dianah

Tweety, so sorry for your loss. It sounds, though, like you had hospice support when needed, and I'm glad you were there for your family. Be good to yourself as you grieve. I hope your A/C is fixed SOON! I have puttered around the house, cleaning several little areas. If you walked into the house, you wouldn't be able to tell (the rest of the house is cluttered and dusty, lol!) but I can tell. Baby steps. 106 degrees yesterday, probably same today. Maybe cooling off to the high 90's tomorrow! Have a good evening!

Isn't that great???!!!

Gotta hire a Professional Pee Pad Picker-Upper. Make sure they are experienced (references required). I hope you don't have much soreness from the fall.

No Stars, I feel for ya, but I'm afraid I feel more sorry for the dogs (who need the attention)! But I do like your cuss-phrase: Gadfrey P. Sakes and his left-handed brother!! Hmmm, it remains to be seen if niece is staying for the weekend... fingers crossed she isn't! Hello Ado! I hope you do get some rain. It seems most everywhere needs rain, these days. I watched a show about Lost Cities, and this episode was about Atlantis -- or what the archeologists think MIGHT be Atlantis, as Plato wrote of the city. Summary: they surmise the Minoans built two large cities, one on Santorini and one 100 miles away, on Crete. Large, sumptuous palaces, hot-and-cold running water, indoor toilets and sophisticated waste disposal systems (1000 years ahead of other cultures). Then, the volcano exploded on Santorini, around 1500 B.C. From measuring the ash deposits on Santorini, Crete, and in Egypt, they calculated the explosion was 10X that of Krakatoa. The volcano destroyed the civilization that was built on Santorini, and the following tsunami obliterated the civilization on Crete. Excavations on Santorini found man-made walls intact under 80 ft of pumice, which was under another 80+ feet of ash deposits. They have only begun to explore these sites (Knossos on Santorini, and the north shore of Crete). Re: Plato's writings of Atlantis, in 350 B.C. (one thousand years after the event): the archeaologists think a Greek scholar named Solon journeyed to Egypt around 594 B.C., and there he was shown some wall etchings depicting the city of Atlantis that was destroyed, and he took with him the story of that grand city and its destruction. The story was then passed by word-of-mouth -- so to speak, in drawing rooms! -- and Plato picked it up and wrote about it, and it was later found described in his writings. Haha, there was much more, and I can't recall it all, but I found it fascinating! It was 100 degrees today, is starting to cool down. Have a good evening!

Hello all! Joe, after the crazy day yesterday, some quiet time at the Arboretum seems like just the thing to help you re-set. nursej22, congrats on the deep-cleaning job! Not much going on here. Slept poorly, will likely nap today. One of the cats has been vomiting daily, we are keeping an eye on her. Maybe it's a hairball that just won't pass, dunno. We have nothing planned for the weekend. Have a good afternoon and evening and WEEKEND!!

Dh and I cleaned out half the pantry, as he noticed a sticky substance waaaaaaaaaaay in the back, as he was searching with a flashlight for the ant source. We pulled out all outdated cans and he carted them out to the recyclable bin (luckily it goes out tomorrow). Then I washed the shelves and rearranged the meager remnants. Later I got on the phone and changed the automatic payment for our RV insurance to a new credit card. May I just say, AI is a PAIN. I just want to talk with someone and change the credit card that the payments will go to! They'd prefer I use their website, I'm sure. Nope. After repeatedly asking for "a representative," I ended up paying next month's payment on the new card, then when asked if I wanted that as my method of payment in the future, responded YES! I hope that takes care of the issue. I dunno what technophobes do these days, it's hard enough when one is a little comfortable with technology but then is shoved into more and more AI and use of technology rather than just talking with someone. OK, rant over. I should go exercise, at least. Later!

