A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall coffeehouse 2661

Yes, so far the roads are dry and this week the lowest the temps are forecast to be is 22*F at night. So yay.

I was going to the dollar store today, but Rod waited until the noon hour to go do his errands. So I will stay home again today.

I gave all of my MIL's recipes to my DD. I DO have my grandmother's oatmeal cookie and peanut butter cookie recipes. I use them all the time.

My plan is to buy some petunia seeds next time I'm at WalMart or Tractor Supply. I did go to Bible Study today and didn't have a problem. The roads were fine this morning. Supposed to be 50° tomorrow so I think we're on an upswing.

Sunny let us know how the chocolate loaf comes out. I'd love to try it if it's yummy.

Junie what are you getting at the Dollar Store? I've been looking for some oval shaped, vinyl, waterproof, placemats for my kitchen table and it seems they're hard to find. I think I got the ones I have, that have started to peel after about 20 years of use, at Dollar General, but the ones I find now are polyester, or braided nylon, that say they're wipe off kind but the reviews say they really don't wipe off well. I'm going to have to go somewhere in person - phooey.

Mine is a Dollar General as well. I first had intended to go to get my Valentine's Day cards, and hopefully some candy to give my husband. BUT I am also hoping to get some bottles water for my Keurig. It is fun just to look around too though.

I think the place mats are somewhat seasonal at Dollar General....so IMO one has to look when they first put out stuff for whatever season until you find the ones you want. But then there is always Wal-Mart...but if it were me I think I would see what I could find online there first.

I haven't seen oval placemats in forever, good luck finding them.

The loaf is good but the boiled brown sugar icing is even better.😍

I hope you get out today Junie, I like looking around at the dollar store as well. At least I know if I find something I really like, I'll be able to afford it.

Yes, affording it...that is the thing..so yes, it is nice to know we can actually afford to buy something if we chose.

I hope I can get out as well. The longer I wait the longer my list gets....

I'd like to go to the farmers market in the morning but it's going to be 23° in the morning and it closes at 11:00AM (9-11) so unless I just happen to wake up early I probably won't go. I don't need or want anything, I just wanted to get out, so the weather isn't motivating me to get out. Maybe I'll go to the gym when it warms up a bit. I went today but it certainly won't hurt me to go again tomorrow.

Maybe I'll go by the Dollar Tree and look for my oval placemats.

I love Farmers Markets. But yes, in this type of cold, outside would not be fun. Warmer weather will be here sooner of later.

I think I will go to Wal-Mart tomorrow. I think I would love to just walk around and see what is there.

Our Dollar General was closed when I went there today. They are renovating it to turn it into "DG Market"..a regular Dollar General but with fruits, veggies, and meats. It will take the place of not having a grocery store in town.

I'm jealous of you gals getting out and about. I live in the boonies, going anywhere is an hour's drive away.

The sun is shining, it has been so gloomy all week.

Don't be jealous of me. I may be getting out occaioally but I have no friends here and there is not a lot of places that I can comfortably go to by myself. If I had to do this over I may well not have moved down here. We came down here a lot to visit anyway and I still lived at home by my family & friends and I could drive all over. But as I have said, Valarie needed the help with the kids. If we were not here I have no idea how they could both work and get the kids home after school. There is an after care service there but it costs per child.

Today I will do a Wal-Mart run.

The only place I went today was out in the yard but not for long. Windy and cold. 2 radishes are up. Maybe the rest will pop through now that the snow is gone.

Junie that's the reason I can't make up my mind about moving. It's hard to make new friends when you don't have children in school and I don't have a husband so it's really hard when you're a single woman.

Tomorrow I'll go to church and Monday I'm going into Charlotte to take my phone to the Apple Store and to have lunch with a friend at the Cheesecake Factory. Yummy.

Hope. You have a good time tomorrow, Bestofour.
Eat something yummy for me.
P.S...I like fruit pie best.

So, the cheesecake factory is a real thing? I've only heard of it from the Big Bang series.

I have no friends....but by choice. My mental health couldn't take it, I cut everyone off.

