G'day all,

Ann I can feel your toe, that is just so painful and for some reason I seem to do it on a fairly regular basis Enjoy just lazing about while your toe heals.
I must have missed it somewhere but where are you off to?
As far as the diet challenge...I think it died a natural death

Gloria how is your new restrictive diet going? I am not that much of a chocolate eater and doing without spinach I have done for years so to me it does not sound too bad, better then risking being in so much pain again with a kidney stone.

Glenda I cannot help you with the cataract surgery but as far as I know it seems to a fairly standard procedure these days. Your eyes are something that you cannot do without so I would have it done ASAP.

Karen pleased you are all better again. It always amazes me that when someone is in an accident and is not killed we assume all is well, how sad for your dd that her whole life has changed so drastically. I wish them well.

From a very warm weekend we now have reverted back to winter...wel sort of...overcast (but no rain) windy and only 16 degrees C.

Cheers
Maria

Hi: Good news- I think my toes was just a bad bruise, as it is not painful today, Just sort of purple and dirty looking.

Glenda: My DH has had cataracts removed from both eyes, and lenses put in, and now he only needs his glasses to read. So by all means get them done. i know my DH was amazed at how bright the colors were once again.

Maria: Sorry you are back in winter for now, but you know that i t won't last as summer is coming. I'm relieved to hear that the challenge just died a natural death, and that I am not the only one to cause it. Just too many other things to get in the way right now, I guess. Our trip is to go up north to Utica N.Y. to visit DH brother and SIL. Then we will rent a car and go on up to our home town to see family and friends. We'll be gone from the 18th to the 27th of Sept. And don't you think it was smart of me to plan this trip over my birthday. A nice birthday gift to me. :

Karen: Now we don't have an appointment with Dr. Clayton in Plant City until January, so maybe when we get back from our trip, we two can get together for lunch. We had to cancel our Sept. one.

hi everyone. Hope you had a nice weekend.

Ann

I can't imagine life without chocolate. LOL Maybe if I did I would be thin. Still hot here-we seem to be breaking a record of long hot 90-100 degree days. It is so dry in places that if someone would throw a cigarette out a window I am sure there would be a grass fire. The man 2 houses up runs his sprinkler at least 12 hours a day. He has nice green grass to show for it. It did sort of sprinkle this morning. One of our cafe workers quit last week unexpectedly. There was some drama there. It was the lady that runs the salad bar. My short little 3 days have stretched to 4 and 5 longer days. I am helping the girl that took over how to do it since I was the salad bar helper. Sort of mass confusion now.
Maria when is Alan leaving? 8000 photos will keep you busy for a while. I keep forgetting that you are having winter to spring.
Glenda I have never had catarac surgery. I would get it done though. I need to get to the eye dr. I keep putting it off.
Gloria that is funny about a ring made from your stone. You could split it and make earrings.
Ann so you decided to use wallpaper instead of stenciling. I stenciled a border a long time ago. My arm got tired. My niece had a house and she stenciled all the walls and it looked like wallpaper. It was very light-she had a 100 year old house and it looked good in there. Hope your toe is better. That sounds painful.
Slavika how is little Patches doing?
Karen glad to hear you are better. It is nice to chuck the meds. Hope all goes well for your kids. I will say a prayer for them that it goes their way.
Peggy

Peggy: I painted the bathroom walls a light peach, but will now use the wallpaer border for the accent. I couldn't find a stencil I liked, and the more I thought about it the more it seemed like too much work. The border is sort of a contemporary nature with overlaping circles in different sizes and shades of oranges, peaches and lavender. I hope it will look good.

Must be everyone is on a vacation.

Maria: Good luck with the implants. This will put you back on the challenge road?: i imagine it will be hard to eat for a while.

Weekend coming up and then next week we will be on our trip up north. Utica, N.Y. I hope we have nice weather while we are there.

Ann

Remind me never to complain that things are dull around here!!

Yesterday we went to the Cape, it was a glorious day. Jack went swimming and my friend and I had a great chat. We left there about 4PM and half way home I smelled a funny odor and at the same time the check engine icon came on on the dash and the heat thermometer was at the highest it has ever been. Jack pulled off the highway and we pulled into a gas station but without a service bay. Just then smoke was coming out of the engine. The station attendant said there was a repair shop right around the corner so we pulled in but it was 5 of 5 and they closed at 5PM.