Hello all! Joe, a four-day work week is nice, except when five days' worth of work is crammed into it! I hope a balance can be reached. Tweety, I am shaking my head and clucking like a hen, over your A/C issue and the discomfort for both you and (especially) Waffles! AND please keep us informed about your mom's health, that is worrisome. Agree, if she can't/won't get out to the car, need to call 911. I don't blame you for cancelling your two appointments. I can only handle so much, myself. You know your limits. Ado, at least the hospital A/C is working! No Stars, I did note the "he" in yesterday's reference to TInker, and my brain said, "Oh, I guess SHE is a HE, my bad!" She IS a SHE! I'm glad she's warmer with the outfit, though I agree with you and Ado about that skirt. Skirt is a NOPE from me! And, 70 degrees is way too cool for me! 76 might be more tolerable. I hope you are better after your fiber overload. YES, make that PCP appointment! I've slept pretty well the last couple nights -- well, there I go, jinxing it!! Anyway, it was nice. Yesterday I was droopy (for lack of any other medical term for how I was feeling), so didn't go out of the house, didn't exercise. Feeling better today. I had completed reading Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakaur. I usually need a day or so to mull over books once I've finished reading them, that may have been the cause of the droopiness. It was very moving to review the events of that particular climb, especially after I'd been following the climb, online, in 1996. Bottom line is, climbing Everest is a risky thing to do. Kudos to those to attempt and survive, whether they summit or not. Nothing is planned for today, except mentally getting prepared for our upcoming festival. Have a good afternoon/evening!

Hello all! Joe, congrats on getting the "new" cat! Sounds like a good fit for you, AND for the cat! I hope he settles in well. No Stars, sounds like yesterday you got quite the grand neighborhood tour! I would have enjoyed seeing all the nice trees, too. Has the rain let up? Did you find your hearing aids? How frustrating if you didn't! Yesterday we packed up the instruments and the salad I'd made, and drove to the memorial jam. It started at 4pm with a short service, then we ate, then we played till, hmmmm, 7:30-ish?? All I know is, it was HOT when we started playing, and it gradually cooled down to being under 100 degrees when we stopped playing, lol! We were in a shaded area, with a fan going to move the air -- though most of the time there was a breeze. Dh got to play bass most of the time, so he was happy. We got to visit with several folks whom we usually don't see at a jam (they came in years past, so to honor the deceased, they came to this one). It was quite a nice jam/visit. The lady would have loved it. She was 90 years old, still insisted on living on her own up to the day she died. Family checked on her daily, said she was bright and spunky as ever the day before. Today we got up early and headed up to Oak Glen. They are on Day Three of their Wild West Days, and we and fiddler played for Cowboy Church. We sang several hymns, and then did one special number. We were all in the shade, and the temperature was quite nice (at least 10 degrees cooler than at home). Our friend presented the "sermon" (thoughts about Psalms 1). I bought dh some kettle corn from one of the vendors. Then we came home and had a slightly-later-than-usual lunch. Then we took a nap!! And you are all caught up with our doings! Not much else going on here. Dh is enjoying his oatmeal-dried cherry cookies. :) BUT I now have a few things to get at the grocery store! Will probably go tomorrow. Have a good evening!

Hello all! After lunch I got a few groceries and then made the Mediterranean salad (and added feta cheese!) for tomorrow's memorial jam and potluck. Then I baked oatmeal cookies for dh. I usually make oatmeal-raisin, but he requested oatmeal-dried cherry cookies, so I obliged. :) I needed three cups of oats for the recipe but only had barely two cups. I increased the flour a little and they turned out pretty good, just not as full of oats as usual. Dh didn't complain! Time to get some laundry going. Yesterday my stick vacuum arrived! It was very nice to vacuum without a cord (it's a Ryobi, so uses exchangeable/rechargeable batteries), and it only weighs about eight pounds. My other vacuum cleaner was so clunky, difficult to maneuver, and weighed 13 lb, plus I had to watch the cord. So far (and I know, with further use, this could change) I like it, and deem it a definite improvement over the other! Oh, and it was ONLY 107 when I drove to the grocery store. "But it's a DRY heat!" Hang in there, all, in the heat! I hope you all have a good evening and weekend.

