Donna, another day of rain here. It is thundering again now and getting dark again. Yesterday, we had 4" of rain in 12 hours. Our problem is that the state is so flat and water has no place to do for draining; the ground is so parched and so water can't really penetrate it very quickly. Anyway, except for water getting into the garage (big time) and into the screened porch (which is sort of enclosed), we are thankful for the downpours.

My doctor just called to tell me that the antibiotic that I am on for the UTI is probably not doing much good. I have to pick up another script for the specimen and then he will call in another prescription. NO CIPRO! I am to finish what I have to get me through the weekend and then we shall see. I honestly feel like a magnet for anything that can be caught, found or discovered!

I had a nice e-mail from Maxine. She is in so much pain and unable to stand for more than a couple of minutes. I am keeping her in my prayers and I wish that I could be up there in PA and help Lee to take care of her. He is such a good caregiver and she is so thankful for him. She is one brave lady!

Your tomatoes sound divine! I love tomatoes. We used to make sandwiches from the large beefsteak ones and I would just want that with butter, salt and pepper. Sometimes with mayo and lettuce. It is still a treat. Have you ever made stuffed tomatoes? We love them, too. I stuff them with either chicken salad or tuna salad, but have stuffed smaller ones with egg salad or ham salad, too. Gee, I have had a real problem with lack of appetite for a few months, but I am making myself hungry. Tomatoes are on the shopping list this weekend and I'm happy about that.

I made the cheeseballs today for Saturday. On Friday, I'll make the stuffed dill pickles, the Angel Food cake and some cookies. While doing laundry tomorrow, I plan on making cookies, also. Early Saturday morning, I'll make the baked beans. They can be in the oven while we have breakfast and get things ready to go.

To all, take care and God bless.

I know you in Florida are enjoying the rain and hope the storms are missing you. We lucked out and had a nice rain Monday morning. It was a surprise, but we were pleased to get it. It missed a lot of places in the area so we felt fortunate. James said our rain gauge measured over a half of an inch. We did have a couple of days of highs in the 80’s, but we are creeping back to the upper nineties again which is normal for this time of year.

We made another trip to Dallas today to get East Texas tomatoes at the Farmer’s Market. Nobody can believe that James and I eat as many as we do, but they only last for a short time so we try to get our fill of them. This is one time of the year that we never go out to eat. We enjoy what we have at home better than the restaurants.

Don’t have any special plans for the holiday. The community band has a patriotic concert on Friday night, the symphony orchestra has theirs on Saturday and then the city does a big fireworks display on Saturday night. We can see the fireworks from our neighborhood so we all meet “on the corner” and watch it and avoid the crowds.

Hope everyone is well or at least getting that way.

Bill left for work this morning at 7:25 and at abut 7:26 it started to pour! It has come down in buckets, off and on (mostly on), ever since then. It is as dark as though it were 8:30 in the evening and the ground can't hold any more. It is just like a pond outside the front door. Water running down the driveway is like a stream over rocks in the mountains. Ah, rain! We are so desperate and I am not complaining. I can do without the wind and lightening, though. The weathergal on the TV warned us that this front was moving through today and we will have rain today and tomorrow...then back to sweltering heat and humidity. The 4th has a 30% chance of showers and will be really humid. Nice day for bar-b-que, huh? NOT! Give me the A/C! I'll bet that I'll be the first one in the pool, though.

Donna, I hope that your heat spell has lessoned. You are like me, I'll stay indoors when it is so hot. It is hard, though, when we have to go out for shopping or doctor's appointments. It means going from A/C cooled house to hot car; car cools down after awhile, but LOOK!, we are at the supermarket! Hop out of the car, hurry for the cool market and hang around the frozen foods as long as possible. Then, check out and hurry to the hot car. Now, again, it is hot car until we are nearly home. We wish our lives away by wishing for fall and winter (all 2 months of it!).

I am reading a good book, "Broken Window" by Jeffery Deaver. It is a mystery and the main character is a CSI expert who is now paralized. He still works with the police department and he has to solve this case to save a relative, wrongly accused of murder. So far, it is very good.

I have also started again on making my cards. I haven't worked on them for such a long time and couldn't stay still long enough to do anything. Well, I did some stamping, some dry embossing and some watercoloring and it feels so wonderful!

We have a wedding coming up in Sept. Our youngest grandson is marrying a sweet girl and they are so happy. Susan is busy planning things and making all of the decorations and bouquets. She is so good at this and enjoys all aspects of it. We are discussing menu and what each will prepare. Bill and I will lend a hand in decorating, as we have so often in the past(and sometimes still do when she decorates for other weddings).

