Good Afternoon! It’s a HOT sunny day in my neighborhood! News for the day is I think my oven died! For a some time I have thought it didn’t bake like it should. It takes forever to preheat according to the thermometer I bought to check the temperature. I made bars for Monday and they look raw in the middle even though the outside edges are brown. Guess I’ll see what they are like when I cut them and will call the repairman next week if needed. Things that don’t work right make me nuts! Otherwise I’ve done some laundry, dusted, vacuumed, and finished a library book. Tomorrow I will make Special K bars, no oven needed plus a trip to the bakery on Monday!

Bob just got home from a 50 mile tractor ride sponsored by another county to promote agricultural classes in schools. They raised $6000, with 44 tractors and several business sponsors. Where they traveled on gravel roads through the Loess Hills, was “dry” because they were in a dust tunnel from the wind. They changed the route and came back to the starting point on pavement. Bob left his clothes in the garage and made a dash for the shower.

Ceejay, congrats on going to the gym! I’m sure your piano music will be appreciated at church tomorrow. I don’t think kids take piano lessons like they used to. When I was a kid it seemed like everyone took lessons. I tried to give our piano to both our kids and neither wanted it. Beth said she’d never put her kids through the battles we went through. She always had a reason she couldn’t practice!

Bob is ready to grill hamburgers and I made a Jello, cottage cheese, cucumber, and onion salad. Hope you enjoy a nice evening!

What is going on with my posts? I have lost like three now. It is very hot here today. We went out early to get groceries and were sweating by the time we were all said and done. Jack’s taking my to Raffertys for prime rib tonight then when we get back home we’re going to vacuum seal all the meat and stick it in the freezer.

Tomorrow is get my nails done day. They have really grown out and I put a chip in the side of one and hope it won’t crack before tomorrow. I need to get in my nail color box and pick a color. No toenails because I am having a problem with the soles of my feet peeling. I have tried fungus spray, moisturizing, and now try more hydration. If it doesn’t get better soon I am going to the doctor.

I got the prettiest set of capris and top. The capris are a deep raspberry color and the top is a pattern of the same colors. It’s really light cool fabric. I am looking forward to wearing it.

Jean: I have done a whole chicken with rotisserie spices rubbed all over it in the crockpot and have done one to shred for chicken and noodles. Never have done a basically baked type chicken because I am not sure it would brown. I guess you could cook it then brown it in the oven. Have you done it? I took piano lessons, but didn’t do well. I would get nervous playing with my teacher or anyone else around. Hard for me to practice with siblings too. Loved your squirrel pick!

CeeJay: How’d you hymns go? I paid bills Thursday. We had two SS checks, Jack’s payday, and Navy retirement checks all at once. I told Jack in the old days we’d never see that much money in our checking account. But easy come, easy go. How’s your bil feeling?

Garnet: We haven’t heard from you in a long time. Hope everything is ok.

Goodbye to June! It definitely feels like summer today at 93 degrees. The house actually began to feel cold to me so just went outside to check on Bob. The horn on his boat quit working so he has been working on it off and on. Now he thinks it is the switch after buying a new horn. I made Special K bars for tomorrow and will go to the bakery for cookies after we’re done counting. I will be glad when this meeting is over! Iowa is hosting P.E.O.s anniversary celebration in September; we are supposed to help make cards. I’m not sure exactly what is involved but can see it dragging out the meeting. I’m leaving by 3:30 no matter what, may have to go back after my excess bars and cookies on Tuesday. Then again we may get done in time for me to help clean up which I hope is the case. I also have two other duties besides being co-hostess which is to take roll and give the treasurer’s report then read something for the corresponding secretary. Some day I will learn to say no! Ha ha!

“Gma,” did you report your missing post issue to the 3fc site manager? As far as I know mine are all here. Are you wearing new sandals? Maybe you are allergic to the lining. I wondered if the chicken would brown in the crockpot; no, I haven’t fixed it yet. I’m hoping to get to the appliance store first thing Tuesday and line up the repairman to check my oven. I hope I am not crazy and it needs a new thermostat or something simple like that! Today I baked potatoes, after an hour and a half at 375, the thermometer said 350. They did get done. I’m waiting for my orphan to show up so I can fill the water bowl with cold water. Bob trimmed the fat along the steak bones so he/she will have treat for supper.

Bob wants to take bottles and cans to the recycle place so will ride along. Enjoy the rest of the evening!

Good Afternoon! The sun has been in and out today, not as hot and humid at 86 but my air is still on. Game not happening for us tonight since Ian opted to go to the lake with his other grandparents. Kind of surprised us because when Jason and Beth joined a team being present for practices and games was the first priority. The P.E.O. meeting was pretty much the usual; I think I am getting burned out doing other people’s jobs. Glad it is over for another month.

Ceejay, my problems sure seem minute compared to the family stress you have going on! I hope things will settle down and even out for you SOON! I’m sure your bil was bummed about not being able to have his treatment today. I know that happens and sometimes too often. He is in my prayers as you are also. It’s wonderful he has the support from church. You need to take care of you first and foremost!

Bob will be home soon so need to think about food of some sort. Maybe he will cook and we can go out. Hope you enjoy a nice evening!

Good Afternoon! It has cooled down to 82 from 85 this morning, cloudy and possible thunderstorms are on the way. We had some kind of something happen during the night because the tv in our bedroom came on as did the computer in the next room. It was like having a camera flash go off, kind of spooky. The electricity didn’t go off so have no idea what happened. I got up and turned both off again and they stayed off. Funny thing is the living room touch lamp didn’t come on which it sometimes does with a glitch in the power. I went for a nail fill first thing this morning, then stopped by the appliance store about my oven and now waiting for their serviceman to call me, next on my list was Walgreens to see if they had the shingles shots in. They did, so could cross that off my to do list. Lunch dishes that wouldn’t fit in the dishwasher are washed, dried, and put away. Now I need to create a step by step “how we each count church money” and type it up. It is more for the other gal than what I do, in case she is gone and no one else will help, “someone” else can fill in. I guess the finance committee didn’t appreciate us counting two weeks together. The problem is if one has never ever done it, what we write down on paper isn’t going to make much sense.

