Marilyn, you're SO busy - I love it for you - keep up the good work.

Sue, glad you're getting back to normal - sort-of at least.

It's been quiet in here today.   I don't have anything much to contribute.  The best news from here is that, after 101 days of 90+ degree temperatures and a record high on Sunday of 97!, our high today was 81.  And the high on Thursday is predicted for 69.  Crazy.

Have a nice evening, Buddies!

This is the night we can tune in QVC from 7 until 9 and catch Mary's chef nephew's partner introducing their new line of mac & cheese.  I must go right this minute and find out what that channel number is, so as to be all ready for this!

Rainy, rainy day here on the bay.  Supposed to be so all day tomorrow, as well, followed by considerable flooding.  I will not be affected by the flooding here, however.

Good morning,  Buddies.  I've been working in the kitchen all morning (except for my morning walk down the hill and back).  My Wednesday bridge club is coming to play at 1:00.  I've prepared snacks, got some punch cups out as I was browsing through my AU cookbook last night and found an easy recipe for "tea punch".  I moved the coffee pot to my long counter in the dining area of my kitchen and fixed the coffee which I will turn on about 12:45.  As hot as it is, not many will drink coffee, but some will.  I did shower and dress after my walk, so I'm ready when they arrive.

Mary, have you had any rain up there this summer?  As far as I can tell, Auburn has not had rain since I came back to the Assisted Living and then home in June.  I'm afraid my azaleas are going to die, but I just don't have the strength to pull the sprinklers all over the front and back yards. 

MaryPage, thanks for the reminder about Mary's chef nephew's partner and the new line of mac & Cheese.  I'll have to look up QVC's channel number, too. 

Jane, I am still keeping my fingers crossed about the flood waters in Cedar Rapids.  I did see some footage of flooded streets there.

I'm off for a quick lie down/rest.  I'm pooped.  Hopefully when I get everything cleaned up this afternoon, I'll have more time to post.

Sue

MaryPage, thanks for reminding us/me about the mac and cheese night.  I have it set up to record and will, of course, buy some.

Sue, I hope you get some good cards.  I know your guests will have a good time.  We're almost 14" below normal for rain here.  Nothing like CA, of course, but we're still officially in "extreme drought" conditions.

The cooler weather is wonderful, though.  It was almost uncomfortably cool at 6:30 this morning without a jacket.  It's to go up to 80 today, though, and is delightful. 

My surgery is set.  I'm due for the knee replacement on 20 October.  Jean will be coming down to stay here and tend to me, so we'll work things out.  We'll no doubt make more plans when we're all together this weekend at Andy and Erica's wedding.  That'll be in Bowling Green, KY, in the Fall River Cave - should be a fun evening.  The weather is supposed to be just about perfect.  The girls have gotten it all worked out so I won't be doing any driving - and that's just fine with me. 

Good day everyone. this morning I peeled another batch of apple that I put in the crock pot without any sugar or cinnamon this time. I still have about 10 more lbs of apples to do something with.

I took Freckles for her morning walk and Keith surprised me and went with us for a change. I had told him about something I saw on TV about active people who walk and exercise being more mobile ion later years, I think that is why he decided to go with us.I did get permission to take Freckles to class, the lady who is afraid of dogs said as long as I kept her on the leash she is OK with that. She told me she has been bitten 13 times, I think I should ask her what the circumstance were that the dogs bit her.

Hi Gals, I haven't had much to add, but glad to see everyone keeping busy & doing well.  I went to bridge & luncheon at the club this morning and am just now getting in here. I started out with great cards, but about halfway through, they just went to pot!  I did have one small slam, but we hadn't bid it. Oh well, it was still fun to play.

Sue, hope your bridge was better. So glad you are back to doing most things and staying busy. We were -8 inches but then got a little over a half inch here. Charlotte got deluged with 3.5-4 inches! So they are doing much better than we are and now we won't be able to go by the paper as to how much rain we are missing.

Mary, that is awful that you are -14 inches. I don't think I have ever seen that except out west! Good luck with your knee. I'm sure you're glad to get it scheduled.  Enjoy the wedding too.

Marilyn, you're going to have apples coming out your ears!   No wonder that woman is scared of dogs.  She must not know how to approach them or to know to stay away from strange ones.

I will check QVC tonight.  Did anyone see Poldark Sunday?  I had too many things taping and couldn't tape it. I hope they repeat it.

Molly, where are you?  Are you all right?  Please check in.

