lilyjohn

Judy I do have allergies and forgot to take my medication the morning the girls left. I had to have them at the place to catch the airport shuttle at 4:30am and hadn't slept but a couple of hours the night before because of my sciatica. I think it was a combination of those two things and change of weather more inside than out. At my nephews it was comfortable but I am used to sleeping with a window open and fan on. At home I have fan and air conditioner and in the car the air was blowing on me. Like Annette said, at least it waited so I could enjoy my time with them. I have been staying in most of the day. I did go out to the farm this morning but only two neighbors went with me. The most fragile didn't want to face the heat so she stayed home. I have had a sinus headache all day but think I will try reading for a while. Watching the ball game but need something to do with my hands and need some yarn before starting a sewing project. Eric glad you finally got some rest. Sorry about the late train. I have had quite a few experiences like that. The past few years it has been better. The freight lines own the tracks so they always took the right of way making passenger trains late. They lost a major law suit a few years ago so the one I ride has been pretty much on time this past few years. Well my chair is calling me so guess I will get off of here and settle down in front of the tv again. Have a great night everyone.

Judy I am so sorry that you had to go through that. I have had kidney infections before and they are no fun. I am sure with your health history it was very frightening. I too was awake at 2 am. I seem to have caught a terrible head cold. My head was stuffed and my ears aching. I have a cough and irritation in my throat. I thought that was from the acid reflux damage but it appears to be from the cold. Not sure where I picked it up but will try to nurse it until I feel better. I promised to take two of my neighbors out to the farm this morning before it gets too hot. I am up to going but not sure if I should be that close to them. They are pretty fragile. I think I may just cancel saying that I don't feel up to it. I would never get over it if one of them got seriously ill from a cold she caught from me.. I have a couple of hours so I will wait and see what comes up and how I feel. I hope everyone else has a great day. Might check in again later.

Judy I hope that today is a better one for you. You have had so much to deal with in your life. It is time that something goes your way. I keep praying that the cancer is not back and you will be able to sleep and enjoy your life. As a caregiver I will tell you from my experience it is so much easier to be in denial. Still when there is no longer any doubt I think women tend to handle it a lot better than most men. I think part of the reason is that women raise their children while men earn a living. At least it was that way for most of our generation. Men also seem to be like a big baby when they are sick. They want attention and they want to be waited on. Men usually take it for granted that the women will continue to be the family caregiver so being sick is not an option to them. It is easier to deny the illness and all it will not only take from them but require of them. I hope this makes sense and maybe it is just my own experience talking. Anyway I wish you only the best and really believe that when he realizes that you are ill and need him for help, love and support he will be ready and willing. I could write more for all but I just got up and I am still very tired. Need to wake up and get moving. Have a great day everyone.

Hi everyone. Sounds like the air is a little light hearted today. My daughter and granddaughter left very early this morning. I just got a text that they have left airport in New Orleans on their way home. Seems so strange they could be here then gone so quickly. The ten days just flew. We did have a good visit with each other and my family in the 'Bay Area. Some of my family my grand daughter had never met. I see all of your comments and know what they went back to so I feel a little guilty bragging about our weather but what the heck I will anyway Right now it is 95 with 18% humidity and feels like 91 with a light breeze. In Houma where they live it is 88 with 70 % humidity and feels like 99. What a difference humidity can make! I am sure some of you saw my pictures on Facebook. Monterey is just so beautiful and as I said the weather was perfect. A lot of our crops here are finished already but down there the climate is so moderate that many are still in full swing. Strawberries are delicious and so are the cherries. I had fried artichokes for the first time and fell in love with them. Lucky thing I don't live too close. I am fat enough! I did mess up though. They were selling large artichokes at the fruit stand we stopped at ten for a dollar. We pay a dollar a piece here. I can't believe that I didn't think to bring some home. I was too busy getting some more fried ones at the little food truck that was there. Yesterday we stayed close to home and got to rest some knowing today would be a long one for them. I was just walking across the room and my leg felt like something jabbed in my groin and then the sciatica started acting up big time. I had to have them at the place to catch the airport shuttle at 4:30 this morning so only had about 4 hours to sleep and my leg pain kept me awake most of the night. I spent today on the heating pad and dozing off and on. Tomorrow it will be back to the normal for me and that means I need to walk and do some serious light eating. Eating out the whole time they were here was not good for my weight and I have to go get blood work done soon. With my stomach I do not want to have to take any more medication than I have to already. Glad to see that Eric is having a good time. I like reading about his adventures but wonder how he keeps going without some down time. It is really hard for me any more. I saw the story about the people who fell at the falls and wonder if Eric saw it happen or if it was after he left. Well I will catch up more tomorrow. For now it is back on the heating pad for me. Take care and be well everyone.

