned, briefly takes place in Bella Vista but don't quote me on that. It's been over a year since I first read the book. I didn't read it again for the book club. The fourth book is about the bakery across the street from the book store. So yes, to answer your question, I feel that book 3 can be read as a stand alone book. I like Susan Wiggs so I think I will put the rest of the series in my book list.

Soo cute. When DD was younger she went to work with me at the daycare. She used to ask my why I couldn't leave her like the other moms.

I just love Ms. Miller. We used to have a golden retriever named Sam. He was a year older than DS and they were best friends. Out of all the dogs we have had, we miss Sam the most.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I often use fantastic fiction, Kirby! Glad you find it handy, too. I will look up the series, thanks

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Home from my church shift and the library.

A true story about assumptions. A small, older, maybe East Indian man came to the church door today. He was pushing a walker loaded with things. He looked a little unkept. The Empowerment Center was serving lunch so I assumed that was what he had come for. But he said no, and asked about the food cupboard. I told him it didn't open until 3 and he said he couldn't wait that long. Turns out all the things on his walker were food donations for the cupboard. I gladly took them and took them to the right place.
Never assume.

here is Miss Miller.

OMG! What a sweetheart. DH was just talking yesterday about whether we wanted another dog.

DD woke up feeling sick so she called off work

So sorry to hear your DD has COVID. I hope you don't get it.

I feel that book 3 can be read as a stand alone book.

Thank you for the info.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Love when that happens.


No matter what anyone says, even if you're used to it, 100° is hot but especially when you don't have AC. Glad you were able to keep cool.


I'm sorry to hear that. DD just got a positive test this morning. And poor thing the only place she ever goes is into the office two days a week.


OMG... so exciting. Definitely better than TN.


Glad you all enjoyed the bonfire.


DD loved when we started leaving her home alone.


Maybe someone can use them for the Relay for Life. I used to decorate the luminaria bags people purchased and didn't want to decorate. Some people decorated their own and used stickers.


We do, we still have our regular grill and now we have the blackstone(36" but I think they have smaller ones). He uses the Blackstone way more than the regular now. I got him a cover and grill tools for Father's Day.

Also you'll love San Diego, especially Coronado area.


Soo cute. I want some rainbow bread. LOL


Can't wait to hear how this goes. How fun.


Soo cute. When DD was younger she went to work with me at the daycare. She used to ask my why I couldn't leave her like the other moms.

@lynxstch glad you got much needed rain. We need it too but we're just getting the gross humidity and no rain.

@Snowysmom thinking of you today.

@frog3101 I'm so sorry you and the kids are going through this.

Forgot to say this before I did the quotes but thank you all for the birthday love yesterday. It was an alright day in that I got some freebies(Starbucks drink and a mini Bundt cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes), lots of birthday love from family and friends plus I made myself tacos for dinner but other than that...blah. Not that I'm one that needs all the birthday attention but DH, who's out of town right now working, forget it was my birthday until I reminded him when he called me in the afternoon. DD woke up feeling sick so she called off work and took a Covid test, which was negative. She slept almost all day(also pretty much forgetting my Bday) but felt better before going to bed for the night. Woke up again this morning feeling bad so we did another test and that one was positive. She's feeling OK, enough to work from home though so hopefully it doesn't get worse. So now, I'm just waiting because I'm sure it's coming for me. She said last night, jokingly of course, "I forgot your birthday and I gave you Covid...I'm the worst."
Fingers crossed I'm not going to get it but since I've been home alone with her since Sunday, I'm sure it's inevitable.

I really missed my mom yesterday. Not that she could do anything physically for me for my birthday in the last few years of her life, but she would always make sure everyone else made it special.

Hope you all have a great rest of your day.

Hoping you stay healthy, but if you don't, consider it an excuse for a "birthday re-do" with your family when everyone can celebrate with you!

 

[Snowysmom]

@flyingdumbo127 So glad your friend Sue had such a nice visit with the person from the store. How lovely! Happy Birthday to Sue!

@AuntieMe3 So sorry your DD has covid. Hope she feels better soon and that you do not get it. It is hard to celebrate birthdays and holidays without our beloved family members who have passed but I believe your mother was with you on your birthday.

@frog3101 Thinking of you and praying for you and your children. It is so sad that their father is acting this way. It would be so much easier for everyone to be cordial and cooperative. The kids should be his top priority.

@footballmouse Beautiful puppy.

Busy day today between working and a dentist appt. The hygienist knew Chris really well. Chris could talk to a tree and he always chatted with her and found out her life story. She is expecting a baby now and she said how Chris was be so happy for her. She said she wishes she could tell him. I told her, you just did. He is always with me so he knows now and is probably so happy for you. She probably thinks I am crazy. But that's OK because I really am crazy after everything I have been through. The good news is my check up and cleaning went well and I don't have to go back for 6 months unless something comes up before that. I stopped at a small local supermarket that is next to the dentist and picked up a few things that I need or will need. The deli roasts their own turkey and it is so good. The price is not too bad either. I had a couple pieces for lunch along with hummus, carrots, and celery. I am trying to find meals that are easy to put together but fairly healthy. I really don't feel like cooking anything. Last night I had a BLT on whole wheat with cole slaw. I bake the bacon in the oven and it was so good and crispy. That is about all I want to do for cooking.

