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iris lilies
6-3-24, 1:00pm
I’m steaming mad about a forum I’ve been on since about 2003. it’s the St. Louis Post Dispatch forums. Some idiot tech bro wiped out my account along with many other accounts. It erased all my posts from the last year or so, since they only keep about a year’ worth of posts. But now there’s no history at all, including the year I joined.
There are so many tech problems plaguing the St. Louis Post dispatch online system. I’m not a subscriber now, the tech problems drove me away and it bugs me because I want access to local news and it’s hard to find it.
that makes me think about this website here which, when the day comes we shut it down, all of the posts which is kind of my personal diary will disappear. But I’m fine with that, I’ll live with it.
IL, people on another forum have been talking about the slow death of forums. Most people have migrated to FB or other social media. A millennial told me a couple of years ago that he couldn’t navigate a big scuba forum. Yet he could figure out FB? Face palm!
IL, people on another forum have been talking about the slow death of forums. Most people have migrated to FB or other social media. A millennial told me a couple of years ago that he couldn’t navigate a big scuba forum. Yet he could figure out FB? Face palm!
I've had a similar experience with groups that I've been a part of. Also, when I do interviews with patients and they tell me about the information and support they get online, it is ALWAYS FB groups. The thing I like about FB groups is you can set them up to be private--you can even set them up so that no one even knows they exist! It's WAY easier to upload good photos and add other images.
I think the downside would be that once you are in the group I don't know if you can give yourself another name other than your FB account name. I guess you would have to set up a different FB account for that. So our anonymity WITHIN the group would be broken down unless you joined with a different name from a different account.
I don't think FB is hard to figure out.
Forums are good for find out out specific info. Like dive gear reviews and discussions, diving techniques, etc. There are discussions that go on for hundreds of pages. They’re what comes up in searches for that topic. Not FB.
ToomuchStuff
6-3-24, 2:01pm
Also with the forum, you can be more anonymous and Alan can get your IP and figure out the area you live, but your not giving a corporation all your info to sell to advertisers, etc.
I don't have or want a Facebook page, but may have to set one up to run the company one. (which I think is a crock)
early morning
6-3-24, 2:12pm
thanks, nswef - appreciate the info - I may get brave enough to try it yet! RE: forums vs facebook - not on FB, see no reason to be there, very happy with the forum concept. I appreciate that it's mostly a user-ran entity, and that it's not a corporate shill. I appreciate the relative anonymity of these forums. AND I appreciate Alan, and all he does to keep us connected!! I many not agree with him often, but I do appreciate him, and everyone's input in discussions here. THIS is my happy place, lol. Or at least my on-line one :)
I agree that I wouldn't want to rock this boat and migrate to FB but I do see advantages for other purposes. I belong to a few private groups (a watercolor group, a neighborhood group, a finance group). I am posting less and less personal stuff on my FB page. But when I'm in my private groups, I feel much more comfortable about posting.
iris lilies
6-3-24, 2:28pm
I think Facebook is hard to figure out, it’s not intuitive. And then they change it all the time. And then the response time is so bad so I never know gosh have they changed something So that no longer works? Or is it timed our! Or? I still haven’t figured out tagging. Yet I run a couple of Facebook plant pages and my last post got 900 likes.
Anymore I like Reddit. Reddit is simple. The functionality for me runs like a forum. Technically I suppose it has different properties from forum software, but I like it. It did take me a while to figure out because I joined at a time when there was old Reddit and new Reddit and I switched back-and-forth, and then I switched back-and-forth between the website and the app. But now I’m 100% new Reddit on the app.
I have checked out the simple living sub Reddit, and it’s not very interesting to me. Lots of post of of nature scapes, posts about going back to the land to live, etc. Besides, we can’t move to Reddit because some of us of a particular political stripe will be muzzled. There are only certain points of view allowed on Reddit. Why just yesterday I learned that only Republicans wear bras.
I still haven’t figured out tagging. Yet I run a couple of Facebook plant pages and my last post got 900 likes.
...Why just yesterday I learned that only Republicans wear bras.
Re tagging: I know. Some people don't get tagging and it drives me crazy. Someone will take a picture when I'm sloppily sucking down a wine, and they'll tag me, so I've learned to tell people in advance: DO NOT TAG ME WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!! I would never tag ANYONE without their permission.
Then my cousin "tags" people thinking she's creating a "group" but she's not so all of a sudden her random posts about our family are floating around to my friends list, which includes clients and other people who don't care a whit.'
Regarding the bra issue... really? How do you know that? I just came back from my 50th college reunion and I felt weird putting stockings on because supposedly. no one wears stockings anymore, but this liberal bleeding heart Democratic Socialist certainly had a lot of undergarments on, including a bra. Stockings and bras help keep me warm. I'm thinking back to our "pencil test" discussion and I STILL believe that if you can't pass the pencil test, you should wear a bra. About 10 years ago I could have passed it, but not these days.
I have always liked Reddit too but notice changes since they went public. Many more ads and posts that look legit but are just more ads.
iris lilies
6-3-24, 4:57pm
Re tagging: I know. Some people don't get tagging and it drives me crazy. Someone will take a picture when I'm sloppily sucking down a wine, and they'll tag me, so I've learned to tell people in advance: DO NOT TAG ME WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!! I would never tag ANYONE without their permission.
Then my cousin "tags" people thinking she's creating a "group" but she's not so all of a sudden her random posts about our family are floating around to my friends list, which includes clients and other people who don't care a whit.'
Regarding the bra issue... really? How do you know that? I just came back from my 50th college reunion and I felt weird putting stockings on because supposedly. no one wears stockings anymore, but this liberal bleeding heart Democratic Socialist certainly had a lot of undergarments on, including a bra. Stockings and bras help keep me warm. I'm thinking back to our "pencil test" discussion and I STILL believe that if you can't pass the pencil test, you should wear a bra. About 10 years ago I could have passed it, but not these days.
I learned that only Republicans wear bras as part of the nonsense that is spewed on Reddit when it comes to politics. I’m on several subs, none of them about politics, but once in a while the dumb shit creeps in.
I'm not a facebook person and when some adoption forums migrated onto facebook, I did not join. The talk was all about making it private so that there wouldn't be any "spam" or "controversy". I have found there is a big difference between private versus public forums.
The 95 degrees and 40% humidity (100 degree heat index in St. Louis) feels way different than the 100 degrees and 5% humidity that we had in Madrid, NM last week. I tried to walk around the Missouri Botanical Gardens this afternoon but only lasted a little over an hour before I was done. Fabulous plantings though - it was so nice to see the lush greenness and the tall, tall trees, instead of the usual desert dirt and pinon juniper.
St. Louis is a really cool city - this was the first time I've really driven around (just this one small part near the Botanical Gardens, the Barnes Jewish Hospital and the Central West End) instead of barreling through on the highways on my way to New Mexico from Michigan all those years. The architecture really reminds me of when I lived in Richmond, VA back in the eighties. I couldn't stand the humidity there either; it was one of the reasons I left. My body does not like humidity and has no tolerence for it now.
I have escaped the heat for the afternoon in IL's lovely little condo! Thank you!
It's wonderful that you have a cool place to rest. I've lived in humidity (PA and MD) all my life and at 75..it is often intolerable. But we have central air conditioning now so I just stay inside.
I made it home late last night - yesterday's travel was much less stressful but still a long, long day. It's nice to be home and now I can start to think about how this upcoming surgery can be arranged (and financed). I feel like everything will eventually fall into place, one step at a time. I'll probably be creating a flow chart to organize it all.
happystuff
6-16-24, 9:58am
Glad you made it home safe and sound, SiouzQ. Best of luck with the upcoming surgery.
happystuff
6-16-24, 9:59am
Shout out to our neighbors! Summer is here and people are starting to emerge from the "house cocoons". Spent a good portion of yesterday with the neighbors, outside relaxing, watching the kids, etc. It was a wonderful day and I'm glad to have nice weather and WONDERFUL neighbors living next door to share it with.
It's great to hear about positive interactions with neighbors! So often it's the other way around, lol
So glad you enjoy your neighbors, happy! We feel the same way and we consider ourselves lucky in that regard.
My rave has to do with crap. Literally. For the past two months we had issues with our septic system. water was backing up and wouldn't drain from the sinks. We had someone come out to pump it, even though it wasn't the best time because the water table was so high with the spring thaw. It helped for a while but before we knew it things were gurgling again. So the same company came out to pump again, and told us we had a "septic failure" and they recommended replacing the whole tank for $8,000 and it would also cost us four limbs on our beloved maple tree to get the excavator in there. Meanwhile they had noted that the tank had risen a little which caused a "belly" (or bend) in the pipe.
So we thought we'd get other quotes. The next guy told us that not only did we need a new septic but also new leach fields and that would be $35k and he was so busy he wouldn't be able to get to it until fall. That was a non-starter, first of all for the price and second we share a leach field with our neighbor and we certainly didn't want to bring them into our problems.
So we tried again. The next people to come said that we could possibly just try to fidget with the pipe first. They told us we'd have to dismantle our outdoor shower which was a bummer because we only built it 4 years ago. Father's Day two of the fathers--DH and my SIL plus my other DS and even BIL took it down. The other unknown was the fact that our 60 gallon propane tank sits on top of where the septic pipe leaves the house. So we didn't know what we were going to do there.
Monday morning the septic folks were there with an excavator but after they took a look, they said they'd use shovels. They literally dug the pipe out with their shovels. As it turned out the pipe just skirted the edge of the propane tank so we didn't have to worry about that either. The two men finished replacing the pipe adding in gaskets and other things the old pipe didn't have all in an hour and a half and they even planted grass seed and replaced a hosta they had to remove (which I didn't care about at all).
Price: $1250. I am SO glad we didn't get sucked into believing we needed a whole new system!! I'm sure eventually that tank will have to be replaced but I'm hoping I'll be dead by then.
iris lilies
6-18-24, 8:49am
I’ve never had to deal with a septic system, they make me nervous. Too many moving parts. Here in Hermann we are on city sewer system and across the street they are on septic systems. Our neighbor across the street has 4 teenage and young adult girls, and they are all very popular so lots of friends in and out, Hard on their septic system.
He was investigating hooking into city sewer system which means he would have to trench across our property a looooong way. We told him that would be ok, but he has since dropped that idea.
But Lord knows we have had to put in multiple sewer systems. The last one was $18,000 and that was just partial pipes.
iris lilies
6-18-24, 8:52am
My rave for the day is: I hate my deck far less now that it has rugs pillows, and pretty plants.
Catherine, I'm so glad it was simpler than expected. That's always good! I tend to be the one in the house who panics and wants to fix it with the first estimate, my husband always waits to do more research. Waiting tends to have better results. We've been on septic since 73. We get it pumped every 7 or 8 years- just 2 of us. One time we had to have a baffle replaced, the pumper person recommended the Roto Rooter. The first time we have it pumped our neighbor used his "toys" do find the top! Broke a pipe, but cleared 4 feet of dirt that was on top of the lids! The other neighbor- a plumber- fixed the pipe and put two 3 feet tall cement pipes on top of the entrance holes and lids on top so now they are only a foot or so underground. Easy to get to now!
littlebittybobby
6-18-24, 10:37am
okay---church guys' boy(who took over after church guy/church lady moved back home again ta indyanna, & also home of Ryan White, victim) recently spent $12k on a totally-new, state-state-of-the-art septic system. it is so over-engineered & over-capacity that it could prolly service a middle school. how do you like that? thing is, one a these days, the city will come in here with a sewer line, bill us & insist we hook up, rendering septics ob-so-leet. yup. also, about 2 or 3 times a day, i take a 15-minute break for refreshments on my "deck", which is a 5 x 5" concrete front step. works fine---no overpriced treated-wood building project for mee! ha. i just sit out there & shoo the birds away from stealing MY earthworms! yup. hope that helps you kids some. thankk mee.
early morning
6-18-24, 3:52pm
IL, glad you're happier with your deck! I cleared my patio of broken glass (tree limb + glass top table = big mess!), weeds, and general debris, and - other than not having a table!- it makes me smile. I would be happier still if it weren't so bloody HOT!
rosarugosa
6-19-24, 6:26am
Catherine: Great outcome! So glad you didn't have to spend vast amounts.
