Good morning, Joan and all the other morning people.

It is another cloudy day with some wind.  Not as bad as it has been.  Haven't heard the full weather report yet today.

Joan, I will pass on the hash, but will enjoy the poached eggs.  Haven't had them for a while.,  Along with some fruit and my coffee.

Don't want to keep harping on a certain conversation, but  I have gone back several days and I cannot find anyplace where ANYBODY said anything nasty about anybody.   Time to let it all get put aside,. 

This is a great group of friends and like Gloria mentioned before,  this group really helps to make my day a lot more pleasant. Something to look forward every day. I might not make comments every day, but I do read all the messages and enjoy everyone's stories about their lives and their daily activities.  Without my computer,  I am a lost soul. LOL   (However, when I am without it, it does give me an excuse to do some other things that I usually let go)

Larry, I only watched a little bit of the Polar Plunge this morning, as I got up a little late.  However, it is  only a small group of participants who do the 24 hour plunge.  Mostly local TV reporters and some local celebrities from some of the sponsors for the plunge.
They started at 10 a.m. Friday morning and went in once an hour for the next 24 hours. That was over at 10 a.m. this morning. I didn't hear the totals so far, but they get a great response.  One of the announcers that used to do the plunge has been retired for a couple years, but he always comes back to be the announcer every year now. He is in his 70's and makes a big deal about how cold it can get, especially about 3 a.m.  It looks like they all have a lot of fun with it.  Our Md. State Police is a big sponsor and has great participations.  Lots of school groups get together for it, also. 

I  have made a list for my son for the grocery store.  Just don't feel up to going myself.  Not sure what I will get into today.  Saturdays and Sundays around here are very quiet and you hardly see anybody the whole week end.  I know I will be reading for a while.

I didn't sleep very well last night, so I am sure I will get a nap in sometime during the day. Seems like as soon as I start reading, I fall asleep.

Shirley and Jane, do hope that both of your back's are feeling better this morning.  A back ache is not fun.  Hurts to move in any direction.  And, I do hope that anybody else who isn't feeling all that great this morning, will have a more enjoyable afternoon. 

Have a good day.

Joy

Our weather is pretty much what Larry is having.  It got cold here last night but the sun today is bright, warm, and beautiful even though the temps are staying in the 40's.

Sorry to hear of your scary bout with the flu, Shirley.  I hope very, very much that you are feeling better with no more fainting.  Lots of flu around here, too, and it seems to be a more severe kind this year.

When I was a kid in high school one of the common sayings was "Oh, my aching back!" whenever we were exasperated with something/someone.  Back then it was just an expression but now if I, or any of us, say it we really mean it!  I hope that all of the aching backs are so much better today.

Gloria, ticks!  Ugh!  I really hate those things.  Over the years I've found a couple on me after I was doing yard work/gardening and it really gave me the willies.

Breakfast is long past and it is almost time for lunch.  I get slower and slower every day.  <sigh>

Gloria--I'll try and send you some sunshine.  Yes--if you order a Spanish omelet in a restaurant, it's made with salsa.  My cable provider recently changed ownership, and we seem to get faster service.  I pray your upcoming shots help you even more.

Larry--Your temp is about like ours and tomorrow is supposed to be even colder.  Glad you had a good trip to Augusta yesterday.  Thank you for the links--both were enjoyable.

Joy--I can't imagine participating in the Polar Bear Plunge--I know it's for a worthy cause.

Phyllis--I've heard that this year the flu vaccine doesn't cover several of the more virulent kinds of flu.  I hate ticks, too.  Even though we gave our dogs medicine, I was always inspecting them to be sure there were no ticks.

GLORIA...
..you can convince others and you can convince yourself but you dont convince me, best leave it at that....wonder why you think the " inuendo " was meant for you...

ANGELFACE...
...regarding coffins I too am in agreement with you over not having money wasted over any expensive wooden coffin, there are so many alternatives now to choose from, which come under " green, or eco friendly, from cardboard to wicker " burials, cremations.." of which I plan on opting for....besides at the end of the day I am opting for cremation so why have money wasted when an expensive coffin just gets burned to ashes...Unlike years ago we have such a variety of choices today...All I request is my ashes are scattered near to birds and trees...I want to be as free as a bird...oh forgot to add, with my three babies ashes, Megan Petra and Benji, they come with me...

