Maquoketa is our river....the west fork.  Others flooding big time are the Shell Rock and Cedar...and cities are closing flood gates along the Mississippi as it'll all end up there soon.

Our neighbors basment is dry, so they were relieved.  They're fighting strong winds as they cross S. Dakota, so can only hope to get to IA west border by tonight.

Good morning, Buddies.  It's almost noon here and I have walked down to Samford Avenue and back which is about 3 blocks away--although only one street crossing on the west from my home.  We're going to have another very hot day here and NO RAIN--which I'd love to see.  It hasn't rained here for more than a month.  My azaleas are looking pretty unhappy.

Jane, I'm sorry about the flooding near by and hope it doesn't come closer to you and your neighbors.  I keep wondering if Global Warming is causing all this natural destruction.  Flooding practically destroyed properties in and near Baton Rouge.  Several churches here have sent work groups down to help with the clean up.

I have the Alabama/Kent State game on and of course 'Bama is ahead, 21-0.  And it's still in the first quarter.  Kent State's defense is trying hard, but they are just out manned.  Auburn is playing LSU which is having some of the same problems AU is having--coaching mistakes, young players on offense, and on and on and on.  The game will be played here this evening and hopefully AU will win.  Gus Mahlzan is on the hot seat!

I found a container of vegetable soup in my freezer yesterday, so I am planning on a bowl for my lunch shortly.  I think Tim probably made it, so it should be pretty good.

Have a nice day, Buddies--and may your teams win, unless like Joy you are an LSU fan!
Sue

Sue: Your quote "Flooding practically destroyed properties
in BR" is totally not so.  The flooding here destroyed all
properties in Baton Rouge and surrounding cities. People   do not appreciate how disastrous it is here because the northern newspapers did NOT show a true picture of our
plight.  Thousands and thousands are still out of their homes. Fooling w/Fema has been a disaster.
You said Auburn is having some of same problems as LSU in coaching mistakes .  Believe me--Miles was "on the hot
seat"big time in that Wisconsin fiasco.
JOY

Hi Gals, a quiet Saturday here. Temp is to be 88 and humid, then dropping down to about 80 the rest of the week.  John washed and waxed his car this morning. Wish he would do mine, but I suspect I will have to pay someone to do mine.  I finished "The Martian" today. It is a good read if you don't mind some of the technical stuff. I just skimmed some of it. It's a nail biter though.

Joy, we saw all the BR disaster at the time of the floods, but not much since. I've always thought that floods were one of the worst natural catastrophes to go through.

Jane, it sounds like it is getting pretty bad around you too. Glad your friend's basement was ok.

I'm not watching the football games, but may check scores tomorrow when the Panthers play the Vikings.

Ginny, so glad you're feeling better! Enjoy your dinner out.  I watched Julia Childs some way back when and also have a couple of her books. I still have about 2 dozen cookbooks (or more), but I gave away or donated about 50 when we downsized.

MP, I have the French Country Time Life cookbook. It's one of my favorites. I used to cook a lot of gourmet French dishes. Not so much anymore though.

Sue, that's wonderful that you were able to walk 3 blocks. Keep it up and you'll be driving soon. You've always taken such good care of your azaleas, I imagine they are unhappy now with the lack of rain.

MaryZ, good for you getting up and walking outside as much as you can. I need to too.

Melanie bought some frozen chocolate croissants and sent them home with John for me, so we had some this morning. You put them out the night before to rise and then bake them for about 15 mins. Tastes like it came from a French patisserie!!

Have a nice evening.  Sharon

Jane.  I hope you heavy rains don't head this way East.  We havn't had any for about a week now.  Fact it is still so hot and humid here.

Sue.  You are doing so well.  Walking with that brace on not fun.  I had one on for about 8 months. Now it was right leg but I found a way to be able to drive.
Felt like I was walking like a drunken Sailor  when I took it off.  Still have it in the closet  It is amazing how many people you see now with some kind of a brace on their leg.  My Little GGD I believe had the heavy cast taking of her arm yesterday and a lighter thing put on.  Need to call her.  She has been so good wearing the cast.  Got a lot of attention I bet.  Childrens bones seem to heal faster.

