Good "Black Friday" Morning! 
Things are looking great here today.  We had one inch of rain, for which we are extremely grateful!  First measurable rain since April.  This will be hard to manage in the burn areas in and around Paradise, because there is nothing left to hold the rainwater, so it can sock into the soil=  meaning no trees, plants, lawns, forests, etc.  That is the reason for the devastating mud slides that often follow a wildfire.

Thanksgiving was pleasant and quiet here.  There were just the five of us.  The food was good, with plenty of leftovers for the girls to take home.  Still plenty for us to eat today and tomorrow.

Larry - sounds like you had a nice low-key Thanksgiving, with just Scott.  Ours was pretty quiet too.  I remember the old days with lots of people and activity going on . . . music playing or football games happening on TV. We always had two tables for eating . . . the regular dining room table, and a short distance away, was the children's table.  The kids always liked the novelty of having a table to themselves. When my kids got to be teenagers, and would bring their friends for holiday meals, they still wanted the children's table. LOL!

Sandy - Sound like you enjoy sleeping when the temperatures are very low. I usually turn our furnace off during the night, but the temps never drop as low as yours inside. This old house usually stays in the mid 60's overnight, even when it drops into the low 40's outside. 

Joy - sounds like you had a nice Thanksgiving, with plenty of goodies to enjoy today.

MarsGal - you didn't tell us where you spent yesterday? Maybe with your sister or with George?  Whatever you did, I hope your day was a nice one too.

Mary Ann - I'll be looking forward to hearing about your Thanksgiving on Saturday, in Holland.

Good late morning from the Interior wrestling through another day's slurry of freezing rain, fresh snow and lots of humidity which means my arthritis is settling in for a long stretch! Yes, Larry, the weather for most of this past year has been horrid, no argument there! On the way to and from yesterday, there were a few bad moments of slipping on those mountain roads with the steep drop-offs. However, since I can't drive, I feel more helpless than the one in control.

Thanksgiving was very nice with quite a spread of old favorites. I knew all but a couple of people there and enjoyed visiting with some I hadn't seen in a while. All in all, a very nice time!

Regarding those Insurance scams, I'm so glad that this state was proactive and most of their games are illegal here although they offer deals trying to get you to use their doctor or their plan. There are no primary doctors or specialists for everything else altho our costs are said to be higher than the rest. I know that Allstate and Etna have had heavy fines for years,(especially in dealing with seniors, for illegal schemes); but it hasn't stopped them from trying.

The state took control of our heating systems earlier this year and the hallways and public areas are cold, however, in the apartments, many tenants use personal heaters. It is hot water pipes so when they come on during the night there are thumping and groans at times.

Here's to everyone having a good day today and a better tomorrow!

Marilyne, my sister, BIL, George, two friends from WV and I gathered at the Red Lion Inn in Harrisburg for their Thanksgiving Buffet. They put on a very nice spread each year at, what I think compared to others in the area, a reasonable cost. This year included, besides the usual breakfast items and turkey, Chicken Oscar, Wine-braised boneless beef ribs, a tortellini pasta salad, and orange roughy. Of course, I had to have my share of the mashed potatoes, but the plate filled up to much to include the green bean casserole or the mashed sweet potato casserole. By the time I was done with what saw already on my plate, I was too full to go back for seconds, preferring to actually have a dessert instead. The German Chocolate Cake was nich and light and just about right. I would have gotten the double chocolate, but I know from experience that it is heavy and very filling just on its own. I just didn't want to over-do eating, which is very easy to do with a buffet with so many tempting choices.

It is supposed to let loose with some freezing rain some time today or this evening. I am not going anywhere, and laundry awaits, as well as vacuuming and yet another attempt at my Latin lessons.

Hi Everyone. It looks like we will be having a cloudy day with a 20% chance of some more rain starting about 11 this morning.  I can see that it has rained during the night.  I am fighting that old feeling of fatigue this morning and have had a hard time getting my motor running.  I may decide to pass my normal Saturday meeting at 10:30 and just stay home and rest.  I have things all ready to fix Pat's breakfast so that will not be difficult.  My only plans for this afternoon will be to rest and watch some football, which I have also done the last couple of days as there are lots of games on around Thanksgiving.  I watched both football and basketball yesterday. 

Mary Ann, I expect insurance companies do try to avoid fraudulent claims as what they pay out determines what rates they have to charge and they do have to make a profit to stay in business.  I can't even imagine what printing costs must be with all the paper they send out to us much less the claims they pay.  I would be too slow in coming up with the answers on Jeopardy much less knowing what the answers were to begin with.  I hope your family get together today is a joy. 

