P.S. Donna, I hope you and James are well.

I went this morning to get the stitches out of my gum. I have to wait for three months, they will take an x-ray and if all is good I will finish my tooth transplant in Feb. I was glad to get the stitches out--two had popped and I felt like that i had a ball of thread in my jaw. Of course, you can't keep your tongue off the spot.

I am not adjusting as well to two hearing aids as easily as to one. The telephone is giving me a fit. I tend to hold the receiver too close to my ear and that pushes the button to change the selection. The button next to the telephone is mute so I'm always turning it to mute, have to say wait a minute and take the aid out of the ear to hear. I'll get used to it though.

We did Maggie's 4th birthday on Thursday night. She helped make her chocolate cake with pink icing. We had gotten a bunch of crayola products when we went to the factory so she got the bathtub stuff to play with. Brian got her a tea set and I told her we would have a tea party when she came back Friday morning. At 7:30 there was a little voice beside my bed asking if we could have the tea party. We three, Don, Maggie and i had the party about 9:30. Maggie and I made some from package muffins. It doesn't take much to make a little one happy. Maggie went back to her Mom on Friday at 3 but Brian got her back yesterday. He will have her all week. Brian is working so I told him to take her to day care today and tomorrow. Dad and I need a rest! We will pick her up early. I'm glad that this place takes drop ins. Maggie went there before her Mom moved to Knoxville.

It rained yesterday so we have leaves, leaves. Don has to get them out of the bushes so he can start putting his lights up. I have been putting a few things out. The house has regular stuff, a few Thanksgiving things out and now some Christmas.

Tonight the ladies are doing Linda's birthday (which was Nov. 1) at O'Charleys. With sickness, Linda being out of town to welcome her third grandchild, we finally found a date that we could all work with. I made her a Hot Milk cake yesterday--Linda is the one that doesn't like chocolate. I'm thawing out some sstrawberries to go along with the cake. The wait people at O'Charleys (and any other restaurant that we go on birthdays) love to see us coming because we always share the cake/pie. For my birthday, Patsy made me a to die for cocoanut pie. I really hated to share that one!

I had to run to Bi-lo to get some strawberries and while there I grabbed up a turkey breast. I think we will do dinner here instead of going to Cracker Barrel like we usually do. Guess I'd better get in there and make some cornbread. Don loves stuffing and gravy; I don't. None of us like pumpkin pie. Don and I grew up eating sweet potato pie instead. This morning I mailed a mess of sweet potatoes to my aunt in Pa. She can't get the white sweet potatoes either. Around here a sweet potato is really a yam-orange. It cost almost $10 to mail the potatoes but I know that she will enjoy eating something that she remembers from her youth.

If I don't get back here before Thanksgiving, everyone have a nice day. I hope you are with family/friends. That is really what makes the day for me--not so much about the cooking/meal. It doesn't hurt to have good food though! Love, Bernice

Bernice, your luck lately is much like ours has been. Tires, starter and we still need two more tires. Merry Christmas to each other here. We have had so many batteries, tires, tune-ups, engine work, etc. over the years and always managed to have those things when birthdays, Christmas or anniversaries have come around.

Still....so much to be thankful with family and friends and reasonably good health. Maggie is your joy and I do think that you are hers. They tire you out, but it such a "happy tired" feeling. That's how I feel about added pain or health glitches...if I work and earn it, it isn't so bad. Being with family and doing things for them is a real perk.

Here is a recipe for all of you. I don't remember where I got this; I had written it in a little booklet on molasses that I have had since 1956. These were the first cookies that Susan, our oldest, made. I am making them now to take to church tomorrow and to Thanksgiving. She will be so surprised.
I haven't made them for years and it will be something different for the family.

MOLASSES SUGAR COOKIES

3/4 cup shortening, melted
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups sifted flour (all purpose)
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt

Melt shortening and let it cool. Add sugar, molasses and egg; beat well. Sift dry ingredients together and add to first mixture; mix well and chill. Form into 1-inch balls, roll in sugar and place on greased baking sheet, about 2-inches apart. Bake at 375º for 8-10 minutes.

