Good Afternoon! The sun is shining but it is a cool 60 degrees in my neighborhood this afternoon. I was busy in the gift shop this morning! Between cash sales, credit cards, and payroll deductions I sold $331 worth of merchandise! That is very unusual for me as sometimes I don’t sell anything. The buyers were there unpacking new merchandise and I bought my first Christmas gift, a soccer ball picture for Maddy. It looks like a painting with brush strokes. I have bell practice later this afternoon and need to write a couple checks for gift shop invoices. I need to keep moving or I will fall asleep. A nap sounds pretty inviting! Enjoy the rest of a wonderful Wednesday! :wave:

Good Afternoon! It’s been another cloudy cool day in my neighborhood. I ran some errands this morning and then went to the auxiliary meeting this afternoon. Our elderly neighbor called this morning wanting Bob to take her garbage to the curb. She has a bladder infection which has settled in her back and she can’t bend over nor walk without using a walker. I took her garbage out and picked up a few groceries for her after the meeting. My house looks like a tornado went through and left tell tale dust and debris! Someday I will be better organized, probably in my next life! Bob left for the farm first thing this morning so assume he is hauling corn to the elevator. Beans are still too wet.

“Gma,” do you pay all your bills online? You are so good at keeping your budget so organized! Amanda keeps the kids’ schedules in different colors on her phone calendar. Me, I still use paper and pen. :lol: We have our every month bills automatically paid from the bank. We get paper copies that I double check with the bank statement to be sure they match. Making a spreadsheet is way beyond my expertise. :o I have my :crossed: that your Medicare is on the books and no more hassle for you. The gift shop buyers go to market once a year and then meet with other reps throughout the year. They order the “in” trendy things: lots of tin (imo) junk that looks like it’s been tucked away in the attic for a long time, lots of different greenery to match the season, lots of candles, etc. One of the buyers will put together arrangements in varying prices and women buy them as soon as she finishes them. They stand and watch her unpack boxes just to see what she will put together. Another talent I don’t have. :( We have some jewelry, purses, baby clothes, books, and stuffed animals for Grandmas to buy. They have had huge mirrors, clocks, and tall lanterns appropriate for places with high ceilings or entry ways. Some are in the $200+ range. We don’t charge sales tax so that is a plus over the shops downtown. There is nothing small that anyone would buy to take up to a patient but most patients aren’t there for more than a day or two. We will have a fall sale before they bring out more Christmas items. We’ve already sold several lighted ceramic angels with more on back order. They are smaller and could be used year around. I just ordered some long sleeved shirts; I got two catalogs this week and both had 40% off coupons which had expired before I got the catalogs. :mad: I called the 800# to order and then asked about using the coupon. The rep said I could! :cp: :cp: Our mail service is getting worse by the day!

I will decide on what’s for supper whenever Bob gets home. Leftover chili sounds good! :T Hope you all have a nice evening and enjoy! :wave:

Evening! It has warmed up here again. We are in the 80’s by afternoon. Ahh well at least we aren’t getting snow.

I still have not been to the nail salon. I figured I’d get done what I need to then sometime this week get over there. I like to let my nails rest every once in awhile anyway.

I didn’t feel well all weekend so never went out for my bday. Not a big deal anyway. Jack got the oil changed and got his hair cut yesterday. I started on the little cardigan I am making. I have the sleeves done and have started on the body. It seems to be an easy knit. I just stop when my hands start hurting. It is mostly a lace pattern so it has purl rows and they kill my hands.

I did laundry today and not much else. Jack picked us up a sandwich for dinner as I didn’t want spicy ribs, which is what I crockpotted. I’ll finish them tomorrow with corn on the cob and Jack can have a potato.

Jean: Still haven’t heard about my Medicare so am going to have to remember to call them at 7 AM tomorrow. I get fed up having to chase people down. I don’t do auto pay because I had them double charge me a couple times. The only thing I auto pay is the mortgage, car insurance and the car payment. I think it’s funny a hospital gift shop doesn’t really sell patient stuff. I can imagine it can get nuts around Christmas.