To all, God bless and take care.

Way to go Martha! You’re in the big time now. Hope this all works out for you and the AP reporter does contact you again. It should really be a help to you.

Yep, it has been hot here and still is, but so far today, the high is 98. Whew, we are practically shivering. We have a little cloud cover, but I think there is a 10% chance of a stray shower so I figure we won’t even look for one, but it certainly would be nice. I haven’t seen the weather about the depression around Cuba. I hope this isn’t a bad year for hurricanes. Galveston is just barely surviving after the devastating hit they took last year. They are “open” for business, but still much work to be done.

We are really enjoying our East Texas tomatoes and our neighbor is keeping James in cucumbers which he loves, but I could care less about them. I just peel them and some onions and put them in white vinegar and he thinks they are great. That’s the way his Mother fixed them when he was at home, so that is the way he likes them. If I eat a cucumber, I want it to be in the pickle form.

Ooops! I bragged too soon, the temperature just 100 degrees. Oh well, as long as the a/c keeps running, we are okay.

Donna, saw on news today that Dallas was 103! Gee, come on over to FL to cool down, kid. We are only in upper 80's and low 90's these past few days. Had some nice rain today, just not very long. Watching a new depression around Cuba now and waiting to see if it will enter the Gulf and where it will go. If it strengthens, it will be the first named storm of the season, Anna. Computers have several paths for it, if it does strengthen. Two come here (one in Tampa Bay area, one north) and the others go over between LA and TX. So, watch out it if heads your way.

Martha, great news about the Associated Press guy! Way to go! Let's hope that he will follow through. I passed your name and title of your book on to a friend with RazzleDazzle recipes, Shaboom's Kitchen. She is so nice and said that your book sounds interesting and she will check it out. So, let's hope that will pan out, too.

To all: thank you for the prayers for my brother. He came home from the hospital today, didn't have surgery, but not sure if it will still have to happen. He is very tired and thinking positive. Thank you all so much.

To all, Take care and God bless.

Hi everyone. Sorry I haven't been on lately. I've been spending even more time on the computer with my book. I do have some good news. I had an email from a man who wanted my opinion on how many people actually go to sites on Twitter and actually find recipes to try. He left his number and I called him back. We started talking about Twitter, I told him that in my opinion it was more of a social hi how you doing site and more or less a fad. I explained that I'm on Twitter but basically use it in hopes of attracting people to follow my site and not so much my Twitter. I really didn't think about asking him why he chose me to contact but we did start talking about my sites. He even pulled them up while we were talking and said they were very informative, had some really great recipes on them and that when this article was finished he wanted to have the option of contacting me to do an interview about food blog sites. Well guess who he worked for. Associated Press! Now he may never call me but I'm going to believe that he will. Would that not get some attention for Stir, Laugh Repeat? So, everyone add me to your prayer lists in the hopes that he will follow through. I really want to buy the unit next door and find my little homeless lady and get her set up.

Hope everyone is going great. My back and leg have been giving me trouble but I'm just ignoring them. Don't have time for that right now.

Love and Hugs and God Bless everyone especially reporters from the Associated Press.

We made another week. I remember when I worked how I always looked forward to Friday that is unless it was our busy season and I had to work Saturday. Don't particularly like all the aches and pains that go with age, but sure glad to put the working years behind me.

It is hot and hotter here. We'll probably hit a hundred again today, but won't be setting any records since that was set in 1980 and it was 113. 1980 was the year we had over 100 degrees for 56 straight days. Hope we don't ever get near that again.

I finally gave up and went to the doctor last Monday and I didn't have a summer cold, but it was my sinuses. She gave me an antihistamine and some nose spray. It has taken all week, but I am beginning to feel more like myself. Whatever that is!

Bernice, what a nice anniversary you and Don had and he topped it off with diamond and sapphire earrings. I'm impressed. I know he is glad to be dismissed from his surgeon. Hope he continues to improve the use of his arm/shoulder.

Lillian, so sorry to hear that your brother is in the hospital. If they had to do surgery, do hope that everything went okay. We'll keep him in our prayers.

James' 93 year old Aunt is in the hospital and not expected to live. She is the last of all his aunts and uncles so now he and his first cousins will be the "old generation" in the family. She was at the reunion in April and seemed to be feeling good, but has pneumonia and with a bad heart, that is not a good combination. I told everyone not to count her out because she's been really sick before and pulled through when the doctors didn't give her a chance.

Also got word today that a former co-worker had breast cancer surgery. She had a lumpectomy so I am hoping they caught it in the very early stage. I thought I would wait and call her one day next week and see how she is doing. She told her very close friend that she had wanted to call me last week before her surgery and talk about it but just couldn't talk about the "C" word yet. I'm going to tell her I don't like having people join my club.

