A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Coffeehouse 2320: It's still nice and sunny

It does, but the thing about La Nina is they can't really predict too much because it is different every time. But in general it means a colder harsher winter for most all of us.
It is darned near unheard of for us to have rain in October, but he have. And a La Nina winter is usually colder and drier for us.
So who knows. You could even get a California winter, Cindy.
I stopped on the way home from taking Ted to school and shopped for a few items. Today is a statewide Quake Test thing where everyone is participating in emergency procedure stuff. It is quite fun but I wish more individuals would get into emergency supplies in general. I would prefer planning for my own family without worrying about how many neighbors I may have to feed, etc. But I always figure in helping out others too.

Winter preparedness is vital up here, also. We don't have big quakes but we have big storms. The state publishes lists of what people should keep on hand, and what also should be kept in a "grab and go" bin near the front door but lots of folks ignore it all. I've always tried to do well with it, considering Maxi's young age, but I still could do better.

I'm hoping to reduce some of my worries about heating during power outs when we move.

Gotta go check what is cooking on the stove...

Here emergency info and lists are posted everywhere. The beginning of all of our phone books has info and lists. Our home Depots type stores all have lists, prominently displayed, of hardware items to help quake proof your homes. Our local TV and radio stations all have info posted on their websites. So earthquakes, fires and flooding and storms of all types are covered here.
I really work hard at improving our chances of surviving here. But there is always more that I could do.

You know Merme you are right. Here our winters are fierce and power can go out for days yet most people have taken the wood stoves out of their homes....then are in a panic when the worst hits. Sad thing is people in apartments wish they had the wood stoves.

My wood stove heats my house, can cook my food and boil water from one of the brooks or rivers nearby.

Hi Tina..you snuck in on me.

I absolutely love my wood stoves, Tamara.
I also love my generators and stored gas and water and food and.....
They have all saved my behind before and will again.

I remember one year when our power went out(meaning gas stations can't pump gas) and no one had gas stored for their generators. Some people didn't think that far ahead. They had to send an emergency supply of fuel from another province for emergency vehicles.

Crazy question to ask you Tina..Have you ever had snow right in your area before??

Yes, the preparedness lists are plentiful everywhere here also, but people still ignore them. I think many folks just assume it won't get that bad and/or think going to the shelters is okay.

But the winter of 1997-98 when Maxi was two, we had 2 severe ice storms roll through here, causing so much incredible damage, knocking out power all over the state. Some towns were without for weeks. Linemen crews came to us from Canada & from down south and worked like crazy. A senator arranged for a Navy ship of some kind w/ nuclear power to come stand off shore & pump power in. It was pretty much a disaster all the way around yet Maxi and I were fine as our street didn't lose power for more than a few hours. Some of the people w/ generators & wood stoves did better but with that kind of ice causing so much structural damage & bringing down trees and all, not even all of those homeowners were in good shape.

Scary, isn't it, how dangerous nature can be?

It is cold here today. Not so much the temperature, but the damp. br-r-r-r!

Damp here also Merme, ice storms are devastating.

I remember that storm of 1998...worst ice storm in our history. It hit in January right after the holidays. Took out the hydro poles and transmission towers, hopw we never see that again.

Yes, that is the same storm I was speaking of Tam. I thought it hit your area also. I know for certain we never want to see one like that again!

I really can't seem to get warm. I think I am going to turn the oven on to bake some things for dinner.

I bbq'd today..in the cold I'm trying to empty the propane tank.

It is not a crazy question at all. We get snowed on at least once a year where the snow sticks for at least a few hours. And every few years we get some that sticks for a few days. I have been "snowed in" because we don't have plows and such to deal with it and we really are not set up for much accumulation. So a couple of inches shuts us down. (You would laugh at us for that.)
I do live in semi-desert area but in a valley surrounded by mountains with real ski resorts. So driving about a half hour away can have me on ski lifts. I can drive from those to a beach to surf in about an hour or a little better (depends on traffic). I no longer surf and I never really skiied except a little cross country. But I was giving you an idea. Our ski resorts are gearing up for business already but not open yet.

