Just need to talk to my friends (202)

jfkoc · January 20

Yes ,David. We will see.

Peppercorns…sorry they were mailed and never thought to write down the names. All Were black. Penzy's. I have been to the one in St Louis. We ar fortunate to have an excellent spice store here in OKC where you can buy small amounts.

My area of interest would be Italian frescoes…. Fra Angelico and Giotto. I could be admitted to the program if I spoke Mandarin. How ridiculous.

Ron…thank you for keeping us updated.

Hope the weather warms up for our beachcombers.

Lorita…did you get a heater? I have been using mine at night.

ladyzetta · January 20

Hell0 Front Porchs

It's another warm day here in Maricopa, Arizona. 60. I'm used to Oregon weather being below 0 and snow on the grown. I don't miss the snow, but at times I miss Oregon.

Lorita. I'm so glad you have Darwin, there to help you. Sometimes good neighbors are hard to find.

Ron. I'm also fixing vegetable soup, but I do add some ground sausage to it. It's simmering right now.

HB. Thank you for wishing me well on my posts. The second post were put in 5 days ago, so far alls well. The first post were uncomfortable from day 1. I'm only getting 2 post to hold the lower dentures in.

Lorita. I'm watching Wagon Train. I get 2 hours of Wagon Train, then gunsmoke.

Hugs to all, Zetta

Lorita · January 20

Soup weather for sure. Ron, I make enoughfor several days. Have yet to freeze any. I think soup is better the second or third day.. Good thing we like leftovers, isn't it? I hope your scans come out all right and they find out what's beyond and can fix it. Please let us know.

It's getting cloudy now and 29 degrees but really feels colder. Guess I should have kept the appt. Today for the Pyrenees - it would be over by now. But Darwin was going to town this morning and he would be tired so hated to get him outside again.

It is really good, Zetta, to have him to call on if need be. He helped me several times getting a new baby and mom to the garden and with fences.

You know daddy was a good cook and he used to put hamburger in vegetable soup. I so wish I had his recipe for bread pudding but really don't think he used a recipe.

Todd called a while ago. He still isn't well but is better. Hard to believe Sarah has been gone almost six months. Incredible how fast time goes by.

I need to brush the GPs before tomorrow but it's a.big job. Sheena loves it but not so much for Stormy. I hope there aren't msny.people in the clinic tomorrow (fat chance of that) so stormy won't have a seizure. Lots of people and.noise bother him.

Judith, I did get a heater but it's a radiator, Oil filled one and gets hot. The cats lay close to the heaters and put their feet on them so will return it. We used to get really nice, well heating ones, soft heat, no red coils, just soft heat but they went out of business and I can't find comparable ones. Wishing for Spring.

jfkoc · January 20

I love my heater and it is very safe,

My favorite part of the inauguration? The three Vance children especially the 3 year old daughter with her decorative bandaids and her thumb in her mouth. I love that they are allowed to be children. They remind me of Prince Louis.

ADDED; I was no the only one who notices. This from MSN fashion notes;

Bandages as accessories? Mirabel says so

Usha and Vice President JD Vance's 2-year-old daughter Mirabel went viral for wearing numerous bandages on her fingers depicting popular cartoon characters, Blue and Scooby-Doo. The toddler looked adorable in a red coat as the internet praised her parents for letting her wear the bandages.

eaglemom · January 20

Good afternoon. Where oh where have the last two days gone. I've been home and busy, but I'm not sure doing what!!

Lorita I think you ask about Patrick Mchomes kids. He has three, his wife having had one last Monday! She was there to cheer him on. The game next week will be a good one. Hopefully not as brutally cold. But, its KS so who knows?

We'll be watching the Championship game tonight.

Just a quick stop on the porch, more after the game. Let's be safe everyone.

Lorita · January 21

Judith, what brand is your heater? I think you told me once I need to get one that produces heat. Vance had.his hands full with those little kids, didn't he?

Eagle, what championship game? I can't find one on the channels I get.

Can you imagine they're having winter storm warnings along the gulf? That doesn't happen often.

Well, Trump withdrew from the Paris climate group. So nothing will.be done to protect our planet by our Government. People who want to.help are on our own. It has been so cold today. Weatherman says one more day and two nights below freezing. He did say he thinks the rest of the winter may not have Arctic air.

The soup was good tonight. Had some with a couple of spoonsful.of cottage cheese. I think it takes a day.or so for the flavors to marry. Plenty for two or three more days.

