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

[Pea-n-Me]

I went to see the new Downton Abbey movie yesterday afternoon and really enjoyed it! I recommend it if you were a fan of the TV series.

I had planned to see it when it came out at DS, but I kind of forgot about it. I would like to see it soon, though! I love that series!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I mentioned in my earlier post how pricey the sundaes have gotten at Ghiardelli in DS.

I found the menu pic. $66 for three sundaes! Such a bummer as they are sooo good!

Thoughts? Not sure what the cost of sundaes is everywhere else, we don’t get them often.



ETA These prices may be clearer to see. Shoot, not sure they are. Basically $17-22 each!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Prayers please right now to anyone reading this. God, of course, knows the details. Thank you.

 

[tazdev3225]

Good morning. Mid 60's right now heading to mid 80's today. What a change from yesterday and the weekend will be in the low 70's. Weather is crazy right now.

Dad will definitely be home tomorrow. I really it helps him with his cognition. He has been diagnosed with dementia, but I think a large part of it is being away from my mom. Dad can't survive without her right there. He has always said if mom were to go first he would be gone in a week. I believe it. Mom found an amazing wheelchair she was going to get for him. It has a 'tank tread", at least that is how she explained it. One of the social workers at the rehab has a friend that had one from his mother. The friend is GIFTING it to my parents. This thing sells for well over $1,000. This will make getting dad in and out so much easier.

The plumber I had coming out today canceled yesterday although they claimed they called and left several messages on my email. No to both. I told them to forget it. After waiting a week as it was, I was done with them. I found another plumber through Facebook recommendations and went with the one I had heard of. Turns out my neighbor had used and as it so did my church. They were out within an hour of calling them. I pegged it, the repair will not be an easy fix and triple what I estimated the cost to be. They can't shut the water from the curb off because the box collapsed. The water department claims no responsibility for anything once it leaves the main line in the middle of the street, I knew this, and they will charge way more than a plumber I hire so I went with the plumber. They will be out on Friday to fix the curb box and replace the shut off at the meter. They even cement with a fast-drying cement so I will be out of my driveway for one day. The technician even checked out the pipework at my heater that is corroded. Not a carbon monoxide risk thankfully and they also do heater check-ups and repairs. We may use them for that when I get home. I will feel better knowing it's repaired and positively no risk once we start the heater for the winter. Now here's hoping the driveway doesn't yield any surprises.

I baked 10 loaves of zucchini bread yesterday. I will give a few to family and friends then I'll freeze the rest. I still have enough zucchini in the freezer to make at least 3 more batches, if not three. Something to do over the winter, and everyone seems to love them. My secret is extra cinnamon. I don't use level measurements for that and it gives it a warmer taste.

@easyas123 - I failed to mention your trip to Scotland. I have been there 3 times and would love to go back again one day. Where are you planning to visit? I have even been to some Outlander filming locations which was a real highlight. I hope you have a great time there, it's a lovely country.

Not much else going on here. Hope you all have a great day

 

[easyas123]

@easyas123 - I failed to mention your trip to Scotland. I have been there 3 times and would love to go back again one day. Where are you planning to visit? I have even been to some Outlander filming locations which was a real highlight. I hope you have a great time there, it's a lovely country.

