EXCUSES, EXCUSES......
1.  MY SON IS UNDER THE DOCTOR'S CARE AND SHOULD NOT TAKE P.E. TODAY.  PLEASE EXECUTE HIM.
2.  PLEASE EXCUSE MARY FOR BEING ABSENT.  SHE WAS SICK AND I HAD HER SHOT.

IT WILL BE COLD AND CLOUDY ALL DAY.

TRISH.......I'M GLAD YOU ARE ENJOYING YOUR TRIP AND THE FOOD.  GOOD FOR YOU.

DEVONNE.....GOOD FOR YOU, TOO, CLEARING THINGS UP AND REORGANIZING.  IT NEVER SEEMS TO END, DOES IT. 

I AM HOLDING STEADY AT 230 LBS WHICH MEANS I'VE LOST 25 SINCE JULY 9TH.  I'M STILL TALL EVEN AFTER SHRINKING A BIT SO ITS NOT AS BAD AS IT SOUNDS.   ITS GOOD BUT I WANT TO LOSE MORE.  I SEEM TO FAIL IN THE EVENINGS.  I CRAVE A SNACK AND EAT ONE.  I SHOULD TAPE MY MOUTH CLOSED. 
TODAY IS MY USUAL DAY OF REST.  I DID SOME LAPS THIS MORNING AND I PUT AWAY THE LAST JIGSAW PUZZLE THAT WE FINISHED AND TOOK OUT ANOTHER TO START.  I REALLY WANT TO READ AND FINISH MY LATEST BOOK.  I HAVE ONLY A FEW LEFTOVER TURKEY BITS LEFT.  I MAY SAVE THEM FOR SOME SOUP THIS WEEK.  TODAY I THINK I WILL MAKE PASTA SHELLS IN MEAT SAUCE.  ITS BEEN AWHILE AND I ENJOY THAT FOR A MEAL OR TWO.

SEWING IS ON MY AGENDA BUT DON'T KNOW IF I WILL GET TO IT.  I HAVE RECORDED ENOUGH DISNEY MOVIES TO MAKE A DAY OF IT AND I NEED TO GET THEM WATCHED AND CLEARED FROM MY TV.  IT SEEMS THERE'S ALWAYS TOO MUCH TO DO.  NOT HEAVY STUFF BUT STILL TAKING TIME.
I GOT SOME OF MY BATHROOM CLOSET RE-ORGANIZED BUT STILL HAVE 2 SHELVES THAT NEED ATTENTION.  THEN THE BATHROOM WILL BE IN GOOD ORDER AND WEEDED OF NON-USEFUL ITEMS.
IT SURE FEELS GOOD TO HAVE THINGS IN GOOD ORDER SO I CAN FIND WHAT I WANT.

STAY SAFE MY FRIENDS.  HUGS FOR YOU ALL.  QB S 

Last edited by quiltbea (11/16/2025 10:34 am)

Today’s lunch with F and C will be Olive Garden. I love the soup, salad and breadsticks. 

I have so much Christmas fabric! I had Manda pull a bunch for pillowcases for them all. She also pulled fabric for her family’s bowl cozies. 

Sandra, congrats on the weight loss! And the closet cleaning- I swear stuff multiplies in closets. 

 

Linda, I am so sorry about Darrell's cognitive decline. Think of you often. 

A lazy day for me, but I'm still accomplishing a few things. Laundry is done, kitchen cabinets and under sink are organized. I have a huge load to donate. I used one of my large lawn bags and now I can't lift it. Will redo it later today so I can carry it to my vehicle.

I couldn't find my two discs that go with my Ninja blender. I'll get one of my sons to check the higher shelves...whoever visits first, lol. They are $35 each so I hope they are up high.

Trish, glad you are having fun. The days fly by & you're getting off the ship before you know it. Putting the luggage out by the door on the last night was always "the end"....it's over until the next time! Is that what y'all do?

Yesterday I gathered up a bunch of books to donate. I always flip thru the pages before putting them in the donate box. On the very last book, the Miami Mediterranean Diet, I came across some money. I thought it was $10, but once I pulled it out, it was $50. It's the most money I've ever found. It was very creased, so it had been in there for awhile. 

Last edited by DownSouth (11/16/2025 2:03 pm)

STOP THE PRESSES!!!
1.  THE SPACIOUS HOME OF JUDGE AND MRS. CLAYTON WAS THE SCENE OF A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING LAST EVENING WHEN THEIR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, CAROL, WAS JOINED IN HOLY DEADLOCK BY MR. FOX.

COLD AND SUNNY HERE TODAY.

DEVONNE......GOOD NEWS ON THE WEIGHT LOSS.  YOU MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.  HOORAY!