Everyone have a good night!

Happy October! Another CRAPPY, wet, cloudy, cold, day in my neighborhood and more of the same tomorrow except it is supposed to be 20 degrees warmer. Church counting went super fast this morning because of less money than usual. I was done by 8:30 and on my way. I went to get a nail fixed and they are supposed to open at 9 and still no one there by 9:10 so I came home. I was filling in for two “jobs” at the P.E.O. meeting this afternoon, treasurer and corresponding secretary, neither of which took much effort. The new water softener isn’t working right so Bob has been on the phone trying to figure out why, and what he might try to fix it. Since no one in town sells them he is majorly frustrated. Next Wednesday is when a repairman can come from Sioux City, and we haven’t had it even a month. I have laundry going and that is the extent of my effort today.

“Gma,” good luck with your phone call tomorrow morning! Bob spent hours on the phone with different people regarding the water softener. He decided he needs to replace a valve that goes between the water lines and the water softener. I assumed itcame with the softener but you have to buy it separately and ours is quite old. He spoke with some guy in the parts department and the goofus had no idea what Bob was talking about. He ended up talking to the gal he bought it from and she ordered a new valve direct from the manufacturer. Our hospital clinic has several specialists who come on a limited basis. The hospital does a lot of same day surgeries and 24 hour babies.

I am heading to bed! Hope you have had a good day! :wave:

Good Morning! I am up earlier than usual and it is still very dark outside. It is supposed to be a lot warmer today so I hope the weatherman is right! Bob just left to is meet two other agents then travel to Sioux City for a day long class on BCBS. He is hoping they won’t have a test at the end as they had to take an online pretest to qualify for the class. Insurance is always changing; I’m so glad I don’t have to learn all the rules and regulations! I have lots I can do today but am going to go back to the nail shop and get my nail fixed, or else. My house has been neglected big time for the last two weeks plus, :o and I would be embarrassed to have anyone see it, even family members. Beth sent two concert dates last night; Kolby is coming here to play in the orchestra so that will be fun. Maddy is singing the week before in Sioux City. I think this is early for concerts but I enjoy them no matter when. Not much newsy going on today so hope you enjoy a terrific Tuesday! :wave:

Welcome to Steel Magnolias, CeeJay! I saw your post and then it flipped to the second page and I am :o ‘d to say I forgot to welcome you! I was excited when I saw Osceola because my first thought was Iowa, but then realized you said Arkansas. I have the same problem with the pesky pounds; they find me and then hang on! ;) I am a retired Iowa teacher and keep busy with volunteering at church and the hospital, as well as attending our four grandchildren’s activities.

It was 35 degrees when I got up this morning! :brr: I am thankful the furnace is working! I ran a couple errands this morning and this afternoon I get to meet two new babies, twins, born on 9/11. Their mom is an insurance agent with my husband.

My husband, Bob, helps a farmer friend in the spring and fall. We’ve had so much rain they haven’t really gotten a good start on harvest, and are hoping to get more done today before the rain moves in again. Our weather has been so very unpredictable for quite awhile but we have been lucky with no major storm damage. Too much rain! :(

i have towels in the dryer that are done and need to be put away. I hope you enjoy a terrific Thursday and visit again soon! :wave:

Hello ladies! It’s 92 here today, ugh. It’s clouding up so we may be having rain move in.

This is grocery shopping weekend whoopee! Jack twisted his ankle when he stepped in a hole at work so he may be gimping it all weekend. It’s going to be hot all weekend too.

CeeJay: We’re thrilled to have you with us. We had a larger group but little by little it has shrunk to basically Jean and I. I forget to come in and post, mainly because I am a homebody and not very interesting. :lol: I live in Memphis and have for 17 yrs. My husband is retired Navy so we moved around a lot. I know all about waste water plants. My husband is an electronic technician for one of our plants here. He’s worked for the city for 17 yrs. I have two children, a boy and a girl and two grandsons, Thomas is 18 and Jackson is 11. Driven past Osceola many a time, going up to Indiana, which is where I am from and my friends and familylive there. We’ve been to Branson a couple times and enjoyed it very much.

