2nd of April

[Pie]

Re: 2nd of April

Hi temps soon to be replaced with storms and cooler weather. Kind of waiting for the front to arrive. Glad you’re feeling better, PQ. I know your job is stressful, but surprisingly, being fully retired has its challenges. Just mentioning in case you think about fleeing from the workforce.

Lav, is this a full painting of your kitchen cabinets? Hope you’re grinning ear to ear once completed, despite the inconvenience.

Listening with only one ear to the Trump stuff. Wish he’d simply go away.

Cooked up some pinto beans yesterday, and also made a cilantro hummus recipe. I’m not vegetarian, but seem drawn lately to plant based foods. Vegetable forward, as they say.

Rain is starting, so heading inside to get the pups settled.

[porqoui]

Re: 2nd of April

MAE ALL...it was a quieter day today although still busy there were program issues. Boss is off tomorrow so it's a do what you want day. LOL

Slo...I'm back to my normal work hours now. Ya I should go in later but find it a waste of time sitting around here thinking about work in the morning so I just go in. I do miss getting off earlier. It really only gets stressful at certain times of the month but program glitches don't help. I think it was a good trade off being able to see Huxley. LOL It did feel good to sleep that long. The new GF was another hurdle to get over but you'll make it.

Pi...I heard there was a storm coming your way, you be safe. Are you in the North or the South? I don't have to worry about the stress of retirement, I'll never get there. LOL I wish Trump would go away too and I don't even live in the USA. He and my ex have the same personality. I can't do cilantro but I like humus. Vegetable forward, haven't heard that saying.

Lav...hope you're surviving the cabinet painting. Mick...were you off somewhere today? Of course the first thing I thought of was Julie's Dad.

Shout out to the rest of the gang. Have a good night all....:smile:PPQP

[Lavande]

Re: 2nd of April

Greetings all!

Day 1 of kitchen painting done, looks much better already. We hired a father & son team. The dad stayed here all day prepping & painting the first coat. The son left & took all of the cabinet doors & drawer fronts back to their shop to do them there. Tomorrow will be a second coat applied & I guess the doors & fronts will be returned Friday. 80 degrees today so we had doors & windows open.

PQ, whatever happens just don’t let them drive you nuts at work, never worth it in the end.
I ignored any news about Trump today but I did see him leaving the courthouse yesterday in a real huff, very unhappy looking haha!

Slo, how about if you suggest the kids visiting you instead of their dad every other holiday? Surely they have to realize all you do for them & deserve some attention too.
As far as the girlfriend goes - screw her. She’s going to end up feeling unwanted as well at some point. Don’t torture yourself, look forward :hug:

Hello to Cyn, Mick. & everyone & wishing a good night f or all!

Lav

[treegirl]

Re: 2nd of April

Mae all -

Sorry to be away... this has just been an ultra-filled up, stressful time, thanks for your patience!
Mick, hoping all is well - I love the Edinburgh plan!

Lav, that painting team sounds great - I used to work with house painters (one of my favorite jobs ever) and it really makes a difference who you hire. I could tell by your pics that they were doing a good job - perfect "taping! I hope you like the results. Sorry, I missed that you had a bad storm - sorry about internet being out, that is so hard. Hope all is back to normal now.

SLO - ditto what Lav wrote above!! So sorry that you have to be close enough to see everything... sending you comfort. Good call going up to see Huxley!

PPQ - I was exhausted just reading about everything that you deal with at work! It's been winter-like here as well... hoping for some regular spring weather soon.

Pi - wow 80 degrees already for you - well I guess you are used to it... and you must be used to walking multiple dogs too! I used to walk my 2 weimys at the same time, but it was a little worrisome - I never knew what would happen if one or the other spotted a rabbit...

Sorry to be away - I have to limit my screen time a little... taking this course (in being and End-of-Life Doula) is totally screen-based, and I am struggling... it's not the way that is easy for me to learn, and as I mentioned a few days ago, I keep messing up. I turned in an essay that was to be 200 words. And I could have written that amount! But, when I started writing in the submission box, it was counting "characters", and I saw that I was over 200 so I rewrote it and sent it in! I woke up the next morning and realized what I'd done... I felt like an idiot!! I think I finally have figured out how the instructor lists the assignments... still makes no sense to me, but at least (I think) I know what to submit. Dear me.