Good morning everyone. I thought I would take the time to check in while my girls are sleeping. We are having a great time together and I am dreading their visit coming to an end. Lera, my granddaughter, has fallen in love with California. Sometimes it just makes me wish that I had known years ago what it would be like to be torn between two families and two places. Then again my family wouldn't be the same. Oh well. It has been like a whirlwind going from place to place and trying to squeeze in as much as possible. The first two days I took them all around my area up here where I live then on Thursday we left to go down to my family in San Jose and Sunnyvale. Our time there was pretty much non stop. Friday we left around 9:30 and stopped at the outlet center in Gilroy so I could buy some Easy Spirit shoes. They are the only ones I can really wear without my feet hurting and not easy to find or afford. I bought two pair. After we left there we drove to Monterey. We spent a good bit of time at Fisherman's Warf taking in the views and having lunch. We ate at a nice place on the warf. For the first time we all sampled fried artichokes and fell in love with them. I will have to learn to cook them because I don't know when I will get back to Monterey again. After the warf we spent a little time on Canery Row and Myrtha and Lera got to dip their feet in Monterey Bay. Lera couldn't believe how cold the water is. She is used to water in the gulf that is so warm at times it is uncomfortable. The next part of our day was spent on the 17 mile drive. For those of you who don't know it is a road that hugs the coast between Monterey and Carmel in Central California. There are possibly some of the most breath taking views in the world along there. Like most we took tons of pictures. The most famous spot is The Lone Cypress. Anyone who has ever seen a picture of Monterey has seen that tree for sure. From Monterey we drove North to Santa Cruz and walked the boardwalk. Lera and Myrtha got to dip their feet in the Pacific Ocean there. I bought their Saltwater Taffy that I swear tastes better than any other. Maybe because they make it right there. I also took a picture of the old wooden rollercoaster. It is well known as one of the oldest still in operation. I have never ridden it because I do not like those kind of rides. Finally at around 9 pm we were back at my nephews house where we had started out earlier that morning. Saturday we went back to Monterey for the wedding. We hit a mojor traffic jam because of people slowing to see a man carrying a cross on the side of the highway The wedding of my nieces daughter was on the beach at Seal Rock on the 17 mile drive. What a place for a wedding absolutely beautiful From there we started the long drive back to the reception in Morgan Hill. By then it was after 2pm and we had very light breakfast early that morning. We were really getting hungry but had an hour and a half drive so we stopped at a fruit stand and of coarse they had a truck there frying artichokes so we had enough to hold us off for a while.Also got some wonderful fresh strawberries and nectarines. After getting home pretty late both days we decided to take it slow on Sunday. Our only plans was a barbque at my brother Bob's house that evening. We also wanted to stop and see my sister in law who is in a rehab hospital after having hip replacement. She is my oldest brother's wife. My brothers were all older than me so sister in laws are like my sisters. We got to visit with her and my niece Rochelle for a while then off we went to see some more sights. My grandson Jared is a huge Apple fan and he also sells a lot on Ebay and uses PayPal so we found the headquarters for each and took pictures. Then we drove to Mountain View and I showed Lera where her Paw Paw, worked when we met. He was stationed at Moffet Field. It was so good to see that the hangers are still there. Especially the big blimp hanger. Most of the places I remember as a child have been destroyed for electornics and the people that have moved there to work in that field. I love my computer and cell phone but as I travel through the Santa Clara Valley I am so sad that all of the orchards are gone and replaced by hiways and condeminiums. Yesterday we made our way back up here to Redding. It is always so nice to be home. Today will be a slow day and later a late lunch with my niece and nephew. Tomorrow we will do laundry and take a much needed rest. I will have to have them at the hotel to catch their shuttle van to the airport and 4:30 am Thursday. I will sure hate to see them go but I am so glad that I have finally got to share my home with one of my grand children. I know my daughter enjoyed it too. She was born in Mountain View but had not been back sense 1985. Eric when I get time I read of your adventure. It seems you are seeing both the good and the bad side of the states. Glad you are finding some friendly people. My daughter has been very fortunate to meet so many friendly and helpful people while here. Well this is quite a book. I know there is much to catch up on but time and space are limited for today so I will wait until my girls are gone home to comment on each of you. I will say that our weather has been perfect from the day they got here. That is one thing that hasn't changed in the Bay Area they have what has been called the best weather in the world and I sure won't argue with that. Ours too has been on it's best behavior with the highest temperatures while they are here being in the low 90s and very low humidity. Don't mean to brag but I do feel sorry for all of you suffering through the hot and humid summer. Just so glad that it is not me

Good morning everyone. I will open the air unless someone else gets here before I finish. I am having a wonderful time with my daughter and granddaughter. The first night here we went to Red Lobster for dinner. We each had their$15 special. On top of that Lera wanted to try another appatizer so we were pretty full by the time our main coarse was served. We ended up bringing most of it home with a half dozen extra cheese biscuits. Myrtha hadn't been to Red Lobster but once and that was years ago and Lera had never been. We had a wonderful waitress. Lera was thinking about two different dishes and the waitress told her that she probably wouldn't like either of them. She finally ordered the coconut shrimp and loved them. We came home and sat outside and visited with my neighbors til nearly 9 pm. Yesterday morning Myrtha and I went for a short walk. They just can't get over our weather. I would be a major change for them anytime but California really welcomed them with temperatures in the 80s and a great delta breeze. We left here for a day of sight seeing. Our first stop was at the Sundial Bridge. If you are on facebook you have seen my pictures of that beautiful pedestrian bridge. We left there and drove out to another of our parks on the river. From there we headed up toward French Gulch where I used to live. On the way we stopped at the historic old town of Shasta. Many of the store fronts and some of the brick walls of the ruins have been preserved. That was the first town settled here when gold was discovered in this area. From there we drove on up to Whiskeytown Lake. We stopped on the way up at my place to fish. The lake is full and the color is such a beautiful blue and the green trees and mountains around make for some pretty pictures and Lera took a lot of pictures. After we left there we went up to French Gulch and I showed them where I used to live and how the fire had devastated the area and still after nearly 8 years it has a long way for the forests to recover. I was disappointed that the old hotel was not open nor the bar. They are the only two businesses in French Gulch. They both are historical buildings and have many items from the gold rush era. From there we stopped again at the lake. this time at the visitor center. They each bought a t shirt and got another view of the lake from the top of the grade. We were all hungry by then so we headed back to town and had lunch at In and Out Burger. There were so many people there but boy was it good. I hadn't been there but once or twice sense I moved here and neither of them had ever been. We left there and I took them to see another pretty area and then we passed by Big League Dreams, a baseball park with 3 stadiums that are replicas in a 1/10 size of major ball parks. I can't remember all of them. I just know one is Yankee Stadium and another is wriggly Field. On our way out to the farm I had a chance to show them a view that takes my breath away each time I see it. From one spot you see the pastures and orchards with the hills behind them and in the distance the Sierra Nevada's with Mt. Lassen dominating. At the farm we bought some of the biggest juicy peaches you have ever seen. The old barn they sell out of is in the middle of a walnut orchard and neither of them have ever seen one. We came home a different way that is all country farms and orchards. We passed through the small town of Palo Cedro about 6 or 7 miles form here where Merle Haggard has his Ranch. Once home we had a peach then settled down to rest but that was not for long. My daughter got a call from my granddaughter, my son's daughter. She wanted to be on speaker phone so she called Myrtha's Iphone. Her news was that she is going to make me great grandma again. This will be my youngest son's first grandchild. She also asked Lera to be Nanny, godmother. She was so happy that she was crying and we were all pretty excited. We had our left overs from Red Lobster for dinner and while eating my neighbors called to see if we wanted to play Bunco. I had forgotten and was going to skip it. My girls played with us and we all had a great time. Unlike the night before I slept like someone who was drugged! Bud I and all of you I wish I could share our weather with you but that is not possible so I will enjoy sharing with my girls. They will be going back to the heat and humidity far too soon. Judy KW I hope that you get all the computer problems worked out. Like Annette there have been many of times I have threatened to throw mine out the window here next to me. Eric I try to read of your adventures and wish you could have better experiences with lodging and travel. Maybe now that you have a friend from Lungevity to help it will make your last few days in New York more enjoyable. Well I have written a book and I know forgotten many of you. We are off to the bay area tomorrow for 5 days. Will be checking in on facebook with my phone. Other than that will see you all back here in a few days. Have a great weekend everyone and Bud save some fish for someone else to catch!!!