I talked with Joe today. He sounds very good today and he even said he was having a good day. He got the clock/calendar combo that older DS sent him. He says now when he wakes up in the morning he knows the day and the time. It makes him happy.

It is a cooler and less humid day today. When I walked at 6:10 am it was actually cool and breezy. Such nice walking weather. When I walked after work it was warmer but not overbearing. I hope it stays like that for my 5:00 walk.

Have a good evening.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

@PollyannaMom , Birthday do-over is a good idea.

@Snowysmom , glad you had a good dentist visit. DH went to a new dentist today too. I I think Chris knows the things you tell him too. I am sure my mother and father know about the kids that would be there great grand kids even though they both passed before my kids were even married,

He says now when he wakes up in the morning he knows the day and the time.

I need a clock that tells me the day as well as the time. LOL

Off to yoga.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I need a clock that tells me the day as well as the time. LOL

I have one.

https://dayclocks.com/

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I also like the birthday do-over idea

Snowysmom, glad all went well at the dentist and that you have a caring hygienist who you know more personally. ITA with Carol that Chris absolutely knows when or anyone he cared about is talking with or thinking of him. God has made sure of that. He is forever with and for us. By His Grace, so are those He has blessed us with loving here on earth like your Chris.

Hug, PollyannaMom and Carol. Covid time sure has made some days feel like it must be a different day than it really is or. Or as I have also shared before, especially, in winter, when looking at the clock and seeing how early it is, I do a double take because of how much later it feels! This pandemic sure has reinforced to me how every moment is a gift from God!

Loved your share about the man at church, Carol.

AuntieMe3, thinking of you and hope you are still feeling okay!

I enjoyed a long phone call with Barbara Ann. Got a couple of Amazon packages. No mail yet, though Informed Delivery just shows solicitations for dad Oh well.

 

[lynxstch]

@PollyannaMom we have 2 of those clocks. One has just the days--when Mr L retired he never knew what day it was. Stepson sent him one. After that, I bought the one that has the time and the days,,just cause..lol

 

[AuntieMe3]

@footballmouse Ms. Miller is sooo cute.

are they any special kind of bag)?

The luminaria bags are white paper bags, lunch bag size, with the Relay for Life logo on them. They are sold as a fundraiser, you can make them in honor, in support or in memory of your loved ones who have/had cancer. In the evening time, we lined the walking track with them and literally them up with either tealights or glowsticks. There is always a beautiful ceremony, where all the names are read and then everyone walks a silent lap. Here's a picture of a bag my friend made in honor of me....

Most are just with the names but some have pictures and drawings.

consider it an excuse for a "birthday re-do" with your family when everyone can celebrate with you!

This a great idea and Im definitely going to insist on it.

I bake the bacon in the oven and it was so good and crispy.

That's the only way I cook bacon now. I actually cook it more often now than before because I hated getting splattered by hot grease.


Forgot to share about our weekend....we had such a good time at DHs work event with my niece. Then Saturday night, DH got my sister and BIL a room at our hotel and we hung out in the pool area by the firepits. It was so nice.

We were in Carlsbad, North San Diego County across the street from Lego Land and right above some flower fields which were obviously not in season but we had such a pretty view. If you zoom in on the 2nd pic we saw a hawk resting on that balcony when we got up Saturday morning. I'm sure he was waiting to run across the dirt flower fields below.





I'm still feeling fine and hoping I stay that way. I'm taking my vitamins, drinking EmergenC and putting my mask on if I need to get DD anything(she's staying in her room). She worked from home today and said she doesn't feel too bad.

 

[dazedx3]

Have any of you taken a tour? We are thinking of a tour of Ireland or maybe a riverboat cruise through Europe. Anything we should avoid or consider?

 

[PollyannaMom]

Have any of you taken a tour? We are thinking of a tour of Ireland or maybe a riverboat cruise through Europe. Anything we should avoid or consider?

I haven't, but I think my in-laws did the river cruise a few years ago. I'll ask MIL if she has any "I wish I knew before we went" tips.

 

[Snowysmom]

@dazedx3 Chris and I took 2 tours one was for the total solar eclipse and one was the Canadian Rockies. We liked Globus who we used for the Canadian Rockies tour. They were very helpful, informative, and our guide on the tour was so knowledgeable. I forget who we used for the eclipse tour but they are out of Chicago. They were good but I just found Globus to be a step above. My older DS used Trafalgar for an Italy tour and really like them too.

Cool morning today. I was actually a bit chilled on my walk. It felt nice.

 

[footballmouse]

Happy Wednesday morning!

You guessed it, it's raining.

Didn't do anything last night after work. Boomer must have tweaked his ankle or something when I let him outside. He has to race Carly off the deck to jump down the steps into the yard first so he might have landed wrong, he came in the house limping. Of course I had to baby him for a while, asked him if he wanted to elevate his leg, he didn't answer.

