Well I have to laugh at our Toby, of all the grass in our back garden he prefers to lay on stones, cant be comfortable but, I guess the cobbles are warmer under his belly.....Link.....


http://photopeach.com/album/74xar5

Larry, the chips are no longer lonely!  I opened the bag last night while watching TV. 

I ran around this morning doing errands.  Seems I had a lot of stops to make.  Sometimes I tell myself that I'll do that on the way home from work and then I cancel that plan.  On my travels, I swung by two houses that my daughter and SIL are looking at.  They have sold their house because it's too big since both kids are living away from home now.  They are downsizing.  I don't know which one they will choose...maybe neither but I wanted to see what they are looking at.

I'm thinking what to do for supper.  I think I have a couple of pork chops in the freezer.  Maybe I'll get them out!  In the meantime, I'm going to grab a couple of cookies and see if Hal's coffee is still hot.

Later friends!  Take care of YOU!

Vanilla-Jackie--Many seem to eat them, so I guess they are OK.

Linedancer--Thanks to those you know who served.  It's HOT here, too.

June--Sorry you had interrupted sleep last night.  Enjoy that wedding reception.

Amy--Now you are dancing with a weedeater?

Vanilla-Jackie--Toby does, indeed, look very comfy.  Thanks for the link.

Janie--So Mom wants to see the houses daughter and SIL are considering?  Pork chops sound good for supper.  I am having eggplant parmigiana that a neighbor brought me.

Jackie, only "some" of the fiddleheads are carcinogenic.  If you trust the source then they are not harmful but if you went out picking them yourself I would be careful.

Amy, butter is what we had and maybe a touch of lemon juice.  Delicious, and they look so "cool"    on the plate all curled up.

Phyllis, same as mushroom foraging, the prettiest mushrooms at times can be the poisonous, the uglier ones the most edible....A few years ago me and R went on one those those, of course on private land, in a group and with a foraging expert.....

Jackie.  My goodness. those are rocks he is laying on.  He is a beautiful dog. Now is it the one that got its trim done last week?  I love the colour of him.
Can see where they put the rail on the steps.

I checked  all the cottages last night. Where a lot of Wessex Cottages listed.  Now which area did you move to.  Some great places. I was surprised to see that for people just taking for a week prices good.  Found hotels to be almost that a night now when in parts of UK.
May try to talk cousin and wife into going someplace and using them for couple week. They both had new knees so not into traveling where lots of walking yet.

Phyllis--I am just going to have to get some to try.

Vanilla-Jackie--I've never picked mushrooms so wouldn't know an edible one from a poisonous one.  I buy mine in the grocery and LOVE them.

JeanneP--It'd be nice if you could go on a trip.

  That reminds me of when I was a child, instead of a lemonade stand, two friends and I picked several mushrooms. We'd take them home to my mother who knew how to forage and which mushrooms were good or bad. She would weed out all of the bad ones and we would delicately wash the rest, bag them in brown lunch sacks and sell them around the neighborhood for ten cents a bag. I haven't thought of that in years!

I played a trick on Farrah as this house heats up too fast and the screen door only open to the balcony sends her back under the bed. First, I quietly shut the bedroom door, then opened the glass balcony door, and just left the screen door.

I then peeled Farrah out from under the blanket covering the couch, unhinging all of her claws carefully and carried to the screen door where Robins, sparrows and wrens were singing up a storm. I carefully patted the screen showing her that there was still a barrier to any outside monsters and rubbed her back while she noticed and watched for the birds.

After setting her down, she sat right next to the screen door and listened and watched. All was fine until I left the room. Whether the kitchen or the bathroom, she decided she would go as well and stay to keep my company!

She's fine as long as I stay in the room.

Fiddleheads must be a Northern item, they are all over here and very common. Many folks grow them against a house or to mark the edge of a property. And yes, they are good!

JOAN - When Mohamed called earlier RE his travel plans, I mentioned what you have written several times about keeping him in your daily prayers.  He is so very, very grateful.  Many thanks!

I stayed inside all day with the AC going. Don't know how hot it got, missed the news. With the AC running in here I have to turn the sound up so high I bet my neighbors can hear it.

CALLIE  would love to see your photos. Been a long time since I lived anywhere with a good view of the sky. I do get to see the sunset here at times.

PHYLLIS  I love it when people put their flags out for holidays like this but wish they would do it every day.

HAL  the fiddleheads I saw in the market looked like ferns before the started to open. Don't remember what the price was and never saw them again. Guess they did not sell many.

MOLLY  I wish Mohammed a safe trip to the states.

DON  this seemed so much like Sunday to me I thought I missed your program.  Must be because everyone here stayed inside like me today. Didn't see anyone around. A nieces' husband was from Maine and he knew all about the fiddleheads. Never heard of them till he talked about them. Thought he was joking at first about eating fern heads.