We called AAA and they said a tow truck would be along in about 45 Min. We were lucky and he came in just half an hour. However, he could not take both of us in his cab so Jack gave him directions to our repair shop and he hooked up the car and off he went. Luckily there was a Dunkin Donut shop right there and we waited there for our SIL Paul. He was just picking up GS Sean from football and would drop him off at their house and be on his way to pick us up. He arrived about 7:15 and we were home by 8PM. only 4 hours for an approximately 1 Hr 20 Min drive.

This morning Jack got a ride to church and they took him to the repair shop to see what was wrong. The fellow that runs the shop is one of the hardest working and most honest men you could hope to meet. He told Jack he was really backed up and his assistant had just got married and was on his Honeymoon so he was alone. Great! This afternoon we called them again and were told it should be ready late tomorrow afternoon. Not too bad!

Now the bad news....the fan motor rusted through and the fan ate up the radiator...doesn't sound to nice to me. The car has about 78,000 miles and we have been very lucky with it before, it is a 2000 Avalon, the first luxury car we have ever owned, but Jack takes great care of it...always taking it in for it regular check ups, oil changes, tire rotations, etc.

I will say, that, with all that we are still lucky. Next weekend we are to be in Maine...the kids gave us a 3 day-2 night stay in a B&B in Kennebunkport, Me and I wouldn't like to have this adventure up there.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Gloria

Gloria, your experience with your car sounded like no fun at all. Glad you had such a good time with your friend and your SIL was available to bail you out. And your car sounds like it would be well worth the expense of fixing it. My hubby takes excellent care of our cars too and we expect lots of miles from them.

So much is happening to you all! Karen, glad you are doing better. Ann, enjoy your trip. Maria, are you back to sort of normal with your implants? I would imagine it would take a little while for the swelling to go down. Peggy, you know I feel you are super woman, working that much and that hard in the heat. You said something that reminded me of something. Your neighbor with the beautiful grass? One year Leon watered like crazy. Our water bill was horrendous! And then it rained.....and everybody else's yard was beautiful. We spent lots and lots of money. Now we just keep flowers alive.

Well, it is getting cool here, at least in the morning and evening. I love the season RIGHT NOW. We are having just glorious fall weather, beautiful sunny days, but not that white-hot heat or dreadful humidity. The only thng is we just get about a week of this.

You all, have a safe and happy weekend.

I don't think it is ever going to cool down. We had a nice chilly Sat last week but that was it. I am glad that this week is over. The starter went out on my car[Gloria it must be car week], my mil went to the hospital again with chest pains. She is now back at the happy home. I got called into work today. So much for all the stuff I had planned to do. We were supposed to watch P-he has whatever is going around. I guess Betsy's mom went over. We had him for a little while yesterday early in the morning while N had a meeting on this side of town.
Glenda that was an interesting email about Oklahoma. Last Thurs nite I went to the Showboat Majestic and saw the play Oklahoma. It was a fun night. The boat is in town and the river was peaceful. I was thinking of you when I was watching it. I figured you and Leon in the leads. My grass is pathetic and so are my plants. Even with watering the heat killed them.
Gloria I am glad that your sil was able to rescue you. Car problems are no fun. Have a great trip to Maine.
I gues Ann is on her way to NY.
Maria how is your mouth feeling? You sure do have a lot going on right now
I need to go down and get busy painting. My painting lady gave 15 old porcelain pans to paint laundry stuff on and she needs asap.
Peggy

I guess everybody is traveling or busy. I hope Maria is feeling okay from her teeth implants.

We had the three little grandkids on Saturday for the football game. Such fun! Makenzie makes me laugh with her grown-up displays of sarcasm. When Jackson didn't want anymore tea at our tea party, she threw up her hands and said, "Well, EX CUZ ME! All I wanted to do was to pour you some tea! Excuse me!" She was so frustrated, but sounded so much older than 4, but pretty much full of attitude. Of course, I talked to her about it, but wow! Where do they get this stuff?