Have a great weekend.

Prayer request, please, for my youngest brother, Jim. He is in the hospital with another impacted bowel, has had several surgeries in the past for this and will have surgery tomorrow if the treatments that are being used now don't work.

Thank you for your prayers for him.

I have started today on the antibiotics for the UTI. I'll be happy when this works as this is miserable and I am still putting up with the shingles.

I hope all is well with all of you. It's good to hear some good news for all of you.

Take care and God bless.

I am beginning to wonder if all of this will ever go away! I am still battling shingles, the aches and pains of everything else known to man that a human can have and now I have UTI, an infection in the bladder and hope that it isn't involving the kidneys. I have to go on antibiotics again, probably for 10 days. That is the usual time. Does anyone know of a scientist (mad of not) who is looking for a volunteer (victim) to be transformed into a bionic person, a female Frankenstein, or whatever and still keep my own brain. It works pretty well, as well as my heart (which is so strong that the doctors tell me that it is like that of a teen). I want a nice body and a beautiful face when I am transformed, too. I am still waiting to be able to keep the appointment for the droopy eyelids surgery and know that, soon, I will have to have another painful procedure for the old worn out bladder.

Now, for the good news! I am able to do a bit more each day and am able to keep up with house and laundry. It just takes me a little longer. It feels good to be feeling useful again.

Bernice, the shingles are on my left side (have had them twice this year on the left arm, too), and involve from the waist to the knee and around to the middle of my back. That is easing somewhat now but it seems so long in healing. Pain is still strong in leg and side, some days in lower back, too. I have decided to ask for an entire skin transplant! Velcro or zippers are fine. All of this and I have never had Chicken Pox! That is what is supposed to cause this.

Another good thing that I can do now is be on the computer longer now and answer some e-mail. I have been behind in that and can only stay here for limited times.

To all, take care and God bless. He is certainly blessing me with the prayers from so many. I appreciate all of you, my friends.

Ran into Food Lion this morning and saw a worker that I hadn't seen for awhile. His name is Norman and I asked if he had been sick. He had--with shingles. His shingles broke out on just the right side of his face and scalp. He said that it looked like he had drawn a line down the middle of his face. He had two pictures on his phone. He really looked bad and he said that at one point it was a good thing that he didn't have a gun around his house. I don't know if the shingles were in his eye or just around it but the eye looked swollen and just a mess.

Don went to his shoulder doctor today and was dismissed. He still needs to exercise with the weights and can go up to 5 pounds. He didn't feel well yesterday and I don't feel well today. We think that Maggie might be a germ carrier. We're going to have to stay away from her--right!

Love, Bernice

Lillian, it's so good to hear you're on the road to recovery, keep it up. David & Kerri's wedding was beautiful, the weather was perfect and the company was good, we all had a great day, I'll send you some pics. Malcolm & I are going to the Gold Coast, Australia this afternoon for a week, just to catch our breath and have some time for us after the build up to the wedding, looking after grandchildren, having kids for meals etc etc etc, we'll be recharged by the time we come home.
It's freezing here, 7.14am Tuesday morning I think it's about 2ºC outside at the moment, but we have had a spell of days with no clouds or wind so temps have been getting up to about 14ºC - your 57ºF - during the day. It's 20ºC on the Gold Coast guess we'll thaw a bit.
Take care all, Robyn

Bernice, So good to hear from you; I enjoyed your newsy post. I especially enjoyed your cooking session with Maggie. How cute to learn that cocoa powder doesn't taste good from the can. It brought back memories of when our girls were little and they loved to help in the kitchen. I would give them dough to make rolls or biscuits and they really worked that dough! It turned gray from all of the loving care given it. They, too, knew to wash up before cooking and they started out on a chair and they also loved to make things at Susan's little table. They turned out to be excellent cooks and they aren't afraid to try new ideas or new dishes.

Happy anniversary! Your romantic get-away sounds divine! I love to travel as you did; forget the interstates and "stop to smell the roses" along the way. The small towns are so interesting and you find such treasures. I would love to see the Cabbage Patch Doll factory. Several years ago my sister, who is now gone, made a Cabbage Patch doll for each sister and sister-in-law. I still have mine and her name is Gabrielle (Gabby, for short). Now, I wonder why she named my doll Gabby? Hummmm, I think that she was telling me something. Each doll was dressed in a baseball uniform, complete with helmet, and had a number on the back. That was because the gals in the family made up a baseball team (in number, only, as we didn't play the game). She also sent outfits for Christmas and my doll has a red and white dress. Funny, how we select certain things to be our treasures, isn't it?

