Christian Photographers Community

Amanda, please know that we care, and will be thinking of you and Wendy and praying for peace and comfort for you.  It's the greatest of comforts knowing Liz knew Jesus as her Savior and that you will see her again in heaven in just "the blink of an eye!"  Thanks for sharing the photos.  She always mentioned you and your mom with such love!

Larry, good to see a longer post from you today!  We're with you in thoughts and prayers every day.  You're an inspiration!
Yes, our Pioneer Communications is doing away with the cable system, so it's being forced on us to choose their streaming TV, with its higher cost, or another source.  This You Tube TV seems like it will be okay, but only can be used on one of our TVs.  The others are so old they don't have the necessary hook-ups for the Roku or Fire stick, etc.  Always something! 

Weather forecast was for us to get 8-12 inches of the white stuff last night and today.  So far, we've had probably about a half inch of rain and barely enough snow to cover the ground.  But Garden City and Dodge City are getting the snow!  I'm going to pretend I'm snowed in,anyway, and go to my studio and paint!

I just got some problems with Amazon straightened out; returning some books and getting credit for a damaged shipment.  Glad that's done!

God bless us, every one!! 

Jackie from UK

Amanda:  Peace be with you and all of the family.  We will miss the news from Liz and do hope you will continue to check in with us seniors.  Thank you for taking the time to notify us and I am sorry for the loss of your sweet grandmother. 

Larry:  I am so happy to "see" you this morning.  Take a lot of naps to refresh yourself and good luck with your new tablet.  Special hug to Pat as I know she feels better if you feel better. 

Yesterday, it snowed all day in Tucson and there are just clumps of snow we can see now.  It will be good for moisture and water.  This has been such a cooling of temperature since we arrived this year and even last fall so we have only sat on the patio very few days. Must not complain - we lived in Minnesota and the children grew up there so they know what a real winter is like - my cousins post pictures of huge piles of snow.

I made French Onion Soup last night, just enough for two bowls and used a sourdough bread with a white melting cheese for the melting in the broiler.  It came out rather well.  Today, I have to plan some up and coming meals for relatives and friends who arrive and stay short visits. 

Janet:  Pretending it is snowing, tsk tsk tsk. 

[size=3Jackie:  that is a lovely card[/size]

Beautiful card, Jackie!

Greetings Amanda  We send our condolences on the passing of your Grandmother.  Though we are probably the latest people to post on the site and did not correspond with your Grandmother, we feel the love for her through all the messages in the past few days.

You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Ellie & Kelly

Hi Everyone. Just checking in today.  Pat did take me to get a haircut yesterday, which I really needed.  I took my shower this morning and that really wore me out so will not make any individual comments today.  Thank you all for posting.

Greetings Larry   Good to see yout post. 

We did wind up getting a lovely, wet 4-5 inches of snow yesterday.  The wind blew, so a lot of it is in drifts.  But the sun came out and started melting it almost immediately.

Larry, thanks for posting.  Just do what you feel you can do.  We understand, and we love you.

I spent an hour talking to youngest daughter this afternoon.  That very rarely happens!

I'm very sleepy.......

Greetings Everyone    We have a lovely sunny afternoon here on the Isle of Man, not as warm as the United Kingdom.  There temperatures are about 63F, while here it is 52F.  A good day to all of you.

I'm checking in this morning while waiting to see if Darrel decides we're going to the gym. He's trying to fix one of our toilets, and not sure if he will have to replace it.  After spending two hours taking the tank off, replacing all its 'insides' and putting it back together, it leaked, and he found a hairline crack in the tank.  Dried it out for several hours, patched the crack with silicone, put it back on--still leaks. Now he has found one part was wrong, so I'm waiting to find out if he can get that small part here or if it means yet another trip to Garden City.  Sigh..

Ellie, I'd like to visit the Isle of Man sometime.

Darrel wants to go to Normandy, and we got a really good special on a trip called "Paris to Normandy" so we're going to be leaving on March 17th!  Short notice, but less than half the usual price and shouldn't be a strenuous trip.  Have to get in the travel mode soon!

I never did go paint this weekend!  But I did read two books!    Nice to be our own bosses, isn't it?


I'll come back later to see if Larry has checked in.

Hi Everyone. Taking a pass today and just checking in.

Rebot:  It is unusual weather is this country too - the UK must be really feeling warm this time of the year. 

Janet:  We have been to Normandy taking the train from Paris (which was safer at that time) and spending an entire day.  Don's uncle fought under General Patton all the way.  He never spoke of the battles. 

Don's cousin and wife are arriving here for a one-night visit.  I have lunch prepared and we will go out for dinner.  I will fix an oatmeal hot meal in the morning.  They are from Minnesota and have been though some terrible winter weather.  Here, the snow has melted and it is cooler - so beautiful to see it on the Catalina hills. 

Larry:  Nice to see your post. 

