Wednesday, November 13

[Othersharon]

Good morning! It’s a very cold morning with temps earlier in the 20’s. I sure wasn’t ready for that this morning! I think it’s forecasted to get up to 50 today so time to pull out the hat and gloves for when I’m outside. So far today I don’t really have any plans except to get some housework done. I’ve been fussing with my computer setup, think it’s time for a new router since the one I have now lost 2 of the little antennas and I can’t get them to reconnect plus this one is probably outdated. Or at least that’s what all the research I’ve done indicates. And I’m not sure how to go about this whole thing. I feel like I’m trying to translate a foreign language when I read or listen to utube videos. I’m waiting for the yard guy to come back and finish the work in the yard and finally get rid of all the leaves but just grateful most are gone. Maybe if it warms up a bit more and the wind doesn’t blow to hard I can get out and at least make a few piles for him to gather and get rid of for me. The ongoing saga! Not much else happening here, just normal for me things that need to be done inside the house. My son brought back some grouper from their trip to the Carolina coast so think I’ll pull it out of the freezer and have it for dinner tonight. Not a fish I’ve seen here. I think one time years ago we found some at the store but nothing since. And of course it’s one fish I particularly enjoy! Okay, coffee is long since finished so I should get moving. Hope you have a great day.

[OregonLuvr]

Good morning. Cloudy, rainy windy morning. Cold outside from the wind it is 50° but still too chilly for me to be outside. So Emma and I came in rather quickly. Ate some breakfast while I watched the news. I only like the local news and for the weather. I am so not a political junkie. My mantra is "it will be what it will be" and we will have to live with whatever.

I have been watching various Youtube videos this morning for a couple of my projects I am pondering. I am covered up with my heated throw and I may never get up today LOL

[Shirlv]

Morning Sharon and All. It’s cold here too. I’m usually a few degrees warmer that Sharon. I will need a sweater for the walk to the mailbox. I had corrective surgery to repair drooping lower eye lids. Was needed to protect my eyes a. Raccoon eyes are fading. Surgery went well.

I bought empty gift baskets from Amazon to hold bottles of vanilla extract. Trying to think of other items I could add to this empty basket. I was going to make candied walnuts but they don’t have a long shelve life. Will work on that.

Garfield is doing well. We are beginning to speak to each other. Ha comes to my sitting room to complain. He stands outside my room and meows he comes in when I tell him it’s ok. He paces back and forth constantly meowing. It’s so funny. I tell him it’s a tough world to just hang in there. Then he leaves. He visits when son in-law is late coming home or when daughter and husband go out in the evening.

Beth, love your winter home set up. Judy, you have a daunting job with the home movies. Barbie, looks life you have found a great retirement area. I know I have missed others activities. Sorry
Be safe

[Bethers]

Temps good here today but humidity today has made it quite muggy. Similar temps yesterday and I had my door open all day and the ac rarely came on. Today, I'm so hot if I step outside because of how muggy it is. I do have a pickup order to get from Walmart in a bit and intend to drive through a carwash first. But not a day to be outside. Funny how temps don't always tell the story.

[Redetotry]

It's been a gloomy day here, 52 and drizzling rain. I think it felt extra cold because it was 72 on Tuesday. I noticed a tree yesterday on our walk that had leaves coming out! I guess with everything else that is blooming I shouldn't have been surprised. Beth if you would share some of your heat we could all be comfy!
Shirl the eye doctor has been saying I should have the eyelid surgery on my left eye but so far I'm resisting. Sharon I feel like you when it comes to computer problems. I had a local computer place put something on mine so they can go in remotely and fix stuff! Getting through to Apple Care was so frustrating I didn't renew it.

