A Sunny Thursdsy

[Colliemom]

Good Morning. Heard my name called yesterday, so figured I had better check in Thank you for your concerns. The flooding is about 100 miles south of me and it’s an unbelievable mess. Already high water levels and record rainfall, plus capacity of 3 dams to control the water are responsible. Those dams are holding back lakes. One dam failed, another one, despite having it’s gates wide open could not control the water which went over the dam spillways thus heading downriver. The other dam which is owned by a hydro electric company had it’s license revoked in 2018 by the FERC because although the dam was structurally adequate, they said it’s spillway was not Big enough to handle a flood. That dam was holding back a lake, whose property owners group was in process of buying It from the hydro company and planned to address the issues, but at present the dam is still owned by the hydro company. The state has been after the company to address the issue of the spillwayM so far nothing had been done. When all the water from upstream went into the lake, that of course raised the lake levels and all the water was going over the dam, because it couldn’t hold back the tremendous amount of water with it’s inadequate spillway., The dam gave way, sending the entire lake downstream, taking everything with It. People said they were watching houses, sheds, docks, boats, jet skis, propane tanks and all kinds of stuff floating down the lake and down the river. What’s left behind is a totally drained lake and stuff of every conceivable nature scattered all over the place down the river, plus destroyed homes, washed out foundations, damaged homes, mud, destroyed roads, downtown Midland underwater etc. They even had evacuate the hospital be ause it’s generators failed. One woman said, that her mother was in the hospital recovering from Covid and she has not heard a word as to where she is or anything since. Fortunately there were no lives lost. It was a tragedy that could have been voided have that dam been fixed right. Fortunately nobody died. The Governor has declared a State of Emergency for the area and the state will be seeking legal recourse.

In the meantime up here things are busy, as the Governor has given this region and the upper peninsula permission to reopen our businesses and restaurants. Some the restaurantS had been making preparations over the past couple weeks in anticipation of being give them the word eventually. Others are getting their act together. There are restrictions of course for both customers and the restaurants. They can only see 50% of their capacity so that’s taking some juggling around to accommodate that. Customers have to wear a facemask in the restaurants. So it’s going to be a learning curve for all of us. There are about three restaurants here in town that said they are not going to open until next week as they want a little more time to get ready. And we have a holiday weekend on top of it. There will be people who will be coming up for the weekend especially those who own second homes. But with nothing more than motels at the moment because rentals are not allowed to operate yet and no activities going on anywhere up here, campgrounds still closed Etc, I did not think there will be a tremendous amount of people coming up. plus the stay at home order is still in effect. We are the first two regions to be allowed to open in the state, so we said we got to get this right because we are the example for the rest of the state to follow. Supposedly there are some more changes coming on Friday.

So this morning I am going to go to town and do a little grocery shopping so I can avoid the Friday crunch. Few errands to run too. I am very with my landscaping projects right now and I have to say I am enjoying messing around out there. I spent last summer playing, so decided this summer it’s time to do some changing and other things around my house. Well wait until later this summer as far as camping is concerned.

So I am going to end this book here, finish my breakfast then be on my merry way. I hope you all have a nice day today. O’Sharon, you have warmer weather headed your way. Stay safe everyone.

[Othersharon]

Good morning ,Sue and all to follow. Thank you for the check in and glad you’re north of the flooding. So far today it’s sunny and the wind is down so a good day to get outside. I just dropped the pup off at the groomer so need to stay close to the phone after awhile so I can pick him up. Good timing since after a couple more cool days the temps are supposed to go way up. He’ll be happier with less fur.
Word is out now that the fair usually the end of August has been canceled. Interesting reading the comments on FB. Guess people think they just throw it together in a short time. I’m a bit sad but considering the amount of people that go, social distancing is impossible. Sad part is the youngsters that have been raising animals to be shown. The new “norm” I guess.
Beth, did you get the storm last night? Tomorrow is supposed to be a wash-out here. Here I saying it is sunny here but just glanced out the window and it’s starting to cloud up again!
I had a fun phone call yesterday. My mom’s neighbors out in CA said they were hearing the news out of PA and wondered if me and mine were okay. We always exchange Christmas cards and notes so keep up with each other. So talked to them for quite awhile! They took good care of my folks since we were so far away. Always watched over them.
So need to quit rambling and get busy with my day. Have a good day and stay safe.

[Shirlv]

Morning All, Sue, glad you are working in your yard and not headed south with your tool box to fix the dam. #1 granddaughter has a time slot for pickup at Sams Club. I added a couple of things to her list. Main item is dish detergent for the dishwasher. Hope it works for her as Sams has had lines wrapping around the building. I’m off to find a tomato cage for my lone plant. Be safe

[BirdbyBird]

Sharon, our County Fair has been cancelled BUT...the Jr Fair has been given a go ahead. So the exhibits and competitions will just be 4-H projects. That is much more feasible to imagine that some safety measures can be put in place and observed. These are the same kids that respond "Yes, Sir" and "No, Sir"

I was able to drive over and have a nice visit with JudyB as she did an over night stop on her way north. She stayed in the KOA here in Lebanon. Like some of the other KOA it has remained open only for the Orphan full time travelers. It is the same campground that Nan stayed in when she made her way through my neck of the woods a couple years ago.

