For weeks a six-year old lad kept telling his first-grade teacher about the baby brother or sister that was expected at his house.

One day the mother allowed the boy to feel the movements of the unborn child. The six-year old was obviously impressed, but made no comment. Furthermore, he stopped telling his teacher about the impending event.

The teacher finally sat the boy on her lap and said, "Tommy, whatever has become of that baby brother or sister you were expecting at home?"

Tommy burst into tears and confessed, "I think Mommy ate it!"

   

BEYOND THE CROSSROADS
Cliff Sterling  (from old SN)

When I look into the mirror,
I do wonder how it can be,
that an old man looks back at me.
Where on earth has this old man been
for all of those many lost years -
too few laughs and too many tears.

From manhood, up to the crossroads,
those prime-of-life youth years just flew;
those happy years were all too few.
From youth to old age was a blur.
Life's tribulations took their toll.
Now, I'm simply wrinkled and old.

As I look into the mirror,
far beyond the facial lines,
I seek most a heart that is kind;
one with consistent compassion;
a heart forever forgiving -
to share lessons with the living.

I assessed my very being,
far deep within my ageless soul.
Was I wiser as I grew old?
Was my spirit all it could be?
Were my pure thoughts too far away,
when I humbly knelt to pray?

The human jungle was my cross.
Unable to meet its demands,
I mustered courage - made my stands.
Winning battles, but loosing wars,
the struggles had a human price!
I was at my end more than twice.

Only after utter defeat
did life become pure and golden -
returning years that were stolen.
I was led to the right crossroad
and received my award at last.
My trials were in the distant past!

Retirement is traumatizing
to many I am well aware,
but I find a safe haven there.
My spirit and youth are renewed.
Oh glory be, oh glory be,
I found my niche, and I am free!

Beautiful graphics & text, Bubble, thank you!  I am up because cats were at my door and the pain in my knee won't let me sleep. Cats in & fed and delivered tuna to the one in the garage as well. Old Mama Callie prefers the peace & quiet of HER garage over outside or even in the house at night. She seems happy to be home but a little strange (compared with the last few years). My sister's cats were free to be in or out but they were not MY fav critters, so I didn't know about this attitude of independence.

Since FitBit won't tell me how much sleep I had, I think I will go have a hard boiled egg & piece of toast, cup of coffee & try for more zzzzzzzzs. The night before I had less than 3 hours sleep and no nap, so must do better or I might get out of the habit of going to bed! Thanks for the funnies & beautiful graphics. Being the last of the 5 kids, I didn't get any facts of life as a kid, I probably would have thought the same as the little boy. Shirley

Shirley...
...same here, before i was eleven ( my gran passed away when i was 11 ) when i asked her where do babies come from i was told by her " under a gooseberry bush " or they are delivered by the stork, so you can guess, i spent many a day looking up into the sky awaiting the flyover of a large white stork carrying a new-born baby in a sling...

Good morning everyone..

I am off to the city this morning for xray and ultra sound. Kyle is not the best on his feet now so will be staying home.  Never thought we would be taking turns with the rollator but so thankful to have it!!!
Jane, prayers being said for the new bundle of joy...

Bubble, thank you for the new start and love the Beyond Crossroads.

Shirley, cats have a mind of their own. Glad she is at home and you don't have to worry about her. Cats have staff, dogs have owners.

Phyllis, the soup was delicious and I have lots of leftovers

Better get a move on, don't care to drive in the dark but it is what it is.

Enjoy your day everyone and stay safe..

Good Morning Everyfriend!  I found it very interesting this morning that I can't go back to the last of yesterday's posts.  Every time I click on it, I'm brought directly to this forum.  This is the first time that ever happened to me. And I got an email telling me about this one!

BUBBLE, thank you so much for all the goodies and for keeping us going.  The man looking in the mirror reminds me of one time when I passed my mother's downstairs bathroom.  The door was open and she was just standing there looking into the mirror.  I asked her if everything was OK.  She said, "Yes but every time I look in this mirror there's this strange old lady looking back at me.  I wonder who she is?"  I know what she meant!  Where have the years gone?

Today is the start of the veggie soup and I have to be ready sometime early afternoon to pick up Cooper at the groomers.  Frankie's boyfriend is dropping him off and I'm doing the pickup.  I'm texting her later to get a time so I can arrange my doings to fit.

I slept in a bit this morning.  All that gardening yesterday made me tired last night and I slept deeply!  I guess I needed it!

Right now, we're waiting for the boinger and then breakfast, a walk and get the soup started.  Big day coming up!

I got up to temps about the same as yesterday morning...54º but the prediction is only for a high of 68 today.  Yesterday it got up to 80.  Not looking forward to the COLD days.  I know, some of you prefer the winter but I'm not in favor of coats and boots.  And I suppose I'll have to put away my sandals and start wearing sox again  RATS!

I think it must be almost time for the boinger so I'll wish you all a lovely day!  Make it your own in every way!  And don't forget to share it with your friends in the Soda Shoppe!  We miss you when we don't "see" you!

Good morning.  And it is a good one...outside the sun is shining and the temp. is in the low 60's.  Just my kind of weather,

I'm pleased that you liked the lentil soup, Amy.  It is one of my favorites.  I have some Bean Soup mix in the pantry and a ham bone in the freezer so I think I'll pull them out today and set them to cooking.  I know that David will like that.  He is so easy to cook for and I'm grateful for that.  Wish I could find my appetite again but I think it will probably come back now that the weather is cooling down.

Joy, my husband ate Saurbraten at a work friend's house one time and raved about it so I decided to try and make some.  I don't know why but even though he said it was OK apparently it wasn't as good so I never tried it again.   I needed you to teach me how to make it, I guess.

Happy Birthday to Nancy, Lloyd, even if I am a little bit late.

David will pick up groceries today so I think we will be able to eat for another few days.

Take care, All.

Jane, if you have a new surprise, I can't get back to what you said last night either! So if you don't mind, would you repeat yourself this time? We'll let you know if your repeat over & over... haha...

Good Morning Every Friend.... Got some work waiting so will check in later. Wishing all a beautiful day, cool or hot, I think we are at that in between stage & I'm lovin' it.

Happy October Oneth!

Furnace runs at night; need a/c during afternoon when sun comes directly in west windows.

Otherwise, "same old same old..." in my little part of the world.

Enjoy your day, Everyfriend.

Good morning everyone, just read yesterday's posts. I used to like game meat, a different taste but have not had any in years.  No German restaurants around anymore, used to be one and I loved the food there.

Dentist appointment went good, this new one who does the extrations was good. The only thing that hurt was the needle in the roof of my mouth. The whole left sure bled a lot  though. I got home just after noon, laid on the bed and woke at 5. Was back in bed at 9:30 and slept 12 hours. Don't think I ever slep t  that much in a little over 24  hours. I have been going to this dentist for about 15 years and this is the first time the place was so empty. The new dentist, her assistant and a girl in the office. So quiet in there.
Since I seldom get into a store and not since this virus mess started maybe that is why the office seemed so strange yesterday.

BUBBLE  thank you for the new October page and the graphics. Love Beyond the Crossing.

LLOYD  wish Nancy a bela ted happy Birthday for me.

Have a good day.

Good morning from the Interior where we're amid a Chinook wind, which brought temperatures in the sixties. The few leaves remaining on the trees have gone to russet.

When my daughter was young, I was determined to teach her the right way, and in ways, she would understand. As with most good ideas, things went south. Directly afterward, she repeated what I told her about what her friend David had and what she had. Then she turned to me and asked," So, what do you have, mommy?"

The following evening, I received a phone call from her kindergarten teacher. She commended me on teaching my daughter simply, and with appropriate words, my daughter could understand.

