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Morning Devotional...




There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18




Recommended Reading
Romans 8:15

Every verse of Scripture was written for a specific purpose and application. Yet so many verses have a broader application as well. Take the apostle John's oft-quoted words in 1 John 4:18, "Perfect love casts out fear." John's immediate subject was God's judgment. His point was that those who are secure in God's perfect love have no reason to fear His judgment. So God's love casts out the fear we may have about our sins. God's love in Christ has paid for those sins. The heart that is full of God's love has no room for fear of God's judgment.

How else might this truth apply? Think of all the times we are tempted to fear: We fear the future—but God's love surrounds us and our future. We fear loving someone who has hurt us—but God's love gives us assurance of His blessing on our obedience. We fear finding our "place" in life—but God's love assures us we are created and called according to His purposes. The more we rest in the knowledge of God's love, the less fear we will experience in any area of life.

If you are experiencing fear of any kind, ask God to show you how His love can take that fear away.





The chains of love are stronger than the chains of fear.
William Gurnall

Hi everyone.  It looks like today will be a repeat of yesterday and the last several days as it is going to probably get to the century mark temperature wise.  I had my first South Carolina peach of the season this morning and it was so good and juicy I had to stand over the kitchen sink to eat it.  I also had a big dish of watermelon and the nutrition bar and nutrition drink for breakfast so I am ready for the day.  I will be going to Sunday School and Church alone as Pat isn't yet up to going and sitting on those hard chairs in Sunday School and the pew in Church. However, she is beginning to feel better so maybe in a few more days she will be OK.  Nothing else planned for today. 

Jeanne, thanks for the fine devotional for this week.  I hope you are feeling better each day.

Janet, glad the wheat harvest is progressing and the yield is better than they expected. 

Carol, I think many states are fighting water wars.  I know that Georgia has one with Florida and Alabama and there is a risk the water could be cut off for Atlanta as the source is owned by the Corps of Engineers.  As far as I know we have no water problems here in North Augusta or Augusta.  I sure don't envy you having to face the terrible traffic in the Denver area.  The lack of traffic here is one of the great benefits of our move to South Carolina. 

 

No church today - we are picking up a friend and going to a memorial today. 

It took us an entire day to recuperate from what should have been an hours drive (but turned into heavy traffic to almost a two-hour drive) on Friday night.  My back is acting up so just doing exercise will help that problem soon.  News today is the increase of auto theft - I blame the drugs and all the people moving here -

Changes all over - but we are secure in our knowledge that we are loved. 

Hi everyone.  Today will be another 100 degree day.  We had quite a bit of thunder last evening but no rain so I had to turn on the sprinklers for early this morning.  Today will be a full day for me as I have three medical tests starting at 11:30 and the last one at 2 pm.  At least they are all in the same location, which is less than 20 minutes from our home.  I will have a Carotid Duplex Scan, the an Echocardiogram  and finally a Cardiac PET Scan.  I can't have anything to eat this morning nor take my normal medications until after the tests.  Pat had planned to so with me but I told her yesterday I didn't want her to go as she still isn't over the pains in her thigh and shoulder.  No reason for her to sit in uncomfortable chairs for three hours or more. 

Hi, friends, Larry, best wishes for you as you have the tests. Yes, Carol, I was falling left but grabbed something to break that fall, so it was a twisting type of break. Jeanne, I enjoyed the devotional thoughts for the week.

May God grant each of us the strength we need for this day.

Ruth Ann

Larry:  Thinking of you and your long day. 

The memorial yesterday was quite different than any we have attended previously.  There was no mention of "Faith" or any of what we normally expect.  We knew it would be so - as they never replied to any time one of us mentioned prayer or church.  In the quiet time - I said a prayer for her anyway. 

No sleep last night and it just makes me so groggy.  Today, I set up my sewing machine for finishing a flannel quilt and used my old Singer to make a bag that will hold a warm or cold gel-filled sack for Don's arm pain.  Hope we can always be near a microwave or freezer.  We are starting a list of what to take on our drive to Minnesota - always jackets and hats for sure.  Mosquito repellent - 

Here, we have two big fires in the state.  Two campers arrested for being careless in shutting down their fire.  I believe 5,000 people have been evacuated - very windy and hot here.  Apparently, they were not Boy Scouts. 

