Steel Magnolias #60

[gma22]

Good morning girls. We are supposed to get rain for the next three days but some nice warm temps so I will take the rain. I hope it holds off long enough for the trash to be picked up so my trash can doesn't get full of water!

I got an email from Thomas from his new phone last night saying he has played the Rock Band 3 bundle we bought him everyday since he got it. I guess that means he likes it! It was the only thing he put on his Christmas list to me so we didn't have much choice. He gets so much he probably doesn't know what to ask for anymore. I think next Christmas may be an issue. I know he wants a new laptop because his is a mess I guess. It keeps crashing and stuff.

Susan: Ok, we are all worried about you now. I am going to give you a couple days then hunt up people on your facebook page and start trying to find out if you are ok. Seems like every year about this time you get sick and we are very worried.

Jean: Bet you had fun counting all the change! lol Some of the huge mega churches have those coin machines that do the counting for them. We desperately need to paint again, but we just have to wait until we get Jack back healthy. His knee is really getting bad, but we can't do a thing until he can get a consult from his gp and he can't get in to see her until February. He got up last night and sat back down and screamed in pain and grabbed the back of his knee. As a wife, you sure feel sorry for them when you can't do anything to help them.

Maggie: The new groomer did an ok job on Fortune. It will take him some time to get used to him and such. I don't think he is a trained groomer as he is a vet tech at the clinic, but they needed someone who could do it I guess. Fortune likes Wesley and that is a plus. He was really nice and wanted to please me so he took him back and did some more clipping in areas I wanted Fortune shorter like around his backside and such. I think he will be ok the more he does him and he charges the same.

Well, here is my sister's sock. I am putting the other one on the needles today. I wanted to have them both done this week to ship to her, but it isn't going to happen. Those couple days I had the stiff neck and shoulder it was hard to get comfortable enough to knit. It hasn't been washed and blocked yet so the stitches aren't too even, but I think it turned out nicely. I hope she likes my "strawberry" pattern.

I guess I should go and get some work done. I have a lot I would like to accomplish today. Have a good hump day and stay warm and dry if you can. Faye

[Jean]

Good Morning, Flowers! The sun is supposed to be shining today but it is hiding right now. It is already 33 degrees heading for a high of 40. The excitement for the day is to maybe watch a pickup being pulled out of the lake. The DUMB guy drove out fairly close to the shoreline pulling an ice house. There are several ice houses out on the lake but usually it is 4 wheelers or a couple of guys pulling them. Other fishermen saw the pickup go in and the 2 guys were smart enough to roll the windows down before it totally submerged, so were able to get out on their own. Bob is wondering how anything heavy will be able to get close enough to hook onto the pickup. I need to make a grocery run later, maybe after lunch.

"Gma" -- I think it is ridiculous that Jack has to wait so long to see a doctor when he is in pain. What about finding a new doctor and starting over? I know that would be a hassle too. I really like the sock! The color looks like SPRING! Speaking of which, we are having another minute of daylight today.

I need to put in a load of laundry and round up the Christmas bags I salvaged. I really need to sort through my drawers of ribbon, bows, bags, and wrapping paper as I can never find what I'm looking for in a hurry.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Jean -- from Iowa!

[QuilterInVA]

Good afternoon, ladies. Its way up to 37 degrees today so the snow is melting. We had 11.5 inches and everything is a mess. I have a big branch from the pine tree in my yard. This was the third biggest snowfall since they started keeping records over 100 years ago.

My Christmas was the worst. Cupid died about noon. He hadn't been sick or anything, ate all his breakfast and came for his noon snack. He walked into the living room before I could get the food, coughed twice and fell over. Glory called about 5 minutes later and I was crying and hysterical and she said she was going to call Elaine and then call back. Elaine and her husband left their family to come get Cupid to take him to the vet to be cremated for me. Glory came and made me pack a bag and go stay with her over in Smithfield where she is dog sitting. Well, the snow started and we were way out in the country and couldn't get out until today. I was so glad to get home. I love Glory but I just wanted to be here by myself. My road is still a sheet of ice so I won't be going out until it melts some more.

Faye, Jack needs a doctor before February. It'll be even worse by then. You really have to be assertive and then they will get you in. I was always on them for Stan's care and it seemed they liked me better for it. Those are beautiful socks. Looks like strawberry sherbet.