Hello all! Joe, I am excited that you will soon get a "new" cat!! Keep us apprised of progress, if you would! Tweety, wow, retire in just over a year!! I'm thrilled for you! Ado, I will get some feta cheese and add it to the salad when I next make it -- which will be on Friday, for a house jam/potluck on Saturday. I think Florida must rival California in costs of drivers' license and vehicle registration renewals. Other states' fees are WAAAAAAAAAAY lower. Maybe NY would compare, dunno. No Stars, I saw a comic that I sent to dh: a couple sitting on a couch, watching TV, and she turns to him and says, "I find British murder mysteries much more calming than American murder mystery shows." We both laughed at that! Also, we shake our heads, wondering just WHERE all the murder victims come from, in small British towns??? One would think they are running low on citizenry, with the amount of murders committed... I'm glad your friend's doggy got seen and diagnosed. Thanks for the butter trick, I will remember that, as giving a pill to ANY of our animals is a CHORE! None of them require medications at this point, luckily. Little Doggy was diagnosed with a murmur, but no signs of CHF. At his age (12 yr), I assume, presence of a murmur isn't surprising. He is doing SO much better since his dent-ectomies! He is frisky, happy, eating VERY well (and peeing and pooping, gotta mention that)! I got supplies yesterday to make two soups: the ever-present chicken tomatillo, and a tomato soup. I will likely make those today, and freeze most of them. It was another almost-sleepless night -- even though I took "something" around 4am. I still didn't fall asleep till between 5 and 6. Dh woke me at 1245! It was good to sleep! I was considering going out to the fabric store, but may just stay home and make soups today. S cancelled our Tuesday walk, as she is preparing for her youngest son's BD (he will be 34, I believe). He is back living with them while he is going to school. I know she is happy to have him around. It's 96 today, supposed to be 106 by Saturday -- the day of the jam/potluck! Oh well! It will begin at 4pm, so may start cooling down a bit after that. Have a good evening!

Sounds exciting, Ado, to spend time with your bestie AND to have your pick of new places to explore! Glad you liked the salad, and I agree, feta cheese would be good in it! No Stars, I hope the little pup gets diagnosed and treated today, poor thing. Joe, yummy Mexican food! I agree about modernistic art, I kinda prefer other art (easier for my uneducated brain to appreciate/understand). I slept OK last night. After getting up and having lunch, I spent probably at LEAST an hour online, choosing a new, lighter vacuum to buy. Mine works well, it's just so heavy and is a pain to get it out and use it. I decided to enter the modern world and get a stick vacuum! Oh my, all the choices!! Replaceable/rechargeable battery? Is the suction powerful (for pet hair)? How long does the battery last? OH, there are two speeds, you say? Battery lasts 40 min on low, 13 min on high? Does it stand up by itself? What are the reviews like? How heavy is it? Etc, etc., etc.! I finally ordered a Ryobi, with a replaceable battery (that can be charged separate from the vacuum). Should have the batteries and vacuum in a few days. My gift to me, lol! Then I went to my Second Home, the grocery store! Got stuff to make the chicken tomatillo soup, and also supplies to make a tomato soup. We like having a light soup in the evenings, and I like variety (dh would eat chicken tomatillo soup every meal, every day, if I "let" him!). I also needed more supplies for my lunchtime salad, so got those. Per my weather app, the temp is "only" 99 degrees! That's it for here! Have a good evening!

Hello all! No Stars, that Chinese food sounded wonderful! It's always nice to get another meal out of take-out, eh? 👌 Joe, I hope the art museum was interesting, and that you had some good tacos after! Yesterday our friend C met us here and we all loaded the instruments and ourselves and the potluck food into the car. I drove -- it was about an hour's drive, up to Wrightwood, a mountain community of 5,000 ppl, and to the site of the house jam. It was a beautiful, VERY modern and spacious house with a GORGEOUS view to the west, of mountains and more mountains! His large living room had huge floor-to-ceiling windows for that great view! He designed the house himself (he is a professional photographer, been on assignments all over the world), and wanted to hold concerts and such in that living room, and to behold the view! We delivered our food, then set up for the jam. Jammed from 3-5, then had burgers and potluck salads and refreshments till 6, then cut into various homemade pies and voted for the best. Then we played a little more, doing a community sing (he had printed out words for everyone). Done and wrapping things up by 7-ish. There were probably 15 or so pickers, and at least as many grinners. We got the chance to renew friendships among the pickers (found out about a few concerning health situations to add to my prayer list), and get to know a few of the grinners. I took a tour of the fabulous house -- three bedrooms (two large suites - one downstairs, one upstairs and one smaller sleeping area with three bunks), a very large office upstairs (same view as the living room), and a tiny professional recording studio tucked into a corner of the office! Then, out on the deck, was an outdoor shower, a kitchen area, a seating area, and space to even sleep outdoors. It was just an amazing residence, and decorated with many of the man's photographs. Truly a treat to see! We got home at a decent hour, and wouldn't ya know, I couldn't fall asleep??? So I slept in this morning, and have spent a quiet day at home. I will change sheets and towels soon, after dh feeds the felines. My cellulitis is largely gone -- itching has stopped too. I am left with a hard little nodule - I assume it's at the area of the original injury (bite or sting, whatever). So glad it is better, though! We came home last night with one of the two Fruit of the Forest pies I'd baked, so dh should be happy about that! There were six pies entered in the "contest." I didn't know how many would be brought, so as it was just as easy to bake one as to bake two, I chose to bake two. Glad dh has one for him! A friend saw The Odyssey, she really liked it! I went on Amazon Prime and, being the Trekkie fan I am, I paid for the first season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. So far I have watched two episodes and like it! I like it more than I did Picard. It seems to preserve more of the Star Trek "feel," to me, than Picard did. I never did watch the last season of PIcard, I suppose I SHOULD do that sometime. That's it for now! We continue to hunker down in the A/C, in triple digit temperatures. Have a good evening!