Patricia, were you relieved to get back safely in your apartment.  I don't like being on slippery mountain roads as that is very frightening.  Nice to read you had a pleasant time with old and new friends and a good meal.  I remember when we lived in Anchorage we had baseboard hot water heating and it was good since the heat rises. 

MarsGal, those special Buffets that hotel put on are usually very good with dishes we would not be having at home.  Over the years we have attended such feasts on holidays and were always satisfied and very full when we left.  I agree with you that it is very easy to overeat at a buffet.  I always wanted to get my money's worth.    It sounds like a good day to stay in if you are going to have freezing rain. 

Joy, it sounds like you had a great time at your Thanksgiving with your family.  It is always nice to have a few leftovers for the next day.  That is one thing we missed with eating out this year but a small price to pay to save us from all of the work involved in making a big dinner.  Your remembering where Emma was from is probably the same reason I remembered where the young black lady was from since I had lived fairly close to where she resided.  Sorry you have to end the holiday period attending a funeral.

Sandy, it sounds like you have a trade-off with your corner apartment and you know how to cope with the cold weather. 

Marilyne, it is nice to read that you have finally gotten rain.  I sure hope California now doesn't experience those terrible mud slides.  Did the rains put out the fires?  My family has always been small so we never had those big family dinners with many in attendance.  When the kids were little and we lived in Missouri, we would have Pat's sister and family and sometimes my parents and Pat's mother for special occasions like Thanksgiving or Christmas.  However, usually we went to spend the holidays with my folks.  Your speaking of the children's table, for many years we went out with a group from our weekly Bible study and then again after Church and the women sat at one table and the men at another most of the time and if we were at one table the men start at one end and the ladies at the other.  There were always more women than men in attendance.  I like our house to be warm and we now setting the thermostat at 70 degrees at night and usually 72 during the day although our living area seems to always register higher. 

Yesterday morning Pat fixed a delicious cabbage soup in the Instant Pot and we decided to have our main meal around 1 pm while the soup was still nice and hot.  It is made with rice, sausage, pasta sauce, onions  and cabbage plus some seasonings.  I had gotten all of the ingredients set up along with the measuring cups and spoons before I left to go to the store and get my tires checked.  When I got home the soup was smelling very good. 

I was surprised yesterday that I actually needed air in all four of my tires.  I did call my mechanic and found that since they used synthetic oil when they changed it last that I had another close to 3,000 miles before I needed to change it so can scratch that task off my to-do list for next week.

Tom cut the apples into chunks and I let him continue after I saw what he was doing.  The apples will cook down anyway.  I'm thawing out the pie crust, then will put the filling in the crust and put in some butter (I already have the sugar and cinnamon with the apples)  and I'll put the pie in the oven.  Tom has left for a while but will be back soon enough to fix the green bean casserole.  I guess everyone was assigned a part of the meal and our part was dessert. 

Larry, we are to be rainy today too and that is much better than snow.  We probably will have snow by the end of the week.

I'm going to put the pie together and I may be back.

Mary Ann

Hi, I do not know if it is me or the computer,  I still keep reading the same post over and over. On Soda Shop the last post i am seeing is NOV15, and I have read it several . I see no up to day poattimes then i come into Norms and the last post I keep reading is Nov 21

Gloria de - Look up on the upper right hand corner of this page, or any page, and under the coffee pot, you will see Unread Posts - Updated Topics.  I always click on Updated topics, and it takes me to my last message in every folder, so I can then scroll to see any message written since my message  If that doesn't work for you, go to Site Announcements, and someone will help you. Others are having problems too, and are going there to ask for help.

Gloria,  also look for the list of pages in each topic.  You might have to click on the page next to the last one listed [which will be in brackets like this] to get to the newer posts.  I also have to scroll down to find them...sometimes quite a ways.[/size]

Temps here only dip to unbearable
with the thermometer drops into
of below the 20's  and the wind 
blows dropping the wind chill factor. 

Ah Winter....     And so it goes. 
Sandy

Callie K...
...to save one scrolling down ( which takes up time and effort ) there is a " Go Down " button, top left next to the page numbers underneath Shout Box...this will instantly take you down to the last post and quick reply box..

Jackie, I'd found the Go Up button. Never thought to look for a Go Down.
Thank you!!!!

Callie...
...we learn something new every day...now why did I not see the Go Up Button?   

Just before Thanksgiving they announced that romaine lettuce again contaminated with e coli., making folks sick.