I have been to the small fishing village of Honfleur, Calvados, in northern France's Normandy region. I went there with a German friend who worked for our local John Lewis store, I - we went with the John Lewis staff, just a three day trip by coach, we travelled under the Euro tunnel. Gosh must have been a good 15 plus years ago, doesn't time fly?

Hi Everyone. It is another cloudy but warmer day here.  Our calendar is clear for today so will just be taking it easy.  Pat may take my Samsung Tablet back to Costco today.  I didn't like it at all and so Saturday I order an new iPad, which I will use at my easy chair.  I have an older iPad that Pat is using upstairs so don't anticipate any problems getting it set up as there is a lot of similarity with the iPhone.  It is suppose to be here Thursday or Friday.  I did empty the dishwasher this morning for Pat, got the ice pack to her back when she got up and made her coffee.  I told her that was my work for today.  I have read all of the postings since I posted yesterday and it seems you all are keeping busy.  Otherwise just checking in for today.

Greetings Janet  I think you would enjoy visiting the Isle of Man.  I certainly enjoy living here after a long time in London.  Someone asked me what is the time difference on the Island?    Although it is the same as UK time, I thought they believed it was an hour behind UK .  My reply was the time difference is 50 years!  As the Island is how I remember London in the sixties.  Small shops, like we used to say a butcher, a baker and a candlestick maker.  We don't many of the big stores, but small family run shops.

Greetings Carol  Another sunny and milder day on the Island.  A high here today of 58F, but that is 10F lower than the record February temperature recorded today in the UK since records began.  Near 69F.   Unusual differences in temperatures in the UK in the past few years.  A year ago it was freezing weather with snow.  It has to be global warming!   

Greetings Larry  You cannot go wrong with an iPad, I have both an iPad and an IPhone.  I have hubby to blame for getting this thoroughly unmodern lady, now  as the young people say - a techy person.  Take it easy Larry.

Larry!  How nice to see that you felt up to doing a bit more today.  Now enjoy a nice rest.  I do have an iPad, rarely use it, as I'm having password problems everywhere I turn lately. 
Unlike Ellie, nobody has been able to turn me into a techy person!  (Unfortunately.  And not for lack of trying! On my part or theirs.) 

The Isle of Man sounds like a lovely place, the kind of place  I would really enjoy. I'm not a big city type of gal, for sure.

We had to drive to Garden City again yesterday to purchase a new toilet.  Poor Darrel worked so hard attempting to fix the old one; had the tank on and off 3 or 4 times, changed out all the insides, patched a couple seeping cracks with silicone, and still it was seeping water around one bolt holding tank to bowl. So we have a new one sitting in the garage, ready for when he feels up to tackling it again.

We had the surprise of another snow last night, this one not predicted.  Really fluffy, not very much moisture and only about one inch or so.  This is the first "real winter" we've had in years; and I'm enjoying it!

I've done my errands and chores, and am planning to paint some today. If I don't get sidetracked again!

<Mike and Mary left late this morning.  We had such a wonderful visit - I like all of Don's relatives.  They all grew up and lived close to each other having many family gatherings in 'Duluth, Minnesota.  While we were visiting, we checked the weather cam on the canal and bridge to Lake Superior.  It was frozen solid. 

Rebot:  Your home area sounds charming and friendly.  We don't care to go to London anymore - and Don went so many times for business in the UK and in other countries.  Too much change for us to handle anymore.  I hope your home area keeps on being small and friendly. 

Larry:  It sounds like a plan - keeping the iPad.  Do you think of having someone come in a few hours a week to help in the kitchen, etc?  I think about help between visitors - daughter is arriving soon and I have doctor appointments, grocery shopping and laundry right now. 

Today, the weather is nice and we may be able to sit outdoors for a bit.  Rain is expected when daughter arrives Saturday - of course. 

My relatives in Minnesota are sending photos of the heavy snow - cousin's daughter is a nurse and her vehicle was stuck in the driveway - a heavy truck.  They are really tired of winter. 

Hi Everyone. It is going to be another nice day here getting up to about 70 degrees this afternoon with a chance of a few showers.  Yesterday afternoon our minister visited us for 30 minutes or so, which was very enjoyable.  Early yesterday evening one of our friends from Sunday School brought us a meal plus.  She brought over enough food to about 3 meals and it was good as we had some of it for our supper last evening.  I was shocked yesterday afternoon when my new iPad was delivered as hadn't expected it until tomorrow or Friday.  I also got the new case and keyboard that I had ordered for the Samsung Galaxy Tablet.  Unfortunately, those two items will have to be returned as neither worked with my new iPad.  It took a couple of hours to get the new iPad up and running but that includes the automatic backup of all of the apps I have running on my phone.  These were all stored in the iCloud.  I was a happy camper when I found I will be able to work my daily crossword puzzles on the new iPad.  If I made one step forward yesterday morning I took at least two steps back by 8 pm when I went to bed. I guess I overdid yesterday morning, although it wasn't very much. I think I was a weary as I have ever been in this siege and am short of breath this morning.  I do have a 1:45 appointment for my routine pacemaker check at 1:45 this afternoon.  Scott is off today and will take me as I am going to need to use the transport chair this afternoon.  I am taking another pass today on making individual comments to the fine postings we have here since I read yesterday and posted yesterday.