WE HAD EXCITEMENT OVER OUR WEEKEND.  MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR FELL AND BROKE HIS HIP SATURDAY NITE.   UNFORTUNATELY NO ONE COULD HEAR HIM CALLING FOR HELP.  I TAKE OUT MY EARS IN THE EVENINGS AND USE CLOSE-CAPTIONING COMPLETELY AND SO DOES THE LADY ACROSS THE HALL FROM HIM.  IT WASN'T UNTIL THE NEW GAL DOWNSTAIRS TURNED OFF HER TV FOR THE NITE AND HEARD HIS CALLS THAT HELP ARRIVED.  NO PHONE HANDY APPARENTLY.  THE FIREMEN HAD TO BREAK IN THRU HIS DOOR SINCE IT WAS LOCKED.  HE WILL HAVE SURGERY TO FIX IT TODAY.  POOR GUY.  OF ALL THE FOLKS IN THIS BLDG (24 OF US) HE'S THE LEAST LIKELY TO GET HURT.  HE'S YOUNGER, AROUND 70, IN GREAT HEALTH AND VERY ACTIVE. 
AS FOR ME, I WEAR MY PHONE ON A  LANYARD AROUND MY NECK SO EXCEPT FOR IN THE SHOWER, ITS WITH ME AT ALL TIMES.  AND I KEEP MY DOOR UNLOCKED.  WE ARE IN A SAFE BLDG WHERE KEYS ARE NEEDED FOR THE OUTSIDE DOORS SO NO ONE CAN JUST WALK IN.  IF I NEED HELP I WANT THEM TO HAVE EASY ACCESS. 

AS FOR TODAY, I PLAN TO SEW, JIGSAW SINCE I BEGAN A NEW ONE YESTERDAY, AND READ ALONG WITH MORE TV.  I CAUGHT UP WITH MY DISNEY MOVIES.  I ONLY SHED A FEW TEARS WATCHING BAMBI BUT GOT THRU IT EASY ENOUGH.  I LOVED THE ARISTCATS.  ADORABLE STORY I'D NEVER SEEN BEFORE.  FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER THEY WILL BE SHOWING XMAS MOVIES ON FREEFORM CHANNEL.  

I MADE SOME SHELL PASTA WITH MEAT SAUCE YESTERDAY AND WHILE I WAS COOKING I HAD 2 NEIGHBORS DROP BY.  ONE RETURNING SOME CONTAINERS, AND ANOTHER ASKING ABOUT OUR FALLEN NEIGHBOR.  I HAD TO SHARE AND THEY WERE GRATEFUL.  WHICH MEANS I ONLY HAVE ENUF LEFTOVER FOR LUNCH SO I WILL BE MAKING A POT OF TURKEY RICE SOUP FOR SUPPER TONITE.  
LIKE DEVONNE, I AM TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT.  MY EVENINGS ARE MY DOWNFALL.  I GET THE URGE TO SNACK ON SOMETHING BECAUSE I AM VERY HUNGRY.  I AM HOLDING STEADY WITH A LOSS OF 25 LBS BUT WANT TO DROP LOWER, AND SLOWLY.  I REALLY NEED TO STOP BUYING ANY SNACKS AT ALL TO KEEP ME FROM CHEATING.  I MAY TRY IT NEXT SHOPPING DAY.

WISHING YOU ALL A GOOD DAY.  HUGS, QB S 

Last edited by quiltbea (11/17/2025 10:05 am)

I did my PT, but didn’t use the treadmill, because I knew I’d be getting some steps in. I put away the Halloween gnomes and pumpkins from the mantle and Hearth, and got out the Christmas ones. Ralph hung the Christmas wreaths on the front and back doors. I put away things that should have been put away weeks ago. Now my knees have had enough.

Sandra, good vibes for your neighbor! Congrats to you and Devonne on your weight losses! I’m still plugging along, losing it slowly, which is the best way. Just make sure you get your fiber, so you don’t get plumbing issues! 

I planned to sew this morning, then realized how close Christmas is! So I redecorated instead. Janet, do you decorate for Hanukkah? Is that even a thing? (Decorating, not Hanukkah)

Not much going on here.  Howard made his umpteenth trip to both of our banks.  Always something that requires their in-person help.  At least he/they got it straightened out...and I didn't have to go.  However, now he's on the phone to the bank who we have an A/W with who has let us know two months in a row that our payment had not been able to have been accessed...so it's late.  Then, our bank says there was not any record of them trying to get payment.  All this is so upsetting and how I hate A/Ws, but that's what businesses want to do to get their money right away--set it up on an A/W!  Every day's a holiday... 
 