Hi to everyone else. Sharon

Afternoon from northern Illinois....just bqck from a late lunch out...we took my SIL to a Greek restaurant she and Ray like....he had lamb gyro and she had a Greek lemon chicken soup and Reuben. I had a lovely BLT and think we'll all skip supper.  It,s gray and drizzling and a cool 58.  They've gone on to a big grocery store, and I had them drop me off at the condo...joints aren't up to walking.

On to Ohio tomorrow.

Sue... Cedar Rapids is on a different river than we are....so our flooding only impacted a couple of businesses by the river we have in our town.  CR is better prepared than in 2008, but many had to evacuate.

Jane

I just went and got my Flu Shot. Asked about the one for Pneumonia they seen  to be pushing, but told me unless you know when you took the first one after the age of 65. If you got one then don't take this new one.  Another thing, I don't know if they know what they are doing. Don't know when I took mine but know after 65. Saying you can't mix them. So I will forget about the new one.

Gotten so cold here today. below 60s.  I am wearing a jacket. Say will be back up to 80 over the weekend.  Lots of people catch a cold this weather.
Need to get my service over to check out my furnace. Looks like may need it soon. Need to pick up filters.
Think I need to change my keyboard. Wearing out. Hate to as I love this one with the large keys. But has to be 6 years old. I have a new Wireless KB And mouse . Need to put it on. Had it over a year. Never used them before.
Starting to rain and so I am in for the night

Jeanne....It's too bad your medical provider didn't have the date you got the first flu shot.  Mine had my date, and then last year I got the second one, so I'm all set on pneumonia shots.  Ray had his first one at a different clinic, but the nurse called them and got what he'd had when, and then he as up to date, too. 

Rains coming in here and it looks like we'll have rain and winds for the next few days.

I keep all sorts of records of that type on my WORD.  Have done for simply years and years.  I have a list on there of my medications, in detail, which I keep up to date with the actual date I last updated it prominent on top of the list, plus my name, and I hand these out to each and every doctor I visit on the day of my visit, because they always ask. (Title is MY MEDICATIONS, and it is in "Table" format)  I just give them to the nurse and say, no need to copy it, I have it right on my computer!  And they are most grateful.  I even take one to my dentist and eye doctor, as they like to have them, too.  Another list I keep on there,  one I can look up dates of shots or particular types of procedures (MRI, CatScan, x-ray, mammogram, etc.) on is titled VISITS TO DOCTORS, and is in the form of a "Table."  I list only the latest mammogram, etc., deleting the older ones.  But right there, with the date (dates are in order on the table) of 10/3/2007 is Pneumonia Shot and where I got it.  So simple.  So easy to keep up to date and to utilize.  I plan to also get the new pneumonia shot in a couple of weeks.  I just got my regular flu shot a week or so ago.
Well, I had my first ever encounter with QVC tonight!  Phew!  They remind me of nothing so much as the old snake oil barkers at the old county fairs in the summertimes.  And I am getting old and cannot catch every word of that fast, machine gun delivery.  But I watched and heard about Mary's nephews venture: Macarolli trucks?  I think that is what they said.  They work out of Rochester, New York and have 3 trucks so far and sell as much as 1,000 containers of macaroni an hour!  Wow!  That is some going!  I believe he said they had twenty some (or more) types, but they were only offering 4 tonight.  I looked and looked, and finally caught and wrote down a phone number that said you could talk to a person.  I called, and the first thing was they wanted a product number!  I didn't know to expect that, and had not noticed a number.  But that was alright, she looked up the number from my telling her it was the mac & cheese.  Then she wanted my phone number, and found no information from that.  Well, Honey, I said, I have never watched QVC or ordered from it in my life!  Anyway, bottom line, I ordered the Classic and the Buffalo combination, and look forward to some heavenly eating.

Good Evening, Buddies.  Bridge went well, but of course had to clean up after the "girls" left.  My friend Tammy came by as it was getting dark and we had a nice glass of wine.  I'm going to bed shortly as Tim will be here about 8:55 to take me to my 9:15 appointment at my G. P.'s office.  Then I'm hoping he'll take me to Kroger to renew my flu and pneumonia shots.  I've filled out the form except for the last question which I must discuss with Tim.  It's about my treatments while I was in the hospital this summer.

Sleep well, Buddies.
Sue

MaryPage, thanks for buying some - I did, too (the regular and the loaded potato).  I couldn't watch it steadily.  I had the PBS New Hour on, and flipped over every once in a while to check.  I did see most of the pitch for it.  I don't have an oven, so I hope it can be prepared in a microwave.  If it has to be in an oven, I'll get one of my buddies to fix it for me.  I'm actually "wait-listed" for mine.  I ordered online.

