Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

Nola...apologies for misspelling your name again...so simple, but for some reason I don't get, I keep using the 'r' rather than the 'l'.... I will remember next time I pray. Once again, I do apologise.Nola, Nola, Nola,Nola,Nola,Nola,Nola...stampting it into my brain!

I will take time to quiet my mind, to rest my heart and refresh my soul.... and to remember to spell all names correctly...

Hi all,
Oh Mama, all forgiven haha, I don't mind at all.
Enjoy your 'ME' time and I hope Jazz is OK.
June, have a great visit from your son and grandies. Lovely weather to be outside weeding, especially if it doen't hurt your back and knees.
Nice to see you drop in Tami
How are the ears going now Heidi.
MizT.. I would love to see your community garden, with the amount of time you spend out there, it must be beautiful. Glad the chiro helped.
Julie..enjoy your busy week.

Catch you all another day

Hi, Everyone! Just a quick visit to say Hello, including to June, MizT, Tami, Mama, Nola, Heidi, DOrA, and any others I have missed. It's always good to see friends!

Sending the day's supply of , healing energy, positive thoughts, prayers, and {{{{{HUGS}}}}}.

Another sunny dry day here. Hot as too. Yesterday I cleaned the blades and cage of my box fan, the one I use in bedroom. It has made a ton of difference in the amount of air it circulates. IF ONLY I could get the cover off my AC unit, I would give that fan a good cleaning too. I am sure I could get lots more yuck from the AC fan, and improve it's air circulation also.

Mama, I do hope the nodule on the lung does not require any treatment or surgery. Be sure to keep your appointment for the follow up scan. enjoy your time at home alone, be safe.

Nola, I wish I could photograph the garden. My current phone only lets me talk and text, If I can do it on a numeric keypad with very few words. But for the price (free) I will make do. Each of my girls have said they will give me their old smart phone, and put me on their family plan, but no one has come through yet. A smart phone might be smarter than I am hehehe. I do miss having the camera to share photos, though.

How boring it is, when you know you cannot have anything to eat or drink daytime. I had a large breakfast, drank a second cup of coffee just at the 'no more food' time, took my meds. I have survived an hour and half of the 6 fasting hours, before the epidural pain block. Tanya made soup for me today, at her house, will bring it when she comes to be my designated driver after the procedure. I usually make the trip in my power chair, only one block, but they insist on a driver. We shall have soup for dinner. She loves to cook, offered to cook something for me, and I accepted her offer I sent most of the ingredients home with her when she was here yesterday.

Someone is doing something very noisy somewhere over my head. I have thought about calling Susan who lives above me to be sure she is OK, but the noise stopped before I found her number. No idea what is going on, even if it is in her apartment. I shall ask her when next I see her.

I think a nap is on order. nothing else interesting going on at the moment. Hugs to each of you, with extras, till later.

Every day, the ear is getting better and better! The back is screaming at me now, though. It's alwways something!

Sorry about your back Heidi, but pleased the ear is improving. It is a pity you could not have seen the ENT sooner.
Belinda's birthday today. She has some students in the city for an excursion. I hate the thought that she will be alone tonight on her birthday but it is too far just to go up there for dinner and we will all go out and celebrate next week as it will be school holidays.

I got Ken to dig up my garden. I will turn the soil over again tomorrow to check for weeds and then I can finally plant the pansies.
Guests for dinner tonight so must go and set the table. Beef and mushroom pies, mashed potato and green beans and strawberries, blueberries and raspberries for dessert. I tried to buy some brandy baskets but there were non in the supermarket. (Too lazy to make my own!)

Greetings, Friends!

MizT, I hope all went well today and the epidural works its magic for you! What a great idea to clean your box fan. I wish there was a way to clean your AC unit. I'm sure you're right - it would be much more efficient!

Heidi, that's great news about your ear improving! So sorry your back has decided to act up. Hopefully you won't need to wait too long until your next epidural.

Mama, I hope you're enjoying your quiet, less hectic time. Hoping all goes well and the nodule does not need to be treated.