Jean: You have the furnace on and I have the ac going full force! How is your basement holding up? I know you’ve had issues here and there when you’ve had heavy rain. Sounds like the grandkids are keeping busy. You know me, my house drives me nuts constantly. I want to get started on clearing out stuff but it just hasn’t cooled off yet.

Everyone have a great weekend!

Good Evening! It’s been another cloudy icky day in my neighborhood. It’s been so long since we’ve seen the sun shine I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like. We’ve had way too much rain and more is in the forecast for tonight and the next four days. We went to Ian’s game last night; I had so many layers of clothes on I could hardly sit down. It was 45 degrees with an occasional breeze blowing through. They were ahead but their arch rivals ended up winning with the help of the referees. Jason was livid and I doubt he had any voice left when he got home. Ian had a good game but was disappointed in their first loss. Bob spent the morning at the office playing catch up and I ran a couple errands.

ceejay, it’s nice you can spend time with your sister. We visited Branson years ago and I’ve always wanted to go back. Enjoy your clean house! :D

”Gma,” I like warm but 92 is a bit too warm with the humidity. I hope Jack’s ankle feels better. So far the basement has been dry. Bob rerouted a drain tile in the back of the house in order to keep the water off the patio. You would be appalled if you could see my messy house. :eek: Today my cleaning ambition was awol! I will get the gift shop deposit ready tomorrow then do some serious cleaning. Bob is hoping it will be dry enough to do some farming tomorrow.

I think I will head to bed and read. Our late night last night is catching up with me. Hope you all have a nice weekend and enjoy! :wave:

Good morning all! Going to be hot here again today. We have commissary shopping today. Not a big list, but I don’t want to deal with WM today so we’ll head out there in a couple hours.

Our dsl router is acting up so I hope we don’t have to replace it. The darn things are expensive. We’ll just have to watch it I guess.

Jean: I imagine the farmers are fit to be tied not being able toget their crops out of the fields. Hopefully you’ll get a dry spell soon before snow comes roaring in. I noticed Michigan got snow the other day. Believe me you’d freak at my house right now. I have stuff everywhere and need to sort and pitch but it’s still too hot to do that. I know I can’t stand the mess so when it cools off we are doing a major clean out.

CeeJay: Always nice to have siblings visit. I have three, but I lost both my brother and my oldest sister last year. My remaining sister lives in Phoenix so I rarely see her. We used to live in the same town and work at the same law firm so I miss not seeing her every day.

Everyone have a good Sunday.

Good Evening! Another day of rain, rain, and more rain! :mad: I’m beginning to think Mr. Sun has forgotten where we live! Someone told Bob we are supposed to get snow by the weekend. I hope that is WRONG! I finished the gift shop deposit and started to balance the bank statement. I am missing $2000+ of credit card charged invoices from the hospital accountant so I can’t finish that. Makes me just a bit grumpy. :( Made a path through some clutter and swear more popped up when I wasn’t looking!

“Gma,” hope your commissary trip went well. Since it is raining I am going to fix a roast tomorrow. Guys will be lucky to get back in the fields next week if the forecast is correct. Yields have been good so far but with the rain, the guys get docked for moisture content. That isn’t good. :no:

ceejay, your post appeared while I was typing mine. It sounds like you had a nice weekend except for the rain cloud. I am happy to share. :lol: I’m glad your relative got medical help in time! Scary that he is so young to have heart problems. Our church has put together disaster kits also. I’m not sure how they get to where they need to go, but a good idea.

The dishwasher is done so guess I will unload that. We didn’t get a Sunday paper today so need to write a note to the carrier. If he doesn’t shape up we are going to quit. Hope you enjoyed your Sunday! Have a great day tomorrow! :wave: