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

[PollyannaMom]

Just saw I wrote ice rest of the day instead of nice rest of the day. I am crazy!

I think it's just that hot here!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Good afternoon!

Busy week! Had some nice patients. Worked on my project. Coworkers behaved themselves.

My mother wore her wedding rings for the rest of her life even though she was widowed for decades. Unfortunately she lost the diamond out of her engagement ring and we never found it. We also lost her wedding band during one hospitalization but miraculously it turned up in a drawer in lost and found a year later, so I got that back. My SIL still wears hers. I don’t think there is any rush to make a decision.

QOTD #1 Our go-to easy meals are probably Italian dressing marinated grilled chicken tenders that we often have in the fridge for main course or to use in salads, soups or sandwiches. And corn chowder that Mom always made, super easy.

QOTD #2 We talk about it a lot. DH always assures me he plays, and today I bought two tickets myself (and won $10 on a quick pic - if that’s what you call those). We’d buy a dream house for ourselves and probably family members, or give everyone (friends and family) a healthy check. Oh, and we’d retire from the daily grind. That’s as far as we get!

Probably seems strange we’re lifelong New Englanders but we don’t go to Maine much. Where we live it’s a lot like it up there so we don’t see the point! We do love NH and have family there by one of the big lakes, but it’s more mountains and lakes there than ocean. I was going to take a quick ride up w DS last week to visit my sib but DS had a makeup softball game and he didn’t want to let his team down as they’re on a winning streak and usually only have 9 guys - if less, they have to forfeit. But we’ll get up there soon. Sorry I can’t help with more information!

Sending good thoughts to all, especially those who need them most. Auntie I hope your DD feels better soon. Same to you, B&B (saw your post not sure if it was here or on another thread). Lynn I don’t trust that creepy neighbor of yours - please watch yourself w that guy! Congrats on new and sold homes. Hope all the doggies and kitties are well, mine are good! We had a nice outing today and came home all sweaty, then they took a two hour nap! DD and I also went out to breakfast before that, and it was good. We also ran to get the makings of a very large Caprese salad I am making for an event we have tomorrow. Will probably make that either tonight or tomorrow morning and let it chill before we go. Picked up some whiffle balls and bats and a slip and slide thing for the kids who will be there, and DD got them bubbles.

Thankfully our tomatoes are doing pretty well. I got some pics from the ones we picked the other night. I also have a pic of our dinner last night which was cranberry stuffed pork, string beans w cranberries and garilc (yup we love cranberries!), butternut squash and little potatoes with seasoning. It was good. Tonight we’re doing burgers and Nathan’s fries going to start those shortly. Going to also, as it turns out, throw some chicken on the grill that’s been marinating, and we also have a few marinated steak tips we’ll do, as well, but put all aside for later. I also picked up some corn on the cob yesterday that we’ll throw in the microwave. We won’t be cooking tomorrow night and Sunday we can heat up some leftovers. We figure we might as well cook while the grill is on and save ourselves the trouble Sunday! Lol





After his run today, in the AC, and with a toy I bought him this morning



And we can’t forget this guy. He could stay in the pool all day - the more splashes, the better

 

[frog3101]

Good afternoon Quacker family. I don't have a lot of time to write (will try to check back later and respond to more posts) but wanted to let you know...the ruling came in this AM.
It was in my favor!! I have primary physical custody of the kids!! That is all I was really concerned about. He will get them every other weekend and one evening a week from 5-7. He also will get them 7 days at some point before school starts. I have not been this happy in months. It's still going to be an adjustment, but I am SO grateful it has worked out this way. My lawyer said it's really the best we could have asked for. There are some child support things too, but I really just cared about the custody. It's a temp ruling as we still have the rest of the settlement to agree on, but this is a big step forward. And, my lawyer thinks it will stick. Thank you all for your prayers and please continue to send them for my kids. They still have a lot of healing to do.

Thanks all for posting meal and recipe ideas. I really appreciate them.

I will check back later tonight/early in the AM.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Afternoon all! @frog3101 WWOOTTTT!!!