JOAN  I wish I had asked him how they were cooked and I would have bought some when I saw them.  I do like trying different food and if I like them will add them if not I would never buy them again.

GLORIA de  I feel like I have been cooped up inside after no going out at all today. If I wake early enough tomorrow I will get our and do some walking before it gets to hot. I agree with you about June having a great way with words.

JUNE  I have lived here all my life and have never been able to tolerate hot humid summer days. Rather have the cold of winter.

AMY  too hot to work outside today.

JACKIE  Toby looks comfortable on those stones.

JOAN  oh I would love to join you for your supper tonight. I have not made that in a long time and I do love eggplant.

JACKIE  only mushrooms I eat are from the stores. Those are safe. Would not try any wild ones.

Goodness I just noticed the time. Better get myself a snack now before it gets later. Cannot sleep on an empty tummy

A good Saturday evening HELLO to EVERYFRIEND. 

I have never seen nor heard of fiddle heads.  They sure are interesting looking.

MOLLY, happy to read that Mohamad will be coming home for a visit soon.  I think you know that he is in many of our thoughts and prayers? I was sure hoping that chaps would not have to be gone from his family for more than a year.

ANGELFACE, I just had to chuckle at the thought of buying hand picked mushrooms in a brown sack from a child....not sure I would be that brave!  Once again, I love reading about Farrah and how she is adjusting to her new surroundings.

JACKIE, I am surprised I did not read the words "demerit" in the post from Joan after she read what all you had been doing!  Sadly, I was not able to view Toby in the rocks on my iPad. 

SHIRLEY, ever so often I let my guard down and write my post in here and thenloose it....Gurrrrrr.

We went to the cemetery where my maternal grandparents are buried this afternoon.  Took flowers for their grave and for my nieces grave. My grandma never forgot ANY of our family members....she took flowers to every grave in many cemeteries.  It was an all day affair for her.  She grew all the flowers and they were all so healthy and beautiful.  The bouquets I bought were pretty expensive and not that great to be honest.  Oh well, it is the thought that counts.

I wish you all a good night.  Hope everyone has a good night of rest,

Jenny

Angelface - Farrah definitely is learning to trust you. She's come a long way!

Larry - Your temps are much cooler than ours. It's 80 here at 10:00, but the night air feels good.

My granddaughter (age 30) picks her own fiddleheads but she has had some good teachers and knows what to look for. Timing is everything as they quickly turn to ferns. She's my farmer girl.   

Good night Jenny and all.

Good Night Everyfriend!  I'm off to saw some logs.  I didn't get enough last night for my garden benches so I'm going to try again tonight.

I wish you all a peaceful sleep.  God Bless Us Every One!

Good evening everyone. C U all tomorrow. Have sweet dreams.

Lloyd

Jenny, that's what I meant about everyone doing what is in their heart about visiting graves.  I watched my parents go and Dad talked about going with his mother to put flowers on the graves of HER grandparents that came from France in 1855.  I try to take the "home grown" to my parents when I have any, and many times will plan a trip with that in mind. 

I'm another that never heard of fiddle heads & had to Google.... I would have to uncurl & inspect before eating... I do have a fettish about bugs from the old days & joked with the young kid putting out corn at the store yesterday, that "no bugs but something a whole lot worse".  He agreed, but bet he never saw worms in corn like we did! 

Haha, Patricia, many years ago I had some kids selling sassafrass chunks at the door.  I'm pretty sure it was not the real thing but since they weren't asking for much, I bought & gave it a try in a boiling pot of water.  Did NOT smell like sassafrass tea so dumped it!  Remember when old Arthur Godfrey recommended drinking the tea every spring?  Always said it "thinned the blood". 

I've thoroughly enjoyed your adventure with Farah.  Did not take long for Tiger to decide she preferred MY pillow to any other place to sleep.  I don't sleep on one, just put it beside my ear.  She "hums" (purrs) to me when I reach over to pet her.  Tom & Tiger's mama, Callie, would love to live inside but she's been wild too long & wants to mark her territory...  just stepped in the RV one day & promply marked the electric heater I had sitting on the floor (when I go to MO & have electricity in winter, it's nice to just turn on for a few minutes in the morning.  I don't turn on the propane in MO, have everything electric for those trips & everything for propane when I go to CO).  Anyway, had to take the heater out to air & clean off & never did put it back in.  I know when her friend, Tommy 2 comes in the garage he marks HIS spot & I have to clean out.  Not nice.  She is so shy & spooky but follows me every where I go outside. 

Hal, my husband took basic training at Lackland... I met him not long after & we married when he got orders to go to England.  I served the rest of his 4 years active & 4 years inactive duty married to him & was offended when "they" took away my Vet car tags after he died.  Who do they think kept him fed & tidy all those years?  He didn't serve in a war zone but was in during Korean War. 