These freeze well and keep well in canisters.

To all, take care and God bless.

Yes, I was the one who asked about freezing sour cream. I went to several (lots) of sites but freezing was never addressed. Never thought about the National Dairy Council. There are plenty of lemon bar recipes out there that I can do and not worry about a sour cream top.

We had Maggie today and I am worn out. It rained here so we were house bound this afternoon. This morning she enjoyed doing errands with us. We ran over to Cleveland, Tn. to pick up my car. On Sat. we had only done one garage sale and the check engine light came on. We decided to come straight home when the car kinda chugged (twice coming home). Don drove it over with Brian following him and had to leave the car at the dealership yesterday. It was some kind of valve problem. We were lucky to get out of that one for less than 250. This morning I drove Don's truck for the first time (he has had it almost 2 years) Went to the water dept., bank drive through, bakery outlet, and the license plate renewal office. I turned the truck back over to Don. I figure that i can drive it in an emergency and I didn't want to drive on the interstate in the rain. The truck drives like a car; not like yesteryear. Yes, I know that the truck has wipers for when it rains but the nuts out there that I would have had to contend with don't make any speed adjustments for any reason. So the roads are slick, we'll still do 80.

This rain today knocked a lot more leaves off. You can't tell that Don got up any at all last week. It's cooler today and I actually put on a long sleeve blouse. This afternoon, Maggie did ask me why my hair was wet.

Love, Bernice

Wasn't me! I have frozen cream cheese, but don't like the consistency after freezing so I nixed that idea. I think I have tried freezing most every kind of food and have some good luck and not so good luck on others.

Lillian, we would love our weather! Had a cold front yesterday afternoon and had a little rain, but much cooler weather. It didn't get out of the 50's today and is supposed to be in high 30's tonight. Good sleeping weather!

James put the rest of his plants in the greenhouse today. He had put the ferns in earlier, but added the rest today. Then he spent the next few hours picking up leaves. He just hobbles around with his ortho shoe. He goes back to the doctor next Monday and hopefully will be able to wear a shoe, but we'll see.

I ran some errands this morning and wore a sweatshirt and a jacket so you know it was cool. The wind was blowing so that made it seem colder.

I think I am going to call it a night.

Donna

OK, I give up! I can't remember who asked if you could, or should, freeze sour cream. I have never tried to freeze it, so I e-mailed the National Dairy Council to ask the experts. They say to use it fresh on your dishes, for best results. In other words, no, don't freeze it; at least that is waht I read into their short message.

I hope that this reaches whomever asked the question. Was it Bernice? Hummmm! I'm at a loss now.

To all, take care and God bless.

We saw a license plate the other day that really cracked me up. It read:
"PMS PLUS" and a little old lady was driving the car. Did she think that her license plate would scatter traffic out of her way? I'll bet many a gentleman gave her some space that day.

Did a bit of shopping today and went to the library. Very tiring day and I am so glad to be able to go to that recliner in the other room. We will go to Susan's tomorrow for birthday party for great grandson and his little half brother, who is just like another great grandson. He calls Susan Nana just like his brother does. He is a little cutie.

I will write more in the morning. That recliner is calling me and I want to answer.

Take care and God bless.

We had to get a new computer since I last posted. I saw the bright light on the monitor and I just left it the computer as it was. Next morning I called our computer guy. He came out, checked and said that we needed a new tower. In fact, when he opened it up a piece fell out in his hand, some part that heat had gotten to. Off we go and get a new tower. It is hard to find a desk top anymore. Office Depot had three to choose from, Staples had three and Best Buys had four. Most places want to sell the laptops. Next day, computer man is back. We wanted him to do all the transferring, etc. He was almost through when he saw the light and the monitor wouldn't come back on. He had a monitor in his car so he used that to finish the transfer. Off we go back for a monitor. Since Galen had done all the work we could plug it in, which we did. I sure have missed a computer. Don did to. He looks up so much information. E-mails are my downfall. When Galen was here, Howard, next door, came over. He had seen Galen's car and the advertising on it. Howard was having trouble also so when Galen finished with us he went to Howard's. Howard needs a new computer also. His is 7 years old. I'm surprised it has lasted that long.