Good morning. I just finished reading yesterdays posts and will try to post before my busy day gets started. Judy where I used to live was up one of those mountain roads. I loved living there but at times felt trapped because I would not drive that road at night. I had that drive down to town for work everyday. It is a beautiful place and I plan to take my daughter and granddaughter there tomorrow. I used to drive it everyday and now I both look forward to and dread that drive. I guess because my car is getting old and I worry that something else will go wrong with it. MI Judy I hope that your spasms are going away. That is one of the worse pains. I know part of mine are due to weight gain and also because of muscles pulled in the past. Now for your time share experience. I always use the guide line on anything that if it sounds too good to be true it is not true. Didn't take my own advice on the campground that time but like you learned a valuable lesson. Eric your pictures are wonderful. Having spent sometime at Williamsberg more than once they brought back memories. I love History and would always look for places that played a part in our country"s History. Sorry that you missed the ceiling in the governor's house. It is quite a display of guns up there. I have pictures. As for the Netbook you answered one of my questions to myself. I thought about buying one for my trips to and from Louisiana each year. I have so many thoughts as I travel and would like to put them down while they are fresh in my mind. I decided against the netbook because of cost for one thing, I just can't afford anything extra yet. Reading your post shows that frustration doesn't always end when away from home. A computer is still a computer. I settled for the old fashioned player/recorder. I can get my thoughts down and not spend all of my time trying to type on that small keyboard. I will use it this December when I take my trip. I hope that you continue to have a great time. I look forward to your updates and hope I don't miss too many. Well this is the day I have been waiting for. My daughter and granddaughter are on their way. They will be here this afternoon for a 10 day visit. Everything is ready for them here and I have a busy morning so waiting won't be quite as bad as it would be. I am not a good waiter. I will try to check in once in a while to read but will probably only post on Facebook using my phone. I hope all of you stay well and Eric that you have a safe and exciting trip. Now I have to walk and go buy donuts then attend a meeting that should take most of the morning.

I don't think it is just a Catholic thing. Most people have some lines they won't cross but when it comes to sales pitches I think we earn the right to be rude sometimes. I know when they call on the phone trying to sell they are beyond rude sometimes and that gets my hackles up. We did the time share thing at campgrounds. One time we got a gas grill that we never used and another a black and white tv that we did use in our first camper. Another time they kept dropping the price. Finally from over $2000 it went down to $400 so we bought into it. That was on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Yearly dues always seemed to have extra charges for storm damage. We we divorced I left it along with much more to my husband. He used it a few times then Katrina came along. After it was up and running again it was used to keep the FEMA people and insurance adjusters. When Denis died they started sending me the bill. I gave it to my son and eventually he quit using it and quit paying. Nothing from them so far but not sure it ever got back up. Nearest campground we could use with it was several hundred miles a way. I learned a valuable lesson and understand why Judy would NOT feel guilty. Those places feel no remorse believe me. I would never do the tea thing. I usually just pay for the drink or go to Chinese and get the hot tea in the price of the meal. I love hot tea. My grandson has another solution. He and his wife go out and when they ask about drinks they request water with lemon. They take both lemons and squeeze them into the water and add sugar and share a cool lemonade! Most of the time they bring the water with lemon without asking so really not doing anything dishonest. Well off to my sewing group. Didn't walk this morning. For some reason I just didn't want to. Being lazy I guess or maybe it was because it was humid. Not used to that anymore. Four more days until my daughter and granddaughter are here. I will be on pins and needles now until they get here.