Jean, you sent the snow my way but please keep those cold temperatures! I'm glad you are able to get out and about - it's cabin fever time here.

Maggie, Beanie is so cute! A regular little Napolean - is that what you are saying. I'm glad Ragg Mopp is adapting to having him around. You are going to love the new program.

Gloria, you had even more snow! I hope you have the equipment to clear roads up there. We don't. It was nice to hear from you.

Well, I need to get busy and put Cupid's things away, etc. I have floors to mop and vacuum and laundry so I'll be busy. I also need to get my menus together for next week.

Enjoy your evening!

[Jean]

Susan -- I am so glad you are ok, but I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am about Cupid. I can shed tears right along with you. I've been watching the weather channel and knew you were getting more than your fair share of snow. I'm glad your friends were there for you.

[gma22]

Susan: I too am thrilled you are ok, but my heart breaks for you at the loss of your little Cupid. Please know all of us ladies feel for you as we all have pets we love too. We are here for you!

[gma22]

Good morning to you ladies. It is going to be really warm for the last of December today, upper 50's and is supposed to be near 70 here tomorrow and hopefully not too much rain.

Susan: Hope you are digging out from that mess that came your way. Again, I am so sorry about little Cupid. I can hardly look at a Friskies commercial because the cat looks just like Butterscotch and he died several years ago now. The problem exists with the practice and I have had no luck strong arming it at all. On top of that, because we are Tricare, there are few practices available to us here and this is the best of a poor bunch. Jack's doctor happens to be staff and not a resident and as such is busy, but he really likes her and doesn't want to change. They didn't say, but I am wondering if she is on some kind of sabbatical or vacation or something. On top of that, he has already seen one of the other physicians there a couple months agon when he couldn't get in to see his doctor and this jerk blew him off basically and chastised him for reading up on the condition saying basically patients didn't know what they were talking about and should just listen to their doctor! I have to tell you my husband came away from that appt, major angry. He told the doctor off in no uncertain terms, but it still hasn't helped with the knee. So he is biding his time until he can get in to see his doctor and get an authorization to his orthopedist (which the first doctor refused to give him, btw!)

Jean: I bought these nylon soft sided containers, one is for the long wrapping paper rolls and the other is round and holds everything else. It is nice to have everything in just the two so I always know where my wrapping paper and such is. Hopefully you have gotten a bit more sun over the last day or so. I have often wondered how many times these guys who ice fish have catastrophes getting their "houses" out on the ice and such and from your story I see they can have some pretty bad results!

Nothing much going on here. I need to get cracking on that other sock, but have the blahs the last couple days! Hopefully, I can get out tomorrow and get some sun and such.

You all have a great day today! Faye

[Jean]

Good Morning, Flowers! It is very foggy and 43 degrees already this morning! I could do without the fog but the temperature is wonderful. Snow is melting and the streets are sloppy. We saw the pickup removal pictures on tv this morning; the DNR used two huge pontoon floats with a winch on metal braces in the middle to get the pickup out of the lake. I suppose if the ice broke the pontoons would float so they could get to shore without sinking. Bob says that will cost the pickup owner big bucks for "messing" with the lake. I'm still sorting and pitching catalogs and magazines this morning and want to make a library run before the freezing drizzle begins this afternoon. I keep thinking WW will be cancelled since the leader lives out in the country quite a ways away and several members drive in from surrounding towns. Our stupid radio station only has local news at 7 and noon; meeting starts at 12:15.

"Gma" -- Enjoy your WARM weather! There have been warnings both on the radio and in the paper not to drive on the lake because there is still open water out in the middle. We haven't had the very continuous cold weather needed to make the ice vehicle safe. When I was pregnant with Beth we walked out on the lake and hit a mushy spot where the wind had shifted the ice. I still can't believe we did that! I know where my wrapping paper, etc., is, but it's just not organized like it should be.

Maggie -- Where have you been?

Susan -- Thinking of you! I'm sure your house must seem pretty quiet without Cupid.

I need to get dressed and get moving. I hope the sun is shining on you today! Have a nice day!

Jean -- from Iowa!

[QuilterInVA]

Good morning, ladies. It's warming up some and it might be 60 on Saturday with rain on Sunday. What weather!