I think Sheena limps because her nails are so long on her front feet. Also osteoarthritis in her.hips. Wish I had a.nickel for every time I have typed that word!

There were two trucks feeding before noon and one came down to the pond and someone cut ice. Hope the girls found the place.

Hope you all sleep well tonight.

Mint · January 21

Good morning🥶

HB seems like my mom and your dad have some similarities. I believe you were the one that told me your dad got down in the floor, didn’t fall just got down in the floor like my mom did. My mom ended up in the ER yesterday she has a UTI. She was able to go back to her home and I’m glad because she became agitated after two or three hours in the ER, wanting to go home the same way I came in she kept saying. I’m sure she would’ve not been happy if they did omitted her up to the floor.

I told my sister Sunday they say it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to take care of a parent I’m finding out.

ronald71111 · January 21

Good morning!

Ron

Carl46 · January 21

Good morning, Mint and Ron. Ron, I hope your CTs don't find anything terrible. I don't blame you for being worried, any abnormality of a lung is worrisome, to me anyway.

All that soup talk sounds good. It's 2 degrees F here at 5 AM and I'm thinking about hot coffee and oatmeal, soup later in the day.

Talking about frozen ponds reminds me of a man I worked with 50 years ago, who was from a small town in Minnesota and subscribed to his hometown paper to keep up. One morning he showed me a picture of a big, yellow Caterpillar that had broken through the ice while clearing snow from the pond so the children could skate. They did this all the time but that year they rushed the season a little. Now, that's COLD!

BethL · January 21

I also made soup yesterday. Sunday I cooked a whole chicken and we ate some of it Sunday evening. With what was left, I made chicken soup: added broth, carrots, celery, onions, garlic and seasoned salt. It was delicious and there is enough left for 2 or 3 more meals.

I had a DEXA yesterday (bone density scan). 2 years ago, I was in osteoporosis in my hip. I am no longer in osteoporosis - just osteopenia. The numbers in my spine and femur improved as well. I am so very happy about this. I made lifestyle changes that I believe accounted for the improvement (more protein, adequate calcium & vitamin D and added vitamin K2/MK7); also started an exercise program designed to improve hip bone density - primarily jumping and heel drops.

Stay warm! Thinking of you all. Beth

harshedbuzz · January 21

Good morning Porchlings.

It's 6F on my end of the porch this morning. Poor DH had to go out early for his annual blood draw. Yuck.

Judith— Mandarin does seem an odd choice for History of Italian Art. Dad had to take it for his graduate degree but he was Asian History, so it made sense. DH had to take German for his degree, but only to the point he could read.

I'm glad you got your peppercorns ordered. I love stopping into the Penzy's in Philadelphia. They always have some sort of freebie offered when you check out.

Zetta— That's the same arrangement mom has 4 tiny posts on her lower jaw. She had no problems and loves them.

Ron— I bet you make a mean veggie soup. DH found a knock-off recipe of an iconic soup from a now closed diner. The recipe can feed an army.

Eaglemom— I was impressed by how put together Mrs. Mahomes looked at the game.

Mint— I'm glad your mom was able to go home after her ER visit. I've had a couple overnights with mom for the same and it's no picnic.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Speaking over overnights.

I took mom to the ER yesterday afternoon. She didn't seem herself over the phone, so I ran over to have eyes on her. She looked bad. Not dressed which is unusual for her. And not especially cooperative. Her oxygen on 2l. was in the upper 70s, so I bumped her to 3l. with little improvement. She fought me on the ER, so I had to give her the option of getting dressed or me having her transported by ambulance. She reluctantly agreed to go in my car. They triaged her immediately and had her in a room within 5 minutes.

Reviewing her last 2 visits in October and December, they drew blood and did an X-ray. There's some infection and pneumonia but not as bad as her December images. They started IV antibiotics, a nebulizer treatment and loaded her up with 125 mg of prednisone and ordered a CT scan. I did not have a blood clot in her lung on my 2015 BINGO card. She was admitted and I got home around 11pm.

I need to get a shower and see what's going on. So far, they've done a consult to hematology. She has the hospitalist she had in October; I hope he does a consult to pulmo later. She's got a follow-up with her regular pulmo on the 31st from the last hospitalization but it would be great if his colleague saw her while she's there.