Sending all good wishes for this spring holiday season - tonight is Passover, and in honor of my beloved husband I put together the Seder plate. Soon it will be Easter... all the spring holidays... and tonight I am writing as I look out the window watching a Gorgeous full moon rising.

May we be well -
TG

[Slo]

Re: 2nd of April

I wonder if Mick had another countrywide problem with the Internet going on today?

We had a balmy day in the morning, and then the high winds came in and the temperature plummeted.

Yes, everything is being made so much harder by the unfamiliar and difficult formatting of everything in your online course, TG. It’s hard to be online that much too! Oh, heartbreaking but touching way to remember your husband on Passover.

Easter…apparently the daughters told each other that they would come to my place to see me after they had brunch at their dad’s, but they neglected to tell me that!
I would like to just join them for brunch at their dad’s…bring a dish, set up an egg hunt in the backyard for the grandkids…but there is that girlfriend; so I checked with a daughter if they were coming to town, and if the girlfriend would be there to be introduced to them or not. She said no girlfriend, so I texted ex-HB about coming since “all clear” now -and she is going to be there! Grrr. Wish i could just be filled in on what’s going on.

[Slo]

Re: 2nd of April

Yes, I am close enough to see what’s going on. She’s there day & night at his house. Yet, the girls pretend there is no girlfriend, or way minimize the extent of it to me. Of course this day was coming. It just sucks & hurts way more than I expected. Like you say, PQ; another level to all of this. A fresh layer of ouch.

What are you having done to the kitchen cabinets, Lav? Like, what color were they painted or stained, and what color are you having them painted? I am having some of that done this year too. I have learned that you need to get it done right, too. There’s more to it than just slapping paint on.

Pie, I can see that retiring and dropping out of the workforce can bring its own problems. If there was a way to work part-time (not always possible in all types of work), then that might often be the sweet spot.

[Mick]

Re: 2nd of April

good morning all...how are we doing?just reading back,I thought I had posted,but I see that the ether gods have been at work.I checked the auto recover but it would only give me a little bit of it back...thanks...So here is the part I recovered from yesterday.

mae all,how are we doing ..its been lovely weather but its raining this morning .twas a busy day yesterday,as I said television was collected ,rabbits picked up and issues with Julies dad ...but wont go into detail.was going to go for a walk this morning ,if it fairs off then I will ,its hammering down
hiya Slo how are you feeling today then?

and thats it ..to continue ,,it really hammered down...and guess what ...found a water leak into the back of the car..one of those tiny ones from a seal or somewhere ,so its going back next week.

hiya Slo how are you doing? yep there were internet problems ,but we changed over from Virgin Media to Sky ..way out of my league,Julie set it up,whilst I went for a 10k walk!!hpe your Easter goes well in whichever way you celebrate it .Can I suggest something? reading your posts ,you always seem to be on the move to them.can you not turn that round ? make them do the running to you .?just a thought .

hiya Teegee..how are you today?hope all is good .hold those memories close to you ,look up at that moon and just let your mind go its own way.yes looking forward to going to Edinburgh too.it holds a lot of memories for me in a musical way ,if you recall. Im meeting 2 friends up there from way back when .take care of yourself.

hiya Lav ,how are you doing? hope all is good .Like the kitchen ...its the same colour as mine was ...and strangely enough we were talking about changing it back the other night!and redoing the front room.changing the fire surround mantle ,the decor and getting the 3 piece suite recovered ..it is so comfortable so instead of changing it looking at recovering it .My camellia took a hit from the frost...rain and then it froze.hope you have a good Easter weekend .

hiya pie ,how are you doing?how are the pups?yes there is a big shift to plant based foods .Ive looked at some of them ,and quite a good number arent calorie friendly shall we say ...nor for that matter price friendly either.the biggest benefit with retirement for me ,is yes you need to do stuff ...but you can choose in the main when and what .The biggest one I found difficult is to establish a routine .

hiya ppqp,welcome to do what you want to do day.I used to find that as Im sure others did ..if I was on a late shift then Id sit around on the morning waiting to go in ,so you tend to go in early .Things arent very good with Julies dad at all, and tbh I feel like a spare part.Have you still no bridge games?

right good people ,I will go now ...have a nice day all.

[Lavande]

Re: 2nd of April

Good evening friends!