I stayed home and finished (in three days) ML's birthday present book.  I know, how tacky.  But, it's a book I've wanted to read, The Lost Letters of Martha's Vineyard, since being captivated by a newspaper review of it.  Think I mentioned it a day or so ago.  It was an easy read and IMHO a good read and who knows how long I'd have to wait to get it from her with the holidays coming and so forth.  Author is Michael Callahan and I highly recommend it.  I could not tell her as I took off the jacket and kept it pristine but I'll tell her.  She won't care...

Oh, QB, how sad about your neighbor.   Is he the owner of Oscar?  There should be some way to gain entry to your apartments for safety's sake, I would think.  Guess you don't have a front desk or anything like that with a master key.  As always, you're prepared.  I do take my phone when I shower because when Howard is upstairs, he'd never hear me.

Trish, by fresh oysters do you mean raw?   I ate them when we lived in TX, to please a friend who insisted I try just one.  Surprisingly, I liked them. But, the little cans or even bulk ones we can get here, no way...who knows how long they've been harvested?     

Supper is pre-cooked BBQ ribs.   Yippee!
Indy

 

Last edited by indyanny (11/17/2025 2:51 pm)

We're back, washing - 3rd load - on and the first is already dry!!

LOL INDY yes, in the shell fresh, and I thoroughly enjoyed them for 3 days in a row!! So so good, I love them like that. What a mess with the payments, have they not updated your cards??

We have eaten and drunk too much, the food was very good, we all decided we couldn't go on that ship again, it's staterooms are lovely, the staff were great, but the common areas way too crowded. The theatre would hold about 300 - guessing, it could be more - and there are 3000 passengers. The buffet was always very crowded and the staff trying to push big carts and avoid passengers. Also the Atrium area - midships on 3 levels on all the ships I have been on was only 1 level and very small. So quite disappointing, but we had a great time regardless. 

THERESA WOW decorating already, and making the pies, I'm going to try the pumpkin pie this year or maybe the pumpkin slab cake I saw a recipe for, she does great recipes and they work well Nagi Maeshaeri (think that's how you spell it).


You too HOLLY!! Well done on the weight loss AND decorating I have a long way to go, I need to get cards done this week, currently cooking my big fruit pudding/cake for our end of year party on Saturday night.

SANDRA the poor guy, awful to think he was there for so long. Sending good thoughts his way, hope he has the surgery and is back and recovers quickly. I guess your turkey dinner went well. We ate lots of prime rib and beef tenderloin last few days, I am a little scared to get on the scales! We did do a lot of walking though.

DEVONNE you are doing so well with the weight loss, so are you HOLLY too funny about the books for both DEVONNE and INDY. You sound like Megan and me!! I would read hers and she would read mine!!

We had a beautiful sail in to the most beautiful harbour in the world - we think anyway
It's a gorgeous day and it was a gorgeous sunrise, we sailed into the harbour around 5am, I got up to watch and we docked before 6am. We got off and found our bags, short walk to the station to get the train, and Pete picked us up.
I did get a small necklace with 4 charms for free, you had to go pick it up in the jewellery shop, Julie also won a small prize there of the necklace with the charms so she didn't have to go each day. The shop was right near where we had dinner each night, they gave us a big table for 12, instead of the 2 tables for 6, So we often sat there well into the second sitting as they didn't need the table again.

I just got a delivery of 2 dresses and a top - for some reason known only to my silly self at the time I ordered one dress in a size way too small, it was a size 4 and my size is 14. I have the order form, so don't understand why I didn't pick up the mistake, now I have to return it, and I was hoping to wear it to our group lunch on Sunday! At least the other 2 fit.

I need to get the last load of washing out, it just finished. Pete had bought fruit, veg and some steaks for us to come home too, we had milk already, the food was very much appreciated, didn't need to go to the  store, the avocados he bought look good, so does the salad. 
 

LOST IN TRANSLATION........
1.  ON A MENU OF A SWISS RESTAURANT:  OUR WINES LEAVE YOU NOTHING TO HOPE FOR.
2.  IN A HONG KONG SUPERMARKET:  FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, WE RECOMMEND COURTEOUS, EFFICIENT SELF-SERVICE.

ITS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS OUT THERE BUT ITS COLD   40S DAYS, 20S NITES.
ITS COFFEE MORNING BUT I AM LATE.   WOKE UP LATE AND SHOWERED LATE.  MAYBE I CAN CATCH SOMEONE STILL THERE AFTER POSTING HERE.

TRISH.......SO HAPPY YOU ARE HOME SAFE AND ENJOYED YOUR TRIP OTHER THAN THE SHIP ITSELF.  COMING HOME IS ALWAYS A BUSY TIME.

JANET.....THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE,  FORGET HOW TO DO SOMETHING AND HAVE TO LOOK IT UP.  SOMETIMES EVEN MY HAND-WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS THAT WERE GREAT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND WHEN YOUNG, ARE TOUGHER TO FIGURE OUT NOW.  THE INTERNET IS A MARVELOUS INVENTION.