However, she had been fielding calls all afternoon and evening from outraged parents. Who hadn't planned on their children learning so much so soon. So, Marie and I sat down for another talk to explain that there were somethings better kept at home.

SHIRLEY, I said that there is a new little life coming into the world in OK.  It's my great grandson who I heard was to be on the day that you had the bad news of your brother.  He is in the process of being born right now.  I know he has some big shoes to fill but if I know Ali and Dan, he's going to be a good replacement!  Right now, I'm on pins and needles waiting for the final word.  I'll let everyone know when MICHAEL joins this world!

HE'S HERE!!! AND ALL'S WELL!

Thank you, Jane, and I do hope every now & then when you see Michael, whisper "Hi, Jay" in his ear and my brother will be listening. Since none of us ever visited Heaven and came back to tell, my Heaven is spilling over with love and my brother will have a special tie to Michael, maybe even like a Guardian Angel. Congratulation, I'm sure Michael has been welcomed to this world royally.

This has been a very special day.  First and foremost was the birth of GGSON, Michael in Oklahoma and the fact that all went well with the CSection and the baby is healthy and Allison is doing well.  I sent a picture to Bubble and asked her to post it so when the times jibe, I'm sure she will!

SHIRLEY, I'll be sure to whisper a "hello" to Jay when and if I get a chance to hold Michael and love him up!  I like the idea of his having his own personal guardian angel!  I like your interpretation of heaven.  It's pretty much like mine.  I expect my parents and grandparents and my sister and brother and cousins and all the friends I've lost to be there waiting to welcome us!

Second is a very large pot of vegetable soup, cooked and ready to be canned and waiting in the fridge for that to begin tomorrow.  The canner is ready;  the jars are ready; the soup is ready and hopefully the canning lady will be ready in the morning.

I have a long list of things that need to be done in the coming days and I just hope my energy holds up.  And part of that is based on the sleep that I must have.  So I'm off to the haystack to root out some zzzzzs.  I wish you all a peaceful nights sleep and a happy, healthy tomorrow.  And may God bless us, every one!

well I did not sleep well Last night, so got up came in here and reading. well I can if I haven't told you all before. I had a accident. the wend gusted and jerked me out of the road grader. I tried to hold on instead of jumping out, I could not hold on, and I hit my back on the rear tire of the grader, It crushed the cartilage out from between L4 and L5 in my lower Back. crawled in to hospital on hand and knees crying like a baby, but walked out ten days later. they stuck a Needell in and was putting die in to see where the enjoyer was. when it hit the aria where it was ruptured, it looked like you had threw a egg on a window glass splattered every where. I litterer died. when the got me back to life , one doctor was pushing on my chest, and a second was standing there holding the electric paddle's  they were shocking me with, and first words I heard was you are too young to go come on back with us. I did, but I never seen or heard any of things I have heard others say they experienced. I just came back to life, My lower back hurts all time, But I just grin and bare it.

Lloyd

Good morning everyone, I am up bu t not  at 'em. Not quite awake. Don' t ever remember sleeping like this before. Even when Yvette was here I almost fell asleep. I have a list of what I can eat so yesterday she went and got me some yogurt and made me some pudding, I do have some juice so had some thing  to drink besides water. Never had such a list before and never had so much bleeding after a tooth was extracted. Now I feel like a big baby for mentioning it. Think I was lucky to have all my top teeth at 89?

JANE  so happy Michael made it into the world and every thing is good, Hope the mom got some rest after. Hopefully you will take a  trip  to Oklahoma before he is a year old but looks like there will be very few planes flying soon.

LLOYD  no matter what you do with your machinery you seem to get hurt. Get rid of it so you cannot get hurt that bad anymore. We will scold you till you listen to us. Hope Nancy scolds you, too.

Have a good day ane be safe.

Good morning everyone,.

Rain again during the night..this will help the lakes, river ,ponds  and wells.