I hear there’s another big storm on the way, ugh. The painter was back today to put a second coat of paint on everything. He’ll be back sometime next week with the cabinet doors & drawer fronts. Looks real good so far

Mick, is that a leak in your new car? We had that issue with a car way back but got it fixed. Sorry about your camellia freezing, that’s sad. So what’s going on with Julie’s dad. Is he home or in the hospital? That’s the think with caring for elders, one minute they’re stable then the next minutes something else goes wrong. I hope things settle down for you.

Cyn, sorry you’re having such a hard time adjusting to the online classwork. It really is different & I feel for you. I saw the picture of the seder plate, very nice. Take care & I hope your weather warms up very soon.

Slo, I like Mick’s suggestion, similar to what I was trying to convey last night. Have the kids & grandkids come to you. You have a beautiful & peaceful new place, they should honor your feelings after all you do for them. I chose off white kitchen cabinets when we built this house 20 years ago. I thought it would be a nice change from the dark stained wood. I also figured there wold be no kids messing them up, our son was doing his last year of college & rarely ever here. It’s just time to freshen them up with a new color - Hippo Gray. It should go well with my funky green Corian countertops haha. Anyway I will enjoy the newness. Neither one of us wanted to attempt to do the job so a painter was hired

Pie, it was 82 degrees today? Did you send your heat over this way? Haha! Hope yo are well.

PQ, I hope you held the line today & didn’t let anyone dump more work on you. Hope you are well!

Hello to all & wishing a nice night for all!

Lav

[porqoui]

Re: 2nd of April

MAE ALL…long day at work, stayed an extra hour as Peter Rabbit was visiting with kids from 3:30-5:30. Rest assured I’ll be leaving an hour early on Tuesday. It did feel like a day of freedom and I was able to work on the things I wanted to get done. Everybody else must have been busy as I had very few emails to deal with. YAY

Lav..can’t believe you got to 80 degrees on Wed and 82 today. We made it to 44F, yee haw. The cupboards look great can’t wait to see the finished product. I have learned to lobby, someone asks something of me and I respond with nope, but if you do “this” (the majority of the work), I’ll do “this” (update the website, post on Facebook, submit it to the publisher). I am prepared to do my work but not theirs. LOL

TG…no apologies needed for being away. I know how hard it is to spend so much time on the computer and not having the energy/eye sight to post here. You will get this all figured out and things will settle down for you. I just laughed when you realized the count was characters, sorry but I found that funny. Learn to laugh at yourself through this time. We’re supposed to have a nice warm Easter weekend, I’m looking forward to going out for some good walks. I learned what a Seder plate is, thanks for that.

Slo…I didn’t realize you were so close to your old house. That has got to be hard. I know that even though I accepted that I’d done the right thing seeing him with someone else still hurt. You will get past this. I agree with the other comments, time to turn it around and make new family time on your terms.

Mick…glad to hear it was the ether gods at it again and not something worse. Sorry about the leak in the new car but glad you found it quickly and can get it repaired right away. Sorry about Julie’s Dad and your job is to be there for Julie, you are not a spare wheel. Sadly, there will be no more bridge games until I get to the point where I must cut back my hours (old age related) then I’ll start the club up again and run it myself. LOL

Pi…did you get the pups settled? Was the rain the beginning of that storm I was hearing about?

Son just came down and announced he was making dinner, what a nice surprise. My plans can wait till tomorrow. LOL Have a good night all…:smile:PPQP

[Mick]

Re: 2nd of April

hiya all,how are we today then? hope everyone is good .Everywhere is closed today ,as it is good friday .The sun is out..it is lovely out there even though there was a hard frost again this morning.Did a cracker this morning ..I get the rabbits hay in big tightly bound bales.I went to cut the binding and the stanley knife blade snapped ...yep ..in the bale..so I had to break the bale down completely and run my metal detector over it.Success.but then had to repack part of the bale .

hiya ppqp...Peter Rabbit visiting? along with Mrs Tiggywinkle and Jemima Puddleduck?,,,hope you enjoy your walk this weekend ..I think we are doing the same .Shame about the bridge,you always enjoyed that.