Anyone have a suggestion for getting chocolate out of a t-shirt that has gone through the wash, dryer included? Bob wore a gray t-shirt on the tractor ride and dripped chocolate from an ice cream bar. His clothes were wet and so dirty when he got home he hung them in the garage to dry. His shirt was wrong side out and I wash it that way because of the logo on the right side so didn’t even look.

“Gma,” what is your new way to make gravy? I can never get the grease to separate totally so it never turns out like I want it to. Again, my lack of patience gets in the way! I hope Jack can get his vacation days he wants for next year. How long is the cruise? Bob hasn’t been able to get back to his horn. He felt he needed to mow again so that is what he is doing now. He is planning a Canada fishing trip with Beth! She loves to fish and he has talked about taking her up there for years. He wanted Jason and Ian to go but Sturgis for Jason then football practice for Ian is getting in the way for them to go. I have NO desire to go but may and just amuse myself on shore in the cabin while they fish. Bakery cookies were a hit, they are always good and I think better than mine. The Special K bars are just the cereal in melted butter, brown sugar, and peanut butter with chocolate chip frosting. The recipe makes a jelly roll pan so the only time I make them is if I have to take them somewhere or the kids are coming. Where did you get your latest capris and top outfit? I need something new thinking Maui.

Ceejay, I can always eat, stress or no stress, but I know what you mean. I am mad at myself afterwards and that doesn’t help any either. Do the things that give you peace of mind and you know you are taking care of you first. You are #1! Visiting your bff and sister sound like a great idea! I’m glad you have your new air conditioner to keep you cool!

I need to work on my church paper and card order so better get moving. Hope you all are having a terrific Tuesday!

Good Afternoon! It’s another strange weather day in my neighborhood. We’ve had a few sprinkles early, sunshine, clouds, more sunshine right now, and a little cooler but still humid. Rain is predicted but none so far. I waited most of the day for the oven repairman to call. I did some dusting and decluttering; don’t know how I accumulate so much paper stuff in such a short time! The oven guy finally came this afternoon to recalibrate the oven. I am supposed to bake something and he will call me next week to see how it worked. He didn’t bring his test machine with him so if what he did didn’t work he will come back with it. I need to make a salad for tomorrow. One of the guys Bob goes on tractor rides with, invited us for supper. It is his birthday so their family will all be there; Bob knows them because they are clients but I feel a little out of place even though I know the wife. We went a couple years ago but begged off last year.

Ceejay, I think any kind of “work” is a good stress reliever! Your yard will look so nice when you get it just the way you want it. If you get everything you want to do today done, you will sleep good tonight! Does your area have a big 4th celebration? We have a parade, live music groups in the park, lots of food booths, and vendors selling their items. I just hope the weather holds. The park is along the lake so can be very windy and miserable or hot with no breeze at all. One just never knows. Years ago our church did a home made ice cream booth on the 3rd during a band concert. It was a good money maker but a lot of work making the ice cream ahead of time. When the kids were little we helped with scout and dance food booths.it was fun but I wouldn’t want to do it now.

Not much else is newsy from Iowa. The dishwasher is done so guess I will unload that. Have a safe and Happy 4th of July!

Good morning. Another hot and humid day. We got a rain shower this AM, but it moved through quickly. I have clothes drying in the dryer and have to get dishes unloaded and reloaded. It ended up not raining yesterday, but I hadn’t taken out the steaks so we decided just to have a sandwich for dinner. Tonight we’re having the taco salads.

I am waiting on my yarn for the new afghan. I want to get it started so I can see how difficult it will be to do mitered stitches. I need to finish the white sweater too. If the afghan comes out, I might make a couple pillows and change out what I have on the love seat.

CeeJay: You have been a whirlwind. All that work will make those extra calories disappear. Hope you had a nice fourth. We stayed home, put out new roach traps, and watched baseball. Idiots here kept me up late shooting off fireworks. I think they tossed them onto our deck because the noise was very close. Not surprising considering who lives here. I hope your bil starts to feel better soon. I’d ask his oncologist if something otc would be permissible for the sick stomach. Your yard will be a show piece.

Jean: I am including instructions on how to get rid of set in stains after having gone through the dryer. Do you get acryllics or gel nails? I went Wednesday and am trying gels. He said they last longer, stay shiny too so we shall see. I got french tips this time as Jack likes them. I loved going fishing with my dad when I was little. Jack doesn’t fish so that’s not something we do. I buy pretty much all my clothes at Catherines online though they do have brick and mortar stores. Beautiful clothes, but sizes may be too big for you. 16-34 and 0-6x.

Everyone have a good weekend!

SET IN STAINSStep 1

Pour three tablespoons of white vinegar and two tablespoons of liquid detergent into a quart-size spray bottle. Fill the remainder of the bottle with warm water.Step 2

Shake the contents of the bottle to mix the cleaner and spray the set-in stain with the cleaning solution.Step 3

Rub the solution into the stain with a clean cloth, and then blot dry.Step 4

Launder the item as you normally would. Check to see if the stain lifted before drying the item. If the stain did not lift completely, repeat the steps until you've completely removed the stain.

My nice long post just went POOF into never never land! I’m going to bed and will be back tomorrow!