Molly, I know your hubby is safe ( thank the Lord ) but its just been on our morning tv that a passenger  plane ( EgyptAir flight MS804 ) has gone missing, disappeared from radar, from Paris to Cairo with around 60 passengers on board...at present with no explanation as to why....Sorry but the first person I thought of was you....re, your recent posting of " troubles out there. "

Good morning everyone. thanks June for the kind words of support.I was too restless interfering with Nancy getting a good nights rest,so i got up stopped by here on my way to the couch to finish up the night. have a great rest of the night.
C u all Later.

Lloyd

Good Thursday morning, Everyfriend.  There's elephant ears to accompany your coffee or tea. I wish everyone a good day!!





Terrible & Unusual First Sentences of a Novel

Each year the Bulwer-Lytton Prize contest is a like gift from bad writing heaven. Inspired by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton's famous "it was a dark and stormy night" opener, the contest asks writers to submit an opening sentence for the worst novel ever. Here are some great past submissions:

"As the sun dropped below the horizon, the safari guide confirmed the approaching cape buffaloes were herbivores, which calmed everyone in the group, except for Herb, of course." (Ron D. Smith)

"Betty had eyes that said come here, lips that said kiss me, arms and torso that said hold me all night long, but the rest of her body said, 'Fillet me, cover me in cornmeal, and fry me in peanut oil'; romance wasn't easy for a mermaid." (Jordan Kaderli)

"'Hmm...' thought Abigail as she gazed languidly from the veranda past the bright white patio to the cerulean sea beyond, where dolphins played and seagulls sang, where splashing surf sounded like the tintinnabulation of a thousand tiny bells, where great gray whales bellowed and the sunlight sparkled off the myriad of sequins on the flyfish's bow ties, 'time to get my meds checked.'" (Andrew Bowers)

"It was such a beautiful night; the bright moonlight illuminated the sky, the thick clouds floated leisurely by just above the silhouette of tall, majestic trees, and I was viewing it all from the front row seat of the bullet hole in my car trunk." (Tonya Lavel)

"The notion that they would no longer be a couple dashed Helen's hopes and scrambled her thoughts not unlike the time her sleeve caught the edge of the open egg carton and the contents hit the floor like fragile things hitting cold tiles, more pitiable because they were the expensive organic brown eggs from free-range chickens, and one of them clearly had double yolks entwined in one sac just the way Helen and Richard used to be." (Pamela Patchet)

"On their first date he'd asked how much she thought Edgar Allan Poe's toe nails would sell for on eBay, and on their second he paid for subway fair with nickels he fished out of a fountain, but he was otherwise charming and she thought that they could have a perfectly tolerable life together." (Jessica Sasishara)

"Corinne considered the colors (palest green, gray and lavender) and texture (downy as the finest velvet) and wondered, 'How long have these cold cuts been in my refrigerator?'" (Linda Boatright)

"When Mr Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday, his children packed his bags and drove him to Golden Pastures retirement complex just off Interstate 95." (Stephen Farnsworth)





A Fragile Victory
(By Steve Troxel)

Elijah was used to demonstrate God's power and call the people of Israel back to a life of worship. Elijah witnessed the miraculous and unequaled power of God as he prayed during his confrontation with the 450 prophets of Baal; "The fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, ... and also licked up the water in the trench" (1 Kings 18:38).

After this unquestioned answer to prayer, Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and prayed for rain - there had not been rain in the land for three years. Once again, Elijah witnessed the miraculous hand of God; "The sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose and a heavy rain came" (1 Kings 18:45). But within a few days of these great spiritual victories, Queen Jezebel vowed to have Elijah killed. As soon as Elijah heard of the Queen's threat, he became afraid and ran for his life into the desert.

1 Kings 19:4 "He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he said. 'Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.'"

Elijah was a man who spoke directly with God and clearly witnessed His awesome power; yet, he fell into great despair when faced with this new adversity. Elijah experienced a wonderful victory, but it was quickly shattered.

What caused Elijah to become so discouraged? Had he already forgotten God's power? Had a few victories caused him to take his eyes off God and begin to rely on his own strength? Or was he just worn out from being on the front line of ministry? Whatever the cause, in his moment of greatest victory Elijah became the most vulnerable to attack and failure; "I have had enough, Lord."

When life is a struggle, we must pray and "trust in the Lord with all our heart" (Proverbs 3:5). When life is running smooth, we must pray harder and trust even more. But when we experience victory and dance on top of the mountain - when we begin to feel strong and "self" assured - we must pray as if our very life depended on it and lean on the Lord as never before. Our moments of greatest vulnerability to enemy attack come when we begin to think we no longer require God's help. After the mountaintop the broom tree is closer than we might think.