So good to see that you are having such a good time Annette and Eric. I am wondering about the Seattle trip. That is cross country. After DC are you coming to the West Coast then going off to somewhere else? I am sure you will love Washington. I lived there for 10 months and fell in love with the area. I never got up to Seattle, I lived in Centralia. Of coarse I was with Johnny for 5 months of that time so those memories will always be special. Weather here is pretty hot during the day and evenings. I do my walking early in the mornings. Sometimes it is actually hotter first thing because the wind doesn't come up until around 8. The problem is the sun is up high by then and I can't do the sun. It makes me sick. Way too hot still to walk in the evenings. It has been staying up in the high 90s until 9pm. Should cool down for a few days. I want to go back to the bridge to walk and I want to take my daughter and granddaughter out there when they get here. Will keep on the very busy paths. A guard there was on a pave path and got bit by a rattlesnake the night of the 4th at 7:30. That is about the time we usually go! I am pretty sure it was on one of the lesser used paths, at least I hope it was. I will not see anything when I go because I will be too busy watching where my feet are Judy I hope the get your problem with the spasms taken care of. I have muscle spasms in my sides. I have had them for years and they are sure no fun. Sometimes I go weeks without one and others I get several a day. I have to watch how I move. Sometimes just stretching in bed will bring one on or twisting to put the seat belt on. That is one of the hardest pains to put up with. I sure hope they get yours under control soon. KW Judy where is your picture? I miss seeing your smiling face. I know what you mean about shopping with your husband. Two people always spend more money than one. I have been shopping more while getting ready for my daughter's visit. I think I have everything then remember something that I forgot. I did buy a few new clothes too. I seldom shop for clothes but decided I need a few things for going around here and when we go down to the Bay Area. Well my book is calling my name so I guess I will get off of here and read for a while. No rush to go outside. I have been waiting until about 730 to go out. By then there is a lot of shade and a breeze so a few my neighbors go out and so do I. It is always nice to visit. Not much worth watching on tv this time of year.

First of all Judy I really sympathize with you. I know how rough it is to have a problem and the one you are close to just brushes it off. Like Laurie I have my regrets about being impatient with Johnny but for the most part I understood how hard some things were for him. He had a hard time with smells and one cough would send him into an anxiety attack. There were times it was hard for me to be as patient as I should and like Laurie said I would take those times back in a heartbeat if I could. I hope your day goes better today. This is supposed to be a time of celebration, not a time for things that make you sick or stressed. Randy I do envy you. Eric sounds like an exceptional person and I would love to be able to meet him. As he says maybe next time. I am sorry that you couldn't spend more time with them. I know that you work a lot and that was the kind of break you needed. Still can't leave the pouch alone for too long. I was out walking early to beat the heat but really didn't beat it by much. That sun is really high and merciless by 7am. Still I had a good walk going up the hill and back 3 times. Rapid heartbeat and sweat should be a good workout I hope. It is too hot in the evenings right now to go out to the bridge. Temperature last night at 9pm was in the high 90s. I thought about going alone this morning but they are getting set up for the fireworks display that is done from there tonight. I don't want to get into that traffic and mess. I will just have to settle for what I did and walking part way up tonight so I can get a good view of the fireworks. I hope that you are all having a great relaxing and fun day. Judy I hope your lungs have settled down now and the rest of the day goes well. Happy 4th to everyone. We have a lot of problems in this country but it is still a great country and a wonderful place to live. I celebrate our Independence as well as our right to complain about the things we don't like. There are many who don't have that right. So Happy Birthday and God Bless America

Good morning Judy. It looks like it will be another slow weekend. I guess it should be expected sense it is a holiday weekend. I'm glad for you that your husband will get to be home at least for a little while. I worry about you being on your own after Chemo. Do you have any neighbors that check on you? I guess Eric is either getting ready or on the first leg of his trip. I think he is supposed to arrive tomorrow. I know that he will really cause a sensation in his Kilt and Lungevity T Shirt. Publicity should be good for the cause. I cut my walk a little short this morning. I was up early but by the time I had my coffee and a shower it was getting close to 7am and the temperature was already climbing. I just took one trip up the hill and went a little further. We are supposed to go out to the bridge tonight and walk but I already told Geri that if the temperature is 95 or over at 8 I am not going. I can't take that kind of heat. I love going there to walk. It is such a beautiful place and if you go down under the bridge the temperature drops about 10 or 15 degrees by the water. It is the getting there that is rough in the heat. I was supposed to buy paper supplies for our community room so we would have them for our pot luck Monday. I forgot so as soon as I finished walking I left for WalMart. It was already getting hot and you should have seen the people out at that hour both walking and in the store. A lot of people walk here. It is really a good place for walking but you have to be aware of how hot it can get. I saw one time when it got up to 119. The official temperature that day was 114 but that was out at the airport. It is a lot hotter where there is blacktop or cement. I really don't get as uncomfortable in the heat as I did in Louisiana. That humidity just got to be too much for me when I started getting older. When I was younger I would work outside in the yard or the garden in the heat of the day. That is just one of the things I am paying for now I guess. I wouldn't have such a problem with the heat but for my blood pressure medication. Sense I have been on that I can't take as much sun or heat. Sara it was good to see you back. I hope that you are feeling even better and pray that your scans will bring you the greatest news. Annette I admire you for your sense of humor at times when most people would either be throwing things or crying. It is always better to laugh but as they say that is easier said than done. Bud I hope you are having a great day fishing. There has been a lot of fishing going on in the river here. The Sacramento River runs right through town, If you looked at my pictures on facebook you saw it. There is a trout that is native to the river and has been planted in places all over the world. There is also a good Salmon run this year. The season on Salmon had been closed because of a depleted population in the river but this year they re opened it. Judy MI I hope that you are enjoying your beautiful weather and are feeling great health wise. I know that I am missing a lot of you but my mind is drawing a blank right now as to what you all posted yesterday. I did read last night but after my walk yesterday morning and shopping for half the day walking through 4 of the biggest stores in town my mind and body were exhausted So now I am off of here and will tend to fixing some lunch. I bought some ribs and fresh corn yesterday so am thinking that will make a pretty good lunch and salad for tonight. I also have several fruits to make a smoothie with later today. I didn't go out to the farm this morning because I had bought some pretty good peaches and cherries at the store yesterday. I also didn't want to take my 92 year old neighbor out in the heat. Have a good day everyone and Eric I can't wait to read your first post in the states and see some pictures.