Stay safe but keep finding good things to do!

[BarbaraRose]

Sue, that is such a sad situation with the dams! Just when you think things can't get any worse! Those poor people! Luckily, no deaths tho.

I wonder how that works with people having to wear masks in restaurants? How do you eat and drink while wearing a mask?

Tina, glad you got to visit with Judy.

I got my COVID-19 test results this morning...negative! Yay! My friends contacted me yesterday and said even tho the BBQ/potluck has been cancelled, they still want to get a few of us together for a small lunch, like 6 -8 of us. I was worried that I wouldn't get my results back in time to feel comfortable going. We will be social distancing on Candiss's huge deck and being careful about serving food, etc. I am so glad I can go now!

Didn't cool down as much last night and no wind at all so I kept the AC on a bit and turned on my ceiling fan overnight. Temps are heading back up to the low 100's for the weekend.

Didn't get much done yesterday. Some reading and a long nap. Did get my little saw so when I get caught up with other things, I will get the lattice and work on that project. Need to get more done today. For sure the GC's online courses. Just about done with my tuna salad! Love it but it does get boring after several days. I made too much pasta and didn't have enough peas to put in it. Was a little bland.

I also need to get my tax stuff together so I can get that done. I talked to my H&R Block tax lady the other day who has been doing my taxes for a couple years and she said she doesn't think I will be penalized for selling my other house inside of two years, so that would be great! Might get a refund after all! Just need to send her my stuff.

My health insurance changed too. I was taken off the health plan I was on thru Covered California a couple months ago (because of COVID-19) and put on general MediCal, so am at least covered.

Maya is in a very bitey stage now. She sometimes listens when I tell her NO, but sometimes not. If I can't distract her with something else besides my flesh, I immediately put her on the floor. Hope she grows out of that soon! She has sharp little teeth!

Have a good day and stay safe and healthy!

[Acadianmom]

Sue, glad you aren't in the area that flooded. What a mess. The Sabine River is the boundary between Louisiana and Texas with a dam mid state that makes the Toledo Bend Lake. There have been several flood events in the last few years down stream of the dam. It took out the Welcome Center on I-10 one time. For about a year the lake level was way down and they were working on the spillway. I think I would be nervous if I had a camp on the river below the dam.

The Cattle Festival in October has been canceled in Abbeville. I don't know about the livestock show. It's run by the County Agents. I don't know if or when our Cattlewomen Club will start having meetings again.

The next time I go to Sam's I need to renew my membership. About the only thing I have been getting at Sam's the last few years is gas. A few times my son and I have split some of the big boxes of frozen food. I probably won't go to Lafayette until the middle of June when I have a dentist appointment.

Barbie, you make tuna salad different than I do. I put eggs and apples. I haven't made one in a long time. The gas station in Maurice that has a lunch counter sells chicken salad that I like a lot. I usually have a container of that for a sandwich when I can't think of something else. I have been wanting Mexican food but won't go to a restaurant. One night I ate an old Chimichanga that was in the freezer. I put some chili and cheese on it. Last night I heated a couple of tamales and put chili and cheese on that. I looked for some frozen enchiladas but haven't been able to find any. They aren't that hard to make but haven't gotten the things to make that. I cooked a hamburger patty in the air fryer and had a hamburger for lunch.

I thought about mowing but it can go a few more days. Just need to get it done before it starts raining again on Sunday.

Martha

[snowball]

I did go out to Idaho Falls for the stuff I felt I needed... Shadow's joint supplement
the yarn I wanted as I was looking at the yarn had the two bone in my cart when I saw a tweed one I was going to use the bone for sand but this tweed looked like it might work perhaps better but never used that type in the afghan so I got it as well well see what I think and then take what I don't use back... and they had cotton yarn buy two get one free.... hopefully that came out of the mix and got some baby yarn not the color I was thinking about but liked it so we will see right?
on the way to the city I decided to stop and have a nephew check my oil he came to the window and said he saw evidence of blow by oil recommended that I stop at a place he liked to have them look at it so did that yikes they said I need a new motor not what I wanted to hear today at all... not cheap either... I told him that it cost more than the truck is worth... but at the same time to replace the truck I wouldn't be able to do it for less than that and probably considerably more... I only have 3 more payments on the truck just not happy about it at all...
so didn't go to camping world it was mostly a get information trip anyway... had decided that I would do the have to first then see how my back felt by time I was through at Petsmart and JoAnn's it was saying and you still have Walmart to do so went to Walmart didn't get everything I needed but did get kleenix yea!!! and clorox wipes.. haven't been able to get either of those in a very long time...
so am home trying to get warm ...
it's cold out possibility tomorrow night of snow yikes!!!
you all have a good day
sheila

[BarbaraRose]

Sheila, sorry to hear about your truck! It's always something, right?

Martha, my tuna salad consists of small pasta, like rings, small shells, etc. Then tuna, peas, celery, salt, a little onion flakes and lots of Miracle Whip! My keep my recipes very simple. Don't like a lot of extra stuff added, or too much onion and spices.

Spent the whole day reading a book I just got on NDE's (near death experiences). I have always been fascinated by that and have read a lot of other books on the subject. Was a great book and I just finished it tonight. I guess I will work on my GC's classes tomorrow...

Time for bed...good night!