Lord, remind us of our need! ALL we accomplish is through the strength of Christ; "apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). And as His promises are fulfilled in our lives, we must continue to walk daily by faith. Let's keep our eyes on Jesus and reclaim the life of dependent devotion. Let's remain in His presence and always guard against a fragile victory.




Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.

--Author Unknown

Joan, good morning, have to ask, what are elephant ears? to eat....

Good morning everyone..

The sound of the geese going over woke me along with whiskers tickling my cheek...doggie seemed to think I should be up also.

We are off to the city again for dh appointment, sure hope he gets great results like he did from the cardio Dr.!!

Angellface and Gloria, I would love to have your company on a walk. I enjoy early morning or evening walks, love the smells of the air  and sounds of the birds. Speaking of birds I now have swallows nesting in the birdhouses and I get to talk with them each time I go in the garden.

Jackie, good morning, elephants ears are a flat donut that is so delicious...we also have another donut called bear paw.

Hal, I knew what was coming but the poor pup didn't and I must admit I had a good laugh..

Joan, thank you for breakfast.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Good morning Vanilla-Jackie.  Elephant ears are fried donuts in the shape of an elephant ears.  You usually find them at things like State Fairs.  I see Amy told you about them.

Amy--Good morning.  I, too, hope your husband gets good news from the doctor.  I like bear claws, too.

Thank you Amy and Joan, strange how they get these names....

Amy, all the very best with your hubby's Dr report.....

Our Insurance assessor has just phoned, I answered and is coming tomorrow between 12 and 2pm, R has a hospital eye test app, tomorrow morning, but will be home in time....

Edited, I have got the MS Nurse Specialist coming to my home in the next 1 & a half hours...of course she will catch me on a good day, re, my walking....shame no MS specialists around when I was at my worst and had come down with that food poisoning, now I was ill those couple of days....Jane the wife of Ivan, she also told me it is harder to fight off illnesses when you have MS, she has witnessed it with her own MS hubby...ie, what should repair, attacks instead....

Good morning everyone. Well I think I caught upon some sleep. Was is dreamland a little after 8 last night.  Feel more rested this morning and not like yesterday. Have the morning news on, another terrible plane missing, I sure would not want to fly anywhere anymore.  We might have thunderstorms starting a 4 this afternoon.

JANE  sorry you caught a cold. That is not nice when you are on a vacation.

JUNE  my CNA  is great. I do feel guilty watching her do what I always did.

MOLLY  headaches are no fun. Hope Mohammed gets some help.

JUNEE  I will email you later. Sorry you had the wrong address. Bet it was the one I had before I moved here. I used to have a radio that played 2 tapes, one after the other. I would put 2 tapes in that I would enjoy and would fall asleep before the second tape started.

LLOYD  restless sleep or trying to sleep is no fun. Makes us more tired the next day.

JOAN  wow I have not heard of or seen elephant ears is ages. Will be good for a change. Yikes, don't think I would like to read a novel that started put like today's chuckles. Once again your quote goes with Food for Thought. Thank you for today's goodies.

AMY  I love being out in the early morning and watching the sunrise and birds waking for the day. When we had out house I would take my coffee out on week ends and sit and watch the sun come up over the tree tops. So peaceful. Good luck with today's doctor for your DH.

Vanilla-Jackie--I hope your insurance assessor allows enough $$ to cover the damage.  The MS Nurse Specialist will probably have info for you.

Good morning, Gloria.  Glad you caught up on your sleep.  I was watching the news and saw about that plane that's missing.  Scary stuff--especially when one has children who fly all over the world.

Joan, like I am finding as to most Insurances, there is always an excess, I heard R say yesterday over the phone that our policy has an excess of £100...so we will have to fork that amount out ourselves.....So R is expecting them to meet us halfway....

Good morning Everyfriend! 

June I'm not at home. I'm still in Texas for a visit with my daughter and sil. Weather isn't much better than at home but the company is better. Don't tell the doggies I said that.

I hope you all have a good day today.

  Good Morning from a beautiful Interior with the eastern sky sporting reds and lavenders from the approaching sun! I slept in two-hour intervals last night from going to bed too soon. I finally just got up at three am to come and visit. It is going to be another partly sunny, partly cloudy day.

Amy, walking was why I had enjoyed going to the migratory birds slash wildlife sanctuary otherwise known as Creamer's Field. Once a few years back, I lived next door and was often walking in the five acres publicly available from the 2,000 that it encompasses.

I went again last month, walked about four miles there plus around two miles  in going up to the University on a ridge and other places in search of mountain photographs. It took almost four days to recover! But I loved it!