Maggie came in Thursday evening and they always eat dinner here on Thursdays. She was just laying around and not her usual self. When they got home, she threw up. this was before bedtime and Brian got her to the bathroom. During the night, Brian had to change her sheets 4 times. I can't count the times Brian was calling here on Friday. She is fine today but Don isn't in tip top shape--just not feeling good. He hasn't thrown up yet. I think this is just a stomach virus. Maggie didn't run a high temp. and she threw up. With H1N1 you run a hign temp. and you usually don't throw up.

I go Monday to get my new hearing aids and I sure am looking forward to hearing good again. Almost forgot: On Wed. I got the first part of a tooth transplant. I lost my back molar several years ago. I had to heal a year and by then I had cancer and the tooth was put on the back burner. I had an appointment to have this done in July but I got that bacterial infection, so it was postponed. Finally, on Wed. they cut my gum, put a post into the bone so there will be something to put the tooth on and stitched me back up. I have four stitches (one of which came undone this morn.) My jaw was swollen but it is going down. They were right when they said that it wouldn't hurt. I was sent home with pain pills but didn't need them. i'll run by the dentist on Monday after I get my aids and see about my lost stitch. I'm swishing with warm salt water.

It is absolutely beautiful here. A wonderful fall day in the mid 60's. One day this past week we got over two inches of rain, which we needed. That of course brought a lot of leaves down. Don got them cleaned up yesterday afternoon.

We were gone for Brian's 36 birthday. I finally got around to baking him his Derby pie this afternoon. That is one pie that is too sweet to eat if you ask me but he loves it.

Love, Bernice

Edited by author 11-12-2009 01:06 PM
Here is a site that I've kept on my favorites for several years. It has many other recipe choices besides the chocolate, but I started with the chocolate....now, where else would a person start? LOL! Anyway, try this and then click on to the other offerings. You'll find something in there just right for you, I'm sue.

www.justchocolaterecipes.com

Take care and God bless.

Donna,

I know how it is to just read the posts and not feel like sitting down to send one. I feel that I am so remiss in keeping up with friends. I'm trying to do better at that.

Gathering acorns or leaves is a never ending job. I can sweep the porch and sidewalk and when I open the door again, there is a mess out there again. Also, leaves on the windowsills. Vicious cycle, isn't it? We had some good winds for a couple of days, had rain again last night and early this morning but it was a nice gentle rain. Much needed, too. We have a little cool front moving in and it will be great to feel a bit of cool. I am quite happy if the high temperature for the day would be 62-65, but most people want to wear coats if it is that cool.

We had a friend in NC, who has since passed away, and she and her sister used to send or bring big baggies of pecans, all shelled. She used to tell me that she'd supply the pecans if I'd make a pie or some cranberry-orange bread with nuts in it for her. Is that a bargain or what? They used to go somewhere and pick some of them and then her sister had a large tree in her yard. They just had fun together while picking them.

Todays visit to the doctor was not great. The latest MRI shows that I now have three bulging discs and one compressed. The spine is still out of alignment but some of the chest pain is gone...thank the Lord! That is from muscles, he said. I still have sore glands in the neck and still take antibiotics for that. Still getting the advice to rest, no lifting, yadda, yadda! I'll do as he says, though, or I'll be in more pain and more trouble with the back. He told me that my back is very fragile and that I can, and probably will, keep getting the fractures. At least knowing that, I can do some things to help prevent it. Last back surgery was for lower back, same type disc problem.

Bill is working a half day today as he had to take me for my appointment. He will make up the other half on Friday. He is the only one there who hand winds transformers for the flash units and also for the cameras that so many cities/states are installing on the corners of heavy traffic. He could work 5 days a week, instead of 3, but he doesn't want a 5 day work week...and neither do I. He does like his work and the people there. They are a nice, family type group. He's been with them for over 30 years. Was full time for 2 years, and part time all of the remainder of time. I bake or cook and send things in to them; many of them work two jobs and don't have time to do any cooking.

I haven't been baking much lately. I'll do what I can for the holidays and hope that I can make all that is in my mind to do. We'll see how things work out. Has anyone noticed that we have no canned pumpkin on the shelves. I did read in the paper that there is a big shortage of it and it was due to some weather problem; too wet or too dry, I forget. The pumpkin pie mix is available, but it seems too strong with spices, for our taste.

To all, thank you for the prayers and for keeping it going on here.

Take care and God bless.

I’ve been AWOL and don’t really have any good reason for it except it seems like I have been busier than usual. Probably to be truthful, I just haven’t taken the time to sit down and write a note. I always take time to read the posts, though.

Last week, during my spare time, I helped James pick up the acorns and for the most part, we have finished. Some are still falling, but at least most of them have picked up. Now, we have all the leaves from our red oak trees to contend with. We had so many that James just took them to the waste station and they crushed them. I don’t know if they use them in their mulch or compost or if they are taken to the dump. At least, they got rid of them.

We have been having beautiful weather. It has been a little warmer during the day than I would like, but it is still nice. We have actually experienced fall here this year. It is in the 70’s during the day and the 50’s at night. Hope Ida did not bother any of you too much. Richard, you do have a way with words. If I were to try that, nobody would understand what I was talking about.

Yesterday, I drove to my friend’s house in Dallas and picked up pecans. She’s in her middle 80’s and has two huge pecans trees and was fretting over them laying on the ground so I picked up two big buckets of them and raked some of her leaves. She doesn’t want the pecans, but just doesn’t like to see them go to waste. James has been sitting on the patio today listening to a book on tape and shelling pecans. He said they are easy to shell as they are paper shell. I was tired when I finished yesterday afternoon. I could have picked up more, but gave out.

Bernice, hope that you are feeling better. I keep hearing about people having the H1N1 virus so hope my old age keeps me from getting it. I am trying to be careful using hand sanitizer, etc., but you never know.

Lillian, hope that the doctor can help you alleviate some of your pain. I know you don’t want surgery again and hopefully that won’t be his solution.

Richard, I know you are looking forward to visiting with Lee & Maxine and the puppies at Thanksgiving. Hope the Liar’s Club can manage without you while you are gone.

Bernice, Aren't we lucky to have the older Corning/Pyrex dishes? Some of mine were either shower or wedding gifts and that is over 53 years now. They are still in great shape and used constantly. Our daughter had one and she had had it for many years, but it broke while she was cooking a roast. It didn't explode or anything like that, just cracked around the whole middle. Needless to say, she didn't keep the roast, either.

We went for Bill's endoscopy today and all is well. We knew of the Barrett's Disease and the small hiatal hernia and the area of the esophagus, where it enters the stomach, has been irritated and that the inflamation will go away. I have to call in two weeks for results of the biopsy. The doctor doesn't suspect anything to be wrong. We are certainly thankful for this.

Your time with Maggie sounds like so much fun. When we see things through the eyes of a child, the whole picture is brighter. I agree that she was brave to pet a snake. YUK! I couldn't do that. Have you seen any of the news about the abundance of pythons here in FL? So many had them as pets and have just turned them loose when they got so big. The wildlife people have issued some permits to hung them in the Everglades. They are threatening the existence of other creatures and there are thousands of snakes there.

Gill is in his recliner now. He's not allowed to drive today, or operate anything more than a remote. He's good at that, too. He'll go to work tomorrow after my doctor appointment. He does enjoy his work and that is a plus for him. I used to worry so much about him still working, but he likes the job and the people. He was 79 in April and stays young and active.

To all, take care and God bless.

Richard: It was great to hear what's new with you. I loved your first paragraph about IDA. Corningware--my SIL said that new corningware can't go from the freezer right into the oven/micro. It cracks. Don't know if she was telling this out of experience or not. Her's, like mine, is over 45 years old, and mine still does the job. I agree with you, Richard, on what else can happen to Lillian. I was glad to hear that she cut back on what she did for the picnic. I know that her goodies were missed, though.