LARRY HANNA...
..thank you, I knew someone somewhere would appreciate my posting. re, MS...it was purely there for those who wished to read it, and if anybody wished to know which ones most effected me......otherwise it could be ignored and bypassed...
Oh Larry, I blinked and missed the juggler...

Good morning from yet another snowy, warmer Interior! I hope all who have been ill with colds and achy backs are feeling better today.

June, Farrah was found about twenty eight miles from here in the woods a mile or so outside of the city of North Pole. She had a chip that was traced to a family in Anchorage who had given her away several years ago and had no idea how she ended up four hundred miles north of Anchorage. They did not want her so she was given to Pet Pride's chapter here. Pet Pride is a national cat rescue organization.

Her chip said she was born on September 12th, 2012 and that she had been spayed. She was terrified of humans, defensive and attacking other animals and was shutting down. They called me because I have had other cats similar but not as damaged as Farrah was. The first two months were basically leaving her alone other than speaking in a pleasant calm voice and leaving her daily fresh food and water. She is fine now, happy and energetic. The vet and most feline literature will tell you that cats, evolution wise were domesticated thousands of years after dogs and are not a pack species as dogs are. They belong to the same type of group as horses and walrus with one dominant male and several females.

They build up an increase of what is termed, "Prey Instinct," inside the house as they are natural hunters like all of the cats, wild or domesticated. That frenzied dashing about, usually at night, is due to a chemical release of that built up instinct. Punishment will not stop it, only to make the cat neurotic or worse.

Regarding achy backs my arthritis tends to flair up worse when the air pressure fluctuates and I wonder if it may be aggravating other conditions some of you may have? And my go to cure for colds and flu, besides rest and staying home, is lots of hot tea with honey and lemon. And if you wish to indulge in a little tipple of vodka or rum in that tea, well whose to know and it will make you feel better!    And now I'm hanging up my shingle.

Regarding funerals, if someone wants a memorial service fine, but a funeral to me is excessive. I do know that my Dad's held at the Elks Club was well attended as was my Mom's at church, but that was because they were long term, involved community members.

Jackie, that sounds lovely, but many places in this country prohibit spreading someone's ashes in water or on lands without following several detailed restrictions. My daughter is in the sacristy of our church and I want to be where her ashes are and it is a practice that goes back for thousands of years.

Everyone stay happy, healthy and whole!

Ah Janie, I was quite remiss in not adding a knitting book or two as well as some magazines on home canning and preserving perhaps?

Amy, thank you.

Gloria, you're welcome.

Mary Ann

ANGELFACE...
..In UK we have specialised dedicated, usually woodland, " green " burial grounds, either for green coffins or ashes......

Patricia, I bet they don't can food in heaven.  I'm betting nothing spoils.  But I'm counting on having my eyesight perfect when I get there so....back to knitting.  I wonder if one can knit a cloud?

Vanilla-Jackie--My husband was cremated and is buried in a cemetery in New York State.  His and my granite headstones are in place.  When my time comes, I will be buried next to him and only the date of my death will have to be added to the headstone.

angelface--Interesting information about your Farrah and cats in general.

Hi Mary Ann.

Janie--I believe that everything will be perfect in heaven.

Jackie, I know we don't have those places here although they might in the States. Here there are some different types of cemeteries, and two are on the Historial Register and no longer accepting new burials.

One graveyard has several restrictions and to me is regimented and somber. Another one has a more loving atmosphere, and you can leave items on various graves. We have Columbariums at various graveyards, but only the two Catholic and Episcopal churches still have places in their sacistries for ashes.

Janie, I can picture you, sitting on a cloud, knitting away as the cloud behind gets wispier and smaller...

JOAN...
...like you, I believe the best is yet to come...I sure hope so....In fact I am counting on it...

Jackie, I, too believe "The Best is yet to come" mostly because He told us so. 

Good afternoon, on this cool, gloomy day again

Joy like you I come in and read, I enjoy reading about everyone's daily
lives

Gloria, I hope your son did not get bitten, but the tick was just crawling around.  I have had lick fever twice in the last few years.

Larry, I miss coming down to SC every year.

Patricia, Being I live in a mobile home I have a long hall for Taffy to run up and down in, which she does all the time. This week she keeps following me around and talking.  I have always said I think she has a lot of Siamese in her. We have had 3 Siamese cats.