Be safe out there.
HB

Lorita · January 21

Morning, so cold here but sunny. Ponds are frozen and covered with a dusting of snow. I went out on the porch to feed the birds and was only out about five minutes but my hands were hurt ing from the cold when I came in. It is sunny but about 7 degrees.

Pyrenees are outside and loving it. Cancelled their appt.today after talking with Mike who was out moving hay. We will go later this week. He says the cold weather lessens the allergies because pores close up more when it is cold.

Stay warm. Back later. It is snowing in Houston with.a blizzard warning east of there.

jfkoc · January 21

Lorita….Winter allergies are caused by things indoors like dust, dust mites, pet dander and mold. We had a dog that was allergic to almost any dog food we bought. I think we ended up with a special shampoo. The love we have for our pets certainly shows in the amount of time spent on their care…lol

HB…I think I will order some small glass jars and restock my spices. Some on my shelf may be years old.

Ron….much love sent your way. . What can we do to help?

Space heater….this is from Walmart. The is the best rated by NY Times for 2025.There is a larger selection from Amazon

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Vornado-VH200-Personal-Space-Heater-w-Vortex-Circulation-Technology-

ladyzetta · January 21

Good Morning.

Sounds like soup was a favorite yesterday. Mine had ground sausage, macaroni, stewed tomatoes, vegetables, then my DD Danielle added some different types of spices. She is a good cook, better then her Mom. She takes after her Dad, he was a very good cook. It was so good we had no leftovers.

Mint. I'm glad your mom was well enough to go back to her home, yesterday. I don't blame her, I know I would have been a pain if they made me stay, especially if I was feeling good.

Beth. Good work, the things you did to help your hip feel better.

HB. So sorry your mom, is in the hospital, you sure did the right thing by taking her there. I'm also glad she loves her post, I hope I will be able to say that. It's going to be 90 days before I get the teeth. One good thing about all of this, is I have lost 18 lbs. I would like to lose 10 more.

Take care all, Hugs Zetta

BethL · January 21

I'm making another big pot of soup today. Frozen tomatoes from my garden, corn, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, garlic, red beans, a can of tomato soup, broth and ground beef. I use my crock pot frequently and that is what I'm using to cook this soup (yesterday's chicken soup as well). It makes the house smell so good as it cooks!

HB and Mint, sorry about your mothers' illnesses. Prayers for their recovery. You too, Ron.

Have a good day everyone.

Beth

Lorita · January 21

Thanks, Judith. I will look at that. Weather just said the wind chill was minus 33 in Beaver in our panhandler and minus 15? In Western Osage County. The girls had been in the barn but came out and are standing in the sun to warm up. It's 19 now. I did go out and run some water in one of the tanks. The guys haven't been here to cut ice yet. This is quite an experience for them, the cold and snow. Never snows in South Africa. He said he treated the cow's UTI and said it is fairly common in cows. Never knew that so learned something new.

Judith, there's no way I could bathe the GPs. They're better this morning after being outside. Guess I may let them be outside more until I get then to the vet.

Mint · January 21

glad to hear that your DEXA scan had improved. That’s great.

HB hope your mom is doing a little better today. She’s definitely had a rough time of it here lately.

David1946 · January 21

Hello, well went to bingo today and won 22 dollars so wwith what I won the last 2 weeks I've have won a total of 40 dollars. I now have spending money when We go to Walmart next week.

GothicGremlin · January 22

My weather app showed me that Charleston and Folly Beach SC both had snow today! Then I saw this weather article: 'Once in a lifetime' winter storm brings heavy snow and chill to southern US

I hope that all of you who are in the south are taking care!

It didn't snow near the facility where my husband's mom lives, thankfully.

Good work, David!

Lorita - I didn't know what Pyrenees look like, so I had to look up that breed. Gorgeous dogs. And now I know who 'the girls' are. 🙂

HB - thinking good thoughts about your mom.

Beth - Good on your DEXA. I finally did that a couple of years ago — I'm good, but I lost a small amount of height (nothing horrible). But now I'm just shy of 5 feet. I choose not to believe it.

JeriLynn66 · January 22

HB and Mom: just bless your hearts!! Keeping you in my prayers .

The Texas coast has been blessed with an ice storm and 45 mph wind gusts SO: no power at our campground since 6 am, it’s 8 pm now. We’ve run the RV generator all day. I’m so blessed to have a man that can “do stuff”. We’re warm and well fed. You can drive on the beach so I’ll post pics tomorrow.