June, I suspect Belinda understands you would like to celebrate her birthday, but is willing to delay the celebration until school holidays. It's nice that Ken dug up your garden & you'll just need to turn the soil over tomorrow before planting the pansies. I hope you and your guests enjoyed dinner!

Time to head to bed. We are puppy-sitting this week & feel more tired than usual. Sending positive thoughts, healing vibes, prayers, , and {{{{{HUGS}}}}} for each of you!

I decided I really wanted brandy baskets so I did make some. they were easy and they turned out very nice. We all enjoyed our dinner.

Busy day here today. We're running new water lines to the house, lab, and water tanks. I need to water the horses, turn off the hot water heater, then shut off the water to the house and drain the pipes.

JUNE, your dinner sounds very nice. Please, what are brandy baskets? something to hold the berries I am thinking? Time for you to plant pansies, and my remaining two containers of them are on their last legs. I am surprised they have made it this far, with the near 100*F temps we have had for last two weeks. I think that these two containers have the self watering feature is the only reason they survive. Enjoy your pansies, one of my favorites since the only blooming thing in our winter. To bad you will miss Belinda's birthday, but by meeting to celebrate come holidays, you are just extending the celebrations. I have one more birthday celebration here, the June birthday party for residents, tomorrow? Hope the headache is better by then!!

Heidi, so glad the ear is getting better and better. Hope the back stops screaming at you, down to at least a whisper please.

JULIE, cleaning the fan is a continuing upkeep need. It is not hard, just 6 screws to remove, it comes apart, so the front cage and back cage are accessible inside and out. A small 'butlers broom' brushes out the accumulated fuzz, the blades need a brushing then a good degreasing (spell check does not know how to spell this hehehe) cleaner to get them clean. Snaps back together easily, drop the screws into the recessed holes, and tighten. On low, I can now feel the breeze and I am over 15 feet from it, diagonally across the room.

Heidi, good luck with the new water pipes, hope you have water again by this afternoon.

Does anyone remember, when I had my last spinal, did I have a horrendous headache? If so, I have another this time. I came in at 6 pm and straight to bed, Tanya brought me soup and something to drink, and back to bed. Except for a 2 hour intermission about 1-3 am, I slept till 8 this morning. A bit of a headache when I gout up, but flowers needed watering, they got nothing yesterday. By time I came back, head was miserable. I did manage to look at calendar and my medication journal, found last January same thing happened. Looked at how long, 48 hours, and what seemed successful, a combination of time, benadryl, caffeine, Tylenol and bed rest. So am trying that, Nausea with the headache, too, but back is MUCH better. HUMMM, it is almost noon, and I have had no breakfast, I shall see if I can get some oatmeal down

Hugs to each of you, with extras, till later. It is back to bed for me, Tanya arrived with Milk and half and half, the two things most pressing from grocery list. she will be back after she does the EP lunch run, her volunteer work here. I'll get her to water my onside plants, the only pressing chore for me, so can then stay in bed rest of day. I do hope the back relief is as good as it was in January, I rated that as a 90% improvement.

They won't be completing the job with the water lines until late tomorrow. There's at least a half mile of trench to dig, and water lines to lay, as well as do all the connections. Most of the trenching was done today.

We got our electric bill today. This is the first one to reflect the improvement from the new heating and cooling system. The temperatures have been in the '90's, yet our bill was ONE QUARTER of what it previously was!!! Gil is THRILLED. Just 3 years of savings will pay for the whole thing.

Heidi, pleased that the heating/cooling system is such a success. Hope the water is soon connected and is also a success.
Tricia, have you ever had brandy snaps? A toffee like biscuit rolled around and filled with cream? Same toffee like biscuit but put over a glass while still warm to form a 'basket' Filled with cream and berry fruit.

Just a quick hello, then off to bed. I don't know where the time goes.

Heidi, I'm so glad to hear about the improvement of your electric bill! Will the new water lines improve your water bill? (I'm thinking there may be leaks.) It will be tough to have the water turned off for another day.

MizT, I'm glad your back is better! That massive headache makes it difficult. It's a good thing you kept track of what helped the last time. Hopefully, it will help again!

