Good Morning! I ran some more errands this morning. I didn't think it was raining even though the street was still wet but it was misting. Along with the never ending wind and 35 degrees outside, it's not a nice day to stand around outside. I need to make a weekend grocery list and go out again so I don't have to be out with the local Friday crazies tomorrow. We have our last concert Saturday night, a ukulele orchestra with some comedy and vocals. I'm sure it will be better than the last guy! Bob will be home for lunch soon so need to check and see if there are any leftovers or maybe something "new." I am so lucky he will eat most anything.

Susan, thinking of you and hope the new knee is working well for you!

"Gma," what are you up to today?

I'm off to search the fridge! Enjoy a fantastic Friday!

Good evening. We have had on and off rain all day long. I want some sunshine!! I'm about ready for sandals.
It got a little chilly this afternoon.

Jack had to work out on the pithog all day yesterday so he came home all sunburned on his head and arms. He was in the sun and the water reflection.

I ordered a bunch of cruise clothes. I ordered a pink polka dot dress that I hope I like. My dress pants are too big so I need to find a new pair of black dress pants.

Jean: I guess I should have said healthier. I cut out white bread products and even went past just wheat bread to multi grain bread. I quit eating potatoes and regular pasta and am going with veg substitutes and whole wheat pasta. I quit drinking soda except rarely too. I am eating more protein and limit my carbs even more than I did. It's a pain because I have to cook a lot more or use a lot more pots and pans because Jack is meat and potatoes. I take it you were talking about church with the ukeleles? No, we have an ice tea maker. Jack just goes through a ton of tea. I haven't been able to find any brand that has a selection of diet ice teas.

Everyone have a good evening.

Good Afternoon! The sun is playing hide 'n seek, more hiding than out. I had an errand first thing this morning and stopped to pick up a couple things at the grocery store. I also cleaned the oven racks this morning, I've had baked potatoes bubble over and drip, then grease spatters from something. I wish self cleaning ovens could clean the racks too. We are going to a funeral visitation later this afternoon, for a lady we just saw at a funeral in Bob's hometown. Bob helped on their farm when he was in high school and she fed him really good food! Afterwards I think we may head to Sioux City and look for birthday clothes for Kolby and Zowie.

"Gma," at one time Bob's doctor was a big South Beach diet promoter. He said if it is white, don't eat it. The ukulele concert is part of the season tickets we bought. This is the last concert for this year. We start again in October, or maybe September. We've enjoyed them all except the last guy but now we can say we were exposed to someone different from our usual choice. Do you use regular tea bags or powdered tea in your tea maker? I've seen the Quacker Factory on QVC and the clothes are cute. I just never know what size to order so don't order anything. I am getting clothing catalogs all of a sudden. Bob even asked if I signed up on a mailing list. I'm sorry the dress was a dud. Is your toe sore or just not pretty? So far for the weekend, I need to vacuum tomorrow, change the sheets, concert, and church on Sunday. It's supposed to rain.

​Not much else newsy from here today. Hope you all enjoying a great day!

Good Afternoon! It's another gloomy day in my neighborhood although it is getting brighter. There is no wind for a nice change, and so far no rain. I made a casserole for lunch, a chicken and wild rice one that I had at a luncheon last month. The hostess said she made extra in her pan, which I didn't do, and mine looked as large as hers did. We will be eating leftovers for days! I have sheets in the washer that should be done, and the dishwasher is doing dishes. Next on my agenda is to decide what to wear to the concert tonight. I have been looking through clothing catalogs and they are expensive! All offer "free" shipping if buying over certain amounts. Needless to say I haven't seen anything that really catches my eye although I do need some new clothes. I just hate to shop!

I need to get busy and put dishes away! Enjoy a nice Saturday!

Good Afternoon! It's another gloomy day in my neighborhood, waiting for the predicted rain to get started. We drove over to a nearby town to check out a new to us Shopko store. I was looking for a Ninjago Lego character for Kolby. We weren't impressed with the store at all, very small and not much merchandise. I can see why they come here to shop WM! They also have a K-Mart which is still going strong and has twice the merchandise as the other store but not the Lego character I was looking for. Bob did find some jeans with a higher back so he was happy, (no plumber's bu**!).

The concert last night was above and beyond exceptional! There were five guys and two gals playing different sizes of ukuleles. I did not know there are soprano, tenor, and bass ukulele instruments. The group is The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain; they played for the queen's 90th birthday party as well as world wide; they also sang and injected some comedy so it was a most enjoyable evening. They are making stops through Nebraska on their way to Colorado and further west. If you ever get a chance, do go see them! The Texas Tenors are coming this summer so we are definitely going to see them.

"Gma," I'm thinking we are never ever going to have a nice, sunny, warm spring day! It's just going to swing into humid and hot from these damp cold days. We used to have a regular four season year, but not much any more. I'm sure we will have the final basketball game on tv tonight. Bob was watching college girls play softball the other evening. The tv programming is just more of the violence on the networks or else politics. Both get old fast. Do you send the boys cash in the mail? I've always sent $2 bills in their birthday cards. When they were little they got a kick out of getting mail. Maddy has saved all of her's while Kolby can't wait to spend his, not sure about the other two. Speaking of grandkids, Ian's bedroom is in the lower level and he has his own bathroom. He slipped, fell in the tub, and put a hole in the side with his knee. Jason said they put duct tape over the hole until he can replace the tub. Ian had a couple of good scratches but otherwise unhurt. He felt really bad and kept apologizing. The dress is really cute; I hope it fits and you can keep it! How long will you be gone on the cruise?