Hi everyone on another soon to be 100 degree day here in South Carolina.  It has been a very busy morning after waking at 1:30 am and not being able to go to sleep.  I continued to rest in bed until 5:30 then got up and shaved and showed and then laid back down and read my email and the message boards on my iPhone.  I got up and did my normal morning chores plus a couple of others.  I just got back from a quick trip to Walmart to pick up more medicine for Pat that wasn't ready when I picked up some yesterday for her. 

My medical tests went well.  The Echo and ultra sound tests were done back to back and I didn't even have to move other that what was required for the test.  Then I had to wait may 45 minutes or so for the PET scan of my heart, which took about 45 minutes.  The worst of the test was having to keep my arms above my head for 30 minutes and my right arm went to sleep and I had to ask the tech to help me lower it.  It will be a couple of weeks before I will hear the results of the tests when I again see the Cardiologist. 

After I finished the tests I went about a mile further up the road to Shane's BBQ and had good meal.  I also brought home a pulled pork plate for Pat's evening meal.  Since it was after 3 pm when I ate I certainly didn't want any supper. 

I am expecting to have a quiet remainder of the day working this morning on projects in my office, then taking the afternoon and evening just resting and relaxing.   

Ruth Ann, are you now going to be using a walker to get around with to avoid another fall like the one you had that gave you the spiral fracture.  God does grant us the strength we need for each day. 

Carol, it is really quite sad to go to a funeral or memorial where God has not been a part of the person's life.  Good for you in saying a prayer. Hope you got your flannel quilt finished.  I save on the news the pictures of the two guys who set the fire.  What a needless tragedy caused for so many by carelessness.  Didn't one person lose their life in the fire or perhaps that was in California.   

I heard that a firefighter lost his life but never found out where that firefight was happening.  We are to have a lull and then it swings into wildfire time again.  The wind is always an issue. 

Taking a break from working on a stain on a shirt, cleaning and polishing cabinets & all the little need to be done issues.  Today was Amazon Prime day so there was a huge discount on a cheap but pretty watch.  Even to be delivered tomorrow.  What a time we live in- Amazon sends me ads on things I have barely glanced at in their sales.  As I understand it - there is a spy on us game on Pokeman.  They are tracking where we are - and where we go.  There should be some control.  It is bad enough that Google puts their political agenda into things we search - talk about BIG BROTHER in our lives. 

Larry:  Sorry about your loss of sleep night.  It is so exhausting to try to get back to a normal night.  Our good neighbor isn't doing well this week and he must decide on further chemo by the end of this month.  We are feeling sad about our friends. 

Hi everyone.  Ditto on my weather reports from the past several days.  It is hot.  My big activity today will be to go to lunch with Pat and Scott at Ruby Tuesday's.  We have a coupon for buy one entree and get the second of equal of lessor value for free.  That is too good to pass up and will save Pat cooking tonight.  Scott will probably go back home and sleep for awhile and then come out later in the evening. 

A few days ago I got a new replacement window for my office and this morning I looked up how to remove and replace it and decided to do so to save Scott doing it this evening.  I got the old window out and started to put the new window in and found it was the wrong size.  So back to the drawing board to return the new window and have them order the right size.  I don't think I will try to replace it myself again as it was too heavy.  I have the watering done in the back and the inside chores pretty well done.  Pat may want me to make a trip to the church to take some neck pillows she has sewn to be stuffed if she isn't up to going herself.  If so I can run a couple of errands I planned to do tomorrow when I go downtown.  I did get a good nights sleep last night.

Carol, I saw about the Amazon Prime Day but decided not to waste my time as wasn't really looking for anything.  Walmart and several other stores apparently were having deep cut sales also on some items at the same time.  Sorry your neighbor isn't doing well.  The decision he has to make isn't an easy one.

Hi everyone.  Another ditto day as far as the weather goes.  Our Weather Station said we got to 104 degrees yesterday.  It was a very busy day as I got out early and took care of 5 errands.  When I went to take the wrong sized window back they realized they had made mistake in ordering and said they would order the correct window and told me just to discard the window.  I measured our windows and it won't fit any of them so have it on the street for city pickup this morning. 

We enjoyed a nice lunch with Scott at Ruby Tuesdays and later last evening he came out for awhile.  Nothing out of the ordinary on tap for today.  I will go to coffee and then the Wisdom class and then spend the rest of the day taking it easy. 

