Good morning every one, warmer this AM 38°. My son will be picking me up about 10 to take me shopping. Need new shoes and only one shoe s tore where I can find narrow ones. He gets his shoes there too, triple E. It has been raining but is supposed to stop before then.

AMY  heard yesterday that the witch is taking one tenant to court to evict her. She is the one who was served an eviction notice more than a year ago about an hour after she came home after 3 weeks in the hospital.

BUBBLE  thanks for the link, all wonderful, especially your frogs.

JANE  just heard on TV about snow here Saturday, too. Sorry the trip to Texas was not one you could go on.

LARRY  like you I feel like we know each other better here in the SS than our families know us. Glad you enjoyed the Bob Perks. I think I have more of his writings. I do know he no longer has his site, could no longer afford to keep it going. I copied your poem, those were fun days. Thanks for sharing with us.

CAROL  I remember my Dad telling my Mom there was a hungry man sitting in the yard and she would fix a plate of food and put it on the back stairs for him.

JANE  like you I was about 5 when I first saw my Mom fixing a meal like that. I was  7 when we moved and never saw anything like that again.

SANDY  I read an article a few days ago about human waste was better fertilizer for gardens than cow manure.

AMY  love your PHD. If that was all it took we could all hang up our diplomas. There are always some of that projects half done.

JANE  hope the groomer going to the homes works great.

Guess I better get into the shower and start getting ready for my son. I am quite slow with every thing I do.

 The blessing of thorns
Author unknown

Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole her ease.

During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose annual holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come.

What's worse, Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. "She has no idea what I'm feeling," thought Sandra with a shudder.

"Thanksgiving? Thankful for what?" she wondered aloud. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child?

"Good afternoon, can I help you?" The shop clerk's approach startled her.

"I...I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra, "for Thanksgiving?"

"Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the Thanksgiving Special?" asked the shop clerk. "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued. "Are you looking for something that conveys gratitude this Thanksgiving?

"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. " Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the shop clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you."

Then the door's small bell rang, and the shop clerk said, "Hi Barbara...let me get your order." She politely excused herself and walked toward a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses.

Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped...there were no flowers.

"Want this in a box?" asked the clerk.

Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers!?! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed.

"Yes, please." Barbara replied with an appreciative smile.

"You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again," she said as she gently tapped her chest.

"Uh," stammered Sandra, "that lady just left with, uh... she just left with no flowers!"

"Right...I cut off the flowers. That's the Special... I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet.

"Oh, come on, you can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that?" exclaimed Sandra.

"Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling very much like you feel today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she was facing major surgery."

"That same year I had lost my husband, "continued the clerk," and for the first time in my life, I had to spend the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel.

"So what did you do?" asked Sandra. "I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for good things in life and never thought to ask Him why those good things happened to me, but when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask! It took time for me to learn that dark times are important. I always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life, but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."

Sandra sucked in her breath as she thought about the very thing her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God."

Just then someone else walked in the shop.

"Hey, Phil!" shouted the clerk to the balding, rotund man.

"My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving arrangement... twelve thorny, long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator.

"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind me asking why she wants something that looks like that?

"No...I'm glad you asked," Phil replied. "Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we slogged through problem after problem. He rescued our marriage. Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she learned from "thorny" times, and that was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks to Him for what that problem taught us."

As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!"

"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life." Sandra said to the clerk. "It's all too... fresh."

"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns."

Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on resentment. "I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.

"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute."

"Thank you. What do I owe you?" asked Sandra.

"Nothing." said the clerk. "Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you'd like to read it first."

It read: "Dear God, I have never thanked you for my thorns. I have thanked you a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to you along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of your rainbow look much more brilliant."

G'Morning all, Bright sunny day and the temp has shot up from zero to 7-9 C !,  we even have a few 'Daff's' in bloom in our garden and i'm told there are plenty of 'Snowdrops, in bloom out in the country side !, when you see those in bloom and you know spring is on its way !, with this bright sunny day ahead i have decided to go for one of my 'Armchair Walks' !, if you would like to walk with me your most welcome to join in !, try  Googling > Walking with the taxi driver and just click on 'WALKS', perhaps we can stop for a drink and a Natter ?, lol, hope to meet you there,  Some nice walks in the 'thumbs' on  the right hand side of the home page too.  Cheerio.  Roley ..  aka Peter.