We rented a house in Fort William (right on the loch) for a week, and then we are going to Edinburgh for several nights, staying at the Hilton off the Royal Mile there. We wanted to be able to walk most everywhere - or easily take a taxi. Rented a car for the week in Fort William. I know we will make it to the Culloden battleground - but, and I'm in the minority here I know - I haven't read or watched a single Outlander book or show! So if we go by any of those places I won't know it from that I'm afraid! And while I do quite like Highland Cows - almost bought one once, they aren't a highlight for us either cause we have them all around here. But I gotta tell you, we really enjoy the older architecture and visiting the ancient sites, so that is something we are very much looking forward to. Scotland has been on the 'short list' for us for years, and when our traveling companions for the Christmas Markets cruise we were going to go on with had to bail this year, we decided to pivot and finally get ourselves to Scotland! Won't lie - already planning a second trip haha!! Going to Dublin in March for a week as well, but I think we will just be staying in the city since we will have work meetings & dinners two or three days & nights while there. AND I'm very happy that we could fly non stop from PHL to Edinburgh. We leave tomorrow. I haven't packed yet - I'm a last second packer so I'll do that this evening and finish it up tomorrow prior to leaving for the airport. Meeting my folks at PHL, they are flying up from Florida. We were already renting the car & the house so we told them they might as well join us if they can fit us into their busy social & travel schedule! Since July they've been up here to visit, Maine, Bermuda and now they are doing this Scotland trip with us. They are headed to Greece & Turkey in Feb. and will join us in Dublin in March (they may need to attend same meetings - family business related work stuff). They keep pretty active for folks in their mid to late 70's, and life is short + they & my husband get along great so it's nice to share this trip with them while they are still going-going-going.
Anyway, I'm tickled to finally be going. Really am looking forward to it! I'm not one to buy much in terms of souvenirs while traveling - the odd ornament or something, but I already told my husband I may be packing light to travel over there but I'll be packing heavy on the way home!!!

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning..but it's not a good morning here.

I lost another of my inside furbabies. He's been sleeping in odd places the last couple of days, but I attributed it to the change in weather, because they've all been doing it. He's been eating and using the litter box just fine. This morning he didn't come to eat breakfast and when I went looking for him I couldn't find him. The last time the plumber was here I had a box that I put everything from under the sink in. I didn't move it right away (next to the kitchen table), and one of the other cats started sleeping in it at night. I walk back into the kitchen and see the box sitting there and looked inside and there was C3PO, and he was gone.

To make my day start ever worse, I just had to call the plumber again. The toilet in the master bath won't flush right all of a sudden. It's been like a cyclone flushing ever since we remodeled the bathroom 3 years ago, but now it's not . It goes down, but doesn't go down fast like it should. The one in the cellar is fine, so I know it's not an issue with the main. They don't know if they can come today , they only have 1 crew working. If not today, it will be tomorrow.

I didn't need either of these things this morning, I'm ready to quit.

I hope you all have a better day than the start mine has had.

 

[Judique]

Good morning..but it's not a good morning here.

I lost another of my inside furbabies. He's been sleeping in odd places the last couple of days, but I attributed it to the change in weather, because they've all been doing it. He's been eating and using the litter box just fine. This morning he didn't come to eat breakfast and when I went looking for him I couldn't find him. The last time the plumber was here I had a box that I put everything from under the sink in. I didn't move it right away (next to the kitchen table), and one of the other cats started sleeping in it at night. I walk back into the kitchen and see the box sitting there and looked inside and there was C3PO, and he was gone.

To make my day start ever worse, I just had to call the plumber again. The toilet in the master bath won't flush right all of a sudden. It's been like a cyclone flushing ever since we remodeled the bathroom 3 years ago, but now it's not . It goes down, but doesn't go down fast like it should. The one in the cellar is fine, so I know it's not an issue with the main. They don't know if they can come today , they only have 1 crew working. If not today, it will be tomorrow.

I didn't need either of these things this morning, I'm ready to quit.

I hope you all have a better day than the start mine has had.

View attachment 1006192

So sorry to hear about CP30. Cats love boxes so it probably gave some comfort last night.

I've had it with home fixing companies. I'm ready for a break. Water bill came in too high. I know I was watering and also had a toilet I had to repair. Still, it was my highest ever.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Oh, Lynn, I'm so sorry about your kitty!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Oh, Lynn, I'm so sorry about your kitty!
View attachment 1006217