The birds, swans, geese, ducks and cranes along with moose and many small animals you will see  and enjoy the quiet. The glacial land in the arctic sanctuary is tussocks and permafrost, very similar to the early days of the earth without development intruding.

After being skittish the last couple of days, Farrah has been out more and even played with a toy this morning. Mealtime is stressful for her. I will shake the bag to have her come running, then I have to leave the kitchen, otherwise, she gulps her food while nervously watching me for any tricks I might pull.

Good Morning Everyone,
from the very pleasant,  sunny,  rocky
coast of Maine.    (Sweater weather here
until the end of May.)

No complaints.  (I love it!)

I am so sorry again to wake up to the very
bad news of yet another plane crash
in the Middle East.

Best wishes to everyone.
Sandy

Hi everyone on this cloudy Thursday morning.  We have rain expected at different times throughout the day and this evening.  The birds are happy and singing a bright tune right outside my office window this morning.  A little later this morning I will pick up my friend and we will go to coffee.  Later this morning I will attend the Wisdom group at the church as I usually do on Thursdays.

Lloyd, when we lived in Gaitherburg, Maryland our house had aluminum siding and we had a bad hail storm and it dented the siding on one side of the house to the point it had to be replaced. 

Patricia, surprised the beavers stay around the Fairbanks area is most trees are protected. 

Joan, I saw the weather map yesterday and it looked like the whole of Florida was getting drenched.   

Jackie, hope you bathroom repair can soon be a thing of the past. 

Gloria, I will be happy never to have to get in a plane again. 

Vanilla-Jackie--I think most folks have deductibles on their various insurance policies.  I know I do on my homeowners, car, flood insurance etc.

Good morning, Janie.  I bet your sweet doggies miss you terribly.

angelface--Good morning.  You certainly have lovely places to visit/photograph on your walking tours.

Good morning, Sandy.  Finally you are getting some nice weather.

Larry--Good morning.  They are saying we will have rain on and off today, too.  So far the sun is out.  We did have rain most of the day yesterday.

Well my MS Specialist Nurse home visit should be taking place right now, my app was - is for 2.pm, but so far no sign of her and its now 2.30....I have had to leave a message....this is meant to be my first meeting after 2 months of living here....

Ramblings of a deranged old man:

"Good Morning Everyone!

Strange beginning on S-F this morning.  Nothing posted from Joanie and only a posting from our good friend Larry.

We are having heavy, heavy rain here this morning, as was promised.  Suppose to be rainy all day and tonight.

I do hope everyone has a good day and Joanie is well."

I was on "Norms bait and tackle"   

So once more Good Morning Everyone.  It is still raining along with thunder and I would guess lightening, haven't really looked out.

Jackie, are you referring to the top "railing" on your handrail?

Urban Dictionary: Bloster
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bloster
Urban Dictionary
May 3, 2009 - (1) To advocate for an argument or position, using exaggeration or bending the truth if necessary. I want a lawyer who will bloster my claims!

or
BLOSTERS AND PILLOWS

OR

Railing | Definition of Railing by Merriam-Webster
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/railing
Merriamâ€'Webster
Full Definition of railing. 1 : a barrier consisting of a rail and supports. 2 : rails; also : material for making rails.

3.15 pm no sign of MS Specialist Nurse nor no phonecall....This is the NHS for you, become old, become Ill, we are the forgotten people......I have the written app letter, double checked the date, double checked the time and double checked a home visit, plus even have her name...Oh and no one as yet has returned my phonecall, via there office, workplace, or whatever they work from...

Halkel, no nothing to do with metal handrail, this is a long wooden type log, part of the wooden decking. There are 2 wooden decking steps attached to the top wooden log that is laying flat...The metal handbar is attached to a stake that is cemented onto - into the soil and pebbles before you reach the grassed garden, the other nearer attached end is joined to the main larger decking step....I am assuming as he dug deep the log moved a tad and disconnected itself from the top decking step, they have parted company, the lower main decking step is still intact.....I hope I have explained this well, and not confused you....I am even confusing myself....I am calling this log a bolster log, like the pillow bolsters you have....R is calling it a telegraph pole, even though telegraph poles stand up , not lay down or across....

Vanilla-Jackie--The scheduling of a home visit by the MS nurse/specialist certainly leaves much to be desired.

halkel--I don't know what page you were on, but I did post this morning.

Joanie, I see that now.  But I was on "Norm's Bait and Tackle" forum.  But thought I was on here. 

Halkel, maybe footage will explain better....the jug side, right side is the separation side, (the bottom of the metal handrail is attached to the the back of log,) the left side is ok.....It might not be too noticeable but it is when you get close up, you can see the gap....The bottom step is secure but the smaller top step is where the gap is from attaching itself to the bolster log....if the front of the top smaller step becomes detached I will have a loose top step....Link....


http://photopeach.com/album/yu0s3w

Good Morning Everyone,
almost noon here on the rocky coast of Maine.