Good morning Judy and everyone who will be here later. I am so glad to hear that your chemo went well. I am sure it will be a lot easier on you not having to go so far. Praying it stays easy and kicks that cancer in the butt. I missed a few days here. No real excuse I guess. I usually try to get out early for my walk but with the rain we had day before yesterday I couldn't go. I went to the Senior Center with a couple neighbors and had lunch then went shopping. I didn't buy much just did some exchanges and did my walking in WalMart. The weather has been cool enough so far to go walk on the Sundial Bridge in the evening except when it rained of coarse. That probably won't last because by Monday our temperature is supposed to be 106. When it gets that hot it probably won't cool off enough to walk outside. My daughter and granddaughter will be here in about a week and a half. I am so looking forward to their visit and showing them around so they can see why I love it so much here where I live. Neither of them have ever been here. My daughter was born in the Bay Area but we moved to Louisiana when she was 7 and she hasn't been back to California sense 1985. Here in Redding it is so different from the Bay Area it is like living in a different state. I know that they will fall in love with the area. I hope the weather is not too hot while they are here. I want to take them to a lot of special places and be able to enjoy them myself. This heat will be easy for them after being in the heat and humidity in Louisiana but I want to enjoy showing them around and going for walks and the heat can stop that so praying it will co opererate. Annette so sorry that you have more problems with Marco but am hoping this will give him a real wake up call and set him on the right path for all of your sakes. Eric the clock is winding down. Soon you will be here and I am sure make a real stir in your kilt and Lungevity t shirt. I know you will have a great visit. I envy you getting to see so many places and getting to meet many of our LCSC family. Bud have a great day riding and stay safe. I am sure I have forgotten someone but I see the sun trying to get high and I am off to the shower and I hope a good walk before the sun gets too high. Have a great day everyone.

I came here a few times over the weekend but seeing no one I didn't post. I had a pretty lazy weekend. In fact I have been learning how to relax and be lazy. I never really knew how to do that, Johnny told me that was the one thing I needed to learn. Friday afternoon I lay down to rest for a minute and the first thing I knew it was 4:30. I had slept nearly 2 hours. I just don't sleep in the day time at least not really sleep but only doze. Well that was no doze let me tell you. I think I am just reading too much about Bud and his Bike rides and Eric and his adventures and they are wearing me out. Can't imagine what would happen if I was doing half of what they are Saturday I took a couple of my neighbors out to the farm for produce. We were too late for the early peaches but were told that next weekend the Red Haven peaches will be ripe and they are so good. I did get some really good cherries. Then we stopped at the Farmers Market and I bought some more green beans and some small squash to fry. Green beans were not as good as the ones I bought earlier in the week. I think those had been Contenders because they tasted a lot like Kentucky Wonders. I think I would be willing to pay$5 a pound if I could find Kentucky Wonders. No one seems to grow them anymore. Anyway we had a very pleasant ride in the country,even if it is only about 12 miles from here. One of my neighbors who went is 92 and she doesn't get out much except to doctors and her daughter's house. Annette I love Williamsburg. History was always my favorite subject. I think I watch the History Channel more than any other. My favorite places were always the civil war battlefields. We went to Manasas one time and I was seeing the whole battle in my mind. I could see the Rebel soldiers coming out of the woods and Stonewall Jackson sitting on his horse leading the south into action. I could even see all of the people who had drove out from DC to "watch the war" trying to get to safety when the Union troops were routed. All of that was going on in my mind and my husband turned to me and said" I don't know what is so special about this, all there is is an empty field". He did feel differently when we went to Gettysburg. No wonder we were no real match Judy I must have missed something about why the picture of the calf is there. I enjoyed it anyway. It reminds me of so many that I helped raise on a bottle or a bucket with a nipple. Bud you are getting our weather. Normally this time of the year we are in the high 90s to 110 plus almost everyday. This year we have seen about 2 days over 100 and not much over and not more than a week or two of 90s. Today it is 92 and tomorrow it is supposed to be in the 60s and by the weekend 102. Crazy crazy weather For two nights one of my neighbors and I have gone out to the Sundial Bridge to walk. It is so beautiful out there on the river and usually a good breeze even when it is hot. We went later last night and walked further. From the car to just past the bridge is probably 1/2 mile so round trip it is a mile or a little more. Part of it is down hill then of coarse you have to go back up, so it is good exercise as well. Part of the Sacramento River Trail runs through the park there. It is a trial that runs from Redding up to Shasta Dam about 10 miles. A lot of people walk part of all of and many ride their bikes there. That is not for me. Mountain Lions, Rattle Snakes and even Bear have been spotted on that trial and not too far from town. She is busy tonight and after spending the afternoon walking in the stores on top of my walk up the hill this morning I think I will take it easy tonight. Eric I know you must be getting excited now. When are you leaving to head here to the states? I am getting very excited because in just two weeks from today my daughter and granddaughter will be here. My daughter was born in the Bay Area but has never been up here and my grand daughter has never been to California, in fact just one of my grandchildren have been and she was only 2 at the time. I plan on showing them some very beautiful places. We decided today to have hot dogs and snacks on the 4th. Probably keeping inside because from what they are saying it is going to be scorching by then. That night I will do what I do every year, take my chair part way up the hill and watch the city fireworks display. For a fairly small town Redding puts on a spectacular show and we can look down on it by just walking about 100 feet up the hill. Well I guess I will get off of here now. I think I have caught up on everyone. Sorry if I missed anyone and very glad to see everyone back for the week.