IL: We need pictures please.
iris lilies
6-19-24, 11:52am
photos of not-completely-awful deck
5943
5945
5946
littlebittybobby
6-19-24, 12:08pm
photos of not-completely-awful deck
5943
5945
5946 okay-----but yeah, faux---that deck is VERY spacious! there is even copious amounts of room for repurposed obsolete gov't-surplus file cabinets, out there! so anyway---go for it. hope thatt helps you some. thankk mee.
catherine
6-19-24, 10:21pm
Beautiful! And it looks like it faces an amazing view!
rosarugosa
6-20-24, 6:06am
That looks like a lovely spot!
27th wedding anniversary today. Not bad for two people who only knew each other three months when they got married. Husband always forgets so I like to wait until the end of the day to tell him "Happy Anniversary" just to get his reaction. Mean, I know, but always funny.
rosarugosa
6-20-24, 10:07am
27th wedding anniversary today. Not bad for two people who only knew each other three months when they got married. Husband always forgets so I like to wait until the end of the day to tell him "Happy Anniversary" just to get his reaction. Mean, I know, but always funny.
Happy Anniversary!
iris lilies
6-20-24, 10:47am
27th wedding anniversary today. Not bad for two people who only knew each other three months when they got married. Husband always forgets so I like to wait until the end of the day to tell him "Happy Anniversary" just to get his reaction. Mean, I know, but always funny.
that is nice, congratulations
Happy anniversary!! Short engagement, but sometimes you just know what you want when you see it (or him)!
happystuff
6-20-24, 4:40pm
Happy Anniversary! Hope you are both having a great day!
Happy anniversary!! Short engagement, but sometimes you just know what you want when you see it (or him)!
We met in March and he told me he was moving to another state in a couple months. Our first date was us going to see how much progress happened on the building of his new house. On the drive down, I realized that I NEEDED to be where he was moving. I grew up in the City and he was moving to the boonies. I was in awe of the wide open fields, the lack of buildings, the quietness, etc. Shortly after that I told him I was moving with him. He said ok and that was that! We planned on having a wedding but quickly realized that we'd just rather elope so we got married at the Courthouse and never told anyone in our family until it was over.
Happy Anniversary!
that is nice, congratulations
Way to go!
Happy anniversary!! Short engagement, but sometimes you just know what you want when you see it (or him)!
Happy Anniversary! Hope you are both having a great day!
Happy anniversary!
Thanks for all the well wishes. Didn't do anything special but we never do. Haha!! Husband actually remembered earlier in the day but forgot by dinnertime and needed to be reminded. Haha!!
IL, I love your deck & the view!
Klunick - Happy Anniversary to you two!
It's official! My surgery date is July 30th. It's been a whirlwind of logistics - booking flights, securing an AirBnb for the week after, figuring out how I'm going to use Uber (or Lyft) so we don't have to rent a car for an entire week.
Also trying to figure out what to take for my 4 or 5 day hospital stay. I'm worried about my husband packing all that he needs so he can work while he's out there the week after (he's not the most organized person so I have to kind of think for two people here). Luckily, I am on a Facebook Support Forum specially for people with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and there is a lot of really good information. One of the people on the forum is having the same surgery tomorrow with the surgeon I found in St. Louis so she'll be a wealth of information about what to expect.
I am nervous/excited/worried/afraid of the pain/glad it's finally happening!
iris lilies
7-4-24, 1:06pm
When I signed up for Uber before taking an out of state trip on a plane, I made a practice run . I summoned an Uber to my house and had him drive me just a couple of blocks. Gave him $10 cash tip for this short ride. So, he was nice and patient and made a suggestion.
That Is wonderful To have found a community of patients especially someone who had your surgeon.
Have done an absolute ton of decluttering. Mostly gave away housewares on Buy Nothing group, but I had a ton of clothes and linens that weren't in any shape to donate. Too hot and humid today to haul them out to the dumpster, so the garbage bags are just piled in a corner of the kitchen. Have all my important papers in one spot. Have medical POA form, just have to sign it with two witnesses present. Goddaughter's parents are the POA holder. I was already doing this before I was told I had to have a biopsy in a few weeks, so I'm glad it's mostly done. There are still a few spots, but for the most part, massive improvement over how it was.
I feel so much lighter!
Congrats, tradd! You are motivating me - so thanks!
Got a donation card in the mail and will call on it tomorrow - pickup towards the end of the month, so the hope is that I get off my duff and get a lot gathered up.
I know I've done it before, but I'm going to do it again. Somewhat selfishly this time....
Ended up with a surprise extra long weekend, and went with a sibling a couple states away to help another sibling work on/prep their current house for sale. (just got home a couple hours ago). We spent the entire time painting! Felt good to be helpful, appreciated and productive. I love my family and knowing that we are SOOOOO there for each other!
So, again, I have another rave for my family!!!
iris lilies
7-7-24, 2:00pm
I know I've done it before, but I'm going to do it again. Somewhat selfishly this time....
Ended up with a surprise extra long weekend, and went with a sibling a couple states away to help another sibling work on/prep their current house for sale. (just got home a couple hours ago). We spent the entire time painting! Felt good to be helpful, appreciated and productive. I love my family and knowing that we are SOOOOO there for each other!
So, again, I have another rave for my family!!!
Rave on there, girlfriend!
I know I've done it before, but I'm going to do it again. Somewhat selfishly this time....
Ended up with a surprise extra long weekend, and went with a sibling a couple states away to help another sibling work on/prep their current house for sale. (just got home a couple hours ago). We spent the entire time painting! Felt good to be helpful, appreciated and productive. I love my family and knowing that we are SOOOOO there for each other!
So, again, I have another rave for my family!!!
That’s great.
iris lilies
7-17-24, 11:23pm
Ya’ll cannot guess where Mick Jagger and the Stones are concluding their U.S. tour. I thought it was a damn JOKE when I read the headline.
They are ending the tour in my home state, in Bumf**k, Missouri. Where is that? you might ask
and my response is: I don‘t even know where it is, I cannot tell you the name of the town. There is, apparently, an outdoor amphitheater they like in the Missouri Ozarks so they are performing there.
So, you would think I am rushing there next Sunday, right? But I won’t. I just do not want an amphitheater experience. I am unclear if there are seats. It is a 3 hour drive there and it will take 2 hours to get out of the stupid parking lot after the concert, no doubt.
really it is too bad since I’ve been Jonesing for a Stones concert ever since they opened their tour in St. louis way back in 2021. I skipped it for fear of Covid. And then I would’ve gone up to Chicago last week to see them perform if I didn’t have the national Lily conference and other things going on. The cost of the tickets are trivial—$800 for the best seats. I was willing to pay a whole lot more in Chicago.
Ah well, I will have to catch Mick and the boys when they are here next time. By then he’ll be 85 years old.
My new Subaru Crosstrek is so nice to drive. It’s such an upgrade from the base model Escape that I’m enjoying it so much.
iris lilies
7-18-24, 8:49am
My new Subaru Crosstrek is so nice to drive. It’s such an upgrade from the base model Escape that I’m enjoying it so much.
is it? What’s nice about it? I’m not challenging you. I just wanna know.
I had a base model 2009 Mercury Mariner that’s basically an Escape. I thought it was fine. My new car last year is a Ford Bronco Sport, base model. The only upgrade is it has electric seat adjustment on the driver side. I can’t see a difference other than the back up camera which of course is wonderful. It has other stuff that I think is stupid like assisted cruise control. I don’t use it.
I have Apple Car Play. I have ice cold ac that works. I’m not dealing with transmission issues or electrical gremlins. It’s NEW. And a lovely blue not the ugly silver of thr Escape. I just dealt with Escaoe color as it was only $17K in early 2019. End of model year.
Plus I will have AWD when the winter comes. It rides nicer too. Plus I love all the driver assist stuff and the adaptive cruise control is great on the freeway. Escape was very basic. I could only Bluetooth phone calls and music. Ac had been broken the last two years.
Biopsy was NEGATIVE!! yay
iris lilies
7-18-24, 4:40pm
Biopsy was NEGATIVE!! yay
Great news.
happystuff
7-18-24, 5:56pm
Wonderful news! Congrats, Tradd!
frugal-one
7-18-24, 9:25pm
Super!
rosarugosa
7-19-24, 6:39am
Excellent news!
ToomuchStuff
7-19-24, 10:00pm
Does anyone know where to get apology cards? I need to apologize to my beneficiaries, as I am going to live longer. 50% of my cancer is dead, starting second round of chemo in August, slight variant and not expecting a full round.
Went and apologized to a friend who is going to inherit my tools, it was really funny.
iris lilies
7-19-24, 10:15pm
Does anyone know where to get apology cards? I need to apologize to my beneficiaries, as I am going to live longer. 50% of my cancer is dead, starting second round of chemo in August, slight variant and not expecting a full round.
Went and apologized to a friend who is going to inherit my tools, it was really funny.
Well, that is good news. Sending apology cards is funny But I think you are kidding here. Most people would be kind of shocked and not in a good way to get one. An apology delivered in person face-to-face would be a different thing.
catherine
7-19-24, 10:18pm
Does anyone know where to get apology cards? I need to apologize to my beneficiaries, as I am going to live longer. 50% of my cancer is dead, starting second round of chemo in August, slight variant and not expecting a full round.
Went and apologized to a friend who is going to inherit my tools, it was really funny.
Great news! I'm sure your beneficiaries will not need or want apologies from you!
I am SO GLAD to hear this, TMS!
rosarugosa
7-20-24, 7:11am
That really is great news, TMS! Hoping for more good news from you in August!
Does anyone know where to get apology cards? I need to apologize to my beneficiaries, as I am going to live longer. 50% of my cancer is dead, starting second round of chemo in August, slight variant and not expecting a full round.
Went and apologized to a friend who is going to inherit my tools, it was really funny.
That’s funny and great news.
happystuff
7-20-24, 8:18am
That's great news, TMS!
Three more days to sit around and twiddle my thumbs before I leave for St. Louis and the big surgery. I am happy to say that I have pretty much everything all organized and the logistics under control.
I get to work for 5 hours tomorrow at the bead store so that'll take up some of the time. I have already cleaned the house to the best of my abilities at this time. I will do the final laundry and packing on Saturday. I would love to be out in the yard pulling up goatheads but cannot afford to aggravate my shoulder and arm anymore. Plus the mosquitoes out here in the high desert are insane this year and for some reason I have become very allergic to insect bites lately. I look like a small pox or chicken pox victim. Even when I cover up from head-to-toe and use 100% Deet, they are still finding ways to bite me in unmentionable places. I have started dreading summer because of the bites I'm getting all the time.
I guess I would have to say I am excited, but nervous and apprehensive about the surgery. I'm SO GLAD that after all this time it is finally happening! My anxiety is showing up in fractured sleep and weird dreams. I am so very grateful that I get this opportunity to have a top-rated, nationally recognized surgeon. I am also very grateful to the people along the way that have helped in any way, shape or form, especially IL who continues to graciously offer the use of her little condo when I have to travel back and forth for followup appointments.
iris lilies
7-25-24, 1:20pm
My condo is looking forward to hosting you this weekend!