Same here. Two in such a short time. Were they older? Sending hugs!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We rented a house in Fort William (right on the loch) for a week, and then we are going to Edinburgh for several nights, staying at the Hilton off the Royal Mile there. We wanted to be able to walk most everywhere - or easily take a taxi. Rented a car for the week in Fort William. I know we will make it to the Culloden battleground - but, and I'm in the minority here I know - I haven't read or watched a single Outlander book or show! So if we go by any of those places I won't know it from that I'm afraid! And while I do quite like Highland Cows - almost bought one once, they aren't a highlight for us either cause we have them all around here. But I gotta tell you, we really enjoy the older architecture and visiting the ancient sites, so that is something we are very much looking forward to. Scotland has been on the 'short list' for us for years, and when our traveling companions for the Christmas Markets cruise we were going to go on with had to bail this year, we decided to pivot and finally get ourselves to Scotland! Won't lie - already planning a second trip haha!! Going to Dublin in March for a week as well, but I think we will just be staying in the city since we will have work meetings & dinners two or three days & nights while there. AND I'm very happy that we could fly non stop from PHL to Edinburgh. We leave tomorrow. I haven't packed yet - I'm a last second packer so I'll do that this evening and finish it up tomorrow prior to leaving for the airport. Meeting my folks at PHL, they are flying up from Florida. We were already renting the car & the house so we told them they might as well join us if they can fit us into their busy social & travel schedule! Since July they've been up here to visit, Maine, Bermuda and now they are doing this Scotland trip with us. They are headed to Greece & Turkey in Feb. and will join us in Dublin in March (they may need to attend same meetings - family business related work stuff). They keep pretty active for folks in their mid to late 70's, and life is short + they & my husband get along great so it's nice to share this trip with them while they are still going-going-going.
Anyway, I'm tickled to finally be going. Really am looking forward to it! I'm not one to buy much in terms of souvenirs while traveling - the odd ornament or something, but I already told my husband I may be packing light to travel over there but I'll be packing heavy on the way home!!!

Have a great trip! When you get back you should really watch Outlander. There is also a prequel now, Blood of My Blood, which we’re really enjoying, too. Outlander’s last season is coming up and I’m so sad about it!

 

[lynxstch]

Same here. Two in such a short time. Were they older? Sending hugs!

They were both 8. Half Pint and C3PO were both Don's cats. I have one more, Comet, he's 12, and he was a cat Don brought home from work when the client couldn't keep him anymore and was going to send him to the shelter. He'll be the next one to pass, I just have that feeling. He's starting to show his age. I have 2 others, Marble and Bug, they are both only 4

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I'm sorry dear Lynn. Big hug and so much love, my friend.

 

[lynxstch]

So the plumbers got here at 10:15, left at 10:50. They ran a snake through the toilet, nothing is clogged. They said it's not the seal, because it would be leaking around the bottom of the toilet. It works on a 'full' flush, but not on a 'half flush', which saves water. They put a new valve inside the tank at the top, still not flushing right unless you hold the handle down all the way. They're sending the owner/boss out because they have no idea what it can be. He said it looks like a brand new toilet (it's 3 years old), there shouldn't be anything wrong with it. I said so I have to pay you guys for an hour and then I'm going to have to pay the boss too? He said the boss won't charge you because you paid us to fix it and we don't know what else to do.

The day just keeps getting better. I heard a bang up in the attic or on the roof last night. This morning I emptied the closet, got a ladder out and went up. Pulled the string to turn the light on up there, and the string breaks, that makes 3 things this morning, and I don't want more. I looked around in the corners with a flashlight and don't see anything that could have made that noise. I have to go look out in the side yard and see if a branch fell on the roof or something. I'm getting too old for all of this, but I refuse to live in an apartment or a condo. I want to stay in my house, without all the issues.

I'm so ready to just go back to bed and pull the covers over my head and call it a day.

 

[tazdev3225]

@easyas123 - Fort William was my first trip. It's easy driving in that area to quite a few places. Glenfinnan is near there where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed in Scotland for the '45 Jacobite Rebellion. Obviously Culloden was the end of the rebellion. There are a couple of great castle ruins near there. Kilchurn Castle and Dunstaffnage are in the general area. If you are in to history at all not far from Fort William is the Commando Monument where the commandos were trained in WWII. The view is great.

Edinburgh is all uphill I swear. Greyfriar's Bobby statue is off the Royal Mile, and there is a connection to Disney with him. Disney made a movie about him in 1961. if you get a chance check out Holyrood Castle which is at the bottom of the Royal Mile. It's the King's official residence when in Edinburgh, you can also see the gardens that King Charles designed. The People's Museum also gives a good look at Edinburgh's history and don't miss St. Giles Kirk.

Have a great trip. I will get back to Scotland one day. The Highlands call to me,