You know that I am still around. I try to stay away but feel lost without my LCSC family. There are so many people that I wish would check in. People who haven't let us hear from them in years.

Sorry Eric I didn't mean to ignore you. That interview sounds so great,. I wish the media paid as much attention here in the states. Maybe then others would do more to help the fight against Lung Cancer.

Wow I didn't expect my water to get so much attention. Actually I started drinking bottled water when I live in Southern California and worked as a caregiver in an assisted living facility. I am by nature a person who does not like the heat. Working those buildings that had no air in the hall ways and most of the people who never even opened a window was bad. Most of the residents were always cold if out of their own apartment, even going to the dining room inside the building they would wear a sweater. I was constantly moving and the heat got to me. I started freezing bottles of Spring water and taking them in an insulated lunch bag. Often in an 8 hour shift I would drink six bottles or more. Most places where I have lived just haven't had good water. I have gotten so used to Spring Water that I can't stomach other water even purified water. I buy water but on Spring Water bottled at Mt. Shasta. That is the one thing that I haven't compromised on because of my fixed income. Judy good to know you are having some good time with your grandson. I always loved to spend time with mine but shopping for clothes for them is not one of my favorite things. My taste is far different from theirs, by about 30 or 40 years I would say Bud hope you get those results soon. You would think those people would know how anxious a person is to know. Just keep bugging them and we will all pray that you continue cancer free. Bruce the weather is just so crazy everywhere. So many needing rain and so many others loosing their homes to flooding often not too many miles apart. MI Judy glad to see that you made it through all of the bad weather in your area all in one piece. Annette I don't know what to say. I know that despite everything you obviously love that boy or you would have tossed him out a long time ago. I am beginning to think that would be the best thing for him. You know the tough love thing. My niece did that to her daughter and she turned into a delightful young woman and a great mother herself. Yesterday I had my left over green beans and corn and while at the store I bought a chicken already cooked. I didn't feel like cooking or dealing with the mess from cooking. I spent the afternoon reading. This morning I didn't rush to get out and walk before the heat. As it turned out it was really nice when I went out and I walked up the hill and back and forth in front, the furthest I have gone sense last Friday when I hurt my back. I have to admit while going up that hill my butt cheeks felt like they were in a vice but I made it. I was determined and really felt better afterwords. Our temperature was 10 degrees cooler today so I spent most of the morning outside. Went to Bible study then came home and read until a short time ago when I stopped to have my supper. Now ready to go sit outside and enjoy the cooler weather. Have a good night everyone and stay safe and well.

Several years ago while trying to find a way to get my life back on track I felt that everything had been taken from me. I was very broken and wasn't sure if I would ever be fixed or even if I wanted to be. One day in our small church in French Gulch we turned to a song in our song book. That song told my story and along with a sermon by a pastor who knew much the same loss I had they not only told my story but helped me to move on past the bitterness and fear that held me in it's grip. This is the words to that song. I hope it can do for someone else what it has done for me. Something Beautiful Something Beautiful, Something Good All my confusion He understood. All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, But He made something beautiful of my life. If there were ever dreams that were lofty and noble, They were my dreams at the start And the hopes for life's best were the hopes That I harbored down deep in my heart But my dreams turned to ashes, my castles all crumbled, My fortune turned to loss. So I wrapped it all in the rags of my life, and I laid it at the cross! Something Beautiful, Something Good All of my confusion He understood, All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, But he made something Something Beautiful Something Beautiful, Something beautiful of my life.

Wow first of all Judy MI Please be careful with that weather. I am not a good person when it comes to violent weather. My nerves were on edge most of the time while living in Louisiana. We get storms here but they don't scare me like the ones back there do. Judy I sure hope you get all of your appointments settled so you can relax a little. You sounded so much better a few days ago. Bud Good luck with the scans. Hope all you ever hear ins NED. Not sure what was going on with Annette. Sure hope all is alright. I walked a little this morning but don't go far. I am afraid if I go to far I might not be able to get back. My back is still giving me problems. So I walked half way up the hill and back to the end of our property about 3 times. Not much but better than nothing I guess. Yesterday I walked in the mall a little but won't do that again. It was 102 and just getting in and out of the car was enough for me. I had to run up to the store this morning for my water and a couple other things. When it is hot like this I go through a case of water in just a few days. I drink 6 to 8 a day depending on what I am doing and how much time I spend outside. Getting that case in and out of my car was fun I decided that lifting it was out of the question so I took bags and devided the case among them so I could lift them. Still very sore but didn't hurt it again. My fresh green beans yesterday were great! Today I am having the left overs with some fresh corn on the cob. Actually it is done and smells great so I am off of here and ready for lunch. Have a great day everyone and please stay safe.