Welcome back, Ado! And I agree, when one is trying to "do" lo-carb eating, SOME things are SO hard to resist!! I made the Mediterranean salad and it's marinating in the fridge (and Ado, if you ask about amounts of each? I made a nice-sized salad -- probably would feed 4 or 6 -- from 1/2 cauliflower, 1/2 bell pepper, one avocado, 20 [or so] grape tomatoes, half a jar of medium black olives, one full jar of marinated artichoke hearts plus their 'juice' [cut 'em up a little, to be bite-sized] and 1/3 jar of pimento green olives). I also cleaned out the toaster oven, and mopped the kitchen floor. I need to get the laundry started, too. I ordered a beeswax wood repair 'salve' and have tried it on a couple of our oak kitchen cabinets. They are the originals, been up for 40+ years (and they were starting to look tired and worn). I've treated them twice or three times, through the years. This is another treatment, and the few I've treated look pretty good. So, now that means I "get" to do every cabinet door in the kitchen!! Yay me! Jackie the Big Bear eagle is still in the care of an Ojai raptor rescue center, being treated for anemia and kidney issues. No lead poisoning has been found, and Xrays found no hooks or lead fishing weights. She is eating, perching, and apparently is quite feisty with the staff -- all good signs, to me! I hope she is soon able to be released back to her home. Her partner Shadow and the two eaglets (who have fledged but not yet dispersed) are holding down the territory. Big Bear, BTW, has good news today! The drive to raise 10 million dollars to purchase the "Moon Camp" area, to ensure the eagles have wilderness close to them (and not development encroaching on their nesting area) -- reached their goal! At the last count, 5 million, 500 thousand had been raised (grassroots), and a couple then donated an additional $5.5 million to the project! This news brought tears to my eyes! Soon that piece of property will be secured, thanks to all who contributed, whether 50 cents or 5 million dollars! So exciting! Well, I better get the laundry started. Have a good evening and a good weekend!

I made it -- on time! -- to my 3pm appointment. I don't NEED new glasses (prescription is unchanged) but I picked out some new frames and in two weeks I will have a second pair, as back-up. I don't need to be seen for two years, as everything is stable. When I got home, I started in on the pies. And, I see it took me about two hours, start-to-finish (meaning, the pies are in the oven). Kitchen is cleaned up, so dh can now feed the furry beasts. The crust went better than I expected. Last time I baked pies, I could NOT get the crust to stick together, dunno why! I also (haha) used my spatula to help loosen the rolled-out crust from the countertop. Then I was able to better fold it over and plop it onto the pie tins (or the pie innards, as it were). With all the filling ingredients, it looked like I would make THREE pies, but once the pie shells were filled and topped with crust, only two resulted (but a rounded two, not a flat-topped two!). I probably only have to bring one, but may bring the two just in case. After the cats get fed, we'll have our supper and watch half an episode of Inspector Morse. I will make the Mediterranean salad tomorrow. I'm sure it won't take NEAR as long to prepare as the pies did! Every time I bake pies, I remind myself why I don't do it more often: they are time-consuming to make! I think I mentioned it was 103 degrees out when I went to my appointment. I see now (almost 7 pm) it's only 97, thank goodness for small favors and all that! Tweety, that seems to be routine, to pull one of your nurses or techs. You get used to making do... Have a good evening!

And, I guess I got my wires crossed, as I showed up for my 2pm eye appointment, and was informed it was scheduled for 3pm, as they are closed from 2-3 for lunch. I guess I mis-heard, or something, for I had entered it in my Google calendar as 2pm. Oh well. I made a quick trip to the grocery store (my second home, doncha know!), and am in nice air-conditioning until it's time to leave -- again -- for the appointment. I will hydrate as well, it is 103 degrees out there now. I'm SO VERY thankful for working A/C!!