  Hi Everyone.  It looks like we will have a nice day as it is to get up to around 75 degrees this afternoon.  I have a fairly busy morning planned if my energy will hold out.  I plan on going to coffee this morning after picking up my friend at the assisted living home.  On the way there I will make a quick stop at the Credit Union to make a deposit that couldn't be made online.  I will then drop my friend off at coffee and head up to our Church, which is just up the street, to leave a check for a spot in the Columbarium for Pat and I as well as a plaque to honor Stacey.  I will then go back down for coffee and finally take my friend home and come home myself.  I have decided trying to go back downtown to the Wisdom group is just pushing it too much as still haven't regained much of my strength.  We had a nice chicken dinner from Wifesaver's last night and finally started on that ice cream cake.  We hadn't set it out when we started eating and my poor son had a terrible time getting it cut as it was frozen solid.  We left it out while we had dessert and he was able to cut up the rest of it while it was softer so it will be easy to deal with as we finish it up.  About half of it is left and we will have to eat it (tough job but somebody has to do it).  That was the last time our granddaughters friend will be with us as she returns to her home in Kentucky on Sunday.  She has been here a month and has been a big help to our granddaughter after her knee surgery.  I think she will be back as apparently liked it here in South Carolina.  She lives in Kentucky.

June, interesting story about your unusual landlady.  Her family must have had a big job to clean out her house when she was gone.  I  liked the Valentine Card that featured the grey haired Granny kicking up her heels the best of those Bubbles shared with us yesterday.  I hope you were able to sleep all night last night and feel a little more spry today.

Carol, I have made a note to share your "artistry in progress" and Amy's PHD descriptions of the sewing area with Pat.  She will get a kick out of both of them.  I don't think I will tell her I had made a comment about her room being messy.  To my knowledge we never had any hobo's stop by the farm or be in the little town near by although that could have happened before my time as there was a railroad depot  there when I was a child. 

Sandy, I never heard of an outhouse being on a second floor of a barn before although that would make a lot of sense in Maine.  Ours was out away from the house and I can remember some really cold and some really hot days making trips to it.  Neither was pleasant but that was the way it had always been. 

Jane, I hope having the dog groomer come to your home works well.  It should certainly be less upsetting for the dogs and you will still be around them rather than leaving them. 

Amy, I see it is still cold up your way.  We have some drive thru car washes around here but none that are full service and the inside of our car also needs to be cleaned out and that is really something that neither Pat nor I am up to doing.  We did have a couple full-service ones where we moved from.

Gloria, I hope your shopping experience this morning is a pleasant one that doesn't wear you out completely.  I really like the new piece you shared this morning and am coping it to put in my devotional folder to use with my Sunday School class when I next do a devotional.   

Roley, spring can't be too far away if the daffodils are starting to bloom.  I saw our first tree in bloom in the area a couple of days ago.  We are having some very nice days now.  Hope you enjoyed your "armchair walk".

Gloria, that is perfect for this day.  Sleepless night of worrying about whether the eye doctor will be able to fit glasses right this time.  Not a big problem but for sure limits what we can do.  My mother used to always remind me when problems kind of pile up that... "Honey, with roses we get thorns"......  I needed to be reminded of that.... but I can appreciate the thorns with the flowers still on!   

Janie, good luck with the grooming..... does she clean up her mess?  That's the biggest part.  Our German Shepherd didn't mind a bath but winters it was cold out for her & me.  We'd have a pan of warm water to soap her up & then the hose to rinse off... shake good & back inside on an old quilt to dry off.  She knew we were probably going someplace if she got a bath... & smart enough to know if she saw a suitcase & didn't get a bath that meant she would be dropped off at the kennel.  By the time I got everything put away & quit washed & dried, the day was gone.  Good luck with your day.

Larry, that really was the way it was..... how most of us started out & was good for us, right?  Hope you are feeling better today.

Peter, one thing I remember of living in England was everyone bought bouquets of the "Daff's" to sit on the table in spring.  Your season is a little ahead of us, here in the Midwest US.  Thanks for the cheery memory.

Amy, I failed to get my car washed again yesterday so must do today.  I can't get in & out without getting my slacks & coat dirty. My favorite car wash has closed (do it yourself kind).... I used to always wash my vehicles all the time & chamois them off but been lazy this winter.  The car wash I use has softer water plus the final "wax" spray & I love doing it.  Not so fond of washing in the driveway, have to rush to dry off so it doesn't have hard water spots on windows & paint.  Today it supposed to be MID 70s... may break a record for Feb.15 in KS. 

I've been sitting here over an hour, reading & writing & watching the news.  Terrible shooting in FL.... too bad, the killer has had a rough life & nobody seemed to realize how bad he needed help before this happened.  My sympathy goes to all... including the shooter, to hate himself & his life so much he would end like this.

Good to see you feeling better this morning, Larry.... your day sounds busy to me.  I would offer to help eat that ice cream cake... but guess you don't want any helpers.  My favorite dessert, for sure.

also we have got soft in our old age and sears and wards stopped handing out big catalogs. you could read and wish while weighting on the paper work.
Have a good day.

Lloyd

Out houses in the North East...

Actually the room that was the "out house"
was between the house and the barn.. 

From the front of the house it was located on the
first floor...   

Then to get to the area that needed cleaning,
one would go "out behind the house and barn" and down
the hill a bit  so that people could get to
the under part of the "out house/outhouse/barn"  and clean it
out.   
How often it got cleaned out depended
on the people that lived there...  My Grand
Mother would clean it out very very often.   
That was her.       