It is so nice out that I decided to hop the bus
to the Big Grovcery Store that I go to.   Now that
I see Kelly weekly,   I haven't been riding the bus..
So I  forgot how very easy it is.
I managed to get everything that I need, plus
I stopped on the way back at a department store and
got me a new belt and a watch to be worn
so it is easier for me to see the time.   I have been
using my cell phone but there is nothing
like have the time right on my wrist. 

So all is well here with me. 

Feeling very sad about that plane crash
Have a good day,  everyone
Sandy

Jackie, I think what you are seeing is where he leveled your top step.  The ground level is off some, I would think, so he just kept the steps level, which I can understand.  Don't think there is really a problem, that I can see.

Good Morning,

Showery this morning - but no storms, thank goodness. 

Joan,  loved the Opening Lines of a Novel.  To avoid Empty Nest Syndrome (which I refuse to excuse), I took a part time job at the local library.  One of my duties was to help shelve the books that had been checked in.  We had fun looking at the opening lines of the paperback romance novels.
Our favorite was "The rats of panic scampered through her breast".

Off to find something useful to do....or not.   

Wishing Everyfriend Everywhere a lovely day.

Rainy again today.  Been doing housework all week getting ready for week-end company.  Decided to take a break and see what you all were up to.

I find it interesting how we have different names from each other about things.  To me Elephant Ears are a puff pastry that is shaped, sugared, baked....not fried, and not the same as a donut at all.  In French they are called Palmiers and they are a big favorite of mine.  This definition is from Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmier 

Time for lunch and then a much needed nap before I get back to work.

halkel--Oh--OK.  I misunderstood.

Sandy--How nice to be able to hop a bus and get to the grocery and department store.  No bus service here.

Callie--That's quite a line from your days working at the library.

Phyllis--You sure have had more than your fair share of rain this year.  Thanks for the link.  I've never heard of Palmiers.

Good Morning ! Once again it is 9 a.m. at my home, and noon where my friend Bis lives. It makes me feel like a slug-a-bed.

We have Music Bingo at 10 a.m. today but I am not sure if I will attend or not. I am getting slower and slower in the morning hours. This afternoon is Mobility and Balance and that I will attend

Tomorrow is cleaning day for me, so my housekeeper will be expecting me to be up and out of bed shortly after 7 a.m.  She has a schedule to maintain, so I will make myself adjust.

It is another cloudy morning, with high humidity, but nary a drop of rain in sight. Alas.

Bis, reading those first sentences of novels makes me wonder of those authors ever wrote a second book. Pretty funny introductions.

Amy, I wish your dh good luck at the Drs. I too talk with any wildlife  that appears. We have very little here, just two ducks that grace us with their beautiful feathers once in a while.

Gloria, tell me again what CNA means, and how did you manage to find her ? She sounds like a lovely person and enjoys helping others. A good combination.

Janie..My error..I hope you are have a  grand time in Texas in spite of the head colds. I'm sure your four legged kids are missing you.

Larry, like you, I have no desire to ever board a plane again. My kids take to flying as easily as getting into a car. Truthfully, I don't even enjoy doing the car thing either. I'm a real say-at-home person. Where I live now it is all brought to me, I don't have to go out looking for anything.

Hal, you are giving me the giggles, calling yourself deranged…never in a million years, my friend. We may wander a bit but we never get lost.

Time for me to get a move on and get my bed made and get ready to start the day. It is so easy for me to get lost on this computer, and just let the time escape me.

Have a happy day, be back later. June

Joan, thank you for leaving your comment " nice railing.." the front of home hand rail is nicer, it has an intricately scrolled centre design and bars all the way through...

Halkel, only if the front of top step becomes loose too...

I will soon be getting ready for our AGM meeting, it will be held at a hall not too far away but, away from our parkhome site....Judging by the paperwork from their last annual meeting it gives the names of all members who turned out for it....13 men to 6 women....Be interesting to see, who turns out for it tonight...and what the subject matter is about...

I am wondering how my dear friend Jenny is getting on, I haven't seen any recent postings from her since she was last in the process of packing....

June--I'd be willing to bet those authors never wrote another book.  Enjoy your activities of the day.

Vanilla-Jackie--The handrail on the front of your home sounds lovely.  I've seen a couple posts by Jenny on Facebook.  It appears they are doing "tourist things".

Joan, yes I can just see them now.... brings back fond memories of the day I/we met them at Baker Street station en route to Regents Park.......a short visit but memories to last a lifetime....