Rest, stay safe and warm!

Carl46 · January 22

Well, JeriLynn, at least bad vacations make good stories. It's cold as a polar bear's pajamas here in MO but no ice or snow.

Beth, you should be proud of your discipline to stick with an exercise program and improve your health. With those exercises, your bones are stronger, and you are less likely to fall because your muscles are stronger. I tried the test of standing from a straight chair without using my hands a few minutes ago and I can do it, but I was surprised how hard it was. Guess I know what I need to do.

HB, your mother is certainly having a hard time. She is very fortunate to have you in her corner.

My wife was tested for UTI last week, because she is more confused, but the UA was normal. She is still confused, so I guess she's proceeding down the rabbit hole. On the plus side, she is less agitated than before. We took DS to lunch today and had a nice visit.

You all take care of yourselves. Good night.

Sandyshe · January 22

Hi to all front porch sitters…..though I guess with your weather there’s not much porch sitting going on! Yes it’s me again from down under, popping in to catch up with my old friends and say hello.

It’s been a while and there’s been a bit happening here, some not so good. I’m not sure when I last posted so will just recap quickly the last few months. Quick trip to China in May, then British Islands and whistle stop in Europe in August/september …and I’m really getting to old for these fast paced coach tours. Then in Nov we went to Japan …. Now 60 years ago I went west as a governess on a sheep station to save money to go to Japan, met my first husband, and that was that! So finally got to go ! Beautiful place, lovely people, and 3 days in I tripped getting out of a train, knocked myself out and ended up in a wheelchair unable to walk without pain! Holiday over! I’m still having a little trouble but pretty much ok finally. Certainly plan on going back, and also to Sth Africa, which we had to cancel too. Poor husband says he thought he was marrying a young filly and has ended up with a broken down cart horse!! The only good thing is that with the physio I’m doing a lot of exercise now so hopefully my general fitness and strength will improve. We are house sitting at the moment, so just relaxing, looking after 1 dog, 2 chickens and 3 sheep. Not very arduous at all.

So good to catch up with your doings again, Lorita, Zetta, jfkoc Ron.. And to meet some new porch members. Seems you also have a new member from Australia too, sorry you have to be here Biggles, but you couldn’t have picked a better group of people to help you with your journey, I couldn’t have managed without them!

Stay warm folk. Sandy

Mint · January 22

Good morning -8°

Nice to hear from you Sandy. It’s always warm on Loritas porch even if it’s cold outside LOL.

Carl glad you had a nice visit with your son.

Lorita Hope you are able to get a nice heater soon.

JeriLynn66 · January 22

Good morning! The pictures do not do justice to the actual conditions. It was magnificent, reminded me of pre-hurricane weather. We have POWER this morning but lots of frozen pipes being reported on the news. We’re fine. No frozen pipes and hot coffee in my cup this morning.
Kids at home are taking care of my house and animals. Sending me videos of the babies (goats).
Y’all stay safe ❤️

David1946 · January 22

Hopefully all down south are doing ok do to weather.

eaglemom · January 22

Morning all.

JeriLynn66 I'm glad that you checked in. I've been thinking about you. I'm sorry our state has caused weather problems! Our news is full of your weather conditions and those going east of you. I'm glad you have power.

I don't want to be an alarmist, but I know of 3 people whom tested positive for Covid yesterday. Last week 3 people, with one still in the hospital. My lecture is this - wash your hands frequently, and always when you get home from being out. Enough said about that.

I've got to get busy, back later. Let's be safe everyone.

jfkoc · January 22

Well, 36 hours after my offer expired the seller' agent called my agent to tell him that my offer had been accepted because it was the highest offer. Hmm. Interesting, yes?

Good to get the "down under" update and what an update!

Off to look at more houses….back later

David1946 · January 22

On my way to HOOTERS.

BethL · January 22

Judith, are you looking for more houses to flip? Best wishes!

Lorita · January 22

We're finally above freezing after about 90 hours. Still cold but better.

Judith, I have the same question as Beth.

Sandra, good to see your post and so sorry about all your injuries. Hope you continue to improve.

Yesterday the UPS guy didn't latch our gate and this morning I let the GPs out and five minutes later heard the alarm go.off. They were out! Got my coat and hat on and went after them. Finally caught up with Sheena a third of the way to the mailbox. They were so excited just like a couple of puppies.