Yes. Apparently The Cheesecake Factory is a real thing. Over 200 locations in 41 states and Washington D.C. (got that from the internet,)

Still cold here even with rising temperatures. At least it is not below freezing. And I think next week it
will be in the double digits over the nights, so yay.

Well, a person learns something new everyday. Have you been to the cheesecake factory?

No I have not. The closest ones are in the St. Louis, MO area. And right NOW that is about 2 hours away.

And yes we do learn things all the time.

Good night all.

Good morning, rise and shine. The coffee is hot and the house needs to be mopped. 😉

We are supposed to see mild weather again this week. As crazy as this sounds, we are supposed to have temps above 32*F by the end of the week. Normally it would be close to minus -32*F this time of year. I can't imagine sitting outside in the middle of February but I can guarantee that if it does hit those temps, I'm getting out the lawn chair.😁

You have a better constitution than I do, Sunny

But yes. This sure is crazy. Here all week it will be in the double digits, close to and over freezing over night and between the 40's and 60's during the day time. Crazy. About half the snow is gone, but we still have a huge pile of snow-crete as my youngest calls it across from our driveway but about 3 feet onto the road. ( From what was on our driveway) Makes it fun to get out of our driveway. But at least a lot better than a week ago.

Now if our heat pump was just working.

Are you having trouble with your heat pump again? There are a lot of problems with the newer ones installed around here as well. Not from the cold, they just won't turn on.

The Cheesecake Factory IS a real thing and the food is very good and they have more than 35 choices of cheesecakes. I always get the original New York. I don't want chocolate or strawberries or caramel which always blows the servers mind. There are at least 200 Cheesecake Factory's in NC and 4 of them are within 3-4 hours of me. The one at Southpark Mall, where I went today, is in Charlotte, which is about 35-40 minutes away and I had to go to the Apple Store, which is in the mall, anyway. I also got an Easter dress while there. The mall was built in 1970 and has always been and still is a very nice mall.

I still have snow in my driveway and in my yard but the high tomorrow is supposed to be 70° so that should take care of it. I was shocked when I looked at the weather because we've been freezing, not according to you two, for several weeks now. If it's 70° tomorrow I'll not only get out the lawn chair, I'll actually sit in it

We are having trouble still with the heat pump. Even though the weather has warmed up enough that it should not be.

I will not be getting out or sitting on a lawn chair until this spring. I promise.

I will be going out to trim down my lirope though this week. It should have been done in January but I figure February is close enough.

Sheri. We got lucky. Someone stopped by with a Tractor and offered to clean off our Driveway..
Made me happy. I didn't want Rod put there doing that.

Bestofour, I like banana cheesecake if it's fresh(meaning not baked), if it's baked I like the plain.

You are all going to think I'm lying but I only have two feet of snow. It snowed so much more but it kept melting. I have never seen this before in February. Mind you, March can come in like a lion and change it quickly.

Junie, what's going on with your heat pump? My BIL just had his thermostat changed on his....and it is only a little over a year old.🙄

I need to get out the local grocery when DH gets home from work, I am out of milk and fresh fruit.

I have no idea what is going on with our heat pump. But it is only 2 years old. Rod is calling the place we bought it from tomorrow. We were not told before this happened to not run it under 30 degrees. But a 2 year old heat pump should still be working, I think so anyway

And I agree, I think Mother Nature is way confused. I think she needs to get her act together.

I like The New York Cheesecake (the plain) best too . But I like it with the sour cream topping. You mix it with some cinnamon, and possibly some powdered sugar..I don't really remember) put it on top the cheesecake and bake it for 5 minutes more. I have 2 recipes. But they are so much work, so I haven't made on in quite awhile..

Is there an ice build up on your heat pump outdoors? The old ones here would freeze up. One would have to shut off the breaker, manually thaw the heat pump with a hair dryer then turn the breaker on and reset it. Thankfully the newer ones work better but they still freeze up.

The newer models can work better in cold temps but they blow the thermostats often. My BIL and SIL`s have them and complain about them constantly. In fact, they installed my older SILs right next to her main step, it defrosts and covers the step in a thick layer of ice.