DH is there now, having fought the recent airline snafus returning from Switzerland. He got into St. Louis at 1 a.m. yesterday. He has a dental procedure today and then will come home.
I have a “use” goal for that condo. I would like to see it used 40 nights per year. We aren’t meeting the goal and are probably at about 30-35.
early morning
7-25-24, 3:00pm
Hey, I bet plenty of people would like to help you with that goal, IL! :D I'm going to be at a family reunion in Alton in 2026 - Not sure how close that is to you but I don't think it's too far, if we make it to Hermann, maybe we could meet up at the candy store, lol. Best of luck, SiouzQ! Will be thinking about you. TMS- that sounds really good, thanks for sharing the news! hope the rest of the crap you're dealing with improves also.
iris lilies
7-26-24, 8:36am
Hey, I bet plenty of people would like to help you with that goal, IL! :D I'm going to be at a family reunion in Alton in 2026 - Not sure how close that is to you but I don't think it's too far, if we make it to Hermann, maybe we could meet up at the candy store, lol. Best of luck, SiouzQ! Will be thinking about you. TMS- that sounds really good, thanks for sharing the news! hope the rest of the crap you're dealing with improves also.
Alton is just across the river from St. Louis. Sure, when the time comes let me know. My condo is small and has only one twin size bed plus a sofa so it’s not exactly a luxury hotel.
early morning
7-26-24, 11:56am
Wow, that's a sweet offer! But I was mostly tongue-in-cheek there, :~) - we stay in the conference hotel as we have a fair number of meetings and meet-ups, and as I'm now on the board (this is a SERIOUS reunion organization lol) I'm pretty locked in for the actual reunion days. We generally add some before and after for fun local stuff. I have Cahokia on my must-visit list, it's been ages and mounds fascinate me. We've been to Hannibal, and a fair number of caves, so will be looking for other options this time. We'll probably visit the arch, and maybe do a riverboat tour. Anything else on the MUST see list, IL? We don't mind going a couple hours out for some stuff. I've just started my research, I only have until next July to get all this together, lol.
frugal-one
7-26-24, 5:36pm
wishes for you that all goes as planned!
happystuff
7-26-24, 6:11pm
Best of luck with it all, SQ!!!
iris lilies
7-28-24, 12:05pm
Wow, that's a sweet offer! But I was mostly tongue-in-cheek there, :~) - we stay in the conference hotel as we have a fair number of meetings and meet-ups, and as I'm now on the board (this is a SERIOUS reunion organization lol) I'm pretty locked in for the actual reunion days. We generally add some before and after for fun local stuff. I have Cahokia on my must-visit list, it's been ages and mounds fascinate me. We've been to Hannibal, and a fair number of caves, so will be looking for other options this time. We'll probably visit the arch, and maybe do a riverboat tour. Anything else on the MUST see list, IL? We don't mind going a couple hours out for some stuff. I've just started my research, I only have until next July to get all this together, lol.
You could always come to Hermann.
But if you are in Alton you should drive to Springfield, Illinois to see all the Lincoln related museums. The Lincoln home is great because it’s not just a house, is an entire block. That block is so peaceful and beautiful. And then there is the Lincoln museum which is extraordinary. And then, Springfield has a huge Frank Lloyd Wright house open for touring. It is astonishing.
and while you’re in Alton, be sure to drive through the historic Victorian District because it’s pretty nice and see the old city park with the wonderful Victorian play house (photo.) Also there is the Fairmont subdivision, an old private subdivision started in the 1920s – 1930s for Riverview up on the Bluff. It’s pretty interesting. Oh, and then you should drive down the Great River Road alongside the Mississippi to Elsah, a charming village of Stone cottages. And then drive through the campus of Principia College where 1930’s era buildings designed by Bernard Maybeck form the main campus.
if DH hadn’t put his foot down about living in Illinois we might’ve ended up in Alton.
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early morning
7-29-24, 11:00am
Thanks, that's EXACTLY the sort of stuff we look for! We've done the Springfield Lincoln sites - which truly are wonderful!- and the FLW house. We visit those whenever we can - there's a fair nice one, abet on the small side- here in Springfield Ohio - just down the road apiece from us (as in, less than 50 miles away, lol). We drove through Hermann when our reunion was in Hannibal, after you bought your place, but before you moved in. Such a pretty little burg! So a year to decide what we need to do around Boston -waayyy to many choices there! for 2025, then Alton for 2026 - many lists to make, and dollars to save! >8)
Appreciate the info, very much!
The weather has cleared up, low humidity and decent temperatures. I could weed, but both husband and I caught covid- first time! So these lovely days won't be filled with yard labor!
Got back in the water today after 314 days dry. Just a shallow 45 min dive with a friend looking at the fish. She got some fun photos.
iris lilies
8-12-24, 4:08pm
Got back in the water today after 314 days dry. Just a shallow 45 min dive with a friend looking at the fish. She got some fun photos.
Did you have a good time? Are you going to do more dives soon?
I have my d & c on the 22nd. Can’t dive or take a bath (showers OK) for two weeks after. So nothing until Sept
Yes, I had a fab time. Lots of fishies always around me like they were welcoming me back. :D
Tradd, I'm sure they've missed you.
Tradd, I'm sure they've missed you.
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happystuff
8-12-24, 6:27pm
My first thought was "Pied Piper of underwater". LOL. Glad you were able to get a dive in and have fun.
Tradd, so glad you were able to dive after such a long hiatus! The pictures are great!
My rave for the day has to do with DH. I think I mentioned that he decided to start a boat charter business to defray the costs of boat ownership, plus hopefully some funds to add to the household budget.
Well, he had two "practice" tours with no pay a couple of weeks ago, and they went over super well. The guests gave him great reviews, which he is posting on the website that will be launched probably the end of this week. Plus he has had two paying tours from island referrals and they went so well the guests were hugging him at the end. More great reviews. I knew his personality would give him a competitive edge. So in just 3 weeks, he has made half of what I was hoping he would make by the end of the season (October 15) to give me confidence this was going to work.
Plus, he is in heaven. He comes off of the boat so high on adrenaline. He loves it. And here is the big thing--he has been sober for 4 years. Prior to that his drinking was a near-fatal problem. I don't think it's bad for me to mention that now after all these years because right now all that is in the past, but he was diagnosed in 2019 with Stage 4 cirrhosis. In November 2020 he stopped drinking, and I've now been calling him Benjamin Button, because he is aging backwards! All of the concomitant conditions he's had as a result of drinking have abated. He's energetic, healthy, he lost 100 lbs, he's so active in the community I tell him the people are going to vote him Mayor, and we don't even have mayors on the islands! He approaches life like a kid in a candy store.
When you see someone come so far from the brink of death and despair from self-inflicted causes, how can you not be so happy for them?
I'm super proud of him, so he's my Daily Rave.
What about the insurance costs for the boat charter? Glad it went well.
iris lilies
8-13-24, 11:06am
Catherine that is fabulous news!All of it! I’m glad the financials of the boat tour business seem to be working out.
we will have to call you Mrs. Mayor around here.
catherine
8-13-24, 11:11am
Thanks, IL!
Tradd, the insurance is definitely manageable. It wasn't easy to find, but frankly, it was better than we thought because it's structured on how many trips and how big your boat is. We are far from being a yacht in Florida where the business is full time year round.
Such wonderful news on all fronts, Catherine!! Way to go, you guys!
happystuff
8-13-24, 6:39pm
That is wonderful, catherine! Thanks so much for sharing and kudos to dh!!!!
That is a great comeback story! Congratulations to both of you!
What a wonderful heartwarming change in your lives! I’m very happy for you! I hope the boat charter business continues to go well for you and your hubby.
Wonderful news, Catherine!
rosarugosa
8-14-24, 6:28am
That is wonderful, Catherine! I know how much you love your DH, so hopefully this will mean more healthy years together for you!
Catherine, I'm so happy for you and your husband!
Thank you all. We feel either lucky or blessed to be where we are right now, and no matter what happens in the future, I hope that when the time comes, we can gracefully accept that, too. Life is good.
Sixteen days since surgery that I finally slept better, woke up feeling much more refreshed and had about six hours in which I really felt like my old self! I got some stuff done that was lingering on my desk and made my PT appointments for September and October.
I have to go back to St. Louis in exactly two weeks for my one month follow-up appointment.
It's a little hard to see progress on a day-to-day basis but on the whole, things are looking up. I still have a bit of pain and weird numbness, which is to be expected for quite a long time but my range of motion in my left arm and shoulder is improving with the gentle stretching exercises I have to do 2 -3 times a day. And with being on the extremely low-fat diet I have so far maintained the 6 lb weight loss. After riding in the car with K. yesterday to go to Santa Fe to run errands, I realized that I'm not quite ready to be driving myself. I can't quite turn my head enough in either directon to feel safe while driving. I also still tire very easily.
iris lilies
8-14-24, 9:12pm
Sixteen days since surgery that I finally slept better, woke up feeling much more refreshed and had about six hours in which I really felt like my old self! I got some stuff done that was lingering on my desk and made my PT appointments for September and October.
I have to go back to St. Louis in exactly two weeks for my one month follow-up appointment.
It's a little hard to see progress on a day-to-day basis but on the whole, things are looking up. I still have a bit of pain and weird numbness, which is to be expected for quite a long time but my range of motion in my left arm and shoulder is improving with the gentle stretching exercises I have to do 2 -3 times a day. And with being on the extremely low-fat diet I have so far maintained the 6 lb weight loss. After riding in the car with K. yesterday to go to Santa Fe to run errands, I realized that I'm not quite ready to be driving myself. I can't quite turn my head enough in either directon to feel safe while driving. I also still tire very easily.
How was your airplane/airport experience going back home? I hope it wasn’t too miserable.
I find flying to be pretty miserable even under the best of circumstances.
It went better than I expected, but it wasn't great. I had a full-body patdown at the St. Louis airport because I told TSA I wouldn't be able to lift my left arm. The woman who did it was very professional but it was quite invasive. It is so silly to think that this 62 year old with greying hair would ever be considered a threat by TSA but that's the world we live in post-911.
I basically took as many painkillers as I needed to that day, so I was a bit zoned out - it was the only way to do it. By the 2nd flight from Minneapolis to Albuquerque I was just really, really dying to be home.
Of course since yesterday went so well, I am paying for it today. Recovery is going to exactly like that - two steps forward, one step back. I am mentally prepared.
happystuff
8-15-24, 6:20pm
Good to hear there is healing progress, SiouzQ, even if it is "two steps forward, one step back." Continued good luck and healing energies out to you.
iris lilies
8-15-24, 7:19pm
It went better than I expected, but it wasn't great. I had a full-body patdown at the St. Louis airport because I told TSA I wouldn't be able to lift my left arm. The woman who did it was very professional but it was quite invasive. It is so silly to think that this 62 year old with greying hair would ever be considered a threat by TSA but that's the world we live in post-911.
I basically took as many painkillers as I needed to that day, so I was a bit zoned out - it was the only way to do it. By the 2nd flight from Minneapolis to Albuquerque I was just really, really dying to be home.
Of course since yesterday went so well, I am paying for it today. Recovery is going to exactly like that - two steps forward, one step back. I am mentally prepared.