Life back in the old days was so very,  very
different then  life today. 

Their times doesn't make much sense
to us and "our times"  would not have
made much sense to them ....   

As it turns out,  it is all in what you get
used to and what you are comfortable with. 

Things are moving so fast right now that
I spend most of my time  playing "catch up"..
And if I can't "catch up" then I settle
for what I can do,  and make the best
of that.

Have a good day,  everyone!
Sandy

Amy, thank you for asking about my "kids". I appreciate it.I was up early, so went directly to the computer. Both Gary and Dori  and Grand daughter told me they were at home, they were fine and I was content. They got in at 11 p.m. last night. Nothing else, so I am giving them the morning to pick up their dog, contact anyone else that cares…which are many, then I will nail them down to what, where, why, and when.

Gloria, you really do have narrow feet. I think Triple E is the narrowest they come, right ? We always went barefoot in the summer months so the ball of my foot is wide, and yet my heel is very narrow. Hard to get a proper fit.

Peter, I just got back from an indoors walk. Where I live, on the third floor of a large building we have long hallways with large windows at the very end of the hall. So when the weather is inclement I take my hall way hikes. meeting neighbors and chatting along the way, other wise we have large garden strolls and several large patios with chairs or swinging benches…lots of flowers and big pine trees.

Larry, to the best of my knowledge my former landlady had no family, but lots of property so the city or county or whoever made a grand profit on that property. The huge old house had three fireplaces. Two huge ones at either end of the living room and a small one in one of the bedrooms. Our kids loved living there.

I have stayed at home for two days now……not sick….just tired. All my vitals..B.P.. Temp, heart are perfect….just a real tiredness that requires a lot of lay-downs. I am really very, very fortunate. I think I will heat up a chicken pie for supper. They are small, but tasty, and can be cooked in the microwave.

Now I am off to write a letter to Gary and Dori and find out why their trip home from the islands took way past the regular time. ta-ta. June

June, I hear the concern in your words..... at "our age" we've come to appreciate our kids checking up and in.... and worry when they don't let us know why.  I'm with you one this one!  They really don't understand how important they are in our lives right now.  Hugs to you tonight & I'll bet they will show up with lots of hugs & kisses and maybe even a souvenir, I'm eager to hear about their trip as well. 

All of my kids have been to Hawaii, not me..... I always wanted to mosey around Alaska, no place special, just roll along in an RV & stop to enjoy the scenery.  You know, over in the Missouri discussion when we were Senior Net, we had some gals with fantastic imaginations & skills to create the visual of trips & bus rides all over.  We would plan a menu, the voyage to pick up everyone & was great fun.

I finally got my little car washed in the driveway, and took a chamois to every inch & she looks like new.  Can't believe she is going to be 5 years old in Sept.  I remember when you talked about washing your car, how many years since you gave up driving?  You are an inspiration & I can only hope to hold up as well as you.  Sweet dreams, June, and God Bless.  Been trying to remember the saying you posted back in Bis' Nest... I can't find it in any of my notes.  "..... leave your worries with God, he'll be up all night anyway?"

I always thought that when the "outhouses" got full they just moved the building & covered the pit with dirt.  I really hated them because I was sure a spider was lurking & going to bite me.  Took a lot more courage for me to visit the outhouse than to jump from the hay stack or loft.  My grandmother had a "designer" model, a 2 hole-er that the inside wood seat was sanded as smooth as the best of furniture.  They built the house from walnut & oak from the farm she inherited from her own grandfather, the builder became well known in that part of the country.  Dad & his brothers were old enough to help (teens) so he remembered every detail.  There was a long hall with a small room at the end where they had a bath tub and the large "wardrobe" that held a wash basin, Grandma's hair pins in a "tire" ashtray...  I asked for that and the binoculars that sat on the window sill at the bottom of the steps that Grandma would use to see who was coming down the hill.  The house and whole town is on the National Historic Register, outhouse & all.  A full bath was added by the next owners after Grandma died.  Her husband, my grandfather, wasn't a builder or farmer, he was a telegrapher for the railroad, on the school board and played cornet in the town band.  He died the week of my 2nd birthday, he was 65 but had not filed for his pension so his wife never got a penny of the railroad retirement he was due.  All I ever heard about him was he was a "dandy", fancy dresser & in my opinion, like to run things. The irony was when he died (about 30 years before Grandma) she only inherited a child's portion of the house that her inheritance paid for.  Because her brother in law was the probate judge at that time, nobody else knew she didn't own the house, not until SHE died.  Got to wonder if those old Missouri laws have changed. 

Shut up, Shirley....

I'll be wishing you all good night. I'll be off to Dreamland in a bit. Tomorrow is a work day. Sleep peacefully my friends.

Let's start a new Soda Shoppe  HERE