[JudyJB]

Shirl, I am giving away jars of cherry jam to a couple of people and putting them in gift bags with Christmas dish towels, and maybe a couple of fancy tiny candy canes. Last year I went to Hobby Lobby when they had their sales and got some Christmas rubber spatulas and cookie cutters. Everything was seriously on sale there, so I went slightly nuts on hostess gifts for my DIL's mother and stepmother because I am spending Christmas Even and Christmas Day with their families. Since you are giving away vanilla, you could tuck in a small package of cookie mix or something similar. And maybe a mini-candy cane?? Or maybe package of chocolate chips??

When I was in Canada, I bought myself a small purse that has a long strap and several places to snap it on, so purse can be fanny pack, over shoulder and neck, regular over shoulder, even handbag with shorter handle. I liked it so well, I went back and bought the same size for my two DILs but in different colors, and three slightly smaller versions for my three granddaughters. And to go into them, I got some cute foldable brushes that have little mirrors on them when opened. Then I got some little colorful soft nail files, some flavored lip balm, and a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer. Might add some nail clippers and a small piece of chocolate. Plus I got granddaughter and one grandson who are starting college next year books on how to survive college. Got some books for one son, and other two granddaughters. Figure better to get them something they can read than junk. All my grandkids are teenagers, so it is impossible to buy them clothing, but I did buy grandson who is going to college in Anchorage, AK, some long underwear and a flannel shirt.

I'm about halfway through annotating Disk 2 of my dad's movies. I have to keep stopping and starting small sections while i write out a description of people, like what they are wearing and whose kid is who. That takes time, as does having to go back and watch sections again. It is a lot of work. Next, I suppose, I ought to get the old photos of my grandparents and write on the back of them, but that is for next year!! I still have a lot of slides i need to get digitalized, and because I had so many aunts, uncles, and cousins, there are a lot of photos of them in there as well.

Also, son had his Brittany dog with lymphoma put down a couple of weeks ago because she was getting so weak, and this past weekend, they went out and got an Australian Sheppard puppy. She is 8-9 weeks old, and he says she is peeing about every 30 minutes. Luckily he works from home, but is getting really worn out putting her out all the time and cleaning up pee spots. I told him late fall and winter was a bad time to get a puppy that needed housebreaking! Obviously, my son likes really active dogs, as this one is also on the warning list of don't get if you don't plan on exercising dog a LOT! She is dark brown and white with a tiny bit of reddish fur. She is also going to need a lot of brushing! Cat is not so enthusiastic to have new dog in house.

[Shirlv]

Judy, thanks so much for the great suggestions. I went on the Hobby Lobby website an d found the spatula a dish towels. I have a small sign that says “ I hope you dance” and HL had a towel that said “we dance in this kitchen” . Very fitting since the men in my family like to cook too. My thinking is now in a different direction. Suck fun. Thanks again

[JudyJB]

Shirl, it is also fun buying the little extras to add to gifts. I am hoping they have fun opening their purses and finding the surprises, which are really pretty inexpensive. However, I think I will have to put the hand sanitizer in a tiny ziplock bag when I ship everything to Ohio, just in case anything leaks.

One of the other things I do because I travel so much is to pick up interesting little things I find in visitor centers and gift shops. Eventually, I will find someone to give them to.

[Redetotry]

Judy you have such good ideas for presents!! Can I hire you as a personal shopper? I don't need many gifts but I'm the worlds worst shopper for others, I always find too much that I want. Also for the puppy this was a sanity saver when we got Emma. She has outgrown it in this picture but I had to keep her separate from my Miniature Poodle who really wanted to kill her. He can also find them in a heavy white plastic on Amazon. I always train to piddle pads and to go outside. On dark and stormy nights I don't want to stand outside waiting on a puppy to decide to 'go'. Also they never forget about the pads and if you are gone when they need to potty at any age they will go to their pad rather than use a rug.
Beth hope your weather improves I can't handle heat and humidity stay inside!

[OregonLuvr]

BJ I had pretty much the same set up as you did. I set up the Xpen, had her crate, food, and litter box. Yes she was litter box trained when I got her. We soon transitioned to outside only after a couple of months. I set this up the day before her arrival. I am happy to say she has never pottied in the house since she got the concept of outside.