I hope it is an easy and cheap fix.

I told Rod what you said..he insists they do not freeze up......
Mind you this morning he was saying how he knows nothing about them or how they work. LOL

There must not be any ice, or the repair man would have seen it back last week. But we are calling them again tomorrow.

Washing clothes and doing dishes today. When the kids get here I will ask Heidi to help me trim back my lirope. In her gardening set she is getting there is an actual set of clippers and I want to make sure she will be able to use them safely.

I've always had a heat pump and have never been told not to use it under 30°. What are you supposed to do for heat in that situation? Makes no sense. I've also never had one freeze up but I can see that happening if it sleets for hours on end.

I think I'm going to run the push mower over my monkey grass. I have way too much to try and do with clippers and I can't use the weed eater due to allergies and I don't want to have to call anyone so hopefully I can get it done myself.

Junie, if the outside temps get too cold then the moisture freezes up the coils. My BIL had his new pump repaired twice this winter already. His mobile home is not insulated enough for his heat pump to keep up, he has no other heat source for the pump to kick in a different heat source so it runs until the coils freeze to the point where it kicks out or blows a part.

I do hope it is an easy fix. Tell Rod to do a search online to read a full manual on your specific heat pump, it will explain it all to him.😘

Ah, gardening. You gals are making me jealous. I love to mow grass, I know I'm strange.

I spent the afternoon with my oldest Sil, she is having such trouble with gout. It's sad to see how bad her feet have swelled. I'd go to the hospital if I was in such a condition but she can be so stubborn.

I'd like to know what the manual suggests to do if the temperature is below 30°. I suppose you'll need space heaters or make sure you have wood for the fire place or wood stove. I think the auxiliary heat comes on when it gets very cold here. I'm not sure how cold it has to get for emergency heat to kick in. I should read my manual too.

Sunny, I know someone who has gout and says it's so very painful. Your SIL probably should be checked out to make sure there's no infection involved.

Today I went to morning church, to the gym, then a friend came by and dropped off 2 bird bath bowls because mine had cracked. Said it's a Valentine gift. I said I'll take it.

We have electric heat to use if/when needed..but you need to turn one off and then turn the other on. I am not looking forward to seeing my electric bill this next month. But at least we had a secondary heat source available.

Wow, good for you Sheri, getting new bird bath bowls is excellent. And to have them delivered is the icing on the cake !!!

My DH keeps talking about going to our 4 o'clock Lenton services..but we would have to leave here at 3:30, and that is not possible as Val can't get here after her work by then to pick up the kids. There is a service at 6pm also but Rod does not feel comfortable driving down the interstate in the dark. It was so nice at home. We lived like 2 miles away from our church and the road was just a simple 2 lane one.

We have electric heat as well, we put it in many years ago after an emergency showed us we need a back up plan. It was a big cost because we had to change our power panel to do it but it was so worth it. I'd never get rid of my wood heat though, especially since we cut our own.

I used to have a bird bath many years ago, it broke and I never replaced it. Enjoy the pretty birds Bestofour.

Can your DDs mother in law watch the kids Junie, so you can attend services?

I remember your DH wanting to put in electric heat, Sunny. G!ad that you did. And to update your power grid is never a bad thing.

I had a cheap plastic bird bath, but my DH didn't like sitting water. So it did not make the move when we moved from the country into town back at home.

No the other grandparents cannot. They are responsible for picking up their daughters children from school. To do that would take a 10 person vehicle. LOL...I guess we could arrange for Valarie's kids to go to the school's after care though. Thanks for making me think.

I don't blame Rod for not wanting to drive on the interstate after dark. I don't want to drive on it during the day light hours. It's like a racetrack out there.

I have only electric heat via 2 heat pumps - one up one down - and gas logs which don't put out a lot of heat so they wouldn't help at all. My generator runs on propane gas if the electricity goes out.