Today is getting some supplies at the lumber store then home to work about. Have some ironing to finish up....then maybe some sewing. Some where in the day should make bread maybe some raisin bread as we haven't had that for a while.

We named Jessie wrong , it should have been Miner or Digger so his excavations will have to be filled in today.


JANE, happy to read all went well with your bundle of joy making it into this world. Nothing like a new baby to make the heart smile. I know you will love him to pieces.

Gloria, not to worry, your at'em will catch up to you. Just take it easy till your mouth heals.

Lloyd, when young we do get into a lot of things that are hard on our body  and then we get older and we live all the aches and pains from it. Have you tried Shirley remedy of the Epsom Salts on your back?

Better get going or the day will be gone on me.

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

Good Morning Everyfriend!  I'm up and, yes, I'm attem.  Ready to start the canning.  I slept very well last night.  It wasn't straight through but I'm getting used to that now.  It's cold here this morning but not below 50 and only going up to the mid 60s today.  I think it's FALL!

I'm going to keep this one short because it's going to be a busy day.  I have the soup back on the stove to get hot for canning.  And the canner is ready to fill with jars.  As soon as the boinger goes, we have breakfast and a walk, the canning begins.

I hope you all have relief from your aches and pains and a better today than yesterday! Do whatever suits your fancy today but make it your own in every way!

Jane, I did not get any photo to post...

I'll try again!

Good First Friday HELLO in October to EVERYFRIEND 🍁🍂

Thank you, BUBBLE, for our nice new Soda Shoppe and the goodies you have shared with us. 

I have been absent for a couple of days due to having my life long friend visiting from Wyoming.  We pretty much covered all the problems in the world or at least gave it a good try while she was here😘.

I have already managed to loose my post so had to start over.  I get so upset with my self......

AMY, I thought about you going for your imaging test yesterday and hope you have or will have a answer soon as to what the problem may be.  Holding positive thought and saying prayers for you.

JANE, welcome to the world and to your loving family, Baby Michael🐥
So happy to read that mama and baby boy are doing just fine🥰🥰

PATRICIA, I do not think I have heard your late daughter's name before....Marie was my grandmothers name and she was everything to me.  I loved your cute story you shared about having the discussion of the birds and the bees story😘. Very cute. 

PHYLLIS, I like your thoughts of fixing a pot of beans....I have a ham bone in the freezer as well and beans ALWAYS sound good to me.  Thank you! 

The smoke from the wild fires is very bad here again today.  😩

I wish you all a good day.

Jenny

Good Afternoon,

Jenny, I'm right behind you.    

Janie,  Congratulations on the birth of great-grandson Michael.  I think flights are still coming and going from the east coast so "Come on out".

Patricia,  Miss Ellen's middle name is Marie.  I think that's after one of her Mother's favorite aunts.

Gloria,  so sorry you're having issues with the tooth extraction. I also have all my own teeth and sometimes wish braces would have been available when I was younger because the front ones are crowded and a bit crooked.  No one has ever suggested straightening them and neither have I. 

Miss Emily has "checked out of the clinic" and, after a friend's engagement party tomorrow night, will be heading home to stay - and to begin an internship with a local chiropractor for the rest of the trimester.
She'll have to go back for her final Board exam and - of course - for graduation on December 18th.
Very proud of this young lady.

Need to do a few Domestic Duties so I can enjoy patio time about 4:00 p.m.  I've discovered that's a good time to be out now that it's getting dark too early to sit out after dinner.

Hope Everyfriend is having an Enjoyable Day.

Jane, let me add my congratulations to you on the birth of little Michael.   I guess I missed where you mentioned they were in Oklahoma.  I think you have a grand daughter in Texas, also???  I hope you get to see him sometime when all this mess if over. Meanwhile I am sure you will be bombarded with pictures.

Amy, Hope you are feeling better and I am not sure when you were supposed to have your tests done.  Hope you will get some answers soon.