Me too, Mary.  I always, without fail, watch Lester Holt do the Nightly News on NBC at 7:00 each weeknight, so I kept flipping back and forth to see if they had gotten to the macaroni yet.  Then I had Chris Mathews on MSNBC on when they finally got to it.  I did watch it all, though, and did not turn it off until they went on to something else.  THEN I tried to order and failed to have the item number, but it all turned out alright.
It was fun seeing the chef host do his little happy dance of approval.

We are enjoying the edges of a storm here.  Furious and frothy dark grey waters making lots of white caps in the bay.  The bridge and the Eastern Shore just dark smudges on the unbroken blueish-white backdrop.  Everything waving and flapping in the strong breezes.  Rain fairly steady, and all is drenched. 

Hi Gals, I set the DVR to tape David's show, but when I was ready to watch TV, I turned it on and they had just started the mac & cheese presentation so watched it through.  The loaded potato sounds wonderful. I didn't order any because we are trying to watch the fat and calories we eat and I think that was loaded with them. It sure looked good though. Never heard of a Macarolli truck. I guess food trucks are all the thing in big cities these days. I've never eaten at one though.

Last night when I went to Ms Frances' for a visit, she had gotten an infestation of biting ants, maybe fire ants, and they attacked me. I have about 20 bites and they are driving me insane. I've tried everything on them Most are on my left arm.  This happened in her living room!!  I suggested she call the local pest company.  I have been in agony since I came home last evening.

Hi to all.  Sharon

Sue for years I have been meaning to ask What is your favorite wine. Last night we tried Moscato it seemed just a little bit sweet. We have been trying different wine lately. Used to only by Merlot, the Cabernet Savignon, tried Pino Noir, we like the reds.

I got three  pints of sugar free apple butter done yesterday. Today I will be making an apple pie or Crumble not sure which yet. it depends on if I make crust or crustless.

Sharon, sorry about the ant bites.  Have you tried a cortisone cream?  That's all I've found that helps - a little bit.

The fire alarm went off at 4:30 this morning - Everybody hates the middle-of-the-night fire drills, but I do understand their necessity.  I got back to sleep some in the chair after that, then got up about 7, had breakfast and got dressed.  Then back to the chair with the paper.  I "dozed" off again about 8 and slept until 11:30!!!!  So much for Silver Sneakers or anything else for the morning.  Wow!  I've never done that before. 

I checked with the surgeon again this morning about timing.  The nurse said the "usual" was to be in the hospital for 3 days and then about 2 weeks in rehab - all this depending on how the patient progresses, etc. Jean is set up to come stay for the duration.

Marilyn, have you tried Apothic Red wine blend?  I really like that. Merlot has been a favorite in the past till my daughter told me to try this.  Their white blend is also good.  It usually runs around $10.

Mary, I have tried everlything on the bites--benedryl spray, cortisone 10 cream, baking soda & vinegar, meat tenderizer and a Benedryl capsule. I am still in agony. If it hasn't changed by tomorrow, I plan to call the dr. Obviously, I am highly allergic to them.  I presume they will talk to you in the hospital about using a knee bend machine that you use on your bed. I can't remember the name of it. But it is really good exercise and minimal effort. I used that and was verly pleased with it.  I also had PT too, but I recovered full motion on my knee.   Now however, it has gone down hill. If I had had a complete replacement, it wouldn't have.  You have to rent the machine to have it at home. I used it for about 2 weeks.

I sure; wouldn't like those night time fire drills. That's awful.  Once a year maybe.

I just got back from the grocery. So beat.  Sharon

Sherry I have never heard of that blend. I just looked it up and with all my favorite  wines blended in that Red, I will certainly be looking for it next rtime we buy wine. which isn't very often so io better write it down.

Marilyn, I think you will like it. It isn't taniny or sharp. Very soft.

I would not be able to LIVE in that house, Sharon!  What in the World is going to happen to your friend?  Does she need to move out while they fumigate the place?  The whole story makes me shiver with horror, but as great as my sympathy for the suffering you are experiencing, I am in near agony thinking of that poor woman!  Please let us know how it all turns out for her.  Is she being eaten alive?  Might she be?

Sharon.  Not heard of those Ants inside a house.  I did have some in the yard this spring.  Now how did those get into her home. Even a dog will not go close to them.

MaryZ.  I think that TV station must be on a different time for me. I put it on for 7pm my time. It went off at 8PM  Now I think it must be on Eastern and I should have turned on a 6pm  I missed his part.  Sure move them along fast on there don't they.