I'm alternating an hour computer/quilting with an hour of housework today. I get more done in the long run when I do that. Tomorrow is English Paper Piecing Bee and I'm going to my WW meeting first. I'll be glad to get back to my regular Saturday meeting. The leader on Friday is a little too perky for me.

Jean, the house seems very empty without Cupid. He was always near me or on my lap. I saw some kids ice skating on the creek behind my house. I hope it is frozen solid enough. I never saw the fun in sitting on the frozen lake in an ice house. I like to be warm and cozy.

Faye, I see the problem with the doctor now. Poor Jack! I hate that commercial that is on about the abused animals. As soon as it starts, I turn the station. It is so sad!

Hi, Maggie!

Have a great day!

[Maggie]

GOOD MORNING MAGNOLIAS

I really thought I posted yesterday. Guess the time got away from me and I didn't get here after all. It is a 43 degree day that feels like 36 because of the 15 MPH wind. Rather chilly day. I have just about gotten my room all back the way I had it only better because I tossed some things when I had it all out of here. I am going to have to re-arrange my glass because when Will carried it back in here he didn't set it in the same order that I had it. Something that really doesn't matter but I just want it in a certain order. My job today is to re-arange the items in the freezer so we can fit the Schwans order which comes tomorrow in there. I can inventory it at the same time. I have a chicken thawing to do in the rotisserie for this evening. I'll make some of my rice mixture and serve some kind of fruit and veggie with it for a nice dinner. Beanie is such a fun little guy. He and Ragg Mopp are getting along so much better now.

SUSAN I do know how you feel about losing Cupid. It is never easy to lose a beloved pet. What a shock to your system that must have been. You have a wonderful support group that helped you with it. Your English Paper Piercing sounds so interesting. The ice houses on the lake we lived beside in MN were something to behold. Most had lighting and heaters and microwaves and TV's in them. Those guys were comfortable to say the least. The houses were all set up on the frozen lake like a little village. The ice on that lake gets a little over 5 feet. It was fun to look out over the lake for we were up many steps from it.

JEAN What a dope to try to take his ice house out on a lake that wasn't even totally frozen. What was he thinking. I don't like fog. We had fog at times while living so close to the Pacific Ocean that curled my hair. Two blocks from the beach were I grew up. My sisters hair went straight and mine curled in the fog.

DONNA FAYE I feel so sorry for your Jack. The hoops they make him jump through to get his knee fixed are terrible. What would they do if he landed in emergency? Would they call in his doctor? Did I tell you what a neat sock that is. Pink and pretty.

I need to go see how the thawing of that chicken is coming. Have a wonderful rest of the day MAGNOLIAS Type at y'all later.

[Jean]

Susan -- Our temp has dropped down to 12 with a wind chill of -5 tonight. The wind is pretty strong tonight and is supposed to whip some new snow around during the night. I like your one hour of work then one hour of fun idea. I'll bet the one hour of fun goes twice as fast. The lake looked pretty "soupy" this afternoon. The warm south wind really melted a lot of snow today.

Maggie -- It seems like we have had more fog this last few years than I ever remember as a kid. We've even had some late school starts because it is so thick while it is still dark in the mornings. Your evening menu sounded good. Bob suggested steak so that is what we are having tomorrow night, along with salad fixings, and maybe a baked potato. He offered to grill.

I am heading to bed to read. I hope I chose good books this time because the last ones weren't. See you all tomorrow!

[Maggie]

GOOD NIGHT MAGNOLIAS

My day is fast coming to an end. The chicken turned out so good in that rotisserie. Served it with brown rice and green beans sprinkled with bacon bits and a fresh baked roll. I got all that I had on my "to do" list done this day so that is that. After Schwan man comes in the morning then we will make a trip to Wal*Mart to pick up a few things. Hear tell there is a storm on its way to drop some snow on us so we will see. We have a well stocked pantry so don't really need anything except milk and fresh fruit and veggies. My nifty keeper is empty and I need some to fill it back up. Have cans but love the fresh. We still have lots of acorn squash in the basement from our garden.

JEAN We are also having steak tomorrow but I think I will be doing it inside on my griddler. I will fix baked sweet potatoes and a tossed green salad. Weather changes each 100 years. It used to snow lots here and now not much. A 95 year old native of this land was telling of what it was like when she was a child growing up here. California had 7 years drought and now look at what they are getting.

Good Night all you MAGNOLIAS Type at y'all later.