May chitchat

[agate]

I'd never seen wild peonies before--a real treat, nuthatch. Is it true that peonies bloom for only about a week each year?

[Virginia]

I've never seen wild peonies before either. They are beautiful.

I Have seen snake skins when I was growing up. People would point them out to me and tell me the snake had shed it's skin.

Nuthatch, so sorry you are not feeling well. Actually, I have had dizziness off and on since Monday, but mostly "on" so far today. I ironed 4 long sleeve blouses that had to be starched Monday. Yesterday I ironed 4 more of the same plus I pressed a pair of jeans. I am not going to do any housework today. I do not feel like trying to clean house while holding on to things while I am dizzy.

Sister-in-law came with my brother this morning to bring my weekly groceries. She brought me two homegrown tomatoes and two ears of corn that came from a stand close to their house. My treats this week were some zucchini muffins she had just made. I didn't know they were going to bring the tomatoes and corn, so I was delighted and will have a tomato sandwich and an ear of corn for dinner tonight and possibly tomorrow night. She usually brings me treats of some kind. Sometimes it is a little chocolate.

[agate]

Someone else who irons! I've been getting the impression that many people just don't iron any more. Maybe they buy only clothes that are no-iron.

Snakes definitely have the right idea. No ironing for them. They just shed their skins and slither on.

[Howie]

I..R..O..N, what's that? You must mean FE, the element. Hard stuff!

[Lazarus]

I lost my iron about 50 years ago. Couldn’t find it anywhere! So, I trained my clothes to come out of the dryer looking ok or better. If they did not come out of the dryer looking ironed I gave them a second chance. If they failed that second chance....it was curtains!

[stillstANNding]

Nuthatch, thank you for your posts and pictures. I so enjoy them.

Linda, thank you for the laugh. I think of you often. I went to “the last farm in the city” on Sunday by appointment. They had my small order of herbs and pak choy and a hanging cherry tomato ready. As you know, it’s been cold so the tomato is still in my bathroom under a skylight and over the tub. It smells great. The appointment system, with order and pay online, worked for me but they can’t be making money.

There was a large plant label in the box with my first and last name on it. I put it in the middle of the garden.

Back to ironing, I stopped sometime after I bought the house. Maybe 25 years ago. I try to buy things that don’t need much fussing - including ironing, dry cleaning or the dreaded “lay flat to dry.”

I have read here everyday but I have been very tired. MS-y tired. As in, “I can’t even think about getting out of my pajamas” tired. Or even write a check. Last night I slept nine and a half hours and feel some better. I did get dressed, garden-ed and walked with Peter.

Howie, how is the new antenna working?

Good night, all,
ANN

[Jeanie Z]

:) Ann I envy your green thumb. Every plant I have ever had has died. Years ago when my brother had his florist shop he made me 7 glass flower pots with plastic and silk plants. I hung them with macrame on the 7 beams in my Florida room. I still have them and have quit trying to keep any plant alive.

Yeah Howie did your antenna arrive? Jeanie :)

[stillstANNding]

Jeanie, you are in a tricky climate to grow in. My brother eventually worked it out but now is dealing with new challenges in N. Carolina. That was a good gift from your brother.

ANN

[Howie]

My antenna arrives tomorrow. I've been watching the box set I have of Sea Hunt. B&W, but I loved that show. I wanted to be an oceanographer when I was a kid.

Oh, and the antenna I got didn't do a thing, so the one coming tomorrow has a 160 mile range. It had better work, or I'm getting cable.

[Lazarus]

Nuthatch, thank you for your posts and pictures. I so enjoy them.

Linda, thank you for the laugh. I think of you often. I went to “the last farm in the city” on Sunday by appointment. They had my small order of herbs and pak choy and a hanging cherry tomato ready. As you know, it’s been cold so the tomato is still in my bathroom under a skylight and over the tub. It smells great. The appointment system, with order and pay online, worked for me but they can’t be making money.

There was a large plant label in the box with my first and last name on it. I put it in the middle of the garden.

Back to ironing, I stopped sometime after I bought the house. Maybe 25 years ago. I try to buy things that don’t need much fussing - including ironing, dry cleaning or the dreaded “lay flat to dry.”

I have read here everyday but I have been very tired. MS-y tired. As in, “I can’t even think about getting out of my pajamas” tired. Or even write a check. Last night I slept nine and a half hours and feel some better. I did get dressed, gardened and walked with Peter.