I have been busy doing laundry this afternoon.  It has been a while since I had done any.   I plan to note the date so I won't be waiting as long the next time.  I didn't meet up with anyone in the laundry room.  Had it all to myself.

It is sure a pretty evening out my window.  Almost looks just like a nice summer day.  But, I am afraid it is chilly.
Supposed to be a nice weekend.

Have a good evening.

Joy

Good afternoon from another cool but sunny autumn day, so unusual this year.

Jane, I want to add my congratulations to Michael. We have three Michaels presently on both sides of my family, and they are all three doctors.

Jenny and Callie, Marie as a second name for a second daughter has been a habit in our family for the past several generations on my maternal side. However, I haven't seen it for the past forty years so it may be lost. My maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Marie, my mother was Helen Marie and I also had Marie as a middle name.

When I had my daughter, I named her Marie Gabrielle because I've always loved older family names.

AMY No not yet , But I have a garden tub that Is jetted, and I use it quite often. it sure helps. Onley problem Is it takes a lot of water. good night and sweet dreams.

Lloyd

Thanks for all the good feelings for Michael and family.  I just tried sending another picture to Bubble to post for me.  We'll see just how dumb I am, now.

I forgot who it was who asked about my Texas family.  This granddaughter in OK grew up in Texas and she met and married a nice guy from Tulsa, OK.  They live in a (I think) suburb of Tulsa called Jenks.  My daughter and SIL who moved to Texas from PA when the kids were little, just retired and they followed their daughter to OK.  They live about 2 miles from Ali and family.  Nobody in Texas any more.  Their second daughter is back in Westchester, PA working on her Dr. of Psychology Degree.  She'll be there for however long that takes.

The veggie soup is all done!  I had three canners full and I have 7 beautiful quarts (four for the church soup sale and one for my next door neighbor who is so helpful with the weeds that grow up between our properties.  That leaves 2 for "whatever".  There are also 16 pints for "when the snow flies".  And I'm really getting low on jars!  There are none to be had around here and Amazon's are out of sight pricewise!

I'm going to use up the rest of my pint jars for cooked down juice from the tomatoes to use in recipes later on.  And the half pints will hole frankie's green tomato salsa. Then I'll be lucky if I have a half dozen in varying sizes left.

Patricia, I loved the use of Marie in your family, down through the genrations.  I'm another that likes to perpetuate the old family names.  My daughter Cathy is named "Catherine" after her Great Grandmother who was still living when she was born.  Cindy is Cynthia that my mother wanted to name me and my father changed her mind.  Her middle name is Louise after my mother's middle name.  And Christy is Christine Margaret.  The M is from my sister and a favorite aunt!  My son is Philip after his father and his father's grandfather, even over his father's objections and John after my father.

Now, I'm heading for the haystack because my eyes just want to plop shut.  And I'm going to encourage them to do just that.  I wish you all a peaceful nights sleep and a happy, healthy tomorrow.  And may God bless us, every one!

Good morning everyone, 54 now and I turned the heat on. We had showers yesterday, just enough to wet the walks and dried fast then a few more showers. Sun showed up at 4:30.

AMY  the rain we had yesterday didn't help anything fill up. I cannot remember the last time we had a drought here, must be at least 25  years ago.

Jane  the aches and pains are not bad on a dry sunny day but on a damp and rainy day it is horrible. My #1 son is named Michael, he is a good son husband, father and grandfather. My greatgransdon sure loves his "Popa"

CALLIE  the hole in my head feels OK this morning, might even make my oatmeal this morning. Need something solid instead of soft food. I have had so much yogurt and I really don't like yogurt of any kind.

PATRICIA  my daughter Regina is named for mo Mom and my MIL. Of course my Mom's name came first and Elizabeth was my MIL's name. My oldest brother named his first daughter Regina, too.

Have a good day and stay safe from the virus.