There are a couple of positions open at the hospital for an executive assistant. Right now my job title is administrative assistant, next step would be senior administrative assistant and then on to executive. I'm tossing around the idea to apply for the executive position and just see what happens. I have to weigh the pros and cons. Right now I can work from home 2 days a week which I really like. I doubt I will be able to do that in a new position. Problem is, we've been trying to hire a new division director for 3 years. The hospital offered someone the job and was hoping she would start earlier this month, now it doesn't look like she would start until November. She won't sign the contract until her husband secures a job here at the hospital also and he's negotiating for his salary and it's way too high, so everything is on hold which means my possible promotion is on hold. Decisions, decisions.

In case anyone was wondering, the guy who caught the player's grand slam ball the other night did give it back to him, not before a little back and forth of what he can have in return.

Last night I made salmon, rice and baked some zucchini & squash. It was really good and I was happy that I had enough left over for lunch today. I have a dermatology appointment after work so I'll just grab Chipotle on the way home. I get a skin check every year since I'm always out in the sun, better safe than sorry.

Glad everyone enjoyed Miss Miller's picture. When he told me her name I had to laugh. This is the 2nd female dog he's had and her name was a boy name. When he was a kid their female dog's name was Champ (which he named).

That's it for me. Have a great day!

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning all. Heat coming back today with upper 80's. Chance of storms, but right now the sun is partly out. SIL, niece and I hit all of the discount grocery stores over the PA line yesterday, there are 3 of them. Got lots of great bargains. I have to say my best find was mint jelly. I have no idea why none of the stores here carry it anymore. I haven't been able to find it in at least a year. We like it on ground lamb burger, lamb chops, and Mr L likes it on his pork (ick). I took the 4 jars one of the places have. One of the others had local fresh corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, red potatoes and white onions, so I got those too. Saved me a trip to the farm stand today. I was able to cross off quite a few things from my grocery list for today. Should be able to get in and out of the stores quickly.
I need to mow later today, or tomorrow, if it doesn't rain. Getting scraggly looking. I also need a nap today. I went to bed at 10, but couldn't fall asleep at all. I think the last time I noticed the clock it was almost 3. Woke at 6:15, so not much sleep.

Have a nice morning everyone

 

[easyas123]

Good morning everyone - woke up this AM to over 80 email notifications from the disboards, so my notifications are back! No way I could sift thru all of them! Kinda gloomy outside, not raining and not supposed to, not cool, humid as hell. I guess the sun is just trying to burn it's way thru the haze. Youngest & his girlfriend are making dinner this evening - shrimp & rice.

Last night I had a BLT

We call this time of year 'BLT season' in our household, we are full up on tomatoes so we end up eating them a lot! Probably to much...but is there anything better than crispy bacon & fresh tomatoes?

I'm still feeling fine and hoping I stay that way. I'm taking my vitamins, drinking EmergenC and putting my mask on if I need to get DD anything(she's staying in her room). She worked from home today and said she doesn't feel too bad.

Glad to read you are feeling fine & your daughter is feeling better.

Have any of you taken a tour? We are thinking of a tour of Ireland or maybe a riverboat cruise through Europe. Anything we should avoid or consider?

We've done just one river cruise in Europe so far, in October, 2019 and we would have gone again sooner if not for Covid. We are going on our next one in early November and WE CAN'T WAIT!!! 99 days to go in fact. We didn't really stop traveling over the past 2 1/2 years, but we did not travel internationally, and we are more than ready to get back out there. Our first river cruise was on the Rhine, it was beautiful. Our cruise in November will be on the Danube. Ironically we almost booked the Russia one (Waterways of the Tsars it's called) so I'm glad we didn't, even though I'd give my third arm to go to Russia in better times. Anyway, we are going to Budapest for a few days before we get on the boat. What we liked w/ the river cruises in general is that it afforded us the opportunity to not have to schlep from hotel to hotel and see more than if we had selected a singular location to visit. In specific we choose Viking due to close family members good experiences with them, no little kids, and excellent customer service. We are cruising with Viking again on our next cruise. I'll note here that we have never taken a Ocean cruise of any sort, so we have no basis of comparison between river & ocean.

You guessed it, it's raining.

I'll take your rain, I think I'm going to need to get the soaker hoses out and water this evening.

 

[footballmouse]

easyas - That's what I was doing the last couple of weeks. I would water the yard and landscaping twice a week. I would have done it another day or two but I don't want my water bill to go through the roof. Hopefully you get some rain.

 

[Kirby]

Please, please, please send some rain this way! DH left the sprinkler going all night long by accident. He forgot that he left it running.

Today is going to be a long day waiting for Lil Joe to come home tonight.

 

[easyas123]

I don't want my water bill to go through the roof. Hopefully you get some rain.

Thanks, me too! Luckily we are on a well, so no water bill for us. Our last place we were on town water, I was constantly monitoring it!

Today is going to be a long day waiting for Lil Joe to come home tonight.

I'm sure he will be glad to be home and in his own bed again, and with his sister & mom.

 

[PollyannaMom]

We call this time of year 'BLT season' in our household, we are full up on tomatoes so we end up eating them a lot! Probably to much...but is there anything better than crispy bacon & fresh tomatoes?

Yum!