HELLO CHICKIES ~ we had a lovely sunny day today; was a bit hot and humid, but later a cool breeze came by. Put some of DH's outdoor work laundry out on the line; but some munchkins got caught playing with it. After I did my hair, I noticed some of it laying all over the grass. I went out to pick it up and a couple of little birdies confessed it was them; of course, the best remedy for that was to get them to help me pick it up ~ LOL!

So other than that I just answered emails and then the phone; I think within one hour I got over five+ phone calls. Hydro called twice to tell us twice to expect a hydro outage at the end of the month ~ LOL! OoooKaay!!! Thanks for the warning; we can make a flask of coffee up at 7:00 am plus have a cold picnic lunch!

HEY PURPLE ~ nice to see you back full swing ... hope your dinner was divine tonight. Our weather seems to be as unpredictable as yours: we do have a mixed bag too. Hope your friend gets the job he wants at the MS center. DH is always commenting that I have been promoted to head supervisor of all major projects in our life. I think it's great that he finally realized who was better qualified to be THE BOSS ~ LOL!

I must agree that one major flaw humans have is being JUDGEMENTAL and not in a good way. And I am so sorry to hear that you also have been the brunt of rude and ignorant theology. The disciples asked JESUS once about a person who was blind "Who sinned, this man or his parents?"; and JESUS stated 'NEITHER' ... in John 9:3. Sadly, some people prove how ignorant they are every time they open their mouths!

The bible tells us over and over not to condemn; not to judge; not to be rude; and not to hurt others. We are to follow the GOLDEN RULE: LOVE OTHERS AS YOURSELVES; and if they truly did that, they would be less critical, much kinder, and way more forgiving, that's for sure!

I first learned of this beautiful poem through a family friend who had MS; she was a minister's wife and her name was KAY. She was one of the most loving and caring people I ever met on this earth ...

"GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS THAT I CANNOT CHANGE; THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN; AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!" (St. Francis of Assissi)

What are STEROIDS exactly and how did they help your eczema? I got a small rash on my hand a few weeks ago; it is almost gone, but boy it doesn't like water on it at all. I know a few people who have eczema so bad; and they sure could use some relief ....


MEOWEE ~ that is so true: Canadians do borrow ideas from both the UK and the US ... hmmm; why can't we come up with our own ideas??? We're a pretty intelligent lot!

HEY VAL ~ how's the apartment coming along? I remember when I had my duplex and was working; all my time was taken up looking after the place. Later when it was rented things became easier. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask away.

WELL, that's all for tonight ladies, take good care, your friend ROSEBUD

Well . . . we do have "eh" . . . although very few of the people I know actually say that, we are pretty famous for it.

Anyway . . . good Morning and Happy Father's Day . . .

I had to get up and take cough medication so I'm here for a short bit before it knocks me out.

The basement suite is... coming well. I decided to rip up only part of the carpet because I dont have the money right now to redo the floors.

I'm really struggling to get my energy back right now. I've become a napper.. which really messed with my night time routines... and I ended up sleeping more than 14 hours yesterday... the interferons made me feel pretty sick that day.

Anyways. hope everyone is well I own a black cat so I MUST be lucky right?!

oo and I noticed you joined the next 3fc 5k Rosebud They have been a really enjoyable thing to do for me... it's a fun idea to have a bunch of us doing 5k's around the world about the same time... and it keeps us moving.

Good Morning . . .

HELLO CHICKIES ~ I'M BACK ... I so exhausted myself getting a special FATHER'S DAY DINNER done for my DAD and S-M while they are up, that I didn't get in to post Sunday. First we went to town to pick up a few things and then spent part of the afternoon preparing the dinner and the other transplanting some flowers that I had picked up last week. The weather was perfect for it as there was a nice breeze that was chasing all the buggies away for me.

So, I got all the flowers done (into five hanging baskets); and this week will transplant the three Tiny Tim Tomatoes and my cabbage plants into the garden. We picked up our new rototiller today; DH is tickled pink (another new toy). Guys love any toys that have motors and make big noises, but NIKO wasn't too keen on that and asked to go outside right away even though DH didn't run it; he was just studying it ~ LOL!

NIKO hates anything that makes noises; scares the heck out of him. DH bought my DAD one of those "fart toys" and he was playing with it and NIKO rocketed out of the room and right into his bed in our bedroom, and didn't come out until they were leaving. So we picked up a couple more: becuz we now have the perfect thing to use for training, if he is a bit naughty. Funny thing, he has been an angel ever since, but will it last???

HI VAL ~ yah, all the walking I've been doing has been hard on my feet; but it is really the best exercise for me for cardio for now. I had to put my legs and feet up this aft, so I know what you mean. I try not to sleep too long or like you, I'll be up in the middle of the night. But I want to try that 5K for Canada Day as it is only 45 minutes for 5K, and we are allowed to do it over a few days, if need be. But we will have company here at that time, so I'm sure I'll be getting lots of walking in at the time.