I wish this thing would stop kicking me out!  Then, if I don't get email notifications, I forget, and then have to come in via the back door, and then read however many days' worth I have missed.  Much easier to just stay up!

Larry, it has been HOT here, too!  Not as bad today, though.  They are still harvesting wheat, then there is some rye to cut.  I'm ready to start praying for rain again, to cool things off for a while!

Carol, sorry about the traffic in your area.  I do not think I could deal with that.  I have never lived in or even near a city, and don't enjoy driving in heavy traffic at all.  I hope you and Don are feeling better.  It would be nice if you could just stay home and take it a lot easier for a while!

Ruth Ann, hope you are doing better each day, too!

Pat, where are you?  HOW are you?  You are sorely missed in here!

Today is our granddaughter Abby's 19th birthday!!    How is that even possible?  She only wanted a family dinner tonight, and requested spaghetti, since that will be easy for her Mom.  She asked me to make wilted lettuce, a favorite of hers and Beth's, too.  Next week, Abby and I are going to have a day out together and go get manicures and pedicures, which is what she asked for her birthday.  I'm thrilled to get to spend time with her!  She will be leaving for college in only a month! 

I want to get stuff ready to go to Hugoton, as I want to go down early, so I can help Diane if she needs me.

Jeanne, I enjoyed the Thoughts this week!  Thank you.

Blessings to each of you!

Hi everyone.  It will be another very hot day today.  Yesterday it registered 106 on our patio and the sensor for the Weather Station is in the shade but late in the afternoon we had a 5 minute shower and it cooled things down.  Today is the day for the housekeeper to come.  I think Pat and I will go out for a hearty lunch and then we can keep our kitchen nice and clean today, not that we keep it dirty.  That will give Pat a break from preparing a meal.  She is feeling better, although not completely recovered from the pain in her leg.  Yesterday she went by herself to Aldi's and to the GNC store yesterday morning.  It has been quite a few days since she felt up to driving.  We will spend the rest of the day taking things easy as it has been a busy week, at least for me.

Janet, it sounds like you could use some rain although wonder if you had any last night.  The Midwest is certainly in the line of many bad storms this year.  Had to picture little Abby now turning 19 but time marches on.  She sounds like a very sweet young lady with a bright future ahead of her. 

No, Larry--no rain here yet! But we hope soon!  It is really hot, but not as hot as last week.

We had a nice time with Abby and the rest of the family last night, with lots of lively discussion, as usual.

Today we are taking the Lincoln to the dealership for its first oil change, which is free.  It rolled over 10,000 miles on the way to Hugoton last night.  Those went fast! 

Another horrible terrorist attack in France last night.  What a sad world we live in today.  I pray we will gain the wisdom to know how to deal with these problems, so that we can leave a better world to our descendants.  Only with God's help can that be done.

Darrel is on the phone, getting more than frustrated because of a misunderstanding.  Some people just do not listen! 

I hope you are all having a good day today!

Just returned from a little brunch with 4 others - celebrating a birthday with church friends - a group of five.  The one I don't know very well really should be in a semi-care home.  She needed my help in paying the bill, was so mixed up it was sad.  The really sad part is that she is main caregiver to a disabled husband.  We were at a great French bakery and cafe.  Yum

Janet:  Our Elise was born the same year as your Abby:  I am cutting fabric next week for her quilt and just finished washing and ironing all the fabric. 

Hi everyone.  According to the forecast we should only get to around 92 degrees this afternoon with a 50% chance of rain.  It looked like we would have rain last night but we didn't get very much. 

It was so hot here yesterday that we decided not to go out to lunch as planned so spent the entire day at home.  Today may be the same but we will just have to see what transpires. 

Update on my broken window--the lady at the lumber company called me yesterday and admitted she had made an error in ordering and had ordered two of the size for the other person and now was reordering my window unit.  I thought that was nice of her to call me as she could just have ordered the new window for me and said nothing.  I asked if the other person could use the window I have that doesn't fit but she told me just to discard it, which I will do next week. 

Janet, when I checked our weather I see that the middle of the country may experience more really bad storms.  There is a big white space on the map over the Midwest and I have never seen that before and just hope it isn't the coloring for severe storms.  It doesn't take long to roll up a lot of miles on a car.  Even though we don't drive long distances around here it seems the gas tank empties very quickly.  I am with you on the concern for our country and the world.