You sound realistic about the two steps forward, one back, healing process.
rosarugosa
8-16-24, 6:56am
We have a hummingbird visiting us regularly each morning! For some reason, I've never been able to attract them to a feeder, but I'm trying to grow many of their favorite plants, and that is turning out to be more successful. She thoroughly works over the coral honeysuckle that's on an arbor right outside our back window. She also likes the cardinal flowers growing right beside it. Just outside our front door, we have salvias that she enjoys, 'Skyscraper' and 'Amistad.' I bought the 'Amistad' largely because there was a hummingbird enjoying it at the garden center - a great advertisement! We also have a lot of firecracker plants 'Vermillionaire,' and next year we will have scarlet beebalm (only little baby plants this year).
We have a lot of wildlife come for a visit. Deer, raccoons, possums, foxes, coyotes, feral cats/kittens, and even a groundhog once in a while. I am forever looking out a window if I happen to go past one just to see if anyone is out there. I think I have as many deer pictures on my phone as I do of my two indoor cats (which I take a lot of pictures of btw).
So glad you are getting a hummingbird in your garden, Rosarugosa! They are so magical, aren't they? I have had two feeders up starting in April when they begin their migration back from Mexico. At first I wasn't getting very many and it worried me but now there are a LOT!
When we were away in St. Louis for a week we had someone come over everyday to check on our house (living in a rural area with a bit of property crime - you NEVER want to let it be known that no one is at home). I made a gallon jug of hummingbird syrup so she kept the feeders filled and it really paid off. Now we consistantly have 8 -10 hummers buzzing around our porch at all hours of the day - mostly Black-Chinned and the Rufous hummingbirds, which make watching them a delight! They are so territorial and are constantly chasing the other ones from the food and dive-bombing them (sometimes if I stand really close to the feeders, they practically dive-bomb me before they veer away)!
catherine
8-16-24, 11:27am
We have a hummingbird visiting us regularly each morning! For some reason, I've never been able to attract them to a feeder, but I'm trying to grow many of their favorite plants, and that is turning out to be more successful. She thoroughly works over the coral honeysuckle that's on an arbor right outside our back window. She also likes the cardinal flowers growing right beside it. Just outside our front door, we have salvias that she enjoys, 'Skyscraper' and 'Amistad.' I bought the 'Amistad' largely because there was a hummingbird enjoying it at the garden center - a great advertisement! We also have a lot of firecracker plants 'Vermillionaire,' and next year we will have scarlet beebalm (only little baby plants this year).
Thank you for outlining the specific plants that are attracting her! My DH put a hummingbird feeder right outside my office window/guest room. I never saw any hummingbirds. Then early this past season, I had moved to my office futon in the middle of the night because DH cranks the heat up so high, and when I opened my eyes, what did I see about 12 inches away from my face but a hummingbird at the feeder! I was so excited! It was like watching a NatGeo film!
I'll keep those cultivars in mind for next year.
iris lilies
8-16-24, 11:33am
We have a female hummingbird visit each morning, too. I dont try to grow anything for her but she seems to find things to visit. there must be a male humming bird around, right? But I never see him. It’s just the plain Jane little female who comes.
littlebittybobby
8-16-24, 1:03pm
---i was sitting on the deck yesterdayn morning, and i looked up, and there was one o' them hummingbirds you kids're talking about. but yeah---at first, i thought it was a big bug, but no sir, it was a littlebitty bird. yup. hope that helps you some.
iris lilies
8-16-24, 1:31pm
---i was sitting on the deck yesterdayn morning, and i looked up, and there was one o' them hummingbirds you kids're talking about. but yeah---at first, i thought it was a big bug, but no sir, it was a littlebitty bird. yup. hope that helps you some.
Without my glasses, I had to figure out if this was a big bug or not. But now I am used to seeing her around in the a.m.
Without my glasses, I had to figure out if this was a big bug or not. But now I am used to seeing her around in the a.m.
We get lots of hummingbirds here (probably because of the naturalized bee balm) and we also got them in Michigan but we actually got a hummingbird moth in Michigan--they look like this, so very close to the bird, and about the same size:
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=50937a4d43668b10JmltdHM9MTcyMzc2NjQwMCZpZ3VpZD0y ZjRmNzMwNS03YmI2LTY2MGMtMGVlNS02MDk2N2FmNTY3NDMmaW 5zaWQ9NTg1Ng&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=3&fclid=2f4f7305-7bb6-660c-0ee5-60967af56743&u=a1L2ltYWdlcy9zZWFyY2g_cT1odW1taW5nYmlyZCUyMG1vdG gmRk9STT1JUUZSQkEmaWQ9QkVEMThDMzI4NDc0ODI1QUUzNDJF RTVENkU1QkIzNkU1MjgwRUI2QQ&ntb=1
iris lilies
8-16-24, 1:54pm
We get lots of hummingbirds here (probably because of the naturalized bee balm) and we also got them in Michigan but we actually got a hummingbird moth in Michigan--they look like this, so very close to the bird, and about the same size:
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=50937a4d43668b10JmltdHM9MTcyMzc2NjQwMCZpZ3VpZD0y ZjRmNzMwNS03YmI2LTY2MGMtMGVlNS02MDk2N2FmNTY3NDMmaW 5zaWQ9NTg1Ng&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=3&fclid=2f4f7305-7bb6-660c-0ee5-60967af56743&u=a1L2ltYWdlcy9zZWFyY2g_cT1odW1taW5nYmlyZCUyMG1vdG gmRk9STT1JUUZSQkEmaWQ9QkVEMThDMzI4NDc0ODI1QUUzNDJF RTVENkU1QkIzNkU1MjgwRUI2QQ&ntb=1
yes! I have seen thosecand have been fooled as to what itcwas.
rosarugosa
8-17-24, 6:15am
The hummingbird moths are very cool too. They seem to prefer our tall phlox and verbena bonariensis.
Helped a FB friend with deciding on a new iPhone to replace her 6. That’s very old! Helped her to decipher Verizon’s website and told about features on the new ones. Spent an hour on Messenger with her. She sent me an Amazon e-gift card for my help! I was shocked. I enjoy my tech and teaching others about it. I often help out seniors at church with their iPhones and iPads. And now Apple Watches are more are getting them for the fall detection and such.
iris lilies
8-20-24, 9:25am
Got rid of 100% of the iris rhizomes I took to our iris society meeting. They sold for $1, $2, and $5 tho some were Free.
This time of year I become overwhelmed with iris.I have dug hundreds so far this year. Also, I am giving sacks of them away to a new member who has huge beds ro fill, but thes are easy giveaways because I just dig them and trim them.
It is the marking and sorting that takes so much time. I hate that time investment! But if they all go in the ground somewhere I will be happy.
3 bluebird juveniles are interested in the nesting box where they fledged...I don't know what is drawing them, but they look like a crowd wanting to jam into a too small doorway! Making me laugh.
rosarugosa
8-21-24, 6:09am
3 bluebird juveniles are interested in the nesting box where they fledged...I don't know what is drawing them, but they look like a crowd wanting to jam into a too small doorway! Making me laugh.
How cool! I've only seen one bluebird in my life, as a child in NC.
iris lilies
8-21-24, 8:38am
How cool! I've only seen one bluebird in my life, as a child in NC.
On my birthday this year, a bluebird flashed me. A flash of blue! It was spectacular. I have seen him only 1 time since but man are they ever blue.
They may be my favorite bird, the blue, the rosy breast, the chuckling chittering. I've been lucky to be able to see them nest and fledge as I sit on my porch. The bird box is close. Two families raised little ones this year.
This is a picture from the internet of a juvenile. Those I saw must be older as their breasts were peach and less speckled. That flash of blue is always a treat. 6028
We had a family of small hawks that stayed in our pine trees for a few weeks recently. The house next door is vacant and has a weedy backyard so we assume they were teaching junior how to hunt for mice and whatever else is back there. They were very noisy though with all their shrieking but entertaining to watch.
I'm so glad to be home again. Three trips to St. Louis this summer - one for the consulatation in mid-June, one for the surgery at the end of July (gone from home almost two weeks) and then back again this past Wednesday through Friday for my one month follow-up. Traveling is pretty hard on the healing body; the first leg of the flight yesterday from St.Louis to Houston in United's almost last row of economy seats was the pits for a tall person - 3/4 of the way through the flight I could hardly stand it anymore, being cramped up like that. Painkillers are still my friends these days. Then a delay in Houston. I didn't get home until midnight (I have an hour drive home from the Albuquerque Sunport). Being crammed in a giant floating metal tube with hundreds of strangers is rapidly losing its allure for me!
At any rate, healing is going as well as can be expected and I'll be starting PT next week. I only have to go back for one more check-up at the end of October. I won't really know what sort of function I'm going to have in my left arm for quite some time yet though.
Thanks for the update, SiouzQ! Sounds like there is positive progress with the healing, even if it will be slower than desired. Take the time to rest from the travel and good luck with the PT.
I'm glad you are making progress, SiouzQ. Living so close to Boston, I've never given much thought to what an ordeal it must be to have to do long distance travel for a major medical issue. That must be quite unpleasant when you're feeling unwell. Good thing you only have one more trip to make.
iris lilies
9-2-24, 12:19pm
Siouz, it’s too bad you missed the cool weather that’s happening now. You’ve been here during hot spells and sure that is typical for St. Louis, but also we get cooled down periods. Today is lovely!
catherine
9-11-24, 10:45am
Ughh... I know how cramped and nasty those big, crowded metal air-tubes can be in the best of circumstances, never mind post-surgery. (My sorriest tale is of occupying one of the two economy bathrooms for 5 hours in a United transcontinental flight from SFO to Newark, NJ due to a severe gastrointesintal reaction to eating shellfish at the Embarcadero.).
But, I am glad you are home and on the mend. I hope your PT goes well!
catherine
9-11-24, 10:51am
DH took a young couple and a minister out on his boat yesterday so they could be married on the lake. Even though he's now "in business" and he didn't know them before the event, he did it for them for free.. I don't think they have much money--in return they gave him a $20 gift card to a local pizza place. When I saw the note they gave him, I teared up--not sure why. Maybe because it is these small occasions that make me realize how much we belong up here, and how DH has the opportunity to give to the community in a way he never has before.
6044
I hope they gave him the pot on land. Pot can cause issues with law enforcement.
That's a nice note! I have a small collection of special thank you's that I have as keep sakes. They mean something when they are so personal and heart felt.
I hope they gave him the pot on land. Pot can cause issues with law enforcement.
Yes, he takes matters like that very seriously.
happystuff
9-12-24, 8:09am
What a wonderful note! This seems to be working out so well for your dh! It's nice to hear about such a success story.
iris lilies
9-12-24, 9:42am
DH took a young couple and a minister out on his boat yesterday so they could be married on the lake. Even though he's now "in business" and he didn't know them before the event, he did it for them for free.. I don't think they have much money--in return they gave him a $20 gift card to a local pizza place. When I saw the note they gave him, I teared up--not sure why. Maybe because it is these small occasions that make me realize how much we belong up here, and how DH has the opportunity to give to the community in a way he never has before.
6044
Lovely!
On face value, this going to seem like a bad thing but in my mind (and in reality), it's a good thing. Youngest and his girlfriend planned a weekend trip... to Baltimore, MD. If you are not familiar with Baltimore, it has the harbor and the aquarium and good food. But... it's also one of the most crime ridden cities. Of all the places to pick in Maryland, they pick this one??!! I had been secretly hoping the trip would get canceled.
So, son texts me yesterday that they were leaving and my heart sank. He has never been to a real big city by himself. He has no street smarts because he doesn't need them here in the boonies. He has no idea what real crime is especially murder, assault, robbery, etc. My heart sank but at least they were staying in a "better" part of Baltimore in a nice hotel. Not the low priced motel with drug dealers and prostitutes like I thought they would be.
