Good Afternoon! The sun is currently shining but has been in and out most of the day. It's windy with 25 mph winds so it's cold outside even though the thermometer says 57 degrees. There is a possibility of frost tomorrow night; I hope I have enough blankets and towels to cover my flowers. I went to get my nails done this morning and then made a grocery run. Beth had cereal bars for the kids the other night and I have been looking for them with no luck at WM nor one grocery store. I'll check in the other store but not holding my breath. I know we are "rural" but we are the last to get anything new in the stores. I vacuumed fur bunnies and have the washer and dryer humming away.

"Gma," thanks for starting a new thread today. We have lunch bunch at the local resort/water park restaurant. When we first retired, there were sometimes nine of us but usually six. Over the years one just quit coming and one died so now there is five. Two were secretaries at the high school, one was the math teacher that I went into her class with special ed students, and the fifth gal worked in the elementary building but was a sister-in-law to the one who died. The math teacher is on the school board now so we get in on a lot of the inside school "scoop." The math teacher and I have sons who are friends and were in each other's weddings, then she has a second son a year older than Beth. I only see them once a month so we always spend a couple hours just visiting as we eat.

I need to switch laundry loads and keep moving. I have Kolby and Zowie's birthday gifts to wrap and drawers full of gift wrap I should sort through. Hope you all enjoy the rest of a terrific Thursday!

Good morning ladies! 68 degrees and that's supposed to be the high for today with more rain.

I have been fighting a head cold for a week. My nose is so sore from blowing it I put neosporene on it. So far it hasn't gone to my chest so that is good.

Don't really feel much like typing a bunch of stuff today but just wanted to let you know I'm still breathing.

Good Afternoon! It's another crappy weather day -- 43 degrees, 23 mph winds, wind chill of 38, sunshine, then raining off and on. This is beyond ridiculous! I've been dusting and sorting through the magazines and catalog piles. I don't know why I just don't toss them in the first place. I wanted to get my usual Saturday chores done today because Zowie has an 11:00 game tomorrow and we will leave here before 8:30. The parking is limited and we like to get as close as we can. If we are lucky we can park and watch the game from the car if she plays on the nearest field. Otherwise it's a hike! Last week the other team had the same color shirts so they had to wear some different colored practice vest type things over their shirts.

"Gma," we are supposed to be in the low 30s tonight so will be covering as many flowers as possible. Have you ever been on the Princess cruise ship? I don't know one from another but we have friends who like to go and really like the Princess. I feel for Jack! My thumb joint will ache sometimes and if I hold something in the same position for very long it will really hurt, almost like it gets a charley horse in it. One of our bell ringers had a finger joint replaced and it seemed like it took a long time before she could use it like before. You will have to have Jack take your picture with all of your Cubs attire.

Susan, it's good to see you today. I'm sorry you are under the weather and hope you feel better soon.

I have to go do the end of the week gift shop paperwork so better get going. It closes at 4 along with the coffe shop. I can get the key if I had to but hate rolling up the gate; it makes a lot of noise. Hope you all enjoy a nice weekend, and may the sun shine!

Good afternoon, ladies! 59 degrees but sunshine.

Yesterday was in the high 70s and sunny. I went out and planted my 3 hydrangeas and lavender plant. I tell you, the mind is willing but the lungs aren't up to digging holes. We were supposed to have rain last night but only got a few drops. Found out the hose I use in the front of the house is holey so need to go get a new one. Then my garbage disposer dies last night and this morning the kitchen faucet decided to start leaking. It's always something.

Cleaning the kitchen today and doing the downstairs vacuuming and moping.

Have a wonderful day!

Good Afternoon! I think our cold weather is affecting my brain! I was sure I had posted yesterday but guess not. It was 32 degrees when we left for the soccer game. I wore a long sleeved turtle neck, a heavy sweatshirt, my nylon jacket under my winter jacket, gloves, and wrapped a blanket around my legs! There was a stiff breeze but we sat facing the sun and the sun did feel warm. I'm so glad the games only last an hour! Zowie's team won so she was happy. It was late afternoon by the time we got home so there was no point in starting any projects. It was 40 degrees this morning and the sun has been shining up until a few minutes ago. Bob sang at early church, then headed up to the cabin. He and Jason are replacing a section of ceiling where there was a leak. Beth volunteered to clean and since there is no heat per se, I opted to stay home and work on my own piles.

"Gma," I need to sort through my pantry and check dates also. I'm good at shoving things to the back when I'm searching for something. I think we most likely will bypass spring and move into the hot temperatures and humidity. I'm trying to second guess when to have the new furnace and air conditioner installed. Our furnace is still running! Some of the farmers think we will have a hot dry summer. We sure don't need any more rain! In driving to the soccer game yesterday, there are lots of fields that haven't been planted to the north of us. Ian starts baseball games this week. He has a concert tomorrow night and we will go to that. If the ball schedule is like last year, he will have two games a week. He again made the "elite" football team that we traveled to Minneapolis for last December. This year it is Kansas City. Sioux Falls is trying to have it there but Ian will be too old by the time that happens.