I have laundry to fold and a couple more loads waiting so need to keep moving. Hope you all are enjoying a nice day!

Good Afternoon! It's been another cloudy, misty day in my corner of the world. Yesterday we found out we are losing our pastor in June. This morning I had a chance to visit with him only to learn the move is not by his choice. His "boss," the district superintendent, is demoting him to a much smaller church, and pay, in Des Moines. Around the first of the year all Methodist pastors are given the options of wanting to move, wanting to stay, or open to either. He wanted to stay with us and when he came here five/six years ago, he told us he hoped to retire from our church. A shock and many of us are trying to decide what to do although he indicated he had no choice in the matter and the decision was a done deal. I had a dessert meeting at a bread and breakfast this afternoon. We had a tour of the old house along with the history of restoring it to the original house. It had been divided into apartments years ago; the couple moved here from SD and spent weekends for four years restoring this house. It is full of beautiful antique furniture and dishes. The hostess commented how much she loves dishes and has several sets of china. I made sure I was the last one to leave and asked her if she would like another set of china, telling her the history of my mom's dishes. As soon as I can put the whole set together, they will have a new home! I am so excited to think that someone will love and use them.

"Gma," Bob washed my car on Thursday and it rained on Friday. I've almost given up on having it squeaky clean because of our crappy weather. Sioux City has quite a few "big names" come but a lot of times the program doesn't start until 7:30/8:00, in the middle of the week, and that makes it late driving home. Will you be cruising to places you haven't been before? I'd still like to cruise to Alaska but it won't be next year since we have our Maui reservations. However, if a good summer deal would come along . . . . The cruise credit card sounds like a good deal. Does Jack get credit for being a veteran?

Now I need to dream up something for supper when I'm not hungry after a mid afternoon dessert. Hope you all enjoy a nice evening. I think we will have basketball on tv tonight!

Good Afternoon! We saw the sun this morning but big puffy white clouds are moving in now. I spent the morning washing china and packing it in boxes. I will deliver it tomorrow! I found one small dish with a chip and thought maybe I could replace it. I found all the pieces I have online, except that one. I have two bowls that I would call the old style cereal bowls. Online they are called cranberry bowls which I've never heard of, selling for $149.99 a piece. Only two are available! Just for fun I added up the prices and the set is worth $1005 if anyone would buy it. I tried to find replacements for my grandma's china which Beth has, but there are very few pieces available. I need to take checks to the hospital and check on the card rack to see if there are any empty spaces. I/we still haven't picked a new card company so I need to get busy and pick one.

"Gma," I don't think one ever has enough storage space. The shelves where I kept the china are too high for me to reach without standing on a chair. Bob has threatened to rent a storage unit but so far nothing is happening. Little by little I am sorting through things but it takes a long time because I take the time to look and remember. Does the ac use water or do you have to empty water from it? I remember the old window air conditioners dripping water when I was a kid. We had one of the first because my mom had hay fever and asthma so the heat and humidity bothered her. I have to say I wasn't all that impressed with the excursions off the ship except to actually be able to say, "I was in Aruba, etc." I was most disappointed in the shops being closed on Sunday. I'm not sure if there will be an organized effort to keep our pastor or not. I will help if there is!

I need to deliver my checks to the hospital and vacuum the dust bunnies if I don't get anything else done today. Hope you enjoy the rest of a terrific Tuesday!

Good Afternoon! Another cloudy day in my corner of the world but so far no rain. Bob just finished fertilizing the yard so he is hoping for rain which was in last night's forecast. I delivered the china this morning and spent an hour visiting and enjoying fresh muffins and coffee. The B and B lady is delightful! Then I went back for a recheck on my eyes; the conclusion is my prescription has changed and I can go back to my contacts again. Yay! My regular checkup is in July so if there is no more change I will update with new glasses then. I have bell practice later this afternoon, last one until fall.

"Gma," I took a small crossover purse, just big enough for the room key, kleen-x, and the daily schedule sheet. I figured I could always go back to the room if I really needed something. Since I didn't have to have room for my phone, money, or sunglasses it worked pretty good. I could never get by with it anywhere else though. I visited with another church member this morning. Our pastor just turned 60 and plans to retire at 65. He's been here 5/6 years and she was of the opinion a pastor is never in the same church much longer than that. She also is of the thought it is a done deal and made the comment that she knew there were people who didn't care for him but also said that everyone would never be happy no matter who the pastor is. That is very true. She thinks the next one will be younger with more energy; we have not had an associate pastor this time and the lazy fat a** (excuse my language) person who was the office manager and is now supposed to be the pastor's helper, sits in her office. She took over when the last one left and she was so good making home visits and following up on people or families having health challenges, deaths, etc. People really liked her but she was from Utah and so homesick she moved back home. Anyhow, I hope someone new will shape up the so-called helper. Do you have central air too? The furnace guy told us to run the furnace fan constantly during the summer; since our bedrooms are upstairs he said it circulates the cool air better. We do that when it is really hot because our bedroom is on the west side.

Susan, hope you are moving easier and feeling better.

I'm off to do some more clothes sorting! Enjoy the rest of a wonderful Wednesday!

Good morning, ladies! Warm and humid today with storms on the way.

Pain around the knee is getting more bearable but still icing as much as I can and oxytocin every 4 hours. I have 2 hours PT in the morning and then again in the afternoon. I'm pretty wiped out after these sessions. I made it up and down 4 steps this morning...I have 13 at home.

More tomorrow.