Carol, while larger groups are nice, a group of five or six allows everyone to participate in one conversation.  Sad about the friend who you had to help pay her bill.  I hope she has some help with the disabled husband. 

Hi everyone.  We have a very nice morning starting out at 72 degrees. The high is suppose to be about 92 with another chance of heavy rain this afternoon. Yesterday afternoon we had a 30-40 minute deluge of rain with about 1 3/8th inches falling and then later another half inch fell.

Scott's phone died a couple of days ago and so Pat wanted to give him back the phone that our DIL had.  It is a smart phone and she really wasn't using it.  So last evening, before dark, we made a quick trip down to where he works and gave him the phone. We also got to spend a few minutes with him as they were not busy and he could take a break.  This afternoon, after we have lunch, we will go to the phone store if it is open and get her a new basic phone. 

We will go to Sunday School and Church this morning.  I am once again bringing the Devotional reading to the class.  Our Church sponsors a youth camp each summer where the youth spend a week and do repair work for people who are not able to do it themselves nor can afford to have it done.  This is done in cooperation with the local United Fund that pays for the materials needed, such as shingles or bathroom fixtures.  The youth will be in the church service this morning.  There are several of these summer camps over the State.  The youth stay at the church during the night and have their breakfast and evening meals there.  Our fine minister has organized and directed several of these camps over the years. 


 

Good morning!  Sorry I missed yesterday in posting--I didn't even turn my computer on at all yesterday!

Our Fair week is beginning; yesterday was the parade, free hot dog feed, tractor pull, pet show and whatever else.  I went to the parade and then the hot dog feed, where I was blessed to visit with a lady I have known a long time.  She told me she was driving home during one of those big rain storms, hit a place where the water was across the road, hydroplaned, went into the ditch in water up to the headlights of her car, and immediately the water was under her feet.  There was a KDOT car with lights flashing on the other side of the water flowing across the road, so she flashed her lights and honked her horn, and the man came over, she rolled her window down and he asked how he could help her.  She said, "Please help me get out of here!"  He thought she wanted him to pull the car out, but she said, no, I want to get myself out of this car!  So after she found her purse and stuff, she pushed the door and he pulled and they were able to open it.  The water rushed into the car, of course.  The upshot was, the car was totaled, as water got into all the electronics of it, the interior was ruined, etc.  Wow!  And the next day, there was no water at all in that ditch, when her son went out to bring the car to town. 

Darrel and I were coming home from Garden on Friday afternoon, it started raining really hard, and there were a couple of times we hydroplaned a bit, so her story really hit home to me!  We made it home safely, praise God, but how easily things could go wrong!  They had from 1 to 2 inches of rain north of town, but we had only 1/2 inch here at the house.  Sorry, too long a story! 

So, Larry, that's the kind of weather we had in our immediate area on Friday!  It was pleasantly cool yesterday for the fair activities, and the air coming into my windows this morning is cool, too.  But the wind is blowing again today.

So nice that you were able to help Scott with a phone.  My iPhone is acting strange again, refusing to take photos.  I tried to take a few of the parade, got nothing.    Nice that you are getting the broken window problem resolved, Larry.

Carol, I am not a quilter at all!  So Abby won't be getting a hand made quilt from her Grandma.    I got her the book Jesus Calling for Graduates, and she said she had already received one earlier, so I struck out on that.  I ordered it much earlier, but it was out of stock!

Hey everybody!  Come talk to us!  Larry, Carol and I are getting lonely in here.   

Happy Sunday all!

We had to close the house and turn on the A/C - can't wait until the temperatures go down a little.  The walk-out basement is much cooler and that is where I do my sewing but can't stay down there all the time.  I am so allergic to everything this year - for the first time ever - that walking outdoors has not been on the agenda.

Janet:  what a fright for your friend.  Thank goodness someone was there to help her out of the car.  I love the book "Jesus Calling" and now reading it daily for 2nd. time.  You are a great grandma to the children!

A group of six of us went out to celebrate a birthday with breakfast at a French cafe/bakery on Friday.  The couple who own it are from France and they have set up a donation area for soft toys for children plus money for the French survivors in Nice.  Their good deed was mentioned on local news - I thought it was nice to hear something good on the news for once.