Yup

So strange how different parts of the world are..I can't imagine being able to go to the ocean and then skiing all within an hour of each other. Amazing

So why are you trying to empty your propane tank?
In spite of what it looks like in all of the beach party movies, California's part of the Pacific Ocean is cold water all year long. It can feel pretty nice on a very hot summer day for a few minutes at a time but it can cause hypothermia too. Most of the surfers wear wet suits to keep warm. When I was in the northeast, the summer Atlantic was much warmer in Connecticut, Long Is and Massachusetts.

Good night all. It is Friday tomorrow! I love Fridays.

Good morning, everybody!

It is a cold day here & they are talking about wind chill already. It is 32 degrees but the wind is gusting at 30 mph -- we are getting cold winds from Canada -- THANKS, TAM! They are suggesting coats & gloves & hats this morning! Woolies in October?

We are glad today is Friday. It is also a "dress down" day at Maxi's school. If the kids want to dress down, they bring $2 to give to the Key Club which does local community service such as Thanksgiving meals & support of the food pantry. Maxi is in his jeans & happy about that!

Morning all...

Tina I have to store my propane tank in my shed that carries all my winters wood, better to be safe than sorry

Merme, what can I say? I like to share. It's cool and raining here also..possibility of an appearance of light snow for tonight and tomorrow morning as well. I am thankful my DD and grandbaby have bought me a new wool jacket for this time of year.

Dress down day is followed everywhere here in NB(on Friday's)..the money is gathered and usually given to the IWK(children's hospital), it's a wonderful idea.

Tam would you mind keeping your cold wind up there for a bit? And stop sending it to Merme's house?

how does that old rhyme go?

and oh the north wind shall blow
and we shall have snow
and what will poor robin do then, poor thing?

I don't think that is exactly right. Anyone else remember it?


I've been working hard on my AVON training but there is much more to learn. It isn't just as easy as handing out brochures & taking orders. There is just a ton to learn. To give you an idea of the complexities, imagine if Bill hired you to sell info on this site? Think of how much you'd have to learn to speak with confidence on all the different areas?! That's sorta what is involved w/ doing an AVON business. But I'm working on it! And, trying not to feel overwhelmed.

My cousin in NJ attended a marvelous banquet last night given in her honor. She was elected "Mercer County Big Sister of the Year Award" for her huge efforts in the Big Sister program. Most of her family was able to be present for the ceremony & her inboxes were flooded with congratulations. I am so proud of her! What is so sweet about this, is she not only is a Big Sister through the program but she has spent her life being a great big sister to her own younger siblings as well as kids in other families, such as mine. She's always been a terrific "big sister" to me, as well. One of my funniest/favorite memories of her was on my brother's wedding day in 1968. She helped me put on my very first pair of pantyhose. I was 12 and she was 22. But what I absolutely adored was that she always had a makeup vanity in her room & when I was quite young, I loved to visit her house because she would always let me sit at her vanity and get into all her big girl stuff!

Your cousin sounds like my auntie..she played the 'big sis' role to me also. Very touching for her to be acknowledged for all her work.

Not sure on the rhyme but those poor robins are gonna freeze. I find I have a lot of Blue Jays this year.

Good morning.
Thank you Tamara. It dawned on me after I asked that it probably had much to do with your freezing weather and storing. I also store my spare propane tanks in my woodshed. Two of them are full though.

Yes Tina..apparently a propane tank has been known to 'blow' when temps hit below -40*C (that's also -40*F for you)..your probably thinking -40*F but yup it drops even colder than that sometimes. I take no chances and hate to just purge good propane so I try use it up before the end of November at least.

That makes very good sense to me. I have watched propane tanks, large and small blow up in extreme heat during a couple of our wildfires. Even when you didn't see them, you sure could hear 'em.

Scary huh?

Just got a call, we were waiting on an appointment for the baby with a specialist(she has hemangioma's growing on her body and spreading)and our doctor was concerned, we were put on the 'Urgent' list at the end of August and finally got an appointment...someone else canceled for Monday. Thank God, we'd have to wait forever if this person would not have canceled. Having one Pediatrician Specialist for the whole Northern Province is awful.

Good! Tam, I am so glad Madisson will not have to wait for the appointment. Meanwhile, we'll be praying that things go well for her with this issue. Let us know what the doc says.

Gotta go get ready for dialysis. Gee, I am so glad this is the last treatment for the week.

Have a great day, everybody!

Thanks Merme, I will.

Have a great day also.

I don't even remember asking the question.

I've done that before.