Candy.  Now I staying with taking the BP pill at bedtime.  Mine seems to stay around 126/69/72 all day but I notice that when I get up in the mornings that it must be really low.  No energy. But fine after a hour or so.  I think I may ask him if I can start cutting it down.  Doubt he say yes. It is my appt to read my yearly Blood Panel on Tuesday.  It gives me a good idea on how things are. I don't like this Dr. but just keep him for doing that as the lab is right there. My one of 29 years was really good. Would go over everything.  This one Just gives me a copy say it O.K. Other one retired.  I have had all the Dr. that I started out with 40 years ago either die or retire. But have good ones for most things again. All specialist

Ok, MaryZ, this is for you:
The sun shines bright on Chesapeake Country this lovely day.  There is a Sailing School graduation taking place Right Outside as I write.  Literally just off my own beach area there.  There must be forty, at least, of those crisp white sails lined up in perfect order from north to south, and going through a preset series of maneuvers.  They look like the long line of white capped & gowned joyous graduates they indeed imitate this Sunday morning.  Breezes come all the way from them to caress the beautifully blooming heads on the blue pots out on my bayside deck, salmon, pale pink, deep pink and pale lavender globes of geranium florets dappled by our life-giving star.  Perfection on Earth, and I would not wish to live anywhere else.  There go the newly certified sailors, skipping off over the waves in a curtsying row towards the mouth of the Severn River and back to their celebratory luncheons.
Yesterday was grey all day, but no rain.  Five of my children showed up shortly after ten thirty, and Rob began his slide show lecture of his 3 week adventure trip to the Grand Canyon.  He spent 2 full weeks just navigating the Colorado River from one end to the other.  Fascinating background details into what goes into making such a trip possible were included.  The third week involved a train ride, an all day mule ride down into the bottom of the canyon (and back up again!) and a number of other excursions.  His siblings got quite raucous, and asked an endless number of impertinent questions.  The amount of laughter produced was better than a bottle of pills.  We adjourned to Sam's Waterfront Cafe for a two-cake luncheon; both the birthday celebrants had the lobster rolls.  I had the fish taco.  Again!  Rob's cake was a chocolate rum cake with chocolate mousse filling and a bright blue buttercream icing with cream colored polka dots.  Elizabeth's was a marble cake with the chocolate mousse and a bright yellow icing with bright green polka dots.  Both were delicious, and served with vanilla and chocolate ice cream.
Back at the house, Rob finished his Grand Canyon Show with a flourish, and took us on his bicycle trip down the C&O Canal Towpath.  They used to have a train that ran down along that old canal, and now most of the tracks are covered up to make up this cycling path.  Quite wonderful.  All beautiful.  Again, his audience was loud and bordering on rude, and the laughing made my sides hurt.  In short, a great time was had by all.

What a great picture, MaryPage.  Thanks for taking me/us along!  John rafted the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon twice - and reveled in every moment of it.  Not my cup of tea, although I cheered him on. 

Chattanooga has set an all-time record for days over 90 degrees this summer - over 100 days and today will be another one.  And we're just under a rain deficit of 14".  We are supposed to be having temps in the 80s in the upcoming week, and maybe a few showers.

I hope your teams won yesterday (mine did) and will again today.  Happy Sunday, Buddies! 

Good grief, Mary!  TWICE!  I would not be hardy enough for ONE trip down that river, let alone two!
Did he tell you how amazingly great the food was, and describe it in detail?  That they are not allowed to contaminate the river, so they have to doggie bag all the excrement and keep it in the storage raft until they get back to base?  Food out of that storage, bags of poo in?  His brother and sisters were not shy about asking how all of that was accomplished.  The storage raft and the adventurers all stank pretty highly by the end of the 2 weeks!  This was the sort of stuff we roared with laughter over.  Well, okay;  it was a LOT cleaner than most of what television offers these days!

My stomach settled enough for going out last evening. We ate at an Ohio chain because of their turkey dinner promotion. Wonderful eating. Afterward we went to our friends' place for cards and desert. A fun time was had by all. This is the couple we visit in Canada at their cabin. With all the improvements they have made it is a house.   

Ginny...sounds like a good time!

Ray, too, has rafted white water on both the Colorado and Arkansas Rivers in Colorado.  Like Mary and MaryPage, NOT for me.  I guess it's a "man thing."

Very muggy here...and sure looks like more rain. We did walk this morning, and now I'm watching the Packers football game.

Ray went over to St. Mary's Fall Festival and got us two BBQ beef dinners for lunch.  Easy Peasy.