Okay, Molly, about the language.    I've been known to be a tad opinionated & daring.  Hope Chaps' family get to go with him if they want to.  When my husband got transferred to England he didn't have rank for a wife to go with him but I decided that they couldn't stop me from going on my own.  I did, got there in December after he deployed in late Sept.   I had a Civil Service job & money to spend for a trip on the S.S. United States, largest liner afloat at the time. 

I settled in, no base housing, & the "powers that be" on the base requested I join the Wives Club which I declined, said "the military didn't pay my way & I didn't need them".  Later the Base Commander asked me to interview for a job needing Top Secret clearance.  Mine was done when I worked for the Corp of Eng Army Map Serivce as a cartiographic draftsman.  My next Civil Service job I had to pass the test for Clerk typist because they needed a draftsman but no opening for one.  I explained to the Base Commander that in spite of the clerk typist job, I did not take shorthand or do secretarial work.  Another life & world but same old "me".  I still do things MY WAY & take the blame when I goof.   Do hope you get to spend fun time with Mohammed.  You have lived a lot of different lives as well, these days are not what we dreamed about as teenagers, are they? 

Pool looks nice, had to get a fake owl to keep the birds away.  They are being a real mess with eating mulberries & leaving purple blobs all around the pool.   The first few hours they left a path of flying over the house on their normal route front to back... saw the owl & left their mark on the grass carpet... one trip aftr another!  Such a mess, but more rain heading our way tomorrow so will wash out & clean out the pool, looks nice but nobody invited to swim.  Got a nice view of the river & wildlife, y'all come on over for a cup of tea or whatever!   

Gloria, so often you say something & makes me grin, we are SO much alike.  I talked to Doris the other day, she is doing good, tried to get hold of you but don't think she ever did.  She is keeping busy, was going to visit "Jim/Herb" this week, family cemetery & Herb has a cousin living near so she can stay with them if she runs out of daylight.     

And now it is Sat. night bath time so better get moving.  No sleeping in tomorrow morning. Would love to sit & visit longer but know these posts get out of hand.  Yes, Larry, I do have a big basement for tornadoes but am way too nosy to stay under ground long.  I haul all my treasures (including cats) down & then slip up with a camera to take photos or just look out the doors. Need photos of hail to show insurance, right?

Jackie, left you a message on the video... beautiful Toby.   

Good night, All~  sweet dreams & God Bless.  Shirley

I am just in to say a quick goodnight. A really busy day, and I am weary. God bless you my dear ones.I pray you all have a good sleep and a happy tomorrow. Hugs, Love and Prayers, always. June

Joan, I would never risk foraging for mushrooms, that was a one off several years ago, even children were out picking with their parents, not so much a fun few hours, it was done in a serious manner where the expert checked everyone's basket, containers, but this is something you really need to be an expert about, make one bad mistake you could end your life.....

Jeanne P, yes that is our cocker spaniel Toby we took last week to the groomers, this time we went for the feathering, feathering on the lower body and side legs...so you could imagine how much unwanted fur he had on him before his groom....afraid to say he went way overdue and looked a pitiful sight, cant ever let that happen again....

Jeanne, we are in Dorset, settled between Dorchester and Weymouth, several miles away from Poole and Bournemouth...I have read Poole is a nice area to live, of course I read that after we moved, not before, but this is a lovely area too....I keep forgetting just how near to the coast we are.....

Jenny, I know, our Joan slipped up there, didn't she....   .....think I got away with that....no " demerits...."

Jenny, yes it is the " thought that counts..." just you being there is the important thing, and carefully placing your flowers, and most importantly the private words spoken that come personally out from your mouth, I am sure they hear every word.....Sadly I don't know if I will ever get back to my family graves, to my parents cemetery again, I hope I will get the chance, but otherwise there is nothing to bring me back to Watford, unless things resolve between myself, my daughter and grandson.....but as I moved, and they don't know I moved,nor where I moved to, they have no way of getting in touch with me, even if they wanted too....and I sure don't want to get in touch with her not after the nasty telephone recorded message she left, re, my MS, and not even caring whether my results would be coming back as cancer last year....
............................................
Thank you too all who watched my Toby clips, and thank you for your comments.....

Joan, Toby is still available if you want to adopt him...... but I will have to speak to him first......   

In the fifties, in Alaska, everyone thereabouts was a forager. So most of my customers would have known better than I about those mushrooms!   Only way in or out was by summer boats or barges and a few airplanes and not much different than the eighteen nineties.

That was also the year I wanted a Ginny doll. Does anyone remember those? My folks told me no. So I went to the lady at the toy store to negotiate buying one on layaway, I had nine cents on me. She thought it was cute as she later told my folks and set me up an account, I eventually paid for my doll too and was so proud of myself! That was a proud moment for a nine-year-old when bringing home that doll after paying for it since age seven!

I have two or three photos somewhere of a raven sitting on top of a fake owl on a small building roof. All around were its buddies so fake owls never did much for them. LOL

A new week for Soda Shoppe begins HERE.