I am back.  I meant to add, my neighbor just bought me two baked stuff squash, and a bowl of N.England clam chowder it hot, and so good. I really don't have to cook that much. They all are bring me food. I also made Veal Scaloppini  in the crock pot the other day. Now I think I am done

My daughter, Cathy picked me up to go to the Amish store.  Today was their 20% off day on all their everyday low prices.  Their prices are almost always less than half what you would pay anywhere else and then they have 2 days when the give an additional 20%.  I took my 2 ibuprophen and my $25.00 gift card and got myself some great buys.  Among other things I got 2 slices of of ham that will each be 2 meals for 29 cents each.  Potato chips for $1.20 for a large bag, a pound of ground turkey for 89cebts.  This was a sale NOT to miss.  I got 4 bags of organic dog treats for 35 cents each.  Even I can't believe the prices.

I have boneless pork chops cooking to go with my scalloped potatoes.  And the doggies are asking for their supper.  So I'll be back later. 

Gloria de., I wish I had a long hall for Farrah, I have a short one off the living room, probably five foot. There are three doors, the bathroom across from the bedroom and a small room with shelves at the end of the hallway. Farrah will run about and leap probably four foot in between runs from table to kitchen island to living room table by the window and back, so she is making lopsided figure eights! 

Your stuffed squash and N. England chowder sound wonderful to me. Is N. England the one with red rather than white? Last night I followed FlaJean's recipe for a type of soda bread and had that with a green salad and a portion of a pork roast.

Jane, we don't have Amish here that I'm aware of, just Mennonites farming in Big Delta and Delta Junction. But we do have quite a selection of Asian groceries and restaurants available.

A memory....  In northern New York State, there was only one clam chowder - New England style made with a milk/cream broth.  I had never heard of any other.  I married into a family in New Jersey and after I'd been there about a year a brother-in-law, for a special family occasion, volunteered to make his "famous" clam chowder.  My mouth was watering all the week before and members of the family raved about what was to come.  Imagine my shock when I discovered the pot contained what to me was only vegetable soup with clams.      It was good and tasty, but it sure wasn't what I considered clam chowder.   

Vanilla-Jackie--I do too.

Janie--HE did tell us so.

Linedancer--It's cool here, too.  What wonderful neighbors you have.  The food sounds delicious.

Janie--Wow--what wonderful buys you get at the Amish store.  Your supper sounds so good.

Angelface--We don't have any Amish stores around here either.

Jeanne Lee--I wouldn't consider what your BIL made clam chowder either.

We have an Amish community about 40-50 miles north of here.  It never occurred to me when I did my own shopping to drive up there to see if there was a store - I assume they do have a store.  I would not drive 15-20 miles south of here to do any shopping, so why would I drive 40-50 miles for groceries!  I have an idea there are ethnic groceries in the south end, but, as I wrote, I would not drive that distance to shop.  I have two supermarkets within two miles from here, but I have been considering trying those food deliveries that are advertised as I understand they have good food.

I don't have a long hallway for the cat, but he does race up and down the stairway to the lower level.  He also races in the short hallway I have that leads to my bedroom.  I can hear him coming whenever he does that, otherwise I don't know he's around until he jumps on my bed in the middle of the night.

Mary Ann

LARRY.....Enjoyed the videos you posted on #239.
This one was tagged onto the first one......

http://www.ba-bamail.com/video.aspx?emailid=8770

There is a larger, wider list for all breeds of dogs but this one is about working dogs and yes there is always that special one you have that is smarter than all the rest!  While the 10 breeds are consistently faster to learn (they can learn a new command in less than 5 seconds) and more obedient (they obey 95% of the time), Coren did mention a loophole. There are exceptions in every breed, he said, and a lot comes down to proper training.

01  Border collie
02  Poodle
03  German shepherd
04  Golden retriever
05  Doberman pinscher
06  Shetland sheepdog
07  Labrador retriever
08  Papillon
09  Rottweiler
10  Australian cattle dog

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/pets/news/a42574/smartest-dog-breeds/ 

MaryAnn, I wouldn't drive a significant distance to shop for food either.  The Amish Store is just in the next small town over from ours.  It's about a 10 minute drive for us but lately, I haven't had to drive it.  My daughter takes me. 

I think I need a cup of coffee and I'm going to go make some.  I know, I know, it keeps people awake but it doesn't seem to have that effect on me.  Back in college when everyone was drinking coffee to stay awake to study for tests, I could drink as much as I wanted and still fall asleep over the books.