We have had such a quiet week. Hope the rest of you are busy and happy.

Slavika - Patches know where to sleep. They have a way of getting what they want, don't they? That is a big bill for little doggie teeth. What an honor for your gs to teach archery. I took a class in that once and liked it. It takes skill to hit the target much less something flying like your son did. I have never had goose to eat.
Glenda your tea party sounds fun. I like the attitude. Can you imagine what she will be like in a few years? There must be something in the name Jackson-my friend has a grandson with the same name and he is a busy one.
Still hot here-in the 90's and no rain. My yard is parched. I am not going to bother getting some mums this year.
Peggy

I guess that we will be having some Summer weather at least for the next few days. Tues. should be in the high 70's and Wed. is supposed to beat the record high and get to the mid 80's. Planning on a Commissary run Tuesday and then to the Cape on Wed. Jack is planning a swim...I hope it is as warm down there as it will be here. Sometimes when you cross the bridge to the Cape the weather is totally different.

This past weekend we were in Maine, Kennebunkport to be exact. We were given a weekend at a beautiful B&B right across from the ocean. It was lovely and our room had a small sitting room then the bedroom and we were on the 4th floor....the view was incredible! Got a picture of Sunrise from our windows on Sunday...the reddest Sun you ever saw.
Friday nite we went to an Italian restaurant and I ordered Spaghetti with Clams, Mussels, Shrimp and Scallops. Well it came in a round 1 qt casserole with a flatbread type covering over the top and down around all the sides.
The server took a knife and proceeded to cut around the top of the casserole and took the top off and my entree was inside. What a presentation.
Sat. nite we were treated to dinner at a AAA 5 Diamond restaurant called the White Barn. We will savor the elegance of this evening for a long time to come. Drove in and were met by the parking valet and then another gentleman came down the stone steps to greet us and escort us inside. We were again greeted at the front desk and escorted to our table. We were seated against a back wall which provided us great viewing of all that was going on in the restaurant as well as a view out the back window with it's exquisite flowers.
It was a Prix Fixe meal which meant we had Appetizers...we both chose Lobster Bisque with a Shrimp Fritter...delicious. Then there was Intermezzo which, for me was Lemon-Ginger Sorbet...it came in a dish shaped like a flower blossom with the Sorbet in the center and Jack had Pumpkin Sorbet with a Spicy Port Sauce.
Our entrees were a fish assortment for Jack and Tenderloin for me. My meat was so tender that I could have eaten it even if I didn't have teeth. LOL
Oh by the way, each course came with it's own utensils which were removed even if you didn't use them. And presentation of each course was like a ballet. For the two of us it meant that each dish was presented and placed before us in sinc by two servers ( if there were 4 of us then it would have taken 4 servers to present a course. If you left you seat for any reason when you returned the server would be right there with a clean napkin to place in your lap.
Then came dessert but first was a pre dessert of a small, think tall shot glass, of coffee jello with a caramel frothe over it. The real dessert for me was Creme Brulle and Jack got a really rich Chocolate Mousse. Coffee ended the meal but not really. The came by with a silver serving tree with and assortment of chocolates on each branch. It was incredible!!!!

Then we came home on Sunday and I have been doing laundry and housework ever since. Back to reality!

This weekend was a gift from our kids and I don't know how we can ever thank them enough for the thoughtfulness and generosity!

Maria: I know you are very busy but I hope you will take some time for yourself every once in a while.

Slavika: Your Patches is so cute and a wonderful companion for you. When you go to South this year will you be taking Patches with you? Wow, Archery is quite an unusual sport and it is wonderful that your GS gets to pass his talent on to other kids.

Glenda: Your tea party sounds wonderful and that GD sounds like a hot ticket. What will she be like when she is older?

Peggy: It must have been exciting to see Oklahoma on a showboat. Just to be on a showboat would be exciting to me.

Ann: Your painting and wallpaper border sounds lovely.

Karen: Glad your feeling better.

Norma & Bernice: Hope all is well with you both.
Gloria

It's been raining off and on all day with bright sunlight during most of it. Florida you gotta love it!