Hello all,

I just wanted to express my thanks for all your kind words about my dear Gramie (Liz). Mom and I are missing terribly but take comfort in knowing she's at peace and no longer in pain. Mom has now inherited her lovely cat Teddy and he's become a wonderful companion for her.

Her obituary went in the local paper today and thought I'd share with you all. Click HERE to view.

Take care.
Amanda

Greetings Janet  As I lived in London, it was life in the fast lane, which on the occasions we have been there, hubby does not go in for busy cities or towns.  And as he is a Manxman, one thing Isle of Man people enjoy is the slow pace of the Island.  And I have to say, so do I.

Greetings Carol   You are right about the Island, it is charming and friendly.  People here have time to stop and talk with you, ask after your family and help if they can.  Living in big cities, some people cannot make time for a chat as they appear to be busy most of the time.  And in a hurry to get where they are going, even it is going to do some shopping.

Greetings Larry  I did not think Samsung accessories would work with Apple products.   Don't try and do too much when you feel a bit better.  Take it slow and easy Larry.

Greetings Amanda   Splendid that your Gramie's cat Teddy has been inherited by your Mom.   And cats do make super companions.   Thank you for sharing Liz's obituary with us.

Larry, I was surprised to see a rather long post from you today..but always pleased. Do take it easy now.  Glad you got an iPad that you like!

I am just home from my last of the four session watercolor classes.  I really enjoyed them, and think if I keep practicing I may finally be able to paint looser, or as they say, "more painterly!"    I posted pics on Facebook if you want to take a peek.

Amanda, thanks for the link to Liz's obituary.  It was very well written.

Ellie, it's good you're getting used to us and commenting more.  We're a pretty friendly bunch, much fewer in number than previously, but the ones who do post become special friends to each of us.  So I hope you feel very welcome.

Jackie, how are things with you?

It was 9* here this morning, with a 20 mph wind out of the North, so chill index was at -10* Brrrr!  It's a little warmer now, I think our high was to be 25.

Carol, I hope your weather cooperates and you can sit outside for a while.  I love to be outdoors, but not many days this winter when that was feasible.

My back is hurting, need to rest in my recliner a while before time to go to church.  See you tomorrow!

Greetings Janet   This is a splendid place to join friends each day.   Or as hubby told me, we are all cyber friends.  

How about this quote regarding friends.  Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget.

Janet...
...thank you for asking, when I cant think of a reasonable answer I say what my late father often would have said..." I am so, so..." in other words, neither good nor bad is the best way to explain it...

We went to our weekly mid day bingo - raffle social yesterday...When the readings were read out, one senior ( we are all seniors who attend this group ) had just returned after a two or three week absence from having an operation, another member we were told was absent due to having a stroke...

Ellie...
...yes I would like to think we are all cyber friends on our Christian site...of course if we could all meet in person it would be " the icing on the cake, " so to speak...

Amanda...
...thank you so much for relaying your feedback on reading our words...I know your " Teddy " is going to receive lots of hugs - cuddles and kisses....
Just read grandmas best friend of over 70 years is called Hathaway, Hathaway is also my surname, what a coincidence...

Jackie ( Hathaway )

Good morning Ellie and Jackie!
 (Or whatever time of day it is over your way!  Good to chat a bit with each of you.  I have found that in even the smallest exchange I often learn something about a friend that I never forget.

Last night at our church dinner, a lady I have known for several years bought one of my books, then she came and sat beside me and told me that she is dealing with health problems.  She has a form of ALS, for which there is no cure, and no treatment, really.  She has been to many doctors and now has some medicine to start taking today, but it will not cure, nor really treat the disease, only slow it down, if all goes well.  She's ready to go to heaven, whether soon or later.  But of course her concern is for her family who are not ready for her to go.  She has two grown daughters.

My eldest sister, Doris, isn't doing well.  Her cancer numbers are down, but at her appointments on Tuesday they found several "active lesions" on her bones, brain bruising from her recent fall, and then at the radiology one, found her oxygen level dangerously low!  She was put on oxygen immediately, then sent via ambulance to North Platte, Neb. hospital.  When they left her, she was hooked up to a lot of tubes and wires.  So I'm very concerned about my sweet sister. 

I finished the set of watercolor lessons, there were 4 classes, one per week, yesterday.  Hated to see them end, but think Mike will be back, as he enjoyed teaching us.

It's just past 5 AM, I couldn't sleep so decided to get up and do something more worthwhile than tossing and turning.    I have many nights like this, which often causes me to need a nap in the afternoon.

I have been watching and hoping for an update on our dear Pat Scott Halbach......

Later, Peeps!