Have a good evening Everyfriend!

Jane, I did the same thing last night, made a pot of coffee to have a cup before bed.  Calms me down & I sleep like a baby.... 

Back is still killing me & think it's from coughing.  Still just snacking of whatever sounds good, my DIL tried to send me home made chicken soup but nothing sounded good but Campbell's broth.  My kids have each called at least twice a day to see if they could do anything but just takes time to get through all the stages.  I didn't go to my neighbor's funeral today & will miss the RV show tomorrow.  Not up to the walking or the crowds, I know I am not contagious have not been this sick since the Asian flu of the '60s.

Been trying to keep up with everyone but no comments tonight.  Beware, everyone, this flu is not covered by the shot so keep your anti-bacteria wipes handy!  Hugs to all.... Shirley

Amy dear heart, you do have good, good neighbors, because you ARE one. I am so happy for you.

Hal, A beautiful way to start your day. !!!!

Gloria, my kids give me so much more than I felt I ever gave them, but they deny that. So I think we both must have done the right thing. In my experience Gloria, after all these years I have accepted the fact that the father my children had was not able to give more soft affection to them than he was able. Very sad situation, but again, i think they grew stronger because of it, so many times good comes from bad.

I was just thinking…when I was young I never heard of the word Cremation. Always funerals, even for the indigent. And yet I have learned that the Indians, or some tribes, placed their dead on a high platform and set the whole thing on fire. So cremation is not a "new" thing at all.

Joy, thank you for your good post, it is a pleasure to read your posts. Contrary to your night, I had a great sleep but after I was awake for about an hour, it all went down hill. Just had no energy at all, so spent most of the day in bed, reading and napping.

Phyllis, I have not seen a tick since moving to Ca. but we did have them in Mn. I wonder if climate has anything to do with their life-style.

Patricia, thank you so much for the history of Farrah. She has had quite a variety in her lifetime. It makes it more understandable why she hid under the bed when you first adopted her.Like she was seeking permanency.  You have a very kind heart and a whole bundle of understanding and patience with your feline friends.

Gloria de, I'm so happy that you have such great neighbors.They really do love you.

Janie, sounds like you had a beautiful day with the exception of the blasted back pain. I pray it leaves as suddenly as it appeared.

Jeanne Lee, to me Clam Chowder is only white and creamy, and I love it. Never had it till I came to Ca. Mn. did not have clams in my day.

Shirley,  you sound so much better than the last time you posted.  Guess I'll cancel my travel reservations. 
I had meant to mention straining the broth from Chicken noodle soup; that's what I want when I have the coughing/sore throat/etc. crud.   
Good idea not to get out to the funeral and especially not to the RV show.  You may not be contagious but your immune system may be more susceptible to any germs floating around in the crowd.

Several friends here have been dealing with similar ailments - and I'd also heard that the current flu shot doesn't help. Seems as if some alien strain always manages to sneak in around the meds in the shot for the current year.

I'd had to put the tax stuff away last week because the housecleaner was here.  Now it's out on the work table again but I managed to find enough sidetracks  this afternoon that I never did get around to doing anything with it. (Imagine that!  )

Have had my shower and am ready to watch the next episode of "Monarch of the Glen" on Netflix.  Hard to limit myself to one a night but I don't want to get in the habit of "binge watching".  I'm bad enough about reading "just one more chapter" of a book.

Sleep well, Everyfriend and have Pleasant Dreams.

Yep June, as a child I can remember the older folks talking about cremation and it was not approved of by most.  I had a talk with my pastor about the subject and he told me it was not spoken of in the bible, one way or the other.  He saw nothing wrong with it if that what someone preferred.

June it was a great way to start the day.  Great fellowship, great food and a good talk by one of the group. His testimony.
Oh I left one thing out, Jerry also fixed bacon and someone not only brought cinnamon rolls but also someone brought donuts.  I had neither, thank you very much.   

Shirley, soak yourself in some of that Epson Salts, it might help the old back and it cant hurt the cold.  I heard on the news tonight that the flu was picking up steam and they wanted everyone to be sure they had their shot, that it would cover the flu going round.  Then they added.......mumps are coming on strong.  And they were urging folks to get the shot for them.  Lord help us.

Nite, nite, God Bless and Sweet Dreams...

A new week for Soda Shoppe begins HERE.