A friend and I signed up to take a rafting trip down the Colorado River. Back in the 70s.  I watched the video of it and then I decided. Not for Me..  I have a great fear of water. (Was in a drowning accident at about 11 years old) my father then made sure I didn't go swimming or anything.(Wrong thing to do). So I never became a swimmer and I still can't swim. Was always a fuss between my mum and dad as she was a Champion swimmer from being young. 

We are having heavy rains and the wind or lightening split one of my big old mulberry tree by my car port..thank goodness didn't hit house o vehicle...now to find some one to cut it and move it for me.. Candy

John was a white-water kayaker for many years - until his shoulders gave out in his late 50s.  Then he took up rowing.  So he always loved the outdoors and being in/on/near the water. 

Oh, dear, Candy - so sorry about your tree.  It's like losing an old friend - to say nothing of the expense and hassle of removal.  Glad it didn't hit your house.

Good Afternoon, Buddies.  I went to SS and church this morning.  Only 3 of us in Sunday School (including the teacher).  Most people went to another class which is an ongoing study of the Old Testament--probably year long.  Then I walked over to church.  Our only male pastor, Nick, gave the sermon today and it was a good one about helping others, especially those in need.  And not overly long, either!  The choirs' special music was lovely and I enjoyed the hymns we in the congregation joined in on.  Then it was across the driveway to Burger King with the rest of our BK bunch--today all women, although sometimes we have a married couple or two who join us.

I've been reading this morning's paper which I didn't finish this morning.  I don't think I'm going to take a nap as it's almost 3:00 and that's my usual wake up time.  I've taken the newspapers, plastic bottles, and cardboard down to the curb.  After I eat my supper later, I'll take my last bag of kitchen trash out to the large trash bin and wheel it down the driveway.

Mary, I knew about John's love of rowing, but this is news about his kayaking!  Tim and Kris have kayaks and usually spend Sunday afternoons kayaking in the Chattahoochee River north of Columbus with friends.  They have on occasion borrowed Bob's canoe, but prefer their kayaks.  I think they took them to the beach last week where they were camping, too.

Oh, Darlene, I am so sorry about your mulberry tree.  I'm sure you enjoyed its shade.  You are fortunate it didn't hit your home or your vehicles. 

Jeanne, my younger sisters didn't learn to swim or like the water in any way when Daddy tried to teach us.  One of my greatest pleasures has always been swimming.  I only swam a few times  last summer at Tim and Kris's pool as well as their annual pool party and none at all this summer due to my fall.  I've missed it.

Hurray for Ray and the trip to get 2 BBQ dinners, Jane.  Not cooking on Sunday sounds like a real treat.  I'm going to have more of Tim's soup I found in the freezer yesterday.

GinnyAnn, your evening out with your friends last night sounds like fun.  I'm glad you felt well enough to go out with them and able to play cards afterward.

MaryPage, it sounds like Rob's trip down the Colorado River was a big hit with his siblings and a great time to razz him about the details!  Your two cake luncheon sounds like lots of fun and yummy, too.  I know you must enjoy having them together on special occasions.

I hope you're all having a pleasant day.  I'm going to check out football games and maybe movies for viewing the rest of the afternoon.
Sue

I just lost my post.

I see I wasn't "here" yesterday. I canned 4 more pits of Apple Butter yesterday and today I made3 an Apple Crumble to have for dessert this evening.I still have probably 20 lbs of Apples so Applesauce is next and pie filling for the freezer. I have a free week so I can possible get the Apples taken care of.

I went to a Garage sale yesterday,. things were only for a donation and at 3pm everything was free, I bought a Santa that moves before 3, after 3 I picked up 11 prs of pierced earrings, two small glasses, and a nice White blouse.

I love everything to do with the water, and Bob & I went white water (not real bad white water) rafting in Canada, but it was only for a few hours one afternoon.  I could not possibly do TWO WEEKS of it!  Rob's group slept in tents on sandbars along the river.  And really, they had no baths or showers.  In answer to our questions, Rob said yeah, sure they could have stripped off most of their clothing (they did have some females along) and "showered" in the various waterfalls, but the water was 50°.  I require my creature comforts, and have never been an outdoor camper type.  Give me my hotel room, at the very least, at the end of the day, with good mattress and a fully up to date and modern bathroom facility every single night.  I also love kayaking, and used to do that almost every weekend, except in winter, for about ten years.  Nothing high adventure, I went exploring in a very serene river.