I am glad you got your appointment in for the baby. Good luck on the outcome of this, Tamara.

Hi everybody! I am home from dialysis & have a pan of homemade meatballs cooking on the stove. When they are ready, I'm making spaghetti. It should be delish!

The wind is still howling here... gusting to 30 mph & it is a cold, cold wind! br-r-r-r!

Tam I finally remembered that nursery rhyme...

"The north wind doth blow
and we shall have snow
and what shall poor robin do then,
poor thing?
He'll sit in a barn
and keep himself warm,
and hide his head under his wing,
poor thing."

Snowing just a 30 minute drive from here..plows are out.

I have the baby tonight, I'll try be back later.

Hope the snow doesn't reach you just yet, Tamara. How's Madisson?

I have been so sleepy all day today. I got the kids off to school, came home and ate breakfast, then decided to sit and read while I iced my hip. Just couldn't stay away so I went to bed and slept for about 3 and half hours. Still tired but awake. I did try to get a doctor's appointment but the best they could do was to schedule me on Tuesday morning. Tomorrow we're taking the kids to the Harry Potter Exhibit. It's the last stop of the exhibit in the U.S., and we being the Harry Potter fans that we are, bought tickets. It's going to packed, tomorrow is the premiere, and I don't know how my hip will do (or my sanity in suck a large crowd ) so hopefully there will places for me to rest. I'm sure we'll enjoy it very much regardless. The girls have their last football game to play at tonight and say they should be home earlier than usual, which is nice. We're getting up a little early tomorrow, our tickets are to get in at 11am. Me and the boys are going to get dinner together and then do some grocery shopping. Then it's back to relaxing for me.

I hope you have fun tomorrow, Cheryl.
I laid down to nap but never slept this afternoon. That is not so bad because it means I should sleep well tonight.

I think I know why I've been in a bit of a fog today. I'm working on increasing my sciatic medication to three times a day. My body hasn't adjusted to the change but it will. I was supposed to take it three times a day from the beginning but twice a day was working great. I'm getting a bit more pain again so decided to up it to see if it helped. Tina, I think I took a long enough nap for the both of us. Hope you sleep well tonight. We're supposed to get our first real storm of the season tomorrow night. They're calling for heavy rain and winds. Not wind storm winds but still very wet and windy. I happen to love the wind so it won't bother me at all.

I got the last piece of my costume today. I found leopard print tights so that I can leopard legs to go along with my tail and ears. Lets just hope that my hip heals so that I can run that race. It's a short distance I'm planning so I'm hoping I'll okay enough by then. I guess I'll know more when I see the doctor on Tuesday.

Grocery shopping tonight is as yet undecided. Aros, Joey, and I went out to dinner at Outback steakhouse. I had a nice salad and sweet potato fries and the boys had prime rib. It was delicious but now we're too full to shop. We may go tomorrow afternoon as a whole family, which would be nice for me since then I could have the girls grab all the stuff for me. We may still go tonight though, if Aros is feeling up to it.

I just don't like to go out at night. I can drive alright and things. But I'm such a morning person that nights are hard on me. I do not think my best for shopping and things.

Is anybody home????? I am....finally......

Thank God...

I have the baby so I'm trying to chat while I can..she woke up at 5:30 am to eat and is waking up again. Bare with me

Morning!

Coffee w/ toast & butter here this morning. How are you, Carol? Hi Grandmom Tam!

Tamara--Merme--Good morning.

I am ok--the morning meds kinda knock me some but I am hoping I can get used to them soon---I 3was told I can change them up some but once I go back to my life I cannmot be taking meds all thru the day--you KNOW I will forget them sometimes if I do---

Carol do you have or can you pick up one of those inexpensive 4x a day pill sorters which are arranged by day of the week? I got mine at the dollar store. Mine is handy because it looks like a tiny chest of drawers & each drawer is a day of the week. The drawers slide completely out of the chest so I can toss it in my purse. Each drawer has 4 compartments labeled breakfast, lunch, dinner, bedtime.

You can get used to a medication regimen with time and practice.

I have the pill box like just waht you do--mine is purple.

that is not the problem---I am used to taking pills in the am & night but all thru the day is not on my adjenda now--esp once I go back to being gone thru the day taking MIL all over the place. after a week of so if hte meds do not adjust I will just have to learn how to split them up into the day---and I will have to remember it wil be that simple