Hello everyone. Busy Air this morning I see. I skipped my walk this morning and went to the farmer's market. There is a small one on Tuesdays about a mile from here. They didn't have much yet. It is still early here for a lot of things. I bought a basket of strawberries and 2 white nectarines. I also bought a pound of green beans. I have them on the stove right now. I have been craving fresh green beans. I just wish I could find Kentucky Wonders. No one seems to grow them anymore. A shame because they are the very best flavored beans. Judy we actually have 4 farmer's markets in Redding and one in each of the small towns around us. On Saturdays we have a big market out by City Hall. On Sundays there is a small one by the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay and the one today is in the parking lot of a small strip mall. Thursday night in the summer is Market Fest. They close off a couple of streets in town and have live music, crafts and a farmers market. I have never been to that one but keep saying that I am going to. I really prefer to go out to the farm. It is only about 12 miles and a beautiful country drive. They have a large variety of fruits and vegetables and they are half the price of the farmers markets. Now that I have my car again I plan on going one day this week. Bud I know what you mean about the exercise. When I walk regularly and feel a lot better. It just seems like something is always stopping me. Either foot leg or back problems. Now that it is hot out I will have to start walking in the mall and big stores. Not my favorite but I would be like Paulette, in the hospital with heat exhaustion. I have come close to that when I lived in Louisiana. I was young and didn't know any better. I would work in the yard or garden in the heat of the day with humidity in the 70 to 80% range and high temperatures. I wouldn't quit until I got so nauseated that I couldn't keep going. Sara it is so good to know that you are feeling better. I hope you keep feeling better and better each day. Annette I am glad that you are finally through that hearing. I know that you still have other issues to deal with but that seemed to be the biggest and most upsetting to you. I will keep praying that things continue to improve. Judy MI I am glad that you are finally sleeping. Sleeping that late is a sure sign that you needed it. Ann I hope that you have a nice long weekend. I know that you are looking forward to all of the activities. Try to stay cool. We are supposed to get up to 102 today. That is hot but I will take it next to your hot and humid any day! Have a good day everyone/ I think I will sit and be lazy while my beans finish cooking. Bunco tonight.

That first year passing seems so strange. At times I know it feels like each day is an eternity then you look back and say " how can it be a year". You wonder how it was possible to survive a year in such pain. I am glad that you found a way to pass it peacefully and to do something that made you feel better. I wish you peace and comfort for the years to come.

Wow we must be trying to make up for yesterday. I checked in a couple of times and saw no posts so sat back in my recliner with the heating pad! I spent the day chasing dust bunnies in my bedroom and in the process did a number on my already bad back. When I get the vacuum out I know I am going to be sore for a day or so. Well add removing the mattress cover to wash it and fighting to get the movers under my dresser so I could move it out and clean and well I guess you get the picture. It kind of scared me this time because it hasn't been this bad in a very long time. I did manage to walk some. I was afraid to go too far so I just walked up and down in front of our property a few times and around our parking lot.That is not much but where I live if you walk at all part of it will be uphill. I guess that makes up for walking further on some days. The wind has been blowing here too Bud. I really don't mind it because it make it a lot more comfortable outside. Even if the temperature gets to 103 like they are predicting the wind and low humidity make it a lot more bearable. A bunch of neighbors gather outside in the evenings during summer. It is a pleasant time to visit if we have that wind and low humidity to balance out the high temperatures. Annette I am praying that all goes well for the hearing and you can rest easy for a while. Judy you sound like me. I can't resist a good cookbook and I am always clipping recipes from magazines. I take them out and look at them but seldom cook any of them. If I do I will just use it one time then start adding my own touches. I just love having them. Right now I am enjoying the fresh fruit. Slowly it is all starting to come in. Those of you who know California know that we have a very productive growing season. Up here where I live there are a lot of orchards. I am so glad to have my car again. Now I can go out to the farm to buy produce. It is so much better and half the price of the farmers market. Besides that it is such a beautiful drive. Bud I don't know how you do it. You work all week riding to and from work then go bike ridding on the weekend. Whatever you are using to give you all of that energy I think would make a fortune just selling it to us on the board Ann I hope that you have a beautiful week. I am glad too that you had some rain. My son and his family spent the week in St. Augustine and he said for most of the time there was smoke in the air. They left yesterday for Pensicola one of my very favorite places to camp. They just opened the campground with full hook ups. It had been closed sense Ivan in 2004 nearly destroyed it all. MI Judy I don't think I could ever get tired of pork. I think if I had to give up all meat but one I would keep pork. It just has so much more flavor than beef and chicken! Sense no one was on here yesterday I took time to look at a lot of Eric's pictures that I had missed. Wow how beautiful Scotland is! I was surprised to see that a lot of the scenery reminds me of places I have been here in the states. The difference is that the places he showed has them all close where here you have to travel not only to different states but different areas of the country to see them all. Well I hope that I have missed no one. I think while I am in the mood and my back is not hurting too much I will wipe down the outside of my kitchen cabinets. I will just do a little at a time so I am sure it will take me most of the day. We haven't heard from Sara in a few days. I sure hope she is feeling better and pray that the chemo will knock out the cancer so she can be NED. Well I am off wish me luck on getting a little work done.

Beautiful pictures Eric. Many of the actually remind me of places I have been to in this country. Difference is that here you have to do a lot of traveling to see them. They are not all in one place. The boats sitting in the mud remind me of some places that I went to in Maine where the have an 18 foot tide range. Riding bikes in Kilts, um! I bet you have girls lined up along side the road on a windy day