Aw MaryPage...I loved loved camping and fishing..slept in a tent  many times in back of a truck..then to a pop up camper then to a 5th wheel camper...of course this was long ago when my hubby was here....always liked cooking on a campfire...catch the fish and cook and eat...precious memories. candy

Sue: Congrats to the Auburn Tigers for humbling(sp) again
this year the LSU tigers.  I know Miles will probably be on the HOT SEAT  again. The Wisconsin team already did that
On second thought----is Auburn the Auburn TIGERS of what? 
JOY

What a storm just came through. Didn't think it was even suppose to rain.
Got lots of big trees around me to the North.  Mine at the South have lost most of the limbs that were beginning to die.  But now as there  is a empty house to the north of me on every storm limbs are coming of the trees in that yard.  Another today is sitting on the roof of that house.  I am going to check with the owner and see if they are liable for the dent that is in my Porch Roof.  The limb from their tree caused it.  All the trees need a good trimming as a lot of the limbs are dead.
This area was Forest and they are getting really old.

Jeanne, sorry about your storm and tree damage, too.

MaryPage -I'm with you about camping.  I always said my idea of "roughing it" was when the motel didn't have an indoor pool.  8^)  When we finally decided to "camp", we bought a travel trailer.  I said I wanted it big enough that I had  chair to sit in to read in the evenings.  And that's what we took to drive the Alaska highway.  But I really prefer a nice hotel room. 

Ginny Ann, glad you had a good night out with your friends.

Sue, it sounds like you're slowly getting back to your normal.  Keep up the good work.

Marilyn, your apples wound up being a lot of work, but I know you'll enjoy everything over the winter.

Jane: When I hear the word "flood", I am on the alert as to where it is, due to our present status.  I see that Iowa
is due some flooding.  I pray that it is NOT as bad as ours.
However you "never know" how bad it is going to be, BELIEVE me.  Be prepared, Be prepared.  Leave nothing to chance!
Joy

c

Hi Gals, I didn't get around to posting yesterday either.  I did go to SS & church, did 2 loads of laundry, got some leftover loin pork roast out of the freezer for dinner. Made a big acorn squash to go with it.  Also got 2 cards written.  I find that I have to do that when my tremor is reasonably under control or else I can't do it.

We rafted down a river in Wyoming, but it was pretty tame. I had no desire to do anlything more dangerous. JOhn always wanted to do the Grand Canyon raft trip, but somehow it never happened. I'm pretty much with Mary Z & Mary P, I prefer hotels to campgrounds. I've never kayaked altho a lot of people around me kayak down the Catawba river near us. If I ever got in a kayak, it would take a crane to get me out!   

Marilyn, you're a cooking demon!  Hope you get them all cooked up this week. I don't envy you all the cooking, but do envy your store of goodies for the winter.

MP, your birthday luncheon and slide show sounds hilarious.  Would loved to have seen it.

Jeanne, sorry about the tree on your porch roof.  Not right that the neighbors are letting everything go.

Darlene, I'm sorry you lost a tree but glad it didn't damage anything.  Maybe you can get someone to saw it up for firewood & haul it away.

Jane, I saw Cedar Rapids floods in the news.  Hope your floods don't impact you.

Sue, I'm glad you're able to get to SS & church & BK every Sunday. I'm sure that gives you more a feeling of normalcy.  I'm glad your team won. Unfortunately, the Panthers got whopped by the Vikings.  Two losses after last season's no loss season.  Sad.  I really think all the unrest and racial upset in Charlotte probably impacted their focus.  People were protesting outside the stadium all day.  I'm just relieved that there hasn't been any more violence since Wed. night. It has been a bad week for Charlotte.

We're supposed to get some rain tonight. I sure hope it happens.

Ginny, glad you had a nice time out with friends and are feeling better.

Mary, it sounds like you had a quiet Sunday.  I'm not much of a swimmer.  I did learn to swim and enjoyed pool play and swimming in my teens, but I never liked deep water much. Neither of my parents could swim, so I was 11 or 12 when I finally convinced them to join the swim club where all my friends went.  By that time, I was somewhat afraid of the water and although I learned to swim, I was no fish.  My kids all swim very well.  I made sure of that.