How romantic your Don is and what a keeper! The sapphire and diamond earrings sound beautiful.

We have had wicked heat here, in mid to upper 90's for awhile and the temp at 11:30 at night drops to a nice "low" of 81-86. Our heat index reached 110 the past two days. Today is a few degrees cooler and a slight breeze is here, which helps. We are supposed to have rain by Wednesday and go down to about 90 for our high. Thank the Lord for A/C and ceiling fans and shorts, sleeveless blouses and muumuus. Also for showers! That is all called survival here in the "sunshine" state. The map last night on the news showed really high temps all over the south and southwest...and it is only June. It will be a long, hot summer for many here in the good old USA.

I saw two doctors this morning; the family doctor checked up on the shingles (still lots of pain, but not as severe now) and the podiatrist gave me the annual check up on feet and legs. Have to have this since I am diabetic and with neuropathy. A bit more damage to feet and I also now have mild hammer toes (3 on right foot, 3 on the left) He found other problems but I can't remember what all they were or how to pronounce them, either.

At last, though, I think that I will be rid of the shingles soon and I hope the pain, too. I know that it can last for a long time, but hey, I feel that I've served my time in that pain department.

Donna, I know that you are also suffering from the heat. We are wishing our lives away by wanting fall to arrive, but I still do just that! Give me cool, even cold, weather any time. Yeah, Richard, I hear you groaning about that!!! LOL!

To all, take care and God bless and thanks for the prayers. They have sure helped me. OH! forgot to tell you that we went to church yesterday and I lasted about 3/4 of the way through services before I had to come home. I did manage to take some Brownies, a Dump Cake and a snack thing that has peanuts, pretzels, cereal and chocolate in it. They like whatever anyone takes in. Next week, I am aiming for staying the whole time.

I hope this finds everyone well (or on the road to recovery, Lillian). I don't know where the days have gone since I last submitted a message. On June 13 Don and I celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary. On Friday, the 12th, we got in the car and got away, just the two of us and it was so nice. We headed to the mountains of Georgia, stopping at all the small towns and looking in the antique shops. Our destination was Helen, Ga. Years ago as a small town it lost its one factory (can't remember what it was) They reinvented their town and changed it to look like a German village. It's a tourist destination and once we got over there found Shriners from all over the U.S. ( I was wondering why I couldn't get reservations for Friday night.) We walked over town for awhile, about melted from the heat, had dinner and went on to Cornelia, Ga. for the night (about 15 miles away from Helen). Saturday Don gave me beautiful sapphire and diamond earrings. We stopped in a small town where they make the cabbage patch dolls and we went to the hospital. There were little girls all over the place picking out dolls, ordering dolls and I got all the information that I need to be prepared when we take Maggie there. She will have to be a few years older than she is now.

Yesterday, Maggie and I baked the fellas a Chocolate Pound cake. She loves to help me in the kitchen. When I tell her she can help, she runs and gets her small stool, washes her hands and she is ready. She loves breaking eggs (smashing,) has found out that cocoa powder does not taste good out of the can. Don taught Maggie how to "sop" the bowl and beaters a long time ago. We had a good time and I hope she made some memories yesterday--I know I did.

We are in a heat wave--heat index over 100. I went to the oncologist on Wed. and he changed my estrogen blocker. We are hoping this will help with my sweats. Last winter I could stand out on the deck and get cool but i sure can't do that now. I haven't noticed any difference yet but I think the meds have to build up in my system--not an immedicate change.

Fixed some green beans, new potatoes, squash and corn bread for supper one night last week. It was all fresh and soooo good. All that was missing was tomatoes from the garden. I could have bought some tomatoes when I was buying the other things but I wanted the first tomato of the season to come out of our garden. ("Our" means Don's!!)

Try to stay cool, Love, Bernice

Oh yes, Richard, how about an update on Maxine?

Hot!, Hot! Hot!...that the weather forecast..I'm glad we enjoyed our cooler and wetter spring days because they are a thing of the past. It isn't even officially summer yet and I'm looking forward to fall.

We drove to Dallas to the Farmer's Market yesterday and got some wonderful East Texas tomatoes. They are so good and we will enjoy them while we can get them.

Cleaned house today...well, still have to run the vacuum, but did get the bathrooms cleaned and everything dusted. Needless to say, I am feeling better even if I do still have a few cold symptoms left. I think in a couple of days, that will be a thing of the past and I am ready!

Lillian, hope you are feeling some better. We miss you on here.....

Donna