hiya Lav hows you then?hope all is good Yes the frost certainly did the camellia ,Julies dad is at home ..simply because Julie made a promise to her brother before he died that she would keep him at home as long as he wasnt a danger to himself or others .He isnt..simply because he doesnt do anything save lie on the settee all day.But at the same time ,hygiene wise he cant look after himself at times if you catch my drift .a lot of his health issues are due to parts not working because of his lack of mobility ...the dementia has taken over in that way .He has 3 different types of dementia each acting in a different way .He has carers in twice a day ,a really good company ,andJulie goes down daily too,plus all the gkids etc pop in .There will be a time when location decisions have to be made and I fear that isnt too far away.A horrible horrible disease .
yes its the new car that is leaking ,I suspect it is only a minor thing like a grommet or boot not seated properly ,but never the less it needs sorting .Your kitchen looks real good .Have a nice weekend

hiya Teegee Slo and 3.147, Hope you are all doing good have a great weekend ..dont eat too many easter eggs

[Slo]

Re: 2nd of April

Good morning, and the full moon is behind us now!

Mick, I thought you meant the car itself was going back, and you’d have to start looking for another new one! But too late for that, and you have to get it repaired already.
Ugh, so hard about Julie’s dad. Like, ideally he’d already be in an assisted living place, if promises hadn’t been made. He needs assistance and supervision.
So you were stuck looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack today! Good thing you have a metal detector.

Lav, I hope the kitchen cabinet redo turns out great.

TG, you are learning lots of new things -both in the course and in the process of the online formatting etc. It is so challenging! All this stuff is so much easier for the younger generations who grew up with a computer mouse and a game controller constantly in their hands, so it’s all second nature to them, and the way they’ve always done things. I am impressed that you have taken his on.

[Slo]

Re: 2nd of April

That is too bad that bridge can’t become a thing again at the community centre, until you are in a better position to make it happen, PQ! That’s great that your son took on an extra dinner! A nice surprise.

I have been in a holding pattern with Easter, waiting to see if my brother or my sister with the big houses yet were going to host Easter for my family; the way we have always done things, and had a big family gathering. But neither did.
I was in a holding pattern with my mother too. She has been kind of mine & my twin sister’s now, in this interlude between her spouse dying and before she moves to be by our little sister. Normally we don’t get attention from her, because we’re not in her “favorites” category, and we’re actually lapping up this mommy time and mommy attention! It will end soon, because once she moves by Little Sister and her family, she will drop us like hot potatoes. So, I had to wait and see if any of her “favorites” that she was counting on to invite her to Easter would come through, or if she would default to us. She finally defaulted to us, and invited us two to go out to dinner with her for Easter. I had to scramble to get reservations made so close to the holiday!

Also, it would be hard for D1 and her family to come see me in the afternoon of Easter, with those three tiny children all needing to nap. So I thought it could be easier on them if I came to them this year at their dad’s place (IF the very new girlfriend had her own plans and wasn’t going to be there).

I have been able to get D2 & her HB & Huxley in on our dinner reservations on Easter, and finally was able to get Young Daughter & her boyfriend in too, by being persistent and calling the restaurant back until I got the right person there who said, “Sure, we can add two more to your reservation! We’ll squeeze you in!”
So I have finally been able to cobble plans together on this complicated and changing Easter. Whew!

I’m going out to my little brother’s house today, to try to connect with my alienated & angry brother, and hopefully see his teenaged kids. And for this I can say, “Thanks, Mom! Thanks for not being able accept all of your children, and rejecting over half of us!” Yes, he’s one of us “bad” ones who came out looking like Dad instead of like her. And for that “sin”, there has been hell to pay for the four of us.

Hi Pie, and I hope you all have a good Friday on Good Friday!

[Lavande]

Re: 2nd of April

Greetings friends,

Last night’s storm never developed, just had some rain & that was fine with me. I’m just back from walking, got 3 miles in today & of course my feet are screaming, haha!
That full moon had me waking every hour on the hour last night, such BS, ugh.

PQ, I like that you have developed a good plan to essentially blow people off when they come begging for your time & energy - AWESOME! Keep doing that
80 yesterday, 50 today, oh well. We drove an hour + to the family cemeteries to leave Easter flowers then turned around & drove home. I think I can start repacking the cabinets now & just wait for the doors to get here next week.

Mick, i’m always nervous cutting the twine on a bale of straw for my chickens. Haven’t cut myself yet, lucky I guess.
It sounds like Julie’s Dad needs a regular care home at this point. The dementia is sadly only going to get worse & they just cannot take care of themselves. I think I’m going to be happy with my hippo gray kitchen Lol.