So sorry to hear you've been having so many health issues lately. I thought PURPLE'S comment was funny about the cough syrup mixed with the paint fumes; she may well be very right about that ~ LOL! I remember what paint fumes and lack of sleep did to me; one time I stayed up 2-3 days straight painting, and then zonked for one day from exhaustion. I used to work way too hard when I was younger, so now I am paying for it big time: so learn from our experience, don't overdo it now!!!

MEOWEE ~ DH says that I say "eh" all the time; I guess I'm a bonafide Canadian for sure! We've been getting lots of rain, so the skitters were out; I imagine you don't have a problem with them like we do. We are near so many cold lakes and bush here that I think that is the reason we have so many and this year has been a bad one. We picked up a couple of screened hats to do our gardening in.

HEY PURPLE ~ your dinner at your friends did sound divine. For Fathers' day, I made homemade BBQ sauce and poured over chicken pieces with chunks of lean center cut pork (boneless called riblets; I made my own). Then I put halved mushrooms and sliced zucchini on top, then poured the sauce over top. We also had baked NEW potatoes and steamed veggies. Dessert was a bit of a treat for us: blueberry pie with one spoon of vanilla ice cream.

I'll have to walk a lot this week to work off that dessert; but it is only once a year. We had a great visit with them so it was worth it. I'm glad to hear that your Dad has finally healed well from his surgery. We had a request for prayer for a boy in our Christain Encourager's thread who also has just been diagnosed with Legg-Perthes disease of the hip. So sad to hear young children suffering like that: will keep her in my prayers. Sounds like your school system is doing the right thing to help your niece so she can participate at school; that's so wonderful and it should always be that way.

I always say to DH ... they can pay now or pay later; help these kids when they are young and they will do much better when they are adults as full-functioning and productive citizens; but if they don't, they will end up supporting them all on disabilities, and then whine and complain about it. We have a new HEAD-START program here that is finally helping local children who are behind socially and orally. Now they can start early to help them get used to school, and even get one-on-one therapy for those who have speech impediments too. I'm so glad to finally see this happening here for our children; many European countries offer these kind of things already.

That's funny about the pots and pans cupboard; I had DH redesign mine for me a few years back, so everything is handy. He made slots on the right side so the baking tins stand up on their side; left is for baking pans; and in the middle, is a drawer (just a box for now) that pulls out with all the lids. The main pots are on the top shelf, stacked neatly for ease of use; fry pans on the left; roasters & stock pots at the back/middle; and regular pots on the right front all beside the stove.

WELL, I think that I'm pretty well caught up now; this week, we will be doing a bit more gardening. We have two sides; using one side and letting the other sit for a while to rest. We add compost and well dried manure to the soil each year as well; putting back what is taken out each year.

Almost everything in my drum gardens is up and doing well. I also planted some early beans, and will plant some more this week and next in the main gardens, as we have to watch for frost here.

So take good care ladies, your friend ROSEBUD

Good Morning . . .

Not feeling too perky today -- partly weather since it's pretty overcast and supposed to rain later one -- partly because this is the day for my annual Gyn visit -- partly because the weight blipped up again. Oh well -- everything on the list will pass in due course.

Hope everybody else has a good day . . . see you later

lol paint fumes... I have the worst sense of smell too so who knows? I ended up with some sort of summer flu.... and flu symptoms are a side effect of my ms meds so it's been a couple of sleepless nights.

Rosebud - yeah the first couple 5k's I did I spread out over 2 days or so... and didnt do them very quickly... just more for enjoyment. I didnt go to work yesterday... and cancelled this evening's plans to keep a low profile.. but I'm jealous of all your gardening activity! Are we going to see pictures of all your hard work??

Purple that's the way of medication isnt it? Everything seems to 'cure' one thing but cause another... ha ha. But it is so good your sister appealed the disability decision. The process is never as easy as it should be... leaving a lot of those who need it in the dust!

meowee. hope you had a good day too

I am going to sit by a window the rest of the night and enjoy our 17 hours of daylight. I was up at 3 yesterday... and it was only dusk outsidie. I LOVE the month of June in the north!! Summer solstice makes things so sunny and light

~ We had a good day to work outside; only light sun and cool with a handy breeze that kept most of the buggies at bay. Got some gardening done today, but did have to wear my famous NETTED HAT!

PURPLE ~ I agree with VAL, and am glad your sister did appeal the decision to get financial help for her child. In the past, we have had trouble getting help for our physically challenged people, esp parents with special need's children. Do you remember MONIQUE (MO) that used to be here had a son, ERIC, who is Autistic? They had to move out west to get proper help for him.

Things are improving here right now; many good changes taking place in this area. But as you know, there are those who complain about our social safety net: but a 'TRULY CIVIL' society should always take care of their most vunerable citizens like the sick, elderly, physically or mentally challenged persons, women, children, and other fringe minorities. We are now getting programs here for children who are behind, and I am glad to see that.