Now after hospitalizations and outbreaks in 38 states, they've issued a blanket bann.

Here are eight places it might hide among other foods.

https://www.cookinglight.com/news/romaine-lettuce-supermarket-products-ecoli

Patricia, I hope Tom has read about the romaine lettuce because I think I've seen it some time ago in our refrigerator.  Right now we have baby spinach.

Our Thanksgiving is over and it was good.  There were eight adults and two children.  Those two girls were so  good; we've never heard them kick up a fuss in our presence.  Alicia and her mother fixed the turkey, stuffing (and it was stuffing, not dressing), mashed potatoes and gravy, corn; Tom fixed the green bean casserole and I made the apple pie.  Tom's friend, Mary, brought a pumpkin pie and an apple crisp.  We ate well.  Tom and I left home about 2 pm and Annie brought me home shortly before 8 am.  It was good to see Alicia's parents who live in Milwaukee and will return home Monday.  I think she has retired and he is looking to retire soon. 

I don't know if anyone took pictures or not; I did not.

I think I will not make it to 10 pm tonight.  I ran out of steam at James'  house and I'm ready to go to bed now but I want to finish reading S&F.

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, no wonder you're tired! Out from 2 PM and not back until 8 AM

Mary Ann - your Thanksgiving in Holland sounds like lots of fun, and lots of good food.  I hope somebody took pictures of Eleanor and Johanna? I'm sure they've changed a lot since we last saw any pictures of them. 

MarsGal - When I read your description of the Thanksgiving brunch at Red Lion Inn, I decided that that would be where we have our next holiday meal!  We have a Red Lion about 10 to 15 miles from us, so it would be reasonably close.  I'm still recovering from all the shopping, cooking and cleaning up, on Thursday, and dread doing it again. The good part is that we're still enjoying the leftovers!

Patricia - Lots of people here in CA, have become sick from the contaminated romaine lettuce.  It's been removed from all the grocery stores but you wonder about restaurants, that don't get the news, or choose to ignore it?

I agree with you that Mary Ann, would certainly be tired, after 18 hours of Thanksgiving celebrating!

They've gotten sick here to Marilyne, last time was a muddy ditch and I wonder what it will be this time. Something new or the same muddy ditch?

I must still be celebrating because it isn't 8 am yet, only 7:25 am.  8 pm was long enough for me since I'm not as young as I used to be.  Thanks for the wake-up!

Marilyn, no pictures.  Sorry.

I'm going back to bed for an hour and then I'll decide whether or not I'll go to church.  I'm not awake yet.

Mary Ann

Hi Everyone. It is going to be an overcast day but is suppose to get up to 60 degrees this afternoon.  Pat got up this morning with a very sore foot or toe and has decided not to go to Church with me this morning.  After Sunday School and Church I will stop at Firehouse Subs to get us lunch.  We have nothing planned for this afternoon so will just rest and watch some Pro-Football. 

I had tried to make some comments based on the last messages I hadn't read but my computer froze up and I had to reboot it.  Since I don't have time this morning to read and post I will come back later this afternoon and post.

Testing one two three
four five six
seven eight nine
 

 

Sandy, I read you loud and clear.

Mary Ann      

Patricia, we had purchased some romaine lettuce just a day or so before that recall came out.  Pat immediately got rid of it and then a couple of days later we got notice from Walmart, where we had purchased it, that our credit card had been credited for the refund of what we paid for it.  I was really shocked but what great customer service.  Today Pat wanted one of the great salads that Firehouse Subs has for her lunch and as I ordered it they asked me if it was ok since it was now made with ice berg leaf lettuce rather than romaine.  I didn't understand what you were talking about with the "dirty ditch". 
  

Mary Ann, it sounds like you all enjoyed a great feast and had a nice time.  Had the little twins grown much since you last saw them? 

Marilyne, the Red Lion chain must be mainly in the West.  I remember staying at one on a business trip to Oregon or Idaho and it was nice.  We have made the decision that we will not be fixing any more holiday or special meals.  It has just become too much for Pat to do all of the cooking and for me with what little I did to help like setting the table and cleaning up.  The Pizza Hut, where our son works got a telephone call from their headquarters to immediately remove all salad lettuce as their prepacked salad had romaine in it.  I haven't heard of anyone in South Carolina being sick because of the lettuce.

OH NO! There is a little black cat wandering around outside. He is probably six months old. Hope he has someplace to go. I am not about to take in another cat.