Good morning. I slept until 6am this morning. I really made up for the past two nights. Nothing to help you sleep like getting a worry off your mind. Speaking of that I got my car back last night. Everything checks out good. A hose that was causing the problem was changed and they didn't even charge for it only the labor. Clint even got the license and put it on. Now I have wheels again and I don't have to pay him now. I can wait until after my daughter and granddaughter leave and pay a little at a time. Only a couple hundred to pay back. I got up a little later as I said and by the time I took my shower it was past 7:30 before I went out to walk. There was no breeze and it felt hot even knowing it is just in the 70s right now. My biggest problem was and is my allergies are kicking up big time this morning. I didn't take my medicine when I first got up either so I was having a hard time walking. I didn't go very far, maybe a half mile round trip if that much. Still I feel that if I go out and walk even a little it is better than nothing. I guess with the heat on and my car back I will have to find places to walk inside. I hate mall walking but may do it more like window shopping. At least I will be walking some. Yesterday was a really good day for me. I was a little worried still about what they would find wrong with my car and how much it would cost but decided to just leave it go for a while. I had to go to WalMart for a tube of medication. My bottom partial is making a sore on my mouth. Needless to say I am not going to the dentist unless I have to. At least not for a while. I know that they need to be replaced but I need breathing room before taking on another big expense. Anyway that trip takes two buses there and two again coming home. So almost 3 hours to go about a mile and back. I thought about walking it or at least part of it but it is just too soon after being sick. So I decided not to hurry. I waited for the buses and found ways to connect where it cut off some time then took off on another bus to go to the other side of town. I had Chinese food for lunch then came home. It was such a beautiful day. Perfect weather. The sky was that California sky blue that we have in areas were there is no smog. A few small wispy clouds and a gentle breeze. The temperature got into the low 90s but didn't feel that bad. When I got off of the last bus I decided not to wait and ride all the way around so I walked the half mile home from the mall. Not bad at all. I really enjoyed my day. Do you ladies think it is something in the air that seems to be giving us all three a little break from stress? Judy KW it is so good to see you talking about your orchids and enjoying yourself and Annette you sound so much more relaxed. It is about time we all had a little break So today I am going at it big time. Those dust bunnies go and hide when I close the blinds but today I am searching them out. Going to move bedroom furniture and vacuum behind everything and change sheets, wash bedspread and mattress cover. Furniture will get dusted with a damp cloth and those blinds aren't safe either. I think that is where the dust bunnies hide when I can't find them I've got a pot of pinto beans on the stove and they can cook while I work. Later I will make some pan bread, biscuit dough cooked in a cast iron skillet on top of the stove, and smothered potatoes to go with them. I usually make corn bread but I don't have anything to make it with and don't feel like going out. Anyway that pan bread has been running through my mind. Well if I am going to war on dust bunnies I had better get started. Have a GREAT day everyone.

Good morning everyone. I guess I will open the Air today but suspect someone is doing the same thing at this moment. I have been MIA for a few days. Was getting back to my walking and doing some deep cleaning. The weather here is just beautiful. Temperatures did get up to 96 day before yesterday but a good stiff breeze made it feel great. Unfortunately that wind plays havoc on my already miserable sinuses. Never the less I was still starting to feel pretty good until I got the wind knocked out of my sails. I got a very formal letter from management that I was in violation of the rules. I have never had something like that and it made me feel like a criminal. The problem was, what else, my car. It seems that all of a sudden word came down from the higher ups that all vehicles in our parking lot must be running and road legal. My car being on a non op because of failing the smog test was not. I have til the 25th to move it or have it legal. No money for testing or repairs and my daughter and granddaughter coming in less than a month. It all really had me upset. I just didn't know what to do. I called my nephew to have him come with a trailer and pick it up. I was just going to leave it down at his house until I got the money to fix it after my family leaves. Well he started checking and talked to someone who has a shop and does work for him. Last night he picked up my car to take it to the shop. He is going to have it fixed and take care of a few other issues with it. He will pay it and I can pay him back a little each month. You can't imagine what a relief that is. I have to go out on the bus this morning. I need something that they only seem to carry at Wal Mart. Of coarse that is two buses and a couple of hours for one small item. So sense I have been home bound sick and have been craving Chinese food I guess I will take the extra time and a few dollars and treat myself. I almost feel guilty spending that much but I do nothing for recreation. I was supposed to go to the fair tonight but no car to go and my neighbor I usually go with is going out of town. So the price of the fair ticket should pay my lunch. I love orchids but never tried to grow them. I had a green house in Louisiana and had just about every other kind of plant but never orchids. I love to plant things and watch them grow. That is one thing that I really miss living in an apartment. I don't even have house plants because each year I would let my neighbor keep my Christmas Cactus while I was gone. They would bloom while she had them then I would bring them home. Finally I just gave them to her. At one time for about 20 years living by my inlaws we had joint everything. We raised cattle and pigs, rabbits and ducks, geese and I had my chickens. Believe me when I say in the hot humid days of summer in South East Louisiana when it would rain every afternoon, the one thing that you didn't want was ducks The are a nasty creature. They would come running slapping those flat feet in the mud and their own mess. I fed them every day and grew to hate them On the other hand fresh beef and most of all home made butter. Nothing could be better. I watch all of the cooking shows on Food Network. Most of those things they cook are strange but once in a while something looks really good. What always looks best is the food on Dinners Drive Ins and Dives. I think I gain a pound every time I watch that show. Well Ann nice to see you here my friend and I am happy for you for you appointment. You are coming up in the world. Judy KW hope you stay feeling well. Sounds like those orchids were just want you needed to get you up and about again. Bruce I hope that you get some rain and you too Bud. As far as retirement goes I seem to be always busy so never really took full advantage of being retired. Lately I have started to back off a little and try to not say "I'll do it:" every time someone asks for a volunteer. I need to spend more time on me. Maybe that is what having my car off the road was all about. Anette hang in there with the kid. What you are doing is a very honorable thing. Good luck on Monday. MI Judy sorry you are still being a night owl. I have had trouble falling asleep the past two nights, not fun. I was falling asleep last night waiting for my nephew to pick up my car. When I went to bed my sinuses decided it was time for everything up there to start breaking up. I was awake it til well after midnight and up again at 5:30am. Now I have got to run so I can get on of the early buses. I will be gone for several hours even with walking a lot between bus stops. I hope the wind stays up at least a little so it is not too hot. Have a great day everyone and if I forgot anyone I am sorry. Will try to keep up with all of you now that some of my issues are not getting me down.

On The Biggest Looser getting ready to participate in Dancing With The Stars.