Carol, how fun to go to a French bakery!  And the kindness is great, too.  Hope your allergies settle down.  People here are having fits with allergies, too, so much pollen, chaff, dust and other stuff in the air!

Hello everyone, I am here from Oregon to wish you a very blessed Sunday.  Our town is celebrating 113 years this weekend, There was a parade yesterday and the Furry Friends group took part in the parade, Here is a picture that Corey took as we walked by. Corey is Keith youngest son. Their maternal grandfather was also in  the parade riding in one of the cars. He is 101 yrs old today.
Please pray for Jeanne, and Jerry  Abbott. There daughter in law was killed this past week in a kayaking accident.  They were celebrating her birthday and their anniversary which was this weekend. She was a beautiful Russian lady who married their son  only 5 years ago.

Hi everyone.  Another hot day here.  This has already been an interesting morning.  I had to have some routine blood work done for an appointment I have on Friday so went to the Hospital Lab at little after 7 am.  As I was standing in line to check in I glanced around and there sat our son, Scott.  He was shocked to see me and I was to see him.  When we finished at the lab we stopped at the place I have coffee on Thursdays and had a nice omelet breakfast.  It was quality time totally unplanned. I brought half of my omelet home for Pat's breakfast. 

We will go to the AT&T store next this morning to get Pat a new phone and then I plan on attending my normal Monday noon meeting.

Janet, are you judging the paintings again this year?  Did you make any entries into the Fair?  Your friends was fortunate to be able to get out of the car. The car can be replaced but she could not have been. Glad you and Darrel make it safely home in the heavy rain.

Carol, it seems that a lot of people are having trouble with allergies.  I take an OTC allergy pill every morning but it still seems my nose runs all the time or it is stuffed up.  Pat has that book "Jesus Calling".

Marilyn, I think your town was established about the time that North Augusta was established.  However, Augusta is a very old city going back to the 1700's.  I liked your new picture and see that Freckles was taking you for a nice walk. So sad when one so young perishes in accidents.

Well, the Republican National Convention has begun.  What will happen is anyone's guess, I think. 

Larry, how nice that you and Scott got to enjoy some unplanned quality time together!  I hope you find a phone Pat will enjoy.  I continue to learn more about my iPhone, and the more I learn, the more I enjoy it.  Funny how that works! 

I love John dearly, because he is so loyal and so good to Beth.  But sometimes he makes me want to pinch his head off!    We went by to see about Beth yesterday after church, and I said, "John's not here, his car isn't here."  But when I went in, he was there with Beth.  I asked a couple of questions, and learned that when they brought me home after the movie last week, he was stopped by a Kansas Highway Patrolman, because the van had a headlight out.  I asked him if that was the same one that was out months ago, and he said yes.  He said he bought a bulb but it wasn't the right one, and then he "forgot about it."  He got a ticket, but not for the headlight--for driving on a suspended license!!    That is his New York license!!  We took him to Garden once, and I know he's made at least three more trips up there trying to get his Kansas license, and every time, they said he needed one more piece of paper!  He's been here a year in June!  He had 90 days to get his Kansas license!!  So now he has to go to court next Monday, don't know what may happen there, then he will have to take both the written and the driving test to get his license!!  I said, "Well, John, your procrastination caught up with you!"  He said he guessed so.  The last time he went, they wouldn't accept his Social Security card, because it was laminated.    That is nuts!  I told him to call the SS office in Dodge City first thing this morning and ask for a replacement card.  Did he?  No, he forgot!!I went back to take him a Kansas driver's manual, and told him to call them RIGHT NOW1  So, when I left, he was on the phone with them.  And Darrel has taken the van to the auto place, as he couldn't get the bulb out that John put in--wrong bulb!  Sigh..........

Larry, I won't be judging at our fair, but will enter four paintings.  And I won't get to judge at Hugoton, either, as we will be gone to Darrel's 60th HS reunion in Colorado Springs during those days next week.

I want to watch the 700 Club, talk to you later!

Hi everyone.  The day is starting out with bright and sunny skies.  We will likely see in the mid 90's this afternoon.  We just escaped a severe thunderstorm late yesterday afternoon at was just North of us.  It does look like there was a little rain during the night but no storm. 