I was up at 3am, for whatever reason. Mowed most of the front yard before tiring out; DS will finish mowing the side and and weedwack the whole shebang tomorrow morning; DH and I are taking a quick trip in the morning to Academy sports, to try out some binoculars and maybe some collapsable hiking poles for me. Sunday, I'm getting my vaccinations (oiy, at least 3 and maybe up to 6...definitely polio, typhoid and tdap; I'm pretty sure I have had Hep A and B, but not 100% so maybe those, and the pneumonia, if it's available.) Then I have to rung to Kohls to exchange some stuff I bought for the trip (I didn't like the way two of the summer dresses fit, two of the capri shorts just didn't work for me, and one pair of shorts for DH didn't fit either); I am going to get another one of the dresses I did like, but in another color and another dress in a different style for the two dresses; either two more pairs of shorts in a different style or maybe one pair shorts and a shirt for the shorts; and another pair of shorts that did work for DH. The prices all match across the board, from original price to sale price, so I hope my plan works! I also have to stop at Target either tomorrow or Sunday to pick up my orders from there.


Stopped in and picked up our MegaMillions tickets this afternoon. What would we do if we won the big prize? First, call our friend the lawyer, and have him set up an LLC for us; then set up trust funds for the kids and grandkids, and a college fund for all the other family members who would like to get a degree. Pay off all our bills; DH would retire; then we'd go traveling and decide where we would like to spend our final years, and build a house on some property there. Buy new cars when we are done traveling; no sense buying them before, just for them to sit in a garage while we globetrot!


Quick and easy meals? I prefer those, lol. Greek Lemon Soup [link] is super easy, as long as you know how to temper eggs, cut up carrots and onion (and I add celery), zest and juice a lemon, and shred some rotisserie chicken! I also like making this tomato salad; super simple and so tasty! One last one...I promise it seems hard, but is the easiest thing....Shakshuka! That's a simplier recipe; here's the more 'difficult' one by Alton Brown...I have made both, and they are both good, but very different; DH prefers the one by AB, but I don't make my own preserved lemons or seasoning, or even roasted red peppers....you can buy all that in the store, lol.


I know I wanted to reply more, but I keep getting sidetracked off the boards by DH, and now I have to go cook dinner...super simple....hamburgers, frozen fries and some frozen veggies!

 

[Snowysmom]

Frog So happy for you that it was the best outcome for you and the kids. That must have made your day.

I am not in a hurry to think about what to do about my rings but since I have had to have them sized down I have been without one at a time and it made me think. My mind just keeps on going and going and going.

Pea n me your doggies look so comfy.

I am more a NH person than Maine but Bar Harbor and Acadia are very nice.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Reading that just made my night! So happy for you, frog!! (See - you can’t do wrong and come out right!)

 

[Kirby]

...the ruling came in this AM.
It was in my favor!!

So, so, so happy for you!!!!!

 

[dazedx3]

Frog… GREAT news… so happy for you!

We made some vacation plans. my 2 sisters and there spouses and me and DH are renting a house on Sebascodegan Island, ME in early October. It is about a 20 hour drive from our house, so we may pick a few places to visit along the way. It is on a long peninsula with ocean on 3 sides.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I also loved reading about your lunch with your friend, Snowysmom I truly hope your trip works out and that you will have a fantastic time. Continued prayers always for you and also for Joe.

Wow, good for your dad, Bobbiwoz! Googled the name of the school you mentioned and really like its mission statement.

I'm sorry it still is so for you, PollyannaMom. Here, it's been cooler, 80's. I hope you enjoy a cool treat this weekend.
Love your dog pictures, Pea. They look like very happy campers! I also really love how you said, "you can't do wrong and come out right." Amen.

I am so happy for you, Frog! Praise God! I pray you are able to enjoy some REST this weekend! Do something just for YOU. Hooray!

and your vaccines go well, B&B. I am sorry you will need to have so many at one time. That's sure no fun. I do hope your shopping goes well.

Dazed, your post just brightened my afternoon bigtime as well. Hooraythat you have a vacation planned in October. An island trip sounds wonderful to me! The only "island" I have ever been on was Tom Sawyers at DL as a young kid.