HOLLY.....YES, ITS TRUE ABOUT FIBER.  I GOT OFF-KILTER A BIT AND HAD TO WORK TO GET MY PLUMBING IN GOOD ORDER AGAIN.  CUT OUT SOME OF THE THINGS I SHOULD KEEP ON MY MENU.  I AM IN GOOD ORDER ONCE AGAIN BUT NOT LOSING AS I DID.

JUDY.....I PAY BY CHECK FOR EVERYTHING BUT A VISA BILL THAT I HAVE TRANSFERRED EACH MONTH, BUT I DO THAT MYSELF, ITS NOT AUTOMATIC.  I ALSO CHECK MY BALANCES EVERY DAY TO BE SURE I AM SAFE.  I HAD AN ISSUE YEARS AGO WITH AN AUTOMATIC PAYMENT THAT I COULD NOT GET FIXED FOR MONTHS.  THAT TAUGHT ME NOT TO TRUST TECHNOLOGY COMPLETELY.  I LIKE THE HUMAN TOUCH BETTER.

CHERYL......I, TOO, HAD PLANTAR MANY YEARS AGO.  THE SHOTS DID NOT HELP MORE THAN A COUPLE HOURS.  EVENTUALLY IT STOPPED ON ITS OWN SO I AM GRATEFUL FOR THAT.  BUT I UNDERSTAND YOUR PAIN.  IT WAS TERRIBLE AT THE TIME.  HUGS FOR YOU GIRL.

I DREW A SKETCH OF LITTLE DOG NEIGHBOR OSCAR (HE IS TOM'S, NOT THE FALLEN TONY'S DOG)  SO I COULD WORK ON A WH BUT IT JUST DOES NOT LOOK RIGHT.  I WILL HAVE TO STUDY HIM MORE CLOSELY BEFORE I DO THIS PARTICULAR WH.  HE HAS THE CUTEST EARS, LIKE A PAPILLON (BUTTERFLY EARS) AND I CAN'T GET THEM RIGHT.  MAYBE A DIFFERENT POSE WITH FACE TURNED MORE TO THE FRONT.  I'LL WORK ON IT.
A FEW THINGS TO DO TODAY.  I MADE THE TURKEY RICE SOUP LAST NITE SO HAVE LEFTOVERS.  THAT WILL KEEP ME FROM STARVATION BUT HAVE TO THINK WHAT TO MAKE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.  
MY SON DOES NOT SHOP THIS WEEK.  HE CLOSES ON HIS NEW HOME ON FRIDAY AND THEN THE MOVERS COME ON SATURDAY TO MOVE HIM IN.  HE SAYS HE'S TOO OLD TO BE MOVING FURNITURE HIMSELF, AS ARE HIS BUDDIES THAT DID IT FOR US FOR MANY YEARS.  I DON'T BLAME HIM.  LUCKY HE'S A MINIMALIST AND GOT RID OF SOME FURNITURE SO HE COULD BUY NEW STUFF FOR THE NEW HOUSE SO THE MOVING BILL WON'T BE BAD AT ALL.  IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, GET PROFESSIONAL MOVERS.

THAT'S IT MY FRIENDS.  STAY SAFE.  HUGS FOR ALL, QB S 

Last edited by quiltbea (11/18/2025 10:44 am)

Good Morning.    We're having a rainy day.  Something I love once in a while.   Howard is "prowling" around looking for something to eat, I guess.  He resents that word (prowling) so of course, I hit him with it on occasion.   At least now, he gets his own food other than  supper.  Something I never expected.  I ask about breakfast every morning, but he'd usually rather wait and eat a bit later.  Supper tonight is going to be corned beef and veggies.   

Forgetting 'how' happens to me, too.  U-tube is so great for refreshers AND new skills.  
I sometimes look at some of my old projects or quilty things and have no idea how I did them. 

Trish, I would be right there with you with those fresh oysters.  Do you like them with cocktail sauce or something other?  Glad to hear, inspite of the differences, you enjoyed your cruise...enough.  And, how nice of Pete to prepare for your return like that.  He sounds like a peach!  (and a good uncle)  From pics and TV shows, I agree that Sydney Harbor is the most beautiful in the world--the bridge and the opera house...  I love to tell people that I have a  long-time, dear  internet friend in Sydney.  

Had my ordeal with plantar f. many years ago.  Took over a year for it to resolve.  
So painful and crippling and, at that time, expensive for the handmade orthotics, but they helped.  Later on, I had a pair of over the counter ones that worked just as well.  Trusting you'll do better, Cheryl, and it won't take so long...

Off to start the corned beef.  Have a good day 
Indy




 

Last edited by indyanny (11/18/2025 11:33 am)