Susan, you popped in while I was typing. I agree there is always something to fix or clean around the house. My basement is finally drying up, I think because it has been cold and the furnace is running. I'm more than ready for some warmer weather.

I need to get busy and unload the dishwasher then vacuum fur bunnies again. Hope you all enjoy a nice relaxing Sunday.

Good Morning! The sun is shining, NO wind, and 54 degrees with rain in the forecast. Not much money to count at church, and the computer guru wanted to double check the program I use so no posting again today. The gift shop is having a 25% off sale today and tomorrow. I need to double check my payroll deduction totals; with the last direct deposit I am now missing four weeks worth. The "testy" accountant said she only had one signature sheet for the first two weeks, and I know there were two because I have copies. The second two weeks would/should be paid this week. So I need to stop and double check figures with my "boss" then hope she will tackle the accountant. Today is $.25 off a gallon of gas for every $25 spent on meat at the one store. The kids will be here this weekend so I need to check a couple recipes then will go to the grocery store too. We will leave mid-afternoon for Ian's concert which is at 7. There is another concert before his so the parking lot will be a zoo.

"Gma," I'm sorry about you getting sick in the car. I had that happen one time right after I ate lunch in the hospital coffee shop. I figured it was "bad" meat in the sloppy joe since that was all I had. Fortunately I made it to the bathroom. Sometimes I wonder how much of shipping items is done without human input of any kind. I ordered three different doll clothes items, from Amazon, for Zowie's birthday. They came in three different padded envelopes, delivered by the USPS, on the same day. Makes no sense to me. It took a note, from a friend who lives five miles west of me, SIX days to get to me. Her po sends mail to Sioux Falls, 2 1/2 hours north, then to Des Moines, 5/6 hours back south, and then 2 1/2 hours back north to me. Lot of miles on that envelope! We ar supposed to be warmer this week.

Need to check my recipes and payroll figures, so better get moving. Enjoy the rest of a marvelous Monday!

Good Afternoon! The sun has been shining all day! It was a cool 40 degrees this morning but warmed up to 65 this afternoon and NO wind! It was really hard to get up this morning. Last nights concert was two hours long and we didn't get home until midnight. That is a long time to sit on bleachers! They do have folding chairs on the floor but then you can't see the kids as well. I sent the principal an email saying the concert was very good but the 7/8th grade choir and band need to be separate from the 5th and 6th choirs and bands. He did reply and said he knew it was a long concert and they were discussing a solution. I ran a couple errands and then had a haircut after lunch.

"Gma," the accountant said she would deposit three weeks worth this week, and the other three weeks next week. She will never admit she goofed, but at least I will get paid. I always double and triple check my figures before I question her. I'm the first to admit I'm not an accountant. I hope everything you ordered comes through in great shape. The recipe sounds good! Thanks for sharing!

Bob is out watering flowers and the birds. We had a big lunch so I'm not hungry for supper. I know I will be later so guess I should see what's available for a sandwich at least. There is always eggs or peanut butter. Hope you all enjoy a nice evening!

Good Afternoon! It's a beautiful day in my neighborhood as Mr. Rogers would say. It's sunny, enough breeze to move the leaves just a little, and 65 degrees -- wonderful! I made a casserole for lunch and scrubbed the kitchen squeaky clean after we ate. I took Zowie's picture to the newspaper for her birthday on Friday. It doesn't seem possible she will be 11. I need to finish my grocery list for the weekend. I'm sure one of us will end up making a second trip for whatever I forget. It is graduation weekend for the local Catholic school and a couple of the small towns nearby, so it will be busy around town.

"Gma," I was surprised when you said you were returning your handbag. I keep trying to downsize mine but it isn't working very well. I have just about everything but the kitchen sink in it it seems. Bob tells me I don't need it every time I leave the house but he is the one asking for nail clippers or odd change. Jason said he talked to the principal after the concert and pretty much got the same reply I did. They think hearing the older kids inspires the younger ones to stay in band and choir, but said they would be looking for a better solution. Jackson will have fun in The Lion King. Cute picture of him! I wish the kids lived closer so we could go to the Disney movies together. A teacher I taught with loves to cook and try new recipes. She said when she retires she would like to start a "meals on wheels" for people who live alone or just don't like to cook. I told her to sign us up! There was a gal in town who did that when her children were little and she had several every day customers for her dinner menu. They had to come to her house and pick up their food, which no one seemed to mind. She thought that was easier than running a daycare; it wouldn't be for me.

Finally got Ian's baseball schedule and it's really different this year. He plays at 7 instead of 6, and the away games are north of Sioux Falls instead of south. A couple of them are at noon which surprised me since most parents are working during the day. I have laundry to fold and put away so better get than done. Also need to check my church birthdays and get cards ready. Hope you all enjoy the rest of a wonderful Wednesday!