Our Computer Club is having Best Buy to our lodge to show all their electronics. I think I will go over and see if I can get a new color printer for a good price.  Mine is pretty much toast.

Have a good day.  Sharon

Joy and Sharon....we're dry and fine.  Cedar Rapids is bracing again...they got hit hard in 2008.  They've evacuated areas, and have all sorts of sand bags and big dirt/sand barriers in place for tomorrow and Wed. when it's supposed to hit CR.

I've been having a slug today.  We had rain earlier and it is still a grey day. Think I must be having a Fibro day

Jeanne Lee there are many deer around our area. In fact, one neighborhood wants sharp shooters to cull the them.

Ginny, they have to do that in many areas because they overpopulate the area and don't have enough food and get sickly. Also they become a real hazard on the roads looking for forage. We could hardly keep our landscaping in HH because they were so prolific. They finally had to cull them there. It's sad, but it's not healthy for them to over populate.

Sorry you're having a fibro day. I hurt so much everyday, I can hardly tell when it is a flare.  I just started Cymbalta. Are you taking anything for yours?  HOpe it subsides.  Sharon

Speaking of deer, funny thing happened here this summer.  We have a herd of about 8 to 10 deer living in the forest primeval right behind this building.  During the summer, sometime in August I think it was, those half blind creatures ate all of the flowers and a good half of the greenery in one of the two (2) stone containers of geraniums that flank our front entrance downstairs.  I mention their bad eyesight, because that is the only possible explanation for the fact that the OTHER container was not touched!  Not TOUCHED!
So I groaned and complained and felt a little anxiety, as I am prone to do.  And the weeks have gone by.  Chip & I just returned from the pharmacy, where he took me to pick up a couple of prescriptions, and coming back in I stopped and remarked on the stone urn the deer had decimated:  it is FULL of glowing blooms!  Much more so than the other, untouched,  pot, which only has 3 blooms and lots of greenery.
So I'm wondering if it would not be a Good Thing to prune ALL geraniums after say, 8 weeks?

Got my tree taken care of and hauled away....will miss the shade...Marlyin you are busy with all those apples...it's cooler here should drop to 60 tonite....ready for cooler weather. Haven't seen Diane post in awhile".hope everything is ok there..I already know who I'm voting for...but may watch some of the debate tonight anyway...Hi to all looking in...Candy

Hello everyone, I have a loaf of bread in theb oven and this afternoon I will be going to the hospice Class today the discussion is on communication.

I've already taken Freckles for one walk and will do anther is just a few m ore minutes before I go off to the chiropracter for a tune up.

I also need to remember to get permission to take Freckles to next week's class as I am to be at the library with Freckles immediately after class. the only thing is there is a woman in our class that is afraid of dogs.

Good Afternoon, Buddies.  My every other week cleaning ladies were here this morning, so I had to get up early, shower/shampoo, and dress for Bridge at my once monthly game at Azalea Place (it's under new management, so I think it has a new name, but we'll all probably call it Azalea place for a long time!}  I had so-so cards and didn't play them very well, so no prize money today.

I've just put up my card tables (Tim got them out on Monday, but not the chairs, so I had to get them out of the utility room, 2 at a time).  I'll put the cards, tallies, etc. out before I go to bed.  I need to make some tea for cold drinks and have a few cokes, also.  Almost everyone drinks at least one cup of coffee.  I have chips/dip and crackers and cheese--maybe some strawberries. 

On Thursday morning, Tim will pick me up for an appointment with my new local GP.  We'll have questions about how long I need to be on Zarelto.  BTW, I was sorry to see that Arnold Palmer who was in his mid 80s died yesterday or the day before.  He was also using Zarelto.  He and several other well known athletes--one whose name I forget was fairly young.

On Friday, Tim will take me to Montgomery to see my oncologist.  He wants me to switch to someone up here, but I don't want to do that.  I'll talk it over with the onc and perhaps see if I can get my mammos up here.  I don't want to do that either, but it would mean only once a year trip to Montgomery.  The Cancer Clinic in Montgomery is much larger and has all the bells and whistles--and I don't think that is the case up here.

It's time for the evening news, so I'm off to watch it.  Have a nice evening, Buddies.
Sue

P.S. Jane, I hope you aren't in the flood path.  I have the news on and they are showing the flood walls around C.R.