Donna, haven't heard from you for a few days. You can't get sick at the same time that James is unable to help himself or you. I'm always telling Don that one of us has to be able to bend, walk, and able to care for the other. We both can't be "down" at the same time.

It has been so pretty here. Maggie came in thursday night so we had her Friday. We did some garage sales. She would leave most sales with free stuff--people don't charge cute little girls. I did buy her a bat costume. It wasn't scary--black and pink slip on wings, and a little dress, black top and pink and black stripes. she ended wearing that the rest of the day. She rode her bike, played ball with Don, had to swing, do art; going every minute. Finally about 3 Don and I had to rest. She played on the couch and fell asleep also. Yesterday, the local PBS station had a family day and we took Maggie.(and Brian) She got to see some of the characters (Clifford, the big red dog was a favorite) Dora wasn't there; a big disappointment. She actually had the nerve to pet a snake. I declined. Afterwards we got a couple of pizzas and went over to the lake and had a picnic. It was about 70, the trees were beautiful, my kind of weather. We are to have some rain tomorrow but not from Ida, I don't believe. Maggie picked out the winter pansies on Friday and they could use the rain. Don was going to let Maggie help plant them but some neighborhood cat/cats have used the mailbox garden for a litter box. Maggie and I pointed to where we wanted the flowers and Don dug the holes and planted them. That's the way to garden, whatever works.

The computer man is coming over tomorrow morning. We get a bright light on the monitor, it goes dark and we have to reboot. Also, the windows media player hangs everything up. Hope it's just the monitor and not the tower.

Richard, I also hightly recommend a Lazy Boy. The blue chair that is going to stick to my butt because I stay in it so much when I am sick, is a Lazy Boy. I can sleep there sometimes better than in bed. Love, Bernice

Richard,

How good to hear from you again and to know that your sense of humor is intact and going strong.

Well, Ida did have her sights on Tampa Bay for a bit, with the computer models giving all sorts of tracks. We've had high winds for a few days already, party due to Ida and partly due to the war of fronts over us. We are to get rain tomorrow, along with some winds from Ida. We'll gladly take the rain. Ida is a "late bloomer" but still within the time frame of the hurricane season. It ends the end of November, but I have known hurricanes to arrive in December and even in March. Normal season is June 1 through Nov. 30.

Now, how are you getting such nice low 70's temps? We are going to be in the mid-80's today and through the next 5-7 days. That is better than in the 90's though, isn't it?

You are right about my thick blood (thick head goes along with that, I think). I am so seldom cold, but do enjoy a couple of days in our short winter when I am so cold that I wrap up in a coverlet. On those days, I even wear slacks around the house instead of shorts. I was in hog heaven when we lived in MT. Now, that place was cold! So cold that one winter all of the storm windows in the house were popping and the glass cracked. We lived on base and the crews went from house to house replacing windows. We figured that the people there were so friendly and good hearted because there were so few of them and that. The big joke was that Custer lost the battle of Little Big Horn, and his scalp, because he was really trying to give that area back to the Indians and they didn't want it. It is truly a beautiful state, though, and the people are marvelous. Mostly all Nordic ancestry.

Yes, China now makes the Corning. We had a huge factory just three miles from my hometown, along with a few more in and around Pittsburgh, and all were bought by China. They had big trucks at the factories and just tore them all apart, loaded it all on trucks to be shipped over there. They had the gall to ask the thousands of laid off workers to load the trucks and to move to China to work, at a few dollars a day. No one took the offers. I no longer buy Corning. Fire King and Oven King are just as good and less expensive. All of my Pyrex and Corning is old.

Bill's endoscopy is tomorrow and we shall know how he is doing with the Barrett's Esoph. Disease. Please keep him in your prayers. I'll learn on Wed. what new damage has been done to the back. I do feel a bit better today than I have felt. My contributions to church coffee shop and family picnics have been so slim lately. With the picnic last Saturday, we only took the chips, dip and buns for the hot dogs. Not at all what I usually do. Susan wouldn't hear of any more. I do have to keep moving, though, or I won't move at all.