Got a text a few hours later saying they hit a snag and were heading home. I was thrilled!! Turns out the girlfriend forgot to mention they were both 20 and the hotel wouldn't rent rooms to people under 21. No hotel would rent a room to two 20 year olds so they had to drive back home.
I was happy I could sleep last night knowing my kid was safe and not getting mugged or worse. I told him all was not lost as they could still go up during the day to visit the aquarium or walk around the harbor but it seems the experience tainted the whole idea of going up there. Baltimore is a daytime only place (and even then it's not completely safe) but even Baltimore residents know not to be out at night in most areas.
happystuff
9-15-24, 5:35pm
Klunick, as a parent - I TOTALLY understand what you are saying.
That said, I do have some issues with the various "age restrictions" on some of the things within our society. For example, as 20 years olds, both of them could enlisted into the military - WITHOUT parental permission! and learn and carry weapons and die for their country! Yet they can't get a hotel room because they are under 21.
Again, I totally understand where you are coming from. Hopefully, they will find somewhere else to go for a visit.
On face value, this going to seem like a bad thing but in my mind (and in reality), it's a good thing. Youngest and his girlfriend planned a weekend trip... to Baltimore, MD. If you are not familiar with Baltimore, it has the harbor and the aquarium and good food. But... it's also one of the most crime ridden cities. Of all the places to pick in Maryland, they pick this one??!! I had been secretly hoping the trip would get canceled.
So, son texts me yesterday that they were leaving and my heart sank. He has never been to a real big city by himself. He has no street smarts because he doesn't need them here in the boonies. He has no idea what real crime is especially murder, assault, robbery, etc. My heart sank but at least they were staying in a "better" part of Baltimore in a nice hotel. Not the low priced motel with drug dealers and prostitutes like I thought they would be.
Got a text a few hours later saying they hit a snag and were heading home. I was thrilled!! Turns out the girlfriend forgot to mention they were both 20 and the hotel wouldn't rent rooms to people under 21. No hotel would rent a room to two 20 year olds so they had to drive back home.
I was happy I could sleep last night knowing my kid was safe and not getting mugged or worse. I told him all was not lost as they could still go up during the day to visit the aquarium or walk around the harbor but it seems the experience tainted the whole idea of going up there. Baltimore is a daytime only place (and even then it's not completely safe) but even Baltimore residents know not to be out at night in most areas.
WTF make them think Baltimore was a good idea for a visit? That's insane.
iris lilies
9-16-24, 11:08am
I doubt Baltimore is any more violent than St. louis.
I would vacation in both places. But the fact that this young couple is not streets-mart is the main problematic factor.
Klunick, as a parent - I TOTALLY understand what you are saying.
That said, I do have some issues with the various "age restrictions" on some of the things within our society. For example, as 20 years olds, both of them could enlisted into the military - WITHOUT parental permission! and learn and carry weapons and die for their country! Yet they can't get a hotel room because they are under 21.
Again, I totally understand where you are coming from. Hopefully, they will find somewhere else to go for a visit.
I agree with the age thing. A lot of 18 year olds are out on their own.
I doubt Baltimore is any more violent than St. louis.
I would vacation in both places. But the fact that this young couple is not streets-mart is the main problematic factor.
I doubt it's more violent than St Louis but it's 1000 times more violent than where we live and that's the concern. They have no concept of what a big city is like and how you should act when in one.
happystuff
9-19-24, 1:18pm
My rave is for holding onto old technology - lol. By way of explanation - my laptop is not working. Have been trying to do stuff on my tablet - which has been okay, for the most part. Yesterday I remembered and pulled out this old netbook. Running on Windows 7, but the key here is "RUNNING"! LOL. Dropping laptop off to bil to look at.
happystuff
9-22-24, 8:37pm
Rave once again to family - this time to a bil in particular. I am back on my laptop!!! New hard drive and lost everything, but that's okay. Kind of fun starting from scratch.
iris lilies
11-13-24, 10:35am
This morning the mobile unit of our veterinarian is coming to our house for my brown cat’s annual exam.
Brown cat gets carsick and poops/vomits (usually both) in the 7 minutes car ride to the vet’s office. This is a marvelous thing for him, that his Dr. makes house calls.
early morning
11-13-24, 1:37pm
That is wonderful, I wish more vets did that.
I got all my crazy curly hair cut off today and it feels AMAZING! I haven't had hair this short since 2010-ish? I've always gone from one extreme to the other. When I grew out my hair from the 2010 cut I got the dreads put in around 2014 and then never cut my hair until the spring of the pandemic in 2020 when they were butt-length. They were so hot, scratchy and heavy I got my spouse to cut them to mid-back level. Then a few years later I got a shaved undercut but still had most of the dreads. Then just about two years ago I sat for a solid week combing out the dreads, about 5-7 per day until I was done. After that I just wore my hair long and curly for the past few years, only getting it cut and shaped about every 10 months.
I've been thinking about doing this for a while but just wasn't ready to do it until now. I like to say it's a combination of just being bored with the long, grey, somewhat scraggly curls, all my surgeries, and the election. It felt "time to turn the page" as Kamala said incessantly. I have to say having my face so much more exposed actually makes me look a lot younger, even though I haven't (and won't) change my hair color. A lot of the bleached out-looking, greyish silver got cut off and now my hair looks much more of the brown-ish red of my younger days but with silver highlights.
pinkytoe
11-16-24, 12:17am
Funny but I have been thinking about cutting my hair too. Just for the change.
Do it, it is very freeing!
I was so, so tired of trying to keep it out of my face. When I bothered to "do my hair" for the day (which means getting it wet and putting the curling gel creme in and waiting for it to dry) it would look really nice. But out here in the desert and not working this past year I got so very lazy with it. Unless I was going to town to run errands or go to a doctor's appointment, I wouldn't do anything with it and would go several days without even combing it. I'd just walk around the house with tangled bedhead for days on end. Not a good look...
Now I can't stop running my hand through what's left of my hair because it is so soft and smooth! When it's this short it's wavy; the corkscrew curls always started further down and that is ALL GONE!
happystuff
11-16-24, 9:08pm
Funny how often people don't like what they have and want what they don't have. I have always had thin, straight, fine hair and have always wanted curls. I even used to braid my wet hair so that there was some semblance of waviness after it dried and was unbraided. LOL
catherine
11-16-24, 10:58pm
And I desperately wanted the stick-straight fine hair that defined the 60s--all the Beatles' wives had the same hairdo and that's what I wanted, despite the fact that my hair was very thick and wavy.
SiouzQ, your new cut sounds adorable and much more manageable!
Me too! I wanted straight hair so bad that I would clamp plastic barrettes all along the length, put the pink tape across my forehead to hold my bangs down, then sit under the hood dryer!
My hair is very fine and very straight. It also grows very fast. I go every 4-5 weeks for a haircut. Turns out when I let it get a bit longer, the gray gets a bit wavy. It has a texture from the rest. I have salt and pepper hair. Natural color is dark brown.
ToomuchStuff
11-17-24, 8:36pm
This chemo was not supposed to affect me, but I am going bald due to it and now have very thin, sparce, white wild hair that looks like a short Don King. Thinking of shaving off.
Oh, Too Much Stuff, what a disappointment. Shaving it might work for now. My hair was perfect for the 60s, but as a child I always wanted curls...they would last an hour after sleeping on bobby pin curls all night. Now I'm ok with it...after 70 years.
Toomuch I am sorry you have to go through all that. I cut all mine off when I turned 50 a few years back. And then grew it out when I retired. Stick straight, thick, fine and rascally cowlicks. It's all in the skill of the stylist whether or not short will work again but I don't want it to look like a man's haircut.
I've let mine grow to about my collar and it's easier for me to handle--it's wavy and the length pulls out some of the curls and makes it easier to manage.
happystuff
11-19-24, 12:29pm
So sorry, TMS.
Our furnace broke and we had to call him on Christmas Eve and he came out yesterday and fixed it--something with a sensor. It works again and he filled the oil tank, so that feels really good.
iris lilies
12-28-24, 11:20am
This is both a rave and a rant: a friend in a plant society suggested I submit an article I wrote for our local rag to the national magazine. It had not occurred to me that the national publication would want it. I sent it off to the editorial board and they were enthusiastic about it and want to publish it. That’s the rave.
The rant is that they need high resolution photographs and I don’t have them. I’m now going back-and-forth with someone about that but I don’t know if I’ll be successful. I have great photographs, but they’re not high resolution so as possible my article will not be accepted after all into the national publication.
iris lilies
1-6-25, 8:56pm
Today my cat’s photo has 240 “likes” on a Reddit sub, one about cats in boxes. It is called “The cat trap is working” and people post photos of their cats in boxes.
I am rid of an editing project I’d accepted as part of my volunteer work with the WI Historical Society. Usually I just do stuff for the maritime archaeology office, but I was asked to take on a project from a different, but related office. It was huge and needed a ton of reworking and rewriting. I’ve had it for a few months, but work has been so stressful, I’ve not had the mental bandwidth for it. My diving instructor who is maritime archaeologist asked me about it today and I confessed my struggles. She said to not worry about it. The author of that project isn’t the best writer and they’ve all struggled with his stuff. Instructor’s field reports are fun to read and only need proofreading and minor corrections. I’ll keep doing hers.
HappyHiker
1-14-25, 8:38pm
This is both a rave and a rant: a friend in a plant society suggested I submit an article I wrote for our local rag to the national magazine. It had not occurred to me that the national publication would want it. I sent it off to the editorial board and they were enthusiastic about it and want to publish it. That’s the rave.
The rant is that they need high resolution photographs and I don’t have them. I’m now going back-and-forth with someone about that but I don’t know if I’ll be successful. I have great photographs, but they’re not high resolution so as possible my article will not be accepted after all into the national publication.
Have you tried any of the free photo web sites such as Pixabay? Some are free (with a desired donation to the photographer, but not required) and others have a small fee...
iris lilies
1-14-25, 9:41pm
Have you tried any of the free photo web sites such as Pixabay? Some are free (with a desired donation to the photographer, but not required) and others have a small fee...
no but thanks for the suggestion. After much back-and-forth for most of the day, it seems to be clear that these photos cannot be turned into what they need for the print publication.
They will accept the photos as is for a web article though so all is not lost.
rosarugosa
1-21-25, 8:08am
We have been having "water hammers" for awhile now. For anyone who might not know, this is when water gets trapped in a steam radiator, and it makes sounds that are literally like someone banging a hammer on a metal radiator. Unfortunately the problem radiator is in our bedroom, so water hammers are especially unpleasant there! I read up on it a bit and it can be caused by the pitch of the radiator. It needs to be pitched so that when the steam inside the radiator turns to condensation, it drains back to the boiler. I took apart the radiator cover, and there's a little shim under the bracket that appeared to have shifted. Instead of the little shim, we cut a piece of a 2 x 4 and wedged it under the radiator, lifting the end by about 1/2". No water hammers in the two days since we did this! The problem and possible solution had been marinating in the back of my brain, but I believe watching this reel is what made me put the pieces together and pursue resolution! There are a lot of these videos in the series and they are pretty fun:
https://youtu.be/N0hwoNQEm5s?si=KJWbH23XEzguQv-W
We have been having "water hammers" for awhile now. For anyone who might not know, this is when water gets trapped in a steam radiator, and it makes sounds that are literally like someone banging a hammer on a metal radiator. Unfortunately the problem radiator is in our bedroom, so water hammers are especially unpleasant there! I read up on it a bit and it can be caused by the pitch of the radiator. It needs to be pitched so that when the steam inside the radiator turns to condensation, it drains back to the boiler. I took apart the radiator cover, and there's a little shim under the bracket that appeared to have shifted. Instead of the little shim, we cut a piece of a 2 x 4 and wedged it under the radiator, lifting the end by about 1/2". No water hammers in the two days since we did this! The problem and possible solution had been marinating in the back of my brain, but I believe watching this reel is what made me put the pieces together and pursue resolution! There are a lot of these videos in the series and they are pretty fun:
https://youtu.be/N0hwoNQEm5s?si=KJWbH23XEzguQv-W
Wow, Rosa, you are my hero!
iris lilies
1-21-25, 11:13am
That is a great fix, Rosa. I have lived with radiators and know exactly the water hammer problem.