Warmed up a little here but cold at night. They cant get to me for a furnace Check and clean until Nov. 11. So will just turn the furnace on without it done if needed.

The odd thing was that they all seemed to be around or on the chair I was sitting in, not hers. She was supposed to call the pest control company today, but I don't know if she did. She is 98 and forgets things from one minute to the next. I reminded her again this morning, but who knows. I call her every morning to be sure she is okay.  Anyway, I don't think she got a single bite.  I agree, Mary Page, it's enough to give you the willys!

Jeanne, I need to call my company for a check too.

Sharon

Hi Buddies.  I've had a busy morning.  Tim came over about 8:45 to take me to my 9:00 appointment with my GP.  He had his nurse make me an appointment for an MRI and took me off the Xarelto.  Tim had already filled my next week pill box, so I think I might finish that.  It shouldn't hurt and I have no way to return it.  I'll talk it over with Tim and my Onc who I will see tomorrow for my annual appointment.  Tim is planning to take me to Montgomery tomorrow.  He wants me to change to the oncologist here, but I don't want to do that.  And I don't want to argue with him.  Surely I'll be able to drive by next year.  Maybe I might get my mammos up here if they will fax the results to my oncologist in Montgomery.

Sharon, you might want to speak to your doctor about an EPI pen.  I keep one and should probably take it back to Kroger and get a new one as I got this one last summer after I was bit by a wasp.  However, Senator Machen's daughter (he's from W.Va) has somehow become CEO of Epi pens and has doubled the price of them.  I think that is unethical.  Previously my Medicare and military Tri-Care for Life has paid for a new one when I use the old one (and even if it's just a year old without being used).
Some Elementary Schools keep an Epi-pen in the nurse's office in case a child is bitten at school.

Marilyn, I like Merlot and Cabernet Savaugnon (might not be spelled like that).  I don't like sweet wines.  Maybe you can try one of those to see how you like them.

Mary, it never occurred to me that you might have middle of the night fire drills.  But as you say, its probably a good idea although a nuisance.  I hope your knee replacement goes well.  I can't remember when it's to happen or if you will have to stay in the hospital a while.  I'll be hoping for excellent results and that your post-surgery therapy goes well.

MaryPage, I'm a Lester Holt/NBC fan, too, so I also missed the Macaroni presentation yesterday.  I've not seen any of the trucks here in Auburn, but I live in a quiet neighborhood.   Mostly retired folks and a few young families.  I'm glad of the young folks.  It's nice to see children in the neighborhood.

Oh, Tim asked and my GP gave me my flu shot.  I had one of the new pneumonia shots last year at Kroger and I forgot to mention it to Tim or the doctor as I think I have to have a second dose and I'll check at Kroger about that.

I'm off to watch the news--Lester Holt first and then PBS.  Have a nice evening, Buddies.

Sue

Sue, so far they don't have any trucks in Alabama.  Only three (3) trucks in NEW YORK STATE.  They expect to expand, but it will be a while before you see any.

MaryP you are so organized with your list of Meds and or scans.....a good idea.....I like a glass of wine occassionaly....but the ones I have tried are too sweet....know very little about choosing wines.....hope everyone is doing ok today...Candy

Good Evening Buddies
Today was another slug day. Did get a load of wash in the washer and need to go hang them up. I don't put bras in the dryer. Still headachy    The only TV I plan to watch tonight is the Blacklist at 10:00.

Sue it is good to see your posts 

Happy and thankful. Today...results from mamagram done yesterday was  stable...as they say and repeat in one year...thank you God.   Candy

Hooray for that good news!

Another stormyish grey and cloudy day.  Rainy.  Getting a bit tiresome, but this, too, will pass.  Soon we'll be enjoying October's Bright Blue Weather!

MaryZ:  Gee, a fire alarm in that early morn That means you had to go out to the designated place (in the hall, I guess)in your night clothes.  Ours has never done that but it does go off at some inconvenient times.
Joy---in Williamsburg Senior Living.

Joy, those of us on the first floor have outside doors, so in the event of a real emergency, we can just go outside directly.  We each put a pillow outside our hall doors, to acknowledge that we're awake and okay, then just wait until the alarm goes off.  Otherwise, we would have to put on a robe and go into the hall.  I put on slippers, and gather up my keys, phone, and wallet, as well.  Then, weather permitting, I just go outside and sit until the alarm goes off.

Darlene, wonderful news for another year with a clear mammogram!

Another lovely day with temps in the 70s.  Sue and Randy will pick me up later this afternoon, and we'll go the Margaret's to spend the night.  Then on to KY on Saturday for the wedding.