Nothing on the schedule for today, which is welcome after the busy day yesterday.  The crew has just arrived to lay the cement block on the foundation for the new home across the street.  The cement mixer just arrived and there are five or six men over there to do the job. 

I did get the results of the blood tests I had yesterday and my PSA count was up less than 1/2 point and my cholesterol is well under control.  So I was pleased with the results. 

Janet, John will face the consequences of his inaction and hopefully will learn from the experience.  He is a grown man.  Sometimes some hard lessons have to be learned but that is how we grow.  Darrel has me beat by three years as to high school graduation.  I am pretty certain our high school no longer has alumni banquets as age has taken its toll with no new classes graduating after mine in 1959. Maybe you will be able to judge at the Fair again next year. 

Marilyn, I like smaller towns - you can walk down a street right in the middle - sometimes.  Sad about your friend.

Janet:  The CO group walked out of the convention last night.  Now, what good is that and how rude?  The people voted for Trump - just like they have voted for others years on end.  I am miffed that one good speaker was there for the first time and the PBS spoke right over him. 

Larry:  Nice numbers on your PSA!  Good for you.  A cement mixer - now the noise begins.  You may want to buy ear plugs. 

Today, I should call the county weed control over several varieties in the ravine.  We have daily weather alerts - it is getting old.  Errands this morning and off to the fabric shop for one more cotton piece. 

Larry, I find it enjoyable to watch new houses being built, but the noise could be not so pleasant.  Yes, John is 58 years old, and I wasn't here to do his thinking for him before and it's not my responsibility now!  It will likely be a pretty costly experience for him by the time all is said and done!  I called this morning to ask about his call to SS,and he says he has to go to Dodge City, bringing along his NY drivers' license as photo ID, before he can get a new card.  More time and expense for us (taking him over there).  I just hope he does learn some responsibility from this.  I wonder how he made it this far!  I think his two sisters helped him a lot while he was near them.  We can't really do much for him until after we get back next week.  I guess it will all shake out, one way or the other.  In the meantime, John will get lots of exercise, walking back and forth from his apartment to the Care Home.

Carol, Darrel told me about the Colorado group walking out of the convention.  Some people just do not like to be defeated; they always think they should get their own way.  We were really disgusted at the news people blathering on and on and not letting us hear the speakers we were interested in hearing.  I think that is so rude!  As if we don't get enough of them every day of the week!

My work at the fair begins today, with taking of entries from 3 to 7 PM.  Tomorrow I will assist the judge, by telling him or her which entries are in which group, etc, marking on the cards what place the entry won, etc., and then getting everything displayed.  It's quite a job, and I'm so thankful for my assistant Thelma, who is great with all the paperwork, which I dislike doing!

Darrel found out the van has a more serious problem than the light!  The bulb is the right one, but the module under the hood which runs all the car's electronics is going out, so that means another trip to take it to Garden City to the Dodge dealer for repairs.  Sigh.....

Oh, my!  The hateful vitriol of this campaign is just awful.  I can only pray for God to clearly tell each of us who to vote for, bottom to top!  Even in our local and district races, we are seeing so much more strife than usual.

But, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

Yesterday was Darrel's and my 35th anniversary!  I am so grateful we are both still here, have good health and are together!  Thank you, Lord!

I am so disgusted with Trumps bullying  that I changed my registration to Non affiliated . I can't stand Trump, I can't stand Bully's period. having been the target of  too many bully's. He is utterly disgusting to me.. I will not vote for either Trump or Hillary. that said I will now move on to better things.

Good morning from the left coast. I am really hurting this morning. I was really hurting Sunday after walking in  the parade on Saturday. I was OK yesterday and back to hurting today it is my lower back. I took a 15mg Meloxicam already and I'm thinking about rubbing on some of the Cannabis  and Peppermint  massage oil to get some instant relief.

This afternoon Freckles and I go to the library for the Children's reading hour. There were only 5 kids there last month with no others waiting their turn. they usually ready for 20 minutes then another group comes in, during the school year there are more children coming to read to the dogs. We usually take 3 or 4 dogs only. Last Month freckles didn't have anyone to ready to her until almost the end when the kids changed dogs.