Quiet afternoon here other than a barrage of spam calls. The number of unwanted calls seem to be increasing again. I sure hope none of you are also being bombarded by unwanted callers! Dad found out this morning that today was our friend Joyce's last day at the laundromat he goes to twice a week. We are both very thankful that it sounds like her new job at another laundromat is not only closer to where she lives (not sure where that is) but that she will have a better (and I pray more appreciated) position at it. Sadly, it sounded like the owner of the laundromat here, has not been very kind to her even when she was so sick. I shall keep her in prayer, too. Dad did surprise her later with a card. Joyce had given him this morning her email address and phone number so hopefully we do get to stay in touch with her--very nice lady who truly did a fantastic job at the laundromat. Her replacement manager, we're grateful, is a younger lady named Kim who dad likes as well and has said she does a good job, too. Joyce, we had become closer to. Now, I am extra grateful to God that I got to say hi to her a few weeks ago for a minute after my last dentist appointment. We're going to give Kim a note to get to the laundromat owner from us that will have compliments on both her and Joyce in it. Joyce had asked dad to post on Yelp but we realized a Yelp account would be needed to do that and we would prefer not to do that.

Have any of you seen Coming Home for Christmas? It's an older Hallmark movie. I agree with those of you who have said that sometimes the older Christmas movies are better written and acted than the current choices. We have this one set to record tomorrow morning.

Wishing all of you a good evening!

 

[easyas123]

Frog - AWESOME!

 

[lynxstch]

@frog3101 --I was so happy to read your pm and then see your post on here, that I am still sitting here with tears in my eyes. You deserved to come out on top, and it happened. All of the prayers, pixie dust, and hugs that we have all been sending you worked! I have a lot of admiration for the judge, in carefully deciding in your favor. You know how I feel about the other side. Karma, Karma, Karma!

Get some peaceful rest tonite, and keep taking one day at a time till everything is fully settled. But for now, just remember that your Quacker family is, and will be right here, supporting you the best we can!!

Lynn

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Love it, Lynn!

Sweet Dreams, Quackers with love.

 

[bobbiwoz]

@flyingdumbo127 we have sponsored children at Sacred Heart school for over 25 years, so we’re not counting on using winnings to help out!

When we lived in Ohio, I even flew back to NJ to meet some of the children we sponsored that year. These Covid years have caused things to be on line, we haven’t been able to have the open houses. Maybe this next school year will be different.

 

[Judique]

Good morning all! Up early and doing laundry. Also reducing the amount of linens I have. Preparing a bag of old towels for the shelter.

Later today I'm going to pick up my grands. Son in law is fixing crabs and has invited me to have them for the night after we eat. Or 'my guys and I are going to drink a lot of beer later'. DD is still in Alaska, getting ready to board for the cruise either today or tomorrow, I don't exactly remember. She's spent a few days in Denali National Park, hiking with tour leaders and stuff such as that. I'm wondering if she's received her luggage yet as she didn't have it last time we talked.

Hoping to get part of my grass mowed before noon. Whenever the grass is wet and a few inches over his ankles, Yorkie tries to 'go' on my patio. Obviously I am responsible and he's just doing what a dog's got to do. Any other time he's trying to get into weeds and it doesn't matter if he's chasing a squirrel into taller grass.

Everybody have a great Saturday.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Good morning
I know we didn’t win anything! Hope someone here was lucky.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Good morning, all, and great news, @frog3101!!!

I haven't checked my numbers yet, so I will still answer the QOTDs:

Lottery - We would call our regular investment guy and get his advice on how to handle things (either through him or someone he recommends). The big money would go to doing something good in the world - maybe research on health issues in our families, securing my town's library, hunger causes?? A friend and I always wanted to build a school from scratch (the way we know kids learn, not the way our system works) and I've recently become interested in helping kids who are aging out of foster care. I would probably set up a foundation of some sort, that could dole out money to these different things, and also employ some researchers/board members who have been there.

As for the "fun money" / personal stuff - design and build the perfect house, hire a staff for it, and travel more. We have a long list of dream destinations.

And of course pay off student loans for family members, and set up scholarship money for younger ones. I'd want to buy/build a house for my younger brother and sister-in-law too, as they are just reaching that point.

QOTD: easy meals - Some already mentioned (salads with chicken on them, hot dogs...) We also used to do breakfast for dinner some nights, and this is one my quicker meals now:
https://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/keto-egg-roll-in-a-bowl/
(I use ground turkey, and flavor it up a little as I brown it with Bell's and a bit of coconut sugar.)

Informal QOTD: Maine - I've been a few times, but mostly taking DS back and forth to college or visiting him, so not a lot of tourist info to impart. His school is right near the ocean, though, and I love the gorgeous views!