There are people who need help that don't get help becuz the application process was too difficult in the past; hopefully now, all these good changes will continue, so more people can have a better quality of life. This is an issue that is often front and center in our media here.

Hope you have lots of fun with your MOM & DAD visiting; mine are up visiting here as well. They came to get a lot of work done while they are here. DH is doing his best to be a sweet SIL and helping all he can. They hope to have all their stuff moved to the cottage by the fall.

Your cooking sounds wonderful, as always. I'd love to to help you with your ironing, but I'm exhausted from the gardening right now! LOL!

GOOD FOR YOU VAL ~ you are doing well with your 5K's. Yes, the gardening isn't an easy thing; I have been suffering in agonies every since this morning, as I went out and did some more planting. Like the walking, I have to spread it out and rest a lot in between, or I wouldn't be able to do it at all. But food prices are soaring and I just really like the fresh stuff; and the flowers are just something that 'SOOTHES THE SOUL!"

The drums are off the ground, so they are easier to plant; they are an experiment that has worked out well. Yes, I will take some pics for you; just a simple garden of five double-wide rows. When everything is growing well, I'll take some pics to show you.

MEOWEE ~ sorry that you had such an 'ICKY' day; yes, they say ... THIS TOO SHALL PASS! It seems to help a bit; and tomorrow will be much better, I'm sure.

Well, you know how I spent part of my morning, and the remaining part of the day, I have spent trying to rest and recuperate from that ~ LOL! All I have to do now is transplant my red and green cabbages tomorrow (hope I feel up to it). Next week, I may plant a few more green and yellow beans for a late batch; we scatter plant them by date to avoid frost trouble. I call them 'RISKY' Beans, but I have had great success with them.

So take good care ladies, and have a great evening; your friend ROSEBUD

Hi Everybody . . .

Very muggy and overcast today -- and I ache in a lot of places -- but things have been so changeable lately, who knows what the afternoon may bring. A good rain would be very welcome since it appears there are still some little hot spots in the fire area -- but, they found the ignition point. It appears to be 'careless camper' syndrome. Will people never learn?

Spent 90 minutes in the waiting room for my 15 minute appointment with the Gyn yesterday. At least he changed the picture on the ceiling over the examining table since the last time I was there. Two of the cutest little chocolate lab puppies you'd ever want to see. Another bit of good news, his scale weighed me 1 pound lighter than my own. Always a pleasant and totally unexpected surprise; especially since it was 4 pm and fully clothed vs first thing in the morning and fully unclothed.

Nothing exciting around my neck of the woods today . . . hope everybody else has good weather and a fun schedule . . .

HELLO CHICKIES ~ we had a cool, overcast day; started to rain late this afternoon and hasn't stopped. Just took it easy today; and made a batch of oatmeal muffins for DH's lunches and snacks. NIKO was a good boy and kept me company all day.

DH spent the day with my DAD helping to get those shingles on the roof of his cottage; they have 3/4's done now. Just one more 1/4 section and they will be finished. They have also started to move furniture in too. DH brought me home a Rhubarb plant today: I said where's the rhubarb? And he presented me a bag with a plant in it ~ LOL! He was very upset when he realized that I wanted him to pick some rhubarb, not dig it up. There was enuff there for one batch of stewed rhubarb.

MEOWEE ~ To my stewed rhubarb, I added some blueberries and raspberries: yum, really tastey! I had some strawberries too, but I just wanted to try it with the raspberries; next time, I'll make it with strawberries. Thanks for the tip! And, congrats on the one pound; hey, one is better than nothin', right?

Well, not much else going in around here either, so will cut this short tonight. HI to VAL and PURPLE ~ hope you ladies are having a great day. Take good care, your friend ROSEBUD

Good Morning . . .

I had the rhubarb, blueberry, strawberry concoction on my oatmeal this morning. Yum. Only problem is that the rhubarb production is starting to get ahead of my ability to eat it. Hey, the season will soon be over and then I'll be missing it.

Looks like a busy day for me . . . the Bengal twins have to go to the vet for their annual shots. Will probably take two of us an hour to get them caged up. Then they will screach and complain the whole time. When they get back home again, they will disappear from sight for at least two days and it will take about 3 months before I can get near them again -- they are definitely not the most tractable cats I've ever shared a house with but, boy are they ever great grudge holders. No idea where they are right now -- haven't seen either one since I brought the cage in from the garage.

After that, guess LouLou and I will do our normal Thursday afternoon shopping "thing" -- if we've got any energy left.

To top it off, it's cold and very overcast . . . difficult to believe it's only two days until Summer is officially here . . . I'm still waiting for Spring. Took me about half an hour to actually get all the parts moving this morning I was so stiffened up.

Anyway . . . hope you all have great days planned . . . keep things moving and shaking, gang . . .