June, thanks for explaining the brandy baskets. So, MizT guessed right that they were to held the fruit. Your dinner sounds wonderful!

Sending positive thoughts, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, healing energy, prayers, and for each of you!

The well collapsed, and our water is contaminated by e-coli. We've been unable to get the only guy in the area, that redigs wells, out here for over a year. So we're switching the house and lab over to city water. That way, the lines won't get plugged up with mud any more and we can run the washer. And take showers. And not have the comodes fill with mud.

The grand nephews have departed after a couple of days in the country at DorA's place. Good company. Good food. Air, about as fresh as it gets. And riding dirt bikes. Latest report indicates the kids returned home exhausted.

Back later to read through the posts...............

June would you please post the recipe for the ''brandy baskets'' on the 'recipe page'? Please. Pretty Please. With cream n sugar on it..........

Now they say they won't finish the water change-over until Monday. What a mess. There are open trenches everywhere.

Greetings to Everyone!

Heidi, what a MAJOR undertaking. Will be thinking of you and hoping everything goes well and without delays!

DOrA, sounds like a great visit for your grand nephews! Hope it was a great visit for you, too!

Heading to bed. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, healing energy, , positive thoughts, and prayers for all!

DoA, I have posted the recipe both on Gail's Recipe blog and also as a PM to you. Jane's recipe book is through her own page.
Heidi, what a mess. Can you get any water for the animals or for the house and showers etc? Is it back to the old strip down and wash all over. Many times we had to do that when I was young and only had tank water.
My son and family will be in Sydney for the next couple of days. They are not staying here but we will go to a museum in the city tomorrow and probably the zoo on Monday. It will be nice to see them.

The final step will be the change-over from one system to the other. Yes, we have water for the house and livestock still, but it's been ''the old strip down and wash all over'' for a year now. Baths HAVE been possible, but it takes an hour to fill the tub. And I can only do that if it hasn't rained for many days. And it's raining frequently. It's raining right now.

Thanks, June, for the recipe. Sounds delish.

Julie, The kids weren't the only ones ''exhausted''. No way I'd admit it, to them, at least though.

Yeah it was 'worth it'.

Meeting up with my Melbourne family in the city today.(and tomorrow) It will be lovely to see them and to see how much the boys have grown. Cold this morning but a lovely sunny day to follow.

Just got beck from a day at Mammoth Cave. I'd never been there before, despite it being less than an hour's drive away. I am exhausted, to put it mildly. I hadn't realized how much walking up and down hills and stairs there is! I drove the RV with 7 people, and there were 4 other vehicles crammed full of people. We had a pot-luck picnic first, then hit the caves. I'd heard that it was a steady 53-54˚F down there, so I brought along a change of warmer clothes. I was comfy down there, but everybody else complained of the cold, since they were dressed for 30˚ higher temperatures outside.

It sounds like a wonderful time was had by all, DOrA.

Have fun, June!

The Mammoth Cave trip sounds like a grand adventure, Heidi. The potluck was a great idea. Re: warmer clothes - sometimes a little 'forethought' provides dividends. I've driven near by the caves, but as I was working, couldn't stop.

Hi, Everyone!

June, have a wonderful visit with your son and his family!

DOrA, I can certainly relate to the exhaustion. I'm so glad it was 'worth it!'

Heidi, hopefully the work is progressing and you will soon have a fully functioning water system! What a great idea to have a potluck prior to entering Mammoth Cave. Perhaps it helped those who weren't prepared for the cooler temperatures. We took our children there when on a trip to Florida and Disney World about 27 or 28 years ago.

It's time for bed, as I'm struggling to stay awake. Sending lots of {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, positive thoughts, prayers, healing energy, and !

We had a nice day yesterday at the bird and animal park. We took fresh bread rolls and ham and tomato. Enjoyed spending time with the boys.
I have said I will umpire today at bowls. That means I have to do measurements if the bowls are too close for the players to measure themselves and then I use more sophisticated equipment. That is OK except my knee will not support me when I try to get up from kneeling on the ground! I have not gone back to playing bowls as yet as I do not want to risk twisting my back.
looks like it is a nice sunny day again today (although the morning is rather cool!)