Hi everyone.  Another clear day is underway on this Wednesday.  The cement block layers at hard at work already this morning after a long day out in the sun yesterday.  They likely will finish there job today and the next phase of the project, will begin.  Late yesterday afternoon we went down to Pizza Hut and I had the Tuesday night buffet and Pat had their chicken wings, which she really liked.  We came home and watched an hour or so of the convention and then decided we had heard enough speeches for one day. 

Pat has an appointment to get her hair cut this morning and I have nothing on the schedule.  This being Wednesday we look forward to some time with Scott probably this evening.  I don't know whether Pat will want to eat at home this evening or go out for a good late lunch with Scott.  However, I am guessing it will be to stay home and eat this evening. 

Yesterday I found a customer service number to call about my failed garden hose.  I spoke with a very pleasant man and he sent me the requirements for replacing the hose under the warranty.  This involved cutting off both ends of the hose and taking a picture of it showing the fitting so they could prove it was their hose.  Secondly I needed to submit a picture of the hose failure, which I took several days ago.  Lastly they asked for proof of purchase, which I had in my Amazon order archive and just copied it.  I submitted they these photos along with a brief description of the problem.  Within thirty minutes I heard back from the man that he was putting in the order to send me a new hose.  The hardest part was cutting off the ends of the hose but I accomplished it.  So that problem should be solved. 

Carol, did the Colorado delegation come back on the floor and participate in the vote.  It sounds like they wanted to take their ball and go home.  Actually the noise from the building of the houses hasn't been bad.  I enjoy watching the progress and since this house is across the street and in full view of my office windows I will see more of the progress than the two built beside me.  I will be glad to see this house completed as they will end the building on our street.  There are still many built lots available behind us but we can't see them and they are far away enough that we hear little as they are being built.

Janet, I hope you enjoy your work at the fair, even though you won't be judging this year.  You will get to enjoy all of the entries as you do your various tasks.  Nice that you have a good helper to do the things you don't care to do like the record keeping.   Perhaps all of this will be a learning experience for John.  Someday he will not be able to have you and Darrel to help him pick up the pieces.  Happy Anniversary, although a little late, to you and Darrel.  It sounds like you two have made a good team these many years.  I hope you are able to enjoy many more anniversaries. 

Marilyn, was sorry to read of your painful start to your day yesterday and hope you got to feeling better.  Hope what you did to alleviate the pain worked.  Do the kids do the reading to Freckles or do you read to the children with Freckles at your side or feet?  I don't usually go to the library but last Wednesday I checked out a hard back book and the library was quite noisy with many children there for their story hour.  It was a nice sound and good to see so many children getting an early start at the library. 

Our A/C stopped working yesterday so we hope a  repair person will call back today.  We did have a cooling storm in the afternoon and apparently 3 people were separately hit by lightning. This is one of the worst states for lightning - next to Florida. 

A full length massage pad is on my floor - loaned to me for a while.  I just go over and lie flat and let the electric pulses massage go for about ten minutes and it does seem to help.

That is all for now.  My to do list shows a need to call and report noxious weeds in the ravine - and call a niece regarding her birthday.  Waking at 4:30 AM didn't help at all.  It is a lovely time of the day and so quiet to read a lesson. 

Can someone help me fix this small type permanently?  There was never a problem until recently.  Thanks

Larry the children read to the dogs and pet them, Freckles tends to sit on their lap there on the floor. A professional photographer was there yesterday taking pictures of the reading program. for the library website and the local TV station sent a reporter over to do a story on  the Furry Friend Therapy dog program.

Hi everyone on an overcast but warm Thursday morning here in South Carolina.  The outside work of watering the plants is done for today and the trash is at the street along with the bush trimming from the two bushes we have in our back yard. 

Today will be my normal Thursday schedule with coffee and the Wisdom class this morning and then a quiet afternoon and evening. 

We had an enjoyable evening with Scott and Pat made a delicious dinner including a great dish of mac and cheese.  We gave most of the left over to Scott and he really liked it.  He enjoys his mother's cooking but he is also a good cook.  He moved my outside weather sensor to the front porch so hope to get a more accurate reading.  He also trimmed the other bush that needed trimming.  I did the other one last week but decided it was just too much for me anymore. 

Carol, I didn't realize that Colorado was second to Florida in lightning strikes.  Just a couple of weeks ago three men picking peaches here in our country were struck by lightning.  Fortunately they survived the experience. I have never heard of a full length massage pad.  Glad it is of help to you.  I see that you go got your small type problem fixed. 