Applied for a new job this morning that is closer to home. I currently drive 65 miles each way and the new job would be about 20 miles each way. My only concern is the 12 hour rotating shifts and being an essential worker during bad weather. We rarely have snow but if we do, the last thing I'd want is to be out on the road especially since I'd be going over a rather high bridge. Plus I am not a night person and not sure how I'd do working days one week and nights the next. Hopefully I can get an interview to discuss the logistics of all of it. Really hoping that working 30 years in the same industry might make them reconsider my working hours and necessity during bad weather. Worst case scenario is I go for an interview, don't like what I hear, and tell them I'm not interested any longer.
It would be nice to finally have a job nearby though. I have been doing this commute for 27 years and I'm tired of it. Not to mention my distain for my current co-workers and boss for that matter. I will put up with it if I have to but am looking forward to seeing everyone's face when I give my two weeks notice and they realize just how screwed they will be when I'm not here doing all the work. :)
That is a heck of a commute. I would also be happy to leave that behind if I could. The twenty mile one might be a lot better, but I couldn't handle the night day shifts--my son is a night shift worker and has trouble if he has to shift temporarily to day. With the essential worker thing, can someone pick you up in bad weather? That would be a rule out for me. But don't you have that now, with the worse commute?
HappyHiker
1-23-25, 11:32am
Well, we got a goodly amount of snow in our little North Carolina town. And as there is very little in the way of snow removal equipment, our town has come to a standstill. Most everything's shut down.
Yesterday, for the first time since we lived in Michigan quite a few years ago, we got to shovel our sidewalk and un-bury the cars. No snow shovel so we improvised with the garden shovel, a push broom and a regular broom...it was good to get some exercise and get rosy cheeks!
So quiet with no traffic to be heard. It's so peaceful, truth told.
No errands to run, no doctor or dental appointments...
And plentiful books to read-- and as we still have power--this forum to peruse and movies to view.
Thanks, Nature for this pause...
iris lilies
1-23-25, 11:47am
Snow CAN be a beautiful pause, agreed.
our recent snowfall came with ice, so that stuff is NASTY. I am so glad to be retired and I don’t have to figure out how to get to work.
My tiny town has 4 vehicles they can use as snow plows. They did a great job on our icy streets, a difficult task.
In the 30+ years I lived in the city of St. Louis we never once saw a snowplow on our street. Their policy was to plow only “snow routes.” And that is fine except we do live in a winter environment so snow comes here.
I remember when we first moved ro St. Louis and had big snows. We were from the frozen tundra of Northern Iowa. We asked neighbors when the snow plows would come to oir neighborhood and they just laughed at us. :)
Taxes are less than half here than in the city.
happystuff
1-23-25, 12:38pm
Klunick, Ugh on the 65 miles one-way commute! Been there, done that, but way back when I was way younger! I also get the time switches. I'm 2nd shift, unless there is no school or 1/2 day of school. Then I usually go in at 6:30 a.m. Going in that early, after just working until 11:30pm the night before, is a pita. Unless, of course, the 6:30 a.m. falls on a Monday. LOL.
I also understand the reactions after giving notice. I'll be submitting my Intent to Retire letter next week and I'm curious to see what - if anything - may happen.
Snow shoveling is a good alternative to yard and garden maintenance, which I'm usually tiered of by the end of fall leaf pickup.
We've barely crawled above freezing and in a routine of light snowfall every few days for the last week or so. It is a good time to kick back, read, eat warm foods, and reflect. And sleep in under warm blankets on cold mornings. We usually have days of sun and warmer temperatures when the snow goes away before the next one, which is nice. I'd not want to live a place without real seasons or where snow stays on the ground most of the winter.
Whenever I get tired of the cold and snow here, I remind myself of the relentless heat of Texas. I know that I can have a real summer here whereas that stopped in June there because of the heat. Both situations force me to stay inside more than I like however.
Whenever I get tired of the cold and snow here, I remind myself of the relentless heat of Texas. I know that I can have a real summer here whereas that stopped in June there because of the heat. Both situations force me to stay inside more than I like however.
I agree. Our summers are so nice, but too short.
Today is a nice day. 26 degrees and sunny. No wind. Balmy. I was outside shoveling for a while.
early morning
2-8-25, 5:10pm
It is 28 here, but wet and nasty so I'm staying in. Things are starting to ice up after having been a tad warmer for a little while.
34 here. We are under an advisory for freezing drizzle, but nothing so far. Been just staying in and working on an editing project.
iris lilies
2-8-25, 6:17pm
All of our snow melted in the past week and we had one day that was nearly 70°. But I guess we’re in for another bout of precipitation that might turn to snow. Snow is better than ice. I mean it is February here so winner is not nearly over. .
There are a number of days next week with snow in the forecast. We’ll see how much we actually get.
iris lilies
2-8-25, 6:53pm
Tradd you earn your salary every day, but especially in these times of quickly changing rules and regs.
Waiting for a big storm to start. Have already been called in to work for 8 am tomorrow. Only saving grace is double-time on Sundays. Sigh.. I will NOT miss this!!!
iris lilies
2-8-25, 7:10pm
Waiting for a big storm to start. Have already been called in to work for 8 am tomorrow. Only saving grace is double-time on Sundays. Sigh.. I will NOT miss this!!!
Not long now!
I remember when DH was working for the tree company and they had snow clearance contracts during the winter. I hated worrying about him out there on the icy roads. I was so glad when he started working for himself because 90% of the time he was working in our neighborhood, no highways to conquer.
Tradd you earn your salary every day, but especially in these times of quickly changing rules and regs.
Yep!
frugal-one
2-8-25, 10:14pm
Whenever I get tired of the cold and snow here, I remind myself of the relentless heat of Texas. I know that I can have a real summer here whereas that stopped in June there because of the heat. Both situations force me to stay inside more than I like however.
Don’t know where in TX you were but I prefer the heat over cold any day. I don’t have to worry about falling on ice or shovel before I can leave the driveway. It is beautiful here now. I look at the forecast for the north and shudder! Also enjoy seeing sun most of the year rather than 6 months of dreary dark days!
I was in central TX most of my time there and the heat finally got to me. Different strokes.
Shipwreck event in WI this weekend was a big success. It was held in Milwaukee for about 15 years until the organizers just couldn't do it anymore. The shipwreck group I'm part of resurrected it last year to great acclaim. Smaller venue and associated with a shipwreck museum helped. I'm on the board of the organization. We plan via email and Zoom. People are scattered about WI and IL. They tried walkie talkies at event last year and they just didn't work well. I suggested WhatsApp this year. All the board members have smartphones (even the older folks) and we can't do group texts as they don't work well for mixed Apple/Android. It worked VERY well. Even the WhatsApp naysayers had to agree. They all said we need to do a WhatsApp group now for good.
happystuff
3-3-25, 10:14am
Congrats, tradd. Glad the event went so well.
iris lilies
3-14-25, 12:30pm
Old lady gardenng: I was talking to one of my friends who’s really into gardening and we both decided that it’s important to have one bed, one single bed, that is always perfectly weeded and beautiful. That way it’s easy to ignore weeds in the other beds.
this really speaks to me because I have a large flower bed below our deck. I can sit on the deck, drink wine or coffee, and look at things that are beautiful and weed free. If I don’t have my glasses on I do not notice the weeds in the vistas beyond, weeds that live in the other flower beds because I can’t really distinguish them.
so maybe that’s the real gardening tip of the day, take off your glasses. Enjoy your gardens that way!
Old lady gardenng: I was talking to one of my friends who’s really into gardening and we both decided that it’s important to have one bed, one single bed, that is always perfectly weeded and beautiful. That way it’s easy to ignore weeds in the other beds.
this really speaks to me because I have a large flower bed below our deck. I can sit on the deck, drink wine or coffee, and look at things that are beautiful and weed free. If I don’t have my glasses on I do not notice the weeds in the vistas beyond, weeds that live in the other flower beds because I can’t really distinguish them.
so maybe that’s the real gardening tip of the day, take off your glasses. Enjoy your gardens that way!
Tip # 2, make your tidiest garden be in an area that is fenced in, so that your dogs can be out there with you. This is why my backyard gardens look better than my front yard gardens.
so maybe that’s the real gardening tip of the day, take off your glasses. Enjoy your gardens that way!
Haha! "Take off your glasses and enjoy!" Words to live by!
But good gardening advice... The only garden I have to sit in is the pergola with the park bench in it, between 4 raised beds--two on each side. So unfortunately I have to ensure that 4 beds are weed-free if I'm to sit there and enjoy, but since I'm pretty good at not noticing things after decades of raising kids and dogs and working full time, I still can overlook a weed or two.
frugal-one
3-14-25, 5:11pm
Took DH shopping today. He got the majority of his summer wardrobe. Told him to just get what he wanted and not worry about price. Of course, before we left home I downloaded a 25% off coupon! After checking out, went back and asked the gal next in line if she wanted to use my coupon again. She said “I’m Canadian and these things are on sale!” I told her it didn’t matter and gave the clerk the code. The woman’s face was priceless! She saved $30! Kinda made my day…
iris lilies
3-14-25, 6:45pm
Took DH shopping today. He got the majority of his summer wardrobe. Told him to just get what he wanted and not worry about price. Of course, before we left home I downloaded a 25% off coupon! After checking out, went back and asked the gal next in line if she wanted to use my coupon again. She said “I’m Canadian and these things are on sale!” I told her it didn’t matter and gave the clerk the code. The woman’s face was priceless! She saved $30! Kinda made my day…
aw, thats nice!
happystuff
3-15-25, 9:03am
Took DH shopping today. He got the majority of his summer wardrobe. Told him to just get what he wanted and not worry about price. Of course, before we left home I downloaded a 25% off coupon! After checking out, went back and asked the gal next in line if she wanted to use my coupon again. She said “I’m Canadian and these things are on sale!” I told her it didn’t matter and gave the clerk the code. The woman’s face was priceless! She saved $30! Kinda made my day…
That's wonderful! It's fun to share!
I'll do the same sometimes with gift cards, especially if it is a place I rarely go. I remember placing an order at a DD, paid with my gift card and then handed it to the person behind me. As I was waiting for my order to be filled, that person used it, then passed it to the person behind her! I think it made it through a total of four orders. LOL. It was nice - everyone laughing and smiling about how far it had gone. Even the people behind the counter!
It's 75 degrees out and sunny so I have been playing in the yard out here in the desert. A lot of the yard is bare dirt (it's just how it is here) but I have created different zones by making garden paths using local (as in from elsewhere in my yard) stone to make borders. The weeds are coming in pretty good even without any rain (hardy little bast**rds) so I have been pulling them up. It is still so satisfying to get them from the root! I am DETERMINED not to let things get out of hand like I say every single spring/summer.