Hi all.

Heidi, glad the ears are doing better. Sorry about the back. Hope you can go for your epidural soon.

Miz T, hope your back is feeling better soon also.

June, can you PM me the recipe for the brandy baskets also? I was going to ask but DorA was quicker.

Don't remember what else I read. My brain is not working right this summer. I have been doing a lot of shopping getting Mitchell ready for college. He needs almost as much stuff as if he was setting up an apartment. We try to tackle a little bit each week. Trying to figure out how I am going to get it all to his room. I was planning on using my van, but don't have it anymore. May have to rent one or drive two cars over.

We still are not hooked up on the new water system. Maybe tomorrow.

Greetings to All!

June, your visit to the bird and animal park sounds fun - and a picnic lunch, too! I hope everything went well for the bowls tournament!

Tami, we're sort of having a summer like yours. We don't feel as alert as we should. We're wondering if it has anything to do with the allergy season. What a good plan to but the things Mitchell will need for college gradually. I'm sure you'll find a way to get it to his dorm room!

Heidi, fingers crossed that you'll finally be hooked up to the new water system by tomorrow!

I'm having a hard time staying awake, so must head to bed. Sending positive vibes, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, healing energy, and ,

I was up early today, sitting at computer. Suddenly the room was so dark, I was a bit disoriented. A huge t storm was approaching, it got as dark as night again. Lots of thunder and lightning, high winds, water running across the parking lot. Rain was splattered against my window, and that is unusual, not the direction we usually get rain blowing here. This storm just in time for the morning rush hour, so happy I do not have to participate in that . the garden will be happy. I will need to check on the hanging containers later, make sure they did not blow down.

I have done nothing much but sleep the last two days. I think my trip to grocery on Saturday did more harm than good, and my body has needed time to recover. Nice thing about being retired, and living alone, if your body says sleep, you can. I did get downstairs early yesterday to water container plants. It was deliciously cool and low humidity, not an almost July morning at all. I enjoyed being out in the cooler, dryer air, with a nice breeze.

Still having headaches, so will continue taking it easy a bit longer. I will try to get back to read posts later today, for now, it is back to bed for me.

Hugs to each of you, with extras, till later.

Glad to hear you got some of our rain, MizT. I'm sorry to hear about the headaches. Not fun at all. Sleep is the best thing for you right now, I think.

Work is still continuing on the water lines. At least they're getting close to the end. They SHOULD finish the job sometime this afternoon.

Mid afternoon, and there's still a LOT of work to do. At least the pipes are in place outside.

They now say they should finish by 11 am tomorrow. I knew it was a big job, but this is a bit much.

Hi, Everyone! Just popping in to say Hello.

Take care, MizT, and get as much sleep as feels right. Sorry about the headaches! Hopefully the plants got as much rain as they needed, and none were blown off their hooks.

Heidi, we hope your ear is continuing to improve. Crossing fingers that the work will be done tomorrow! Hopefully, the fact that it has taken so long means that it is being done right!

Sending a full supply of happy thoughts, healing energy, prayers, positive vibes, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, and !

We went to a funeral yesterday. Our husbands worked for the same company and we were both in Melbourne at the same time. The company provided houses at a very low rent. When this other family moved to a larger house we moved from our two bedroom into the house they had been in. When the photos of photos came up of their young family taken in the early 1960's we have similar photos taken with our young family in the same house. It made me feel very vulnerable. In all there were 4 couples that had all worked together in Melbourne back in the 1960's at the funeral. Now we are all living back in Sydney.

I was tired last night and nothing interesting on TV so went to bed at about 8pm. I had over 4 hours sleep so now I am up on the computer. I have had a warm drink of milk, the blanket is warming up the bed so hopefully I will get back to sleep again.

Heidi, by now I do hope that the water is fixed!
MizT, hope that you are getting lots of sleep and soon you will be enjoying the benefit of the injection.
Cleaning day so I will have to be up at a reasonable time to do the 'pick up'
We also have a council pick up next week so will have to sort out some 'rubbish' to put out on the nature strip. Ken has an old filing cabinet going rusty that I would love to put out.