How nice that you will be going up to Live Oak to be with Maxine and Lee and the pups, of course. I hope that she will take it easy with the dinner thing...she is another one who tries to over do. Give them our best, please.

I held Hailee on Saturday and she is such a beautiful baby. So tiny but so feisty. She smiles and she chuckles, loves being talked to and sung to. She moves her little lips like she is trying hard to talk. She squeaks and stretches more than any baby that I have ever seen. She is nearly 9 lbs. now and eating well again; has fat little cheeks and tummy now.

Boy, I think that my recliner is calling me after writing a novel. You will love a Lazy Boy! We love ours. Good luck with that project.

To all, take care and God bless. He has certainly blessed us.

If IDA had my druthers IDA just have soon see IDA head someplace else than AL, MS or the Panhandle. They've had enough for a while. IDA also tho't someone wudda told IDA that Hurrycane season is over for this yr. IDA just as soon IDA downgraded to a Trop Depression. However, IDA is like some ppl who can never be counted on to show up on time. Clouds and 20 to 30 mph winds is all I've seen here, since she started her IDA-ling approach

Enuff of the play on words.

Bernice, your vacation sounded wonderful. I lived in Rochester NY for about 6 yrs., which is not that far from Corning, NY., but it wasn't till 2 yrs ago that Maxine and Lee took me there. I had my credit card in hand, ready to buy all kinds of Corningware. SURPRISE!!! Pleasantly so. The Glass Museum really facinated me. It really amazed me what artisans can do with sand and heat. Some of their creations are so delicate, I had to appreciate their patience too. I suppose China took over making Corningware.

Donna, glad to hear James is progressing on schedule. I hope they were able to 'boot' him up rather than put him on crutches. May be that I'm the only person on this earth that can't handle crutches. When I broke my ankle I had to use them and I was like a wounded Albatross. Maybe it's the lead in my butt that wouldn't let me swing on them. I just know I was REAL thankful to go to the boot. I know he's probably a little frustrated too, with the hitch in his getta long.

Lillian, what ELSE can go wrong?? You've really had a time of it, these last couple of yrs. I don't know how you manage to keep on keepin' on. Your posts keep saying the Dr. tells you to rest, rest, rest. How do you manage the Church Bake Shop, picnics w/ the family, helping put together weddings w/ Susan,getting a head start on Christmas baking,fix meals,clean house, do Ldy and rest??? Somewhere I missed YOUR definition of 'rest' in the dictionary. I pray your Dr. can get you on track after the MRI results are in.

Contrary to the propaganda that Lillian would have you believe, it's COLD down here. That is NOT nice weather. Keeps up and I'm gonna have to order me some long johns. Low 70's is the norm, with occassional blessed mid 80's in the afternoons. High to mid 60's over night.

When I worked in the Nursing Home business and visited the facility's I could never understand the residents wearing sweaters all yr long. I AM beginning to believe tho that there is more truth than fiction to the old wives tale that your blood thins out after you've lived in the DEEP south for a while and that age is a factor too. Since Lillian is 2 weeks older than I am and has lived in the DEEP south longer than I have, I'm beginning to think that her blood is still 'northern thick.', since she likes the cool weather.

Currently waiting for the repairman to see if he can fix the lift chair in the lvg. Room. HI had to use one and I'm sorta hoping he can't fix it, so I can go buy me a BIGMAN's Lazy-boy. Always have wanted one of those suckers.

Going to Live Oak to spend Tksgvg w/ Maxine and Lee. Been all of 10 months since I last saw them so I'm looking forward to it. Also get to meet their new 'puppies.' They lost their Greyhound in Feb. and I think it was August they adopted 2 pugs, one black and one fawn. I've never had the chance to be around pugs, but I think they're so ugly they're cute.

Hope everyone has a good Tksgvg.