Deciding how much to spend on plants is a big concern. I would say that 90% of things I've purchased just do not survive after one season. It is SO hard to garden here so I will probably just buy some pretty flowers to put in the containers on the porch. Everything like that has to be squirrel-proofed by making chicken wire cages. I do plan to plant my lettuce/spinamch bed and also grow collard greens, swiss chard and kale. I've had some success with that, but again, with lots of chicken wire used.
Anyway, it is so nice to be outdoors enjoying the sunshine putzing around. My left arm/shoulder WILL pay for it later but so be it; it's worth it to me to try to have some normalcy in my life.
iris lilies
3-24-25, 5:57pm
God what a relief. I FINALLY got the power/authorization to get into our iris Society’s website to update it.
the landing pages had not been updated since 2023.
The Contacts page listed dead people.
A third of the pages said “Under construction, coming soon” since 2020.
I kept my mouth shut about this damn site for seven years, this one and the one previous, which was also never current. The oldsters who run the society don’t understand that they had to contribute content, the webmaster who was very good was just the tech person. They never gave her any updated information. She lost interest. Then she stopped communicating with us. Until I got on the board in recent years, I didn’t speak up because I didn’t want the responsibility of fixing
and then a year ago, I started investigating with the webmaster why it wasn’t updated. And it took a year to move the heavens that be.
This is exactly what happened with 2 other garden club and plant groups I’m with.
Anyway, now have the keys to the kingdom and I got into the website and made rudimentary updates. They ain’t pretty, but they are current.
early morning
3-25-25, 1:53pm
I hate logging onto a site I'm interested in and finding the events page stopped in 2022. Or earlier. It's maddening, and very off-putting. I've dropped the idea of joining several organizations due to their website. If they can't offer current info on their OWN GROUP, then I have to assume they are not really interested in my membership. Good on you IL for updating your society's website. One of the museums we support (in volunteer hours, we have little $$ to support with!) has a terrible web-host, but they have wrested control of the calendar and events pages and complained vociferously, and it's getting a bit better.
iris lilies
3-25-25, 2:15pm
I hate logging onto a site I'm interested in and finding the events page stopped in 2022. Or earlier. It's maddening, and very off-putting. I've dropped the idea of joining several organizations due to their website. If they can't offer current info on their OWN GROUP, then I have to assume they are not really interested in my membership. Good on you IL for updating your society's website. One of the museums we support (in volunteer hours, we have little $$ to support with!) has a terrible web-host, but they have wrested control of the calendar and events pages and complained vociferously, and it's getting a bit better.
oh you have no idea of the general incompetence, or ennui, or both, of the organizations I deal with in their digital lives. They make me crazy!
It is because they are all run by a bunch of old people. Our President is still yammering about wanting a printed newsletter as well as a calendar and roster in print, etc. Yet, the National Plant
Society runs a strong website with tons of great digital resources, and they are not young,
While all of that is fine, we don’t have volunteers to do that and it is a poor place to put focus, anyway. A print newsletter is fine (but wemcannot afford it on $5 membership fees a year!) but we desperately need help with digital communications. We need a Mail Chimp sort of operation set up. We need someone who actually knows how to effectively update a Wordpress website (my knowledge is not even kindergarten level, and today I’m struggling with very basic editing tasks.)
We did find a volunteer to produce the sacred booklet he wants, so that is fine, but …if we aren’t visible in the digital world zwe don’t exist. I take care of the Facebook page which has 3,000 followers, but that is only a little exposure for people in this region. Most followers are out of region.
I belong to a couple of "horticulture" groups and all have very good online presence. It is funny though that most members are older I guess because they have the time to pursue interests. The native plant groups seem to have more younger folk. Today's rave is the weather. Blue skies, puffy clouds and snow on the peak.
iris lilies
3-26-25, 12:44pm
I belong to a couple of "horticulture" groups and all have very good online presence. It is funny though that most members are older I guess because they have the time to pursue interests. The native plant groups seem to have more younger folk. Today's rave is the weather. Blue skies, puffy clouds and snow on the peak.
that’s definitely true in the plant circles I travel in. The only ornamentals younger people seem to like are natives. And that’s fine, let them continue that tradition and prop up the native plantings, but for anyone who really likes flowers, natives become dull after a while. There’s only so much you can do in one climate with natives. If you don’t bring in things from China, plant life becomes very dull very quickly IMHO.
I don't watch TV (I don't OWN a TV) very much, although I'll occasionally watch something on the PBS website or some on YT. I mostly watch on my iPad. I checked the NYT Wirecutter reviews and bought a small portable bluetooth speaker for about $70. It's made a huge difference as I can hear so much better. Experience doing exercise videos on YT is much better, too, since the iPad volume isn't the highest.
that’s definitely true in the plant circles I travel in. The only ornamentals younger people seem to like are natives. And that’s fine, let them continue that tradition and prop up the native plantings, but for anyone who really likes flowers, natives become dull after a while. There’s only so much you can do in one climate with natives. If you don’t bring in things from China, plant life becomes very dull very quickly IMHO.
I just wrote an article for the local library newsletter on biodiversity as part of one my Extension Master Gardener group's activities. And yes, my first bullet was the importance of natives to support biodiversity. I think it's fine to throw in non-natives, but I prefer to be judicious. For instance, I bought a Japanese maple for DH for his 50th birthday (it still grows at the NJ house). I do love those trees and have considered adding one to my garden up here.
iris, I thought of you a couple of weeks ago when I went to the Vermont Flower Show, which is a big biannual event. The Vermont garden clubs had an exhibit, with juried floral arrangements presented.. they were similar to the ones I've seen you submit for competition. They were fun to look at.
And yes, pinkytoe, horticulture groups definitely skew older and female.
iris lilies
4-5-25, 10:11pm
I just wrote an article for the local library newsletter on biodiversity as part of one my Extension Master Gardener group's activities. And yes, my first bullet was the importance of natives to support biodiversity. I think it's fine to throw in non-natives, but I prefer to be judicious. For instance, I bought a Japanese maple for DH for his 50th birthday (it still grows at the NJ house). I do love those trees and have considered adding one to my garden up here.
iris, I thought of you a couple of weeks ago when I went to the Vermont Flower Show, which is a big biannual event. The Vermont garden clubs had an exhibit, with juried floral arrangements presented.. they were similar to the ones I've seen you submit for competition. They were fun to look at.
And yes, pinkytoe, horticulture groups definitely skew older and female.
I just got back from a flower show today. The St. Louis Daffodil Society had its show and we had to recruit DH at the last minute to fill a class. Guess who won best in show with his design? Yeah, it was DH. His head is swelled at the moment.
living without the garden staples of hostas, peonies, 99% of the iris cultivars, 99% of Lilies, hydrangeas, daffodils, daylilies, etc…. Just to name a very few… Those are what we’re not allowed to have when we stick only to natives.
..
I just got back from a flower show today. The St. Louis Daffodil Society had its show and we had to recruit DH at the last minute to fill a class. Guess who won best in show with his design? Yeah, it was DH. His head is swelled at the moment.
Oh, you have to share a pic!
iris lilies
4-5-25, 10:19pm
6293
The leaves have holes punched in them because they’re simulating voting punchcard holes and hanging chads from the 2000 presidential election. The theme of this class was “what happened in the year 2000?”
6293
The leaves have holes punched in them because they’re simulating voting punchcard holes and hanging chads from the 2000 presidential election. The theme of this class was “what happened in the year 2000?”
Oh, that's great!
Wow, congrats to your DH!
happystuff
4-7-25, 12:57pm
Very nice! Congrats to your dh!
early morning
4-8-25, 7:32am
Il, cool that your dh won! My rave is - vacation! On the way to Cape Cod, looking off our hotel balcony at Laurel Lake in the Berkshires. Of course it is snowing lol.
Thinking of you, rosarugosa! Hitting Chocolate Springs for coffee and treats before leaving town. So nice to be out of routine.
That's great, Early! Give my love to Laurel Lake and enjoy the rest of your trip!
Start a new job soon! Same company but different unit/department. Can't come soon enough as I'm at my limit with my current co-workers. Earliest I'll be gone is the 28th. Latest is May 5th.
iris lilies
4-18-25, 9:51am
Start a new job soon! Same company but different unit/department. Can't come soon enough as I'm at my limit with my current co-workers. Earliest I'll be gone is the 28th. Latest is May 5th.good for you. I hope all goes well with the new job.
iris lilies
4-18-25, 9:59am
I have been appreciating the blessing that is our large flower bed off the back of our house, right below our deck.
I didn’t envision this when the deck was built. It has enough room for 200 plants. It is a blessing because
1) it is easy to access for care
2) easy to see, being just below the deck
3) it is deer proof with its high wall
I can put my favorite lilies and phlox and daylilies there and see them all the time, and deer can’t get to them.
I have a large lily bed down the hill, surrounded by an 8’ fence, and blocked from view by a large elderberry bush. So it is nice to have close-by lilies in the bed just below the deck.
when I first saw how big this below deck bed was, I was intimidated. But you know that lasted about one week. I transplanted all the daylilies that never bloomed because deer ate them into this bed and the next year all of them popped into Bloom. I hadn’t seen them bloom for five years. I’m not a huge fan of daylilies but they are nice for filling up a flower bed quickly.
IL, that sounds great.
Good Friday today, slow at work due to many customers being closed. I have a church service at 4, but I ended up leaving work about 2. It’s been so crazy the past month, that I’ll take whatever I can get.
Totally splurged on a new iPad Mini. I love the smaller size. I’ll keep my larger sized iPad that I use for my choir music. New Mini is a light purple. Purple is my favorite color.
IL: That sounds wonderful, having a big, beautiful flower bed so close by!
Tradd, congrats on the iPad mini! I've one of those for years--and I love the size of it, also. I can slip it in my purse, but it's not too small to read. Perfect size.
iris lilies
4-19-25, 10:20pm
I have two iPad minis that are constantly on. I need to get a third one to prepare for the day when one of these older ones
goes bad.
I have two iPad minis that are constantly on. I need to get a third one to prepare for the day when one of these older ones
goes bad.
Mini was just updated.
A few things to be happy about…. albeit damn trump!
[url]https://apnews.com/article/pence-profile-courage-award-jfk-capitol-riot-10918d5bc5a356a19b7fa524fea16760[/
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/library-lawsuit-trump-administration/2025/05/02/id/1209357/
iris lilies
5-4-25, 8:16pm
I’m sure the library world is clapping enthusiastically, but I’ve been out of that world for 10 years.
public libraries are funded by local tax dollars. These grants by the feds are not the nuts and bolts of the library services you touch and feel in your locality.
but that doesn’t speak to the legal aspect of cutting the services of the Museums and Library unit of the Federal government. It may well be that only Congress can cut it. I don’t know the legal argument
iris lilies
5-6-25, 10:17am
Rave or Rant?
I have almost too many bluebells. They have come up all over after renovating a flower bed. I never thought I would be in this position in a million years. It’s like being too skinny (not from illness.) What riches!
Iris, I'm so happy about your bluebells. I look at my yard and sit on my porch seeing hummingbirds, bluebirds, goldfinches , robins, cardinals and Merlin heard a cedar waxwing and Orchard Oriole. I used to dream of having birds to see and now we do.
Idiot owner at work was actually in the office today and surprisingly passed along remarks from customers that were thrilled how I handled the tariff increases.
Idiot owner at work was actually in the office today and surprisingly passed along remarks from customers that were thrilled how I handled the tariff increases.
Congrats! It's always so nice to have your good work recognized! I'm sure it was very reassuring to your customers!
Thank you. And one customer was so appreciative she sent a box of fancy cookies to me at the office a couple of weeks ago. They were all individually wrapped. I took the chocolate ones and put the rest out to share the hip spread in the office.