Slavika I hear you when you talk of Vet bills. We had to take Sprout in today for the rash between his toes. He has allergy's we've always known that. well now today he got a shot, Got a solution to soak his feet in once a day, And pills to take for the next 30 day's. It was a cool $160.00 to leave there today .Och!!!! But we've done all we could. Had been giving him benadryl for the last few days and finally just gave in and took him to the Vet.

Gloria I saw we had posted with in minutes of each other so came back to say hi!. Your weekend sounded wonderful.

Glenda little girls are very good at sarcasm. And it is funny how they pick it up so quick.

Sorry about you lawn Peggy. Ours looks a bit like a jungle during the summer .

Haven't done much except the usual stuff. Did go to see the movie The Brave One. Good movie!

Maria I loved your last picture pages. Very , Very nice.


See you later.
Karen

G'day all,

Finally I have a chance for a quick post!

Good to read everyone's posts and to read everyone is happy.
Gloria your weekend sounds just fantastic, glad you had such a great time. Patches knows what side her bread is buttered on....pleased she is making such a difference in your life Slavika. I am a bit with you about the shooting of the goose, very clever to do that with a bow and arrow but not something I would like.
Glenda I can picture your grand children and I am not surprised at little McKenzie! Matilda told Peta the other day to put both hands on the wheel!!! I listen to her and think how much stuff she already has in her little head and she is only 2
That is quite a bit of painting you have to do Peggy lets hope the weather will cool down a bit for you.
Karen I am glad you enjoyed the next installment of my book. The next chapter will be our visit to Oklohoma.
Hope Ann is having a good break, also hello to Trudy is your computer back to functioning reliably again?

I have several websites to do, so my book is again on the backburner.
Went to see the oral surgeon this morning and all is well, my mouth has healed beautifully and I now have to wait some 6 weeks to actually get the new teeth screwed into the implants.
Tomorrow we have the grand girls and then Thursday we are off to Melbourne to help out Lexie and Joe. It will be good to see Saskia, she is walking everywhere and is starting to get very chatty!
Lexie has warned me that there is lots of work to be done, I have warned her that I am old and may not be able to do as much as she thinks I can!

Cheers
Maria

It is officially fall now. The summer went by so quickly, we did enjoy it though. My bathroom is finished! It does look nice. I tried to take picture of it, but the room is so small I couldn't do it justice so you will just have to take my word for it.
We went away for 3 days with our DD and family. We took a little trip to the USA and stayed in a Holiday Inn with a really nice water park. Our grandchildren loved the pool and insisted that my DH and I get in it with them. It has been some time since I spent any time in a bathing suit in a pool! The rooms were overlooking the pool with a separate entrance, so I didn't have to make the dreaded walk down the hall and elevator.
I am back to a regular work out at the gym and I am still trying to undo the damage I did during the summer... it never ends.
My old computer is chugging along again. I had a lot of reading to do to get up to date and I still have several e-mail to look at. A little bit every day. It was like reading a novel catching up with all of you.
Bye for now..

Trudy, I so relate to that bathings suit. Gina made a slideshow of all our vacation photos. I looked at myself in horror. I am so hopeful that I will be able to do WW again. I am trying so hard. Today is the third day and I don't feel so very well. Hope I get used to not eating the world again.

Gloria, wow, what a present from your kids! That is so elegant that I cannot even imagine it. What did you wear to this fancy place? Sounds like your kids love you lots and lots!

Trudy, so glad you enjoyed your last taste of summer with the kids. That bathing suit thing! What an eye-opener it was for me to look at! But I know I had a great time on vacation anyway.

Maria, your days sounds super full. What would our kids do without us? Leon is now going to work on a retaining wall for Joel and family this weekend. I hope he knows what he is doing. So, now Matilda is the expert on driving, huh? I am glad to know your implant surgery went well.

Shanna, my DIL, just emailed me about her mother. The lady is 70 and her husband is 80. They are in very poor health and live right next door to the kids. The mother has just lost it and has decided to fire home health, maybe just get into a car with him and drive off. My DIL is going crazy, wondering what to do. I promise, promise, PROMISE, never to do this to my kids. So sad!

Well, it is a beautiful fall day here. Life is sweet!
Glenda