I did manage to get out and do both grocery shopping and rake the front yard. Yea, for me.

Managed to land me a bit catfish fillet which I cooked for dinner. I was sure it was going to taste a bit strong because it was so big and at least an inch thick, but it wasn't. I think I can make two more meals out of the leftovers.

Now it is time to settle in and watch some TV and/or read.

MarsGal - would you believe that in my long lifetime I've never tasted cat fish! I don't think they're found in any lakes here in the West? I'm sure they are available, previously frozen, at a well stocked fish market, although I don't recall ever seeing any? I hope the little black cat out in front of your house, belongs to one of your neighbors?  Do you get the neighborhood site, Next Door, on your email or computer?  If so, you might look to see if anyone has reported their cat missing?

Larry - that really is good customer service, to have Walmart contact you about the romaine  lettuce, and then refund the amount you spent. From what I have read about it, this latest strain of e-coli, is especially bad. Lots of people hospitalized.

Mary Ann - I haven't looked at any of the web-cams since before Thanksgiving. When I last looked, I noticed that Paul was due to arrive again, but I've lost track of when that was going to happen. I'll get back to normal tomorrow, and start my usual daily routine . . . which includes checking all the cams for anything interesting.         

Marilyn, I noticed Paul's name on some schedule, probably the Duluth schedule.  I have looked at the cams, but not as much as usual.  Maybe tomorrow things will return to normal.

Larry, I noticed the twins were a bit larger, but what I really noticed was their understanding of what was said.  Not full comprehension, but you could say a short sentence and they knew what you were saying.  They know NO or shake their heads.  They're saying words and they know who we are.  I don't see them often enough for them to remember me when I walk in the door, but they warm up to me (and others) after a while.  Tom sees them more often as he goes to Holland occasionally.

MarsGal, I hope the little black kitten has a home - other than yours.  That's kind of young to be wandering around.

Mary Ann

MarsGal, if you see the young kitten after this, please notify a rescue operation as less than 25% of ferals make it past their first six months.

Larry, the "dirty ditch" refers to a filthy irrigation ditch that they traced the previous outbreak to in Arizona. They believe that this time it originated from California but they're not certain. They're also advising that anyone who had romaine in their fridge to bleach and sanitize the area it was kept. So far people in eleven states have been hospitalized, "One person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. Affected states are California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin."   

I remember Amy speaking about her gumdrop bread and while I'm not fond of any sticky food due to years of braces. I did see this recipe for gumdrop cake when looking through one of my emails — spoiler alert, its a pound cake with gumdrops mixed in.

https://www.rockrecipes.com/gumdrop-cake-a-holiday-or-birthday-favourite/

Patricia, Larry, I don't think we have any rescue groups around here except for the catch, neuter and release people. At least I couldn't find any when I looked for Shan and his family. As far as I know catch, neuter and release is still not legal in PA, but is apparently not enforced very well or consistently. Also, they expect you to pay for shots and neutering before releasing them back. I can't afford that, and if I am going to pay for getting a cat shots and clipping. I am keeping it.

This time of year the shelters are low on budget. George, when he ended up with three extra cats several years ago (mom and two kittens), discovered that the shelter he contacted was not taking any more unless they were already clipped. Their remaining budget for the year couldn't afford to take in ones that weren't.  BTW, Shan is overseeing the post as I type.

The local ASPCA affiliates here may or send out someone to catch the critters or have someone how does that for them (I haven't checked), but they are not a No Kill outfit. George refuses to take any cats there because he had taken one there just prior to an out of town trip. He was gone only three days, went back to adopt the cat, and discovered they had already euthanized him, this after he asked that they not do that until he got back because he was considering adopting it. They claimed they had to do in the whole room where the kitty was taken because one of the cats turned up with distemper. Neither one of us believe that, otherwise the room would not likely to have been back in use so quickly. The place does not have a super good reputation. George didn't know that at the time.

There are a number of no kill shelters around. Most are not well advertised and their operation unknown to me. Some routinely get violations (like the one from which I 'rescued' Oscar).

It looks like the blizzard conditions the Mid-West is getting will miss us, but we are expecting more torrential rain today. My agenda for today includes laundry and vacuuming, and Latin class.

We woke up to a white world today and Tom is out driving in it.  He thinks he can make more money driving this morning than teaching, so went that route.  At 9:30 am he is still out so must be getting some customers.  He has snow tires on the car which help in some circumstances.  The plows were out at 6:30 am when I got out and you'd never know it now.  Temperature is 29 degrees.  Winter is here!

Mary Ann