Slo, with things so messed up in my house & my daughter & her family traveling in Europe I decide I’m doing absolutely nothing for Easter - first time ever! Even when I had to work on holidays I always did something another day. I’m at the point where I pretty ,much feel done with all that entertaining, so bit it I guess. Whatever you work out will be just fine, I’m sure. Don’t make it hard on yourself, the others can step in & help a bit. We both happen to have brothers that we no longer see & we’re OK with that at this point. They make no attempt to see us so we’re done with them. I hope you mother shows some appreciation this weekend.

Cyn, hope you’re doing OK & take a decent rest this weekend

Hello to all & hoping we all have a good night!

Lav

[treegirl]

Re: 2nd of April

Mae all,

I was glad to read everyone's news... holidays are always so complicated! Good luck to all with whatever your plans bring....

Mick, I think that was one of the best uses of your metal detector yet! That wouldn't have done to leave it in the hay... Sorry about the leak, always a pain to have to have things fixed. Bless Julie for being with her Dad every day... I guess it does sound - as Lav said - that pretty soon he'll need more care... I'm sure that will be a challenge to find, good luck.

Lav, Hippo Gray! I just love paint names... I wonder who thinks them up. When I was painting (for money) I always got a kick out of the name of the shades. Well, you get a well-deserved rest this holiday! It might feel strange, but I think it's great that you don't have to feed a crowd. Enjoy the time - I hope you can get outside a bit.

SLO - it all sounds super-complicated, congrats on getting family together and finding a place to have a celebratory meal - wonderful. As for the rest, know that you are worthy because you are a kind and wonderful person. Screw the rest. (sorry, kind of a non-sequitur). Yes, staring at small characters on a screen all day is not my bliss. But so be it! I turned in my Sunday assignment today, so at least I've bought time to get a little ahead. I hope.

PPQ - I LOVE this attitude you have about your job - long may it last! So nice of your son to make dinner - sweet... I hope your holiday weekend is happy.

Pi- how are the dogs? Some days I miss a dog so much that I have to just sit down and remind myself "not now". It doesn't mean forever, just not now.

On the sad part of things, my nephew did try to commit suicide - on the property of the house. Fortunately, the therapy dog alerted my niece and she got to him in time. She called the police but he was so beligerent they instructed her to take the (4) kids and go. Meanwhile, my nephew (remember, Special Forces) took off running, and gave the police a fair chase. He is now going to the rehab facility where he was supposed to go this week... it is all so deeply disturbing... for the kids, for him, for everyone... it breaks my heart. Hopefully good will come of this "break. As Leonard Cohen wrote )I paraphrase; sometimes you need a crack; that's how the Light gets in. Let's hope.
Happy Easter weekend... maybe we can color eggs or fly kites, or something filled with life...
May we be well,
TG

[Mick]

Re: 2nd of April

mae all ,how are we doing today then> hope all is good .Weather over here is fantastic ,22 degrees yesterday,so went for a walk..only7 ks but it was enjoyable .was going metal detecting tomorrow,but instead we are going over to Formby ,near Southport where I used to live.There is a red squirrel sanctuary there..last time Julie saw red squirrels was in Croatia about 18 years ago.

And guess what ....I think Ive fixed the leak!you know me ..couldnt leave things alone ,so I took the rubber grommet around the wiring loom out ,cleaned it all off and refitted it.I ran a hose of water over it for about 20 mins ...no leak.The test will be if it rains but I think Ive got it ..it goes to the garage next week anyway.

hiya teegee ..Im sorry to hear about your nephew ,I hope they can help him out in some way .yes the detector worked ...no way wasI leaving a broken blade in the hay ..I would have chucked the bale first .I hope your Easter is memorable and peaceful for you

hiya Lav ...so a busy doing nothing weekend? good for you.Yes,I know that Julies dad is getting worse as does she there is only one outcome ..but there are so many variables to consider on a personal level.Is your daughter still over in London?
take care and have a weekend like this ..

https://youtu.be/bcvgpNFynVo?list=RDbcvgpNFynVo

hiya Slo ,how are you today? how did you get on with your brother? you held out the olive branch ..his call.No the car is going back but only on a temporary basis .Its a lovely motor .No matter what you do I hope you have a peaceful and pleasant Easter .

hiya ppqp and pie ,hope all is well with you and you have a lovely weekend

pics from yesterday

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