Howie, how is the new antenna working?

Good night, all,
ANN

Ann I think of you often too. I have been trying to take charge oof how I am spending my mental and physical energy. I stopped looking at Facebook for the most part. I sort of felt that I was hitching a ride on other people’s lives. I am quite surprised that I do not miss it. Just a casual scan to make sure I do not miss a big family moment. I am satisfied and saving much time.

Are you watching the free stream plays from the site: nationaltheatre.org.uk

[Lazarus]

My antenna arrives tomorrow. I've been watching the box set I have of Sea Hunt. B&W, but I loved that show. I wanted to be an oceanographer when I was a kid.

Oh, and the antenna I got didn't do a thing, so the one coming tomorrow has a 160 mile range. It had better work, or I'm getting cable.

I hope I notice your response about this antenna....it would interest us too. Very much.
I am also looking for a way to boost wifi or is it wireless. Whichever is the one where you can’t take the device out of the house. That is fine for us but the modem or router needs a boost so I can use my iPad in the next room. Most of the time I can use it anywhere in the house but a boost would be useful sometimes.

[Virginia]

I saw an advertisement on MSN homepage for a wi fi booster. All you have to do is plug it into the wall, according to the advertisement. It didn't give the price.

Yes, I still iron!!! There are still people like me around, though not many. When Ann said she gave up ironing 25 years ago, I almost laughed out loud. Ann doesn't need to iron. We all know she has Peter to do that for her.

I have had a couple of MS tired days also. I had planned to just not do anything today. I had kept thinking that I smelled an odor coming from my pantry, so I knew I had to take care of that. I looked and looked, but couldn't find anything that could be causing it. Finally, I got a footstool from my living room and tried to look down real low. I knew I couldn't get up from my milking stool. I was looking on the floor where I keep my tool box, a jug of Clorox and ginger ale in case I get sick and need it. Behind the tool box was a rotten onion (gross). I had to get up, get some thick towels to put down for my knees and a pale of water and sponge to clean. While down there I got a telephone call regarding renewal of my "call service". I was able to reach a telephone by leaning over and getting one off the nearest kitchen counter.

I had to get up to give them my credit card number. It had changed from the last one I gave them. They were going to charge me about $180.00 for six months and I told them I could get another brand cheaper. They let me have it for $120.00 for six months. While up, I got another call, so I chatted on that. Then I went back to my job in the kitchen. When I got through, I noticed a lot of really bad black streaks on my kitchen floor. Turned out it was from the foot stool I had used. I tried putting some Dawn dishing washing detergent on my sponge and it did nothing. I tried several things and was beginning to panic because these streaks were very noticeable. Finally I tried a Mr Clean Magic Eraser and with some scrubbing I was able to get the marks up.

I got up off the floor, but not easily. I had to use the stool and a chair. Finally, got the trash out of the house.

So much for my MS tired day. Boy, do I need Laura!!!

[stillstANNding]

Virginia, I fear you will be hurting tomorrow.

I told Peter what you said about my ironing and he said to send you “praise and encouragement.” I was trying to think of the last time he ironed something for me. I think probably a tablecloth at a holiday to get the
lines outs from folding. Most likely that was at Thanksgiving as we were in PA for Christmas.

ANN

[Virginia]

Ann, I think Peter has ironed for you since then. He had the ironing board set up in the living room, I thought and y'all were listening to music. I don't think that was a tablecloth.

Actually, I wasn't there, so don't take my word for it. Thank Peter for the praise and encouragement. I need it. Of course I also deserve it. That was 8 long sleeve starched blouses and a pair of jeans. I bet that would be too much for even Peter.

[agate]

Virginia, 8 long-sleeved starched blouses! I'm so impressed--but feel that you must be very tired after that.

I had a long-sleeved blouse that needed starch. I loved it but hated ironing it and was deliriously happy when it developed so many holes in noticeable places that I had to discard it.

Then, woops! I found I didn't have enough light-weight shirts after that--and just recently got 3 new ones because I ran across a nice sale online. They're all long-sleeved but none of them needs starch and at least they're not as hard to iron as that older one that I threw out.

Yesterday I ironed all 3 of them along with several other things that needed only touching up. I was ready to rest for the rest of the day.