A lot of customers have expressed their appreciation to me personally, but hearing it via the idjut owner was the difference.
iris lilies
5-6-25, 10:27pm
Idiot owner at work was actually in the office today and surprisingly passed along remarks from customers that were thrilled how I handled the tariff increases. that is really nice to hear Tradd. This is such a difficult time for you and your customers so I’m glad they think you are serving them well.
That's really nice, Tradd. I'm sure it's been a crazy time for you!
I have a little rave to share. DH and I went to a fun play (Picasso at the Lapin Agile) put on by a small local theatre company on Sunday. It was good, inexpensive, and a 10-minute walk from our house. The funny thing is the decluttering tie-in. On our local buy-nothing FB page, a woman had been looking for small cordial glasses. I was able to give her a set from my mother's house, and she mentioned they would be props for a play she was in. That was how I learned about the play, and I was able to see the glasses have their 15 minutes of fame, lol. Now that the theatre group is on our radar, I'm sure we will see more plays from them in the future!
iris lilies
5-7-25, 7:31am
Thatvwas fun to see your glasses on stage!
I finally ditched the landline today! Another day of a dead phone line in a long string of outages in our area for the past few months. CenturyLink is pretty bad around where I live - even if the line is working, the sound is all crackly and static-y. We had a series of storms recently so that may be why it is out for just us. The chat bot said if the bad line was outside the house they would fix it but if it was inside we'd have to pay a minimum of $99.
I've just had it with having a landline anymore so I cancelled it. I'll be saving $65/month which will really help me with my other bills!
Wow. Congrats on the savings. I ditched mine around 2010ish.
iris lilies
5-8-25, 5:35pm
I finally ditched the landline today! Another day of a dead phone line in a long string of outages in our area for the past few months. CenturyLink is pretty bad around where I live - even if the line is working, the sound is all crackly and statically. We had a series of storms recently so that may be why it is out for just us. The chat bot said if the bad line was outside the house they would fix it but if it was inside we'd have to pay a minimum of $99.
I've just had it with having a landline anymore so I cancelled it. I'll be saving $65/month which will really help me with my other bills!
I liked the clarity of transmission in our old landline, but when we moved to Hermann, we would’ve had to give up our phone number and so that was the deciding factor for me to get rid of it. if the sound was crackley I would’ve gotten rid of it for sure.
I guess I’m used to a cell phone now, it’s been 2+ years
Wow. Congrats on the savings. I ditched mine around 2010ish.
I kept justifying keeping it for the past few years for safety reasons. When we bought the house we had CenturyLink phone and internet and the internet wasn't that good and WiFi calls would drop. So we added the phone line basically to be able to call 911 if needed. When the pandemic started K. HAD to upgrade the internet so he could keep his job and we did find a good alternative for internet services. So we ditched the CenturyLink internet but kept the phone line because I kept thinking we needed it to be able to call 911 if needed because sometimes the WiFi calls would still drop, especially if I was in another room and the signal couldn't get through the adobe walls. Then I bought a WiFi booster and that has helped a lot. But I was lazy about cancelling it until today when I went to make a call on the landline and it was still out from the storm the other day.
When I lived in Michigan I think I cancelled my landline back in 2009 or so.
We'll probably keep ours at this point because we live rather remotely and the landline works when we lose power, which is often, and I feel a whole lot safer being able to call for help if we need it.
iris lilies
5-9-25, 9:10am
We'll probably keep ours at this point because we live rather remotely and the landline works when we lose power, which is often, and I feel a whole lot safer being able to call for help if we need it.
In that situation you need a landline.
when we first made an offer on our Hermann house, our phones or I think track phones? Anyway, we couldn’t get cell reception. The locals told us we had to use AT&T network to get cell phone service. That has proved to be the case because our friend who visited us this week and he did not get decent cell phone service. We are surrounded by hills
happystuff
5-11-25, 6:08pm
Congrats on all the great news all around!
Haven't given up landline yet. Should...
Did a ton of decluttering this weekend. I’m past giving away stuff. Now it’s stuff that gets trashed. Not in any shape or worth it to give away. Pulled out the new set of cotton jersey fabric sheets from Amazon I’ve had for a couple of months. Got tired of washing the same set. New ones on bed. I layer lots of blankets due to hot flashes. Two heavier fleece blankets off bed and put aside to wash. Cotton blanket and a thin fleece one are in the wash. Cleared all off big counter between LR and kitchen and cleaned it. Mostly grocery shopping shelf stable stuff I’d not put away.
Got rid of mop and bucket as they’re a pain for my small kitchen and bathroom. Got a Swifter power mop. Got rid of broom, too. My vacuum works fine on hard surface floors and I didn’t use broom.
I have so much more clear space now. It feels wonderful and calm. I need that with how work is. I might hire someone to come in and give a good deep cleaning.
Congrats on the decluttered home, Tradd! Sounds like you got a lot done. DH is the clothes horse in the family, and he got rid of a contractor bag full of clothes. I feel I need to assemble another box for the ReSource Habitat for Humanity store. It's amazing how just a small amount of unnecessary stuff can really affect the serenity of a small place.
As far as landlines go, I am keeping mine for the same reason as Tybee, and also, because I still am using it for work (although I'm not working as much this year--which is good because I can spend time with DD, but not-so-good from an income perspective).
happystuff
5-26-25, 6:32pm
That's great, Tradd! I didn't get to the decluttering I intended this weekend, so have to start tomorrow.
As retirees, we wear mostly jeans. Yesterday, I counted 10 pair for me and 12 for DH. I would be quite happy to get rid of a few from both of us. DH is adamant about keeping all of his so that's not going to happen.
happystuff
5-27-25, 8:09am
I think I have about 6 pairs of jeans, but hardly wear them. My pants of choice are cargo pants (and cargo shorts). I love pockets!!!! LOL
Pays to ask around. Due to kitchen remodeling we needed a temp table to set next to fridge. Nothing else in room. During a party, a friend said dont buy one I have two right here and I will bring one over tomorrow. Win win. A few months ago we gave them our leftover cooler since they have a lot of outdoor parties. Now they saved us $40.
We also asked our neighbors if they had anything to donate to Habitat Restore since we had the truck coming yesterday. One neighbor was looking to donate a very nice wicker chair and they only had to bring it next door. Win win.
happystuff
5-31-25, 5:37pm
Pays to ask around. Due to kitchen remodeling we needed a temp table to set next to fridge. Nothing else in room. During a party, a friend said dont buy one I have two right here and I will bring one over tomorrow. Win win. A few months ago we gave them our leftover cooler since they have a lot of outdoor parties. Now they saved us $40.
We also asked our neighbors if they had anything to donate to Habitat Restore since we had the truck coming yesterday. One neighbor was looking to donate a very nice wicker chair and they only had to bring it next door. Win win.
I love when things work out like that! Yay for all.
HappyHiker
5-31-25, 6:52pm
I threw away a pile of holey, unusable plastic planters and flower pots that were becoming a bio-hazard and possible snake habitat..they were out of sight behind the shed...but I KNEW they were there and they were bugging me...swept out dead leaves and made more space for the bikes in the shed...still a lot to do there. With no garage, basement or attic, the shed is our repository for junk--you know stuff that might be useful some day--except that day never seems to come..
I got notice today that I finally got approved for SSDI! I had filed back in February 2024 and got denied once (which is par for the course) and the lawyers appealed right away. I had to send in another huge bunch of paperwork back in March as they re-looked at my case, plus another set of paperwork two weeks ago to clarify my old self-employment income. During the entire process they have had access to all of my medical and surgery reports, my function evaluations and work history. Based on my diagnosis of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, the subsequent major surgery last summer, peripheral neuropathy in my feet, arthritis in my knees and bouts of sciatica as well, plus my ripe old age of 63 and the fact I have always worked very physical retail jobs my entire life (plus being a silversmith and musician), they (and whoever they is, I am very grateful to them) agreed that I am in fact, funtionally disabled from working any sort of job that I have been accostomed to.
I think it really helped that I am so close to my full retirement age anyway. From what I understand in the TOS support group I'm in is that the younger people have a very hard time getting approved for disability.
So how am I doing? It's still difficult to tell if I have any improvement from that surgery last summer because the frozen shoulder crap is still getting in the way. I have been going to PT since my procedure in April and I definitely have improved mobility but I HAVE to do the PT at least 3 - 5x a day so it doesn't freeze up again. I am still having nerve issues in my shoulder, arm, wrist, and hand, plus a lot of scapula pain. In some ways I do feel better because I have a bit more energy these days. We have been going to the gym twice a week and I can tell my overall health is improving with that. But I still have very chronic, ongoing pain though and that is exhausting.
I will be getting the back pay from when I initially filed, then a monthly check. Because I have always been a low-wage slave, it's not going to be THAT much but it will be SOMETHING to add to my monthly little IRA payment I started getting last month. Plus K. is still working. Now I'll be able to finally once again be able to contribute more to our daily living expenses.
catherine
5-31-25, 10:17pm
That's great, SiouxQ!! Persistence paid off!
It must feel great to have this realized at last and behind you, Siouxz.
That is wonderful, Siouz!!
Glad you were successful SiouzQ, although sorry for the medical troubles.
iris lilies
6-1-25, 8:58am
Good news!
early morning
6-1-25, 9:04am
good to hear, SiouzQ - the financial part, anyway! And for us at least, it always seems that medical issues are exacerbated - or at least harder to deal with - when we're dealing with financial, emotional, and/or other stressing conditions at the same time. Hoping your healing journey becomes easier soon!
happystuff
6-1-25, 12:29pm
That IS good news, SiouzQ! Especially the parts where you are actually feeling a bit better.
With all the decluttering I've done over the past year and a final purge about a month ago, my place is finally getting nice and spare. Now it's keeping it up by putting things away. The big counter besides LR and kitchen is pretty much clear. It can easily become my dumping ground. Some stuff is piled on the couch, but I don't use the couch, and I'm trying to figure out where this stuff will go. Bathroom counter is a balancing act between the stuff I use daily and a mess. Dive gear is piled up in its usual place of the LR side of the base cabinets of the big counter. But other than that, the LR floor is clear. That's something huge.
With all the stress at work, keeping surfaces clear at home is a big thing for me. Calmer.
Good job, Tradd. I know a lot of people find it stressful to do housework, but I find it more stressful to live in a messy, disorganized environment.
HappyHiker
6-8-25, 10:05am
Good job, Tradd. I know a lot of people find it stressful to do housework, but I find it more stressful to live in a messy, disorganized environment.
Oh, I sure agree...clutter makes me feel restless and out of sorts..I let it get to a certain point then look out! Right now I'm battling with piles of books that don't fit into the book cases...have two piles sorted--one to donate to library and the other, smaller one, to use as trading goods to swap at the little free libraries. Then, unfortunately, the process begins anew.
If I were a better person I'd cull the bookshelves and make more room, but alas, that will have to wait. I agonize over each volume...a good winter process to tackle when weather keeps me inside more...
Just now, I prefer to mess around outside talking to the plants and flowers and trimming here and there...
Good job, Tradd. I know a lot of people find it stressful to do housework, but I find it more stressful to live in a messy, disorganized environment.
I still hate cleaning!
I am probably obsessive about decluttering but I think it has to do with growing up in a home where my single mother worked hospital shifts. She was always too tired/depressed to do much organizing, cooking or cleaning so my surroundings always felt chaotic to me. Putting things in order is very calming IMO.
Pinkytoe: Our mother was very disorganized and had a tremendous amount of clutter, and I definitely think that plays a role in why me and my sister are such diligent declutterers.
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