Marilyn, you are Freckles are going to become celebrities with a story on TV.  I bet the kids get a kick out of reading to Freckles. 

Hi everyone on another bright and sunny morning.  I see that 94 is our predicted high today with little or no chance of rain.  We did have a nice, if brief, rain shower early yesterday evening.

We did not have our Wisdom class yesterday as the minister was busy working with the young people in repairing the three homes that are being tackled this week.  The word did not get out but only a few of us were there.  I was able to get to Aldi's for some groceries and home much earlier than expected.  The main activity for today is a visit to my primary doctor late this morning.  I did get more test results and the only concerning thing is my platelet count is 64 points below what the low normal should be.  I will be interested in what the doctor thinks about this.  I may decide to eat a big lunch at Shane's Bar-B-Q and bring home something for Pat supper.  I did this when I had the test done last week. 

Hi, friends,

It's wonderful having my computer back. Now, I don't have to strain my eyes so much.

I'm doing so much better. Now, to find a card to tape over the touch pad on this computer.

Y'all have a great day.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

 Ruth Ann, I just took a few index cards and used magic tape on both side to cover the touch pad.  I have also used a credit or gift card or a piece of cardboard.  Glad you are back in business with your computer and certainly that you are doing better.  Keep up the good work.

I did see my primary doctor this morning and he is referring me to a hematologist as he thinks the platelet going lower is related to the prostate cancer that has returned and is destroying the bone marrow as the cancer has moved to the bones.  So I will see the hematologist as soon as I can get an appointment to see what the treatment needs to be at this time, if any.   Just another bump in the road and I am not going to worry about it as know I will have good care. 

My prayers are with you, Larry.

Hi everyone.  It is already 86 degrees and headed to the high 90's this afternoon.  I have no plans for today other than to try to stay inside.  I have already done the watering outside and also completed the morning chores inside that I do each day like emptying the dish washer, opening the blinds, taking my medicine and getting my breakfast.

I appreciate your kind concern for me and do appreciate your keeping me in your prayers.  I did quite a bit of reading on the treatments and the side-effects are certainly not pleasant.  Since I don't know what the path ahead will be I am not going to waste my time worrying about something that may well not happen.  I looked it up last night and it has been almost 12 years since I had the seeding done for the cancer and these have been good years.  I am grateful to still be around. 

Larry ... Praying for you, too

Happy Birthday, Ruth Ann

Larry, you can count on my praying for you, as well.  I really like your attitude of not worrying about things, and that is what I try to do, too.

Marilyn, Freckles seem to be bringing you a lot of joy, and I'm happy for you.  I used to go to the grade school and read to the kids or have them read to me, but they shortened the time to only 15 minutes, which made it not worth my driving 10 or 12 minutes each way to be there.  I love working with kids.

My great niece is really artistic.  I have been encouraging her all year to save her best artwork and enter it in the fair.  I told her she could win MONEY!!  She loves money!  So I called her the day we were taking entries and asked her if she had any to enter.  She said she had one page.  I told her she had until 7 PM to enter, so she got busy and worked like crazy until 6:30, then her grandma brought her to enter her work.  I was afraid it might be messy because of her hurrying so much, but it was all very neat and clean and so well done!  Problem was, she had about six underwater scenes, six pictures of dinosaurs, and several animals, all done in pencil drawing and colored in crayon.  They do give me leeway in taking entries, so I finagled every way I could to get her entries in, and managed to accept all but four.  Well, she wound up winning $38 in premiums!!  Her Daddy was so proud, and Autumn was one happy girl!  She is 12 years old now.  I gave her a fair book and told her to look at the list, and do things that will fit the categories better next time. 

I did all right, too!  I got Grand Champion, Reserve Champion, and 4 blues (first place) on my paintings,  And one red.  I also entered several collections, which need only three items and got blues on most of those.  So my premiums came to $68!     That was worth the effort!  My last job at the fair was going out this morning to release the items, which isn't a hard job at all.

Like you, Larry, I watched as many speeches as I could stand, and stayed up past my normal bedtime, leaving me tired and groggy the next day.  Not worth it, I might add. 

I have a couple things to check on here on my computer, then I feel a nap stalking me!   

Time to start a new week HERE