I would guess if the cold cracked my birdbath bowls you two would definitely have a problem. My friend has heaters for her birdbaths. I can't complain though because they were way, way older than 20 years old. I used to put water wigglers in them, which wiggled the water around, but the last few years I've used teeny, plastic, fountains I've gotten on Amazon for $10.00. They keep the water moving a bit. I've read that mosquitos don't lay eggs in moving water but I don't think that's true.

I went to my Bible study this morning and it was really great. I'm with a wonderful group this year. Wish we could stay as a group but we're moved around every year. I went to the gym then to eat with a friend. Tomorrow morning before I eat anything I'm going to the gym to have my body composition measured. Even though it's free I'm not sure why I'm doing it because at my age I don't think I can change it.

I think going to the gym might be better for mental health as a person gets older, it's great that you have groups to attend. Hoping you stay together.

Junie, it takes a village to raise grandkids these days.😘

It's after 10 and I can't settle down to sleep, the wind is crazy out there.

Yes, it does take a village. Today one of my Grands invited me to go to their Valentine's Day party today. So I went, picked up my grandson from his class and then we went to the girls room and when their party was over I took them home. Their other Grandma cane in to see them also.
Their mom had brought fruit so at least the kids had something nice to eat.


I wish my local gym were free, or that I had someone to go with. I would not mind to pay if I didn't have to go alone.

I remember school Valentine's parties, lots of fun. I am glad that you got to attend.

I only slept a few hours last night, it is going to be a long day. The sound of the wind hitting the house kept me up all night.

Sorry for the lack of sleep. That happens sometimes.

The kids are here today. I hope it is warm enough for them to play outside some. That is good for them.

Yes, fresh air is great for their immune systems in Winter.

Baking here today, bread and a cheesecake for my mother. (She loves cherry cheesecake to go with any holiday gift). I have enough supplies, I should make myself a banana cheesecake as well.😍

Yes, as they say....while you are in the business, you just as well make yourself a cheesecake.... Yum.

Your Mom is a lucky lady !!

Junie, it's nice you can participate with your grandchildren. I went every time it was allowed and am sad now that it's over. Colt's grade doesn't even participate in grandparents day anymore. It's sad when they age out (at least it's sad for the grandparents. The kids probably think it's lame)

My gym isn't free, I pay a monthly fee but if you have a certain type of Medicare gym membership is free I think. I think it's a Medicare Advantage Plan (could be totally wrong about this) but I don't have that kind. The body composition thing was free. BUT I didn't even get my results. The girl who did it told me she'd send me an email with results but what she sent was info on downloading an app to GET my results. I'm not doing that and called and left a message saying just that.

It's way too cold here for me to do anything outside. Junie did you guys get to play outside today?

Sunny, by mistake I bought some Tylenol PM, which when realized I put in the cupboard, but the other night when I couldn't sleep (and it was due to the wind too!!!) I got out of bed, took one, and ended up sleeping well the rest of the night. I don't usually have trouble sleeping and never take sleep aids but the wind and noise kept waking me up and being here alone I started feeling uneasy and figured which was worse, not getting enough sleep or taking a sleep aid.

As far as my Bible study group, I know for sure I won't have the same group next year. There are around 250-300 people who attend and they move us around every year. They say we're supposed to make new friends, and we do get to know other people, but they're don't become what I'd call friends. We join with our real friends (that we talk to on the phone, or attend the same church, or meet for lunch once in a while) but these new people we only see at Bible study so they're not what I call "friends". I do see though, that if you're in a not so good group, you'd want to change the next year.

If I lived close to Sunny I'd definitely be a REAL friend because I'd be over there eating bread and cheesecake all the time.

Oh honey. We would all be at Sunny's and be there often if we lived closer to her. She often makes yummy treats.

I try to go to as much as I can at the kids school.
I would go to more than I do. But the kids go to a Catholic school, and my DH and I are Lutheran (as is there Mom). If we were all living back in Illinois, a place I call home, I would even drive them to some of their field trips. As it is, I just do not know where many of the places are.

There was no Grandparents day at the kids school this year yet that I was told about. I always thought they had them in the fall. We will see if the school has one yet in the rest of this school year.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all !!