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning all. Bright and sunny, temp will be around 84. Just finished cleaning out the birdbaths and feeders and refilled them. Picked more tomatoes. Stripped the bed and remade it. Going to put the others in the washer, and then hang them outside in the sun. It was almost 3 am when I finally fell sound asleep last nite, and my knees were aching. In between downpours yesterday, I noticed that the gutters were full of leaves from the black walnut tree on one side of the house and the maple tree on the other, so I got the ladder out and cleaned them out. They were full! While I was doing it, it reminded me to call our handyman. I asked if he forgot about our to do list. He said he's going to try and get out here this weekend or this week. We will go to Lowes and get the 4 doors we need, then we will have them when he's got the time to put them in. He also has to finish the shed ramp so I can get the mower in. Then he is going to call his gutter guy and have them come out and make them with their machine, while he and his brother put them up. Those are the 3 things we need done the most before winter. Isn't it hard to believe that tomorrow is the end of July already

Younger stepson and family were on vacation this week. They drive almost everywhere,,are trying to get to every state before the youngest finishes high school (she is 15.). They have now done 38 of the states. They did Illinois, Ohio,Indiana .Wisconsin,Minnesota, Iowa, and Michigan this time. After I checked mega millions and saw the winner (one lucky person) was in Illiniois. I texted him right away to see if it was him, lol. They had bought tickets in Illinios but not the winning one. Out of the 3 tickets we had..we had 1 number, a mega ball I think it's called, and won a whopping $2, lol
I am waiting for them to get to Alaska and Hawaii, I told them we want to go with them to Hawaii, but not Alaska, but not sure if they will make those last 2 before she graduates. They live near Ocean City, and had to get home as both girls work tomorrow, or they would have stopped through here. He promised that they would be up to visit soon.

Off to finish my chores, and get into something else today
Have a good morning all

 

[Snowysmom]

No lottery winner here. Oh well, off to reality.

@dazedx3 Your vacation plans sound really nice. I had to google it and it looks lovely and peaceful. The foliage may be nice or at least turning by early Oct.

It is a bit muggy here today and warm. I went grocery shopping at 7. Younger DS told me what entrance to take into the Market Basket parking lot so it would be easier to park and get into the store. It worked well. Then I came back to the condo and put away my few groceries, took a walk, took a home covid test since we are seeing Joe today (negative), had breakfast and talked with Chris on the balcony, cleaned the 2 bathrooms, changed out luggage tags on my suitcases to get ready for the trip, took trash to the trash chute, and plan to vacuum in a few minutes. Older DS should be here around 10. Younger DS is still testing negative so that is good but he still can't see Joe this weekend due to the exposure.

I do like being a proud supporter of messy hair and no makeup. That is my usual day. I don't know why but I just can't stay in my PJs all day even when sick. But I do have flannel pants that I wear with a tee shirt for when I am sick.

Off to vacuum and wait for older DS to pick me up. Another adventure down 93 and the expressway in Boston. Glad he is driving.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Good luck, Snowysmom. Saturday is “Cape traffic“ day going south. Ugh.

Lynn, if I were the Tag Fairy you would have a tag saying, “Cleanest bed in town”!

We just cooked the burgers and chicken last night. Good thing we did the chicken as I didn’t like the burger and took just one bite. Not fussy but just didn’t like it. Others liked them. They were pre made. Next time will just make our own. But the chicken was delish as it had been marinating in Italian dressing, so I just had that w the fries. Decided to wait on the corn and steak tips, too. Will do them tomorrow. Today will be tiring so I know we’ll be tired tomorrow, but that’s not too hard. Also haven’t done the Caprese salad yet for the event we’re going to today, going to do it as soon as I finish my coffee. Dog will have to be crated as he has separation anxiety and we’ve never left him for more than a couple of hours. He’ll be ok though. Maybe some pool time when we come home.

My brother who lost his cat a few weeks ago got a new cat the other day from the local shelter. Really cute. I was hoping to sneak the dogs up before he got a new cat, but missed it.

Enjoy the day, everyone! Too bad none of us hit the jackpot!

 

[Snowysmom]

@Pea-n-Me The Cape traffic is a mess but it does move even if it is slow. This our 3rd week of going to the South Shore on the weekend but it is the only time we can go as we all work. I wish we could do a weekday. It will be better when summer vacations are done.