Christian Photographers Community

Hi everyone on a bright, sunny and warm morning with no rain in the forecast.  We are expecting to get to 79 this afternoon.  We did have some rain yesterday afternoon. 

We had a wonderful worship service yesterday to an almost full church, which sure looked good.  Many folks had provided memorial or appreciation lilies for the front of the church, including us in remembrance of Stacey and Shelia.  We were asked to take these home so I have ours in front of my office window where I can enjoy it. 

We had a quiet afternoon and evening and didn't try to go out to lunch.  I listened to Don's Classical Music program and napped in the afternoon and then watched the basketball games in the evening.  Today's schedule is light as just plan on attending a meeting at noon.

Carol, sure sorry that Don is having such discomfort and dealing with a bloody nose. Hope his VA appointment this morning will give him some answer and relief. Glad you have your iPad working better.  We talked with our son a couple of times on the phone yesterday afternoon but he had to work yesterday afternoon and evening so we didn't get together.  I hope your grandson finds the college that is what he is looking for. 

Jeanne, thanks for the new graphic and the hymn you posted.  That is a hymn that is very familiar to me and has been around for a long time that was written by Bill Gaither. 

Larry, that hymn is one of those that I can't get through without my eyes leaking.   

I love both those songs you posted, Jeanne.  The ones I learned while very young, I still know all the lyrics to!  And, Marilyn, thanks for posting "He's Alive!" by Don Francisco, one of my all-time favorites!  I wonder what ever happened to him?  I haven't seen nor heard anything about him in years.  I got to hear him in concert once years ago in Garden City!  It was wonderful!

Beth and John went to Hugoton to attend church yesterday morning, but when we arrived at Diane's house, they were sitting out front in the van.  John said they couldn't find the church!  He had the right address, but said he couldn't find any church on either E or W 6th street, except the Church of God.  And he didn't have Diane's number in his phone, and didn't want to call me as we were in church here.  My Father's House doesn't look like a church, as many don't now.  It's a former store or something. Well, they tried!  Beth really ate good!  I guess she likes Diane's, Mom's and Darrel's cooking!!    She hasn't had much appetite lately and has lost about 20 pounds.

I had a "J" night so took a nice nap this afternoon.  I hope that doesn't cause me another bad night tonight.

Larry, what kind of iPad would you recommend for me?  I send the iPad Air back as we couldn't get it set up, got the credit for it so now am ready to buy another.  Having more computer problems, too.  This one is probably 8 or 9 years old.  Should I just buy a new one?  I had a thing pop up today with a recorded message I couldn't shut off, looping over and over and over, saying I had a Zeus virus, blah, blah, blah.  Said to call the number on the screen, but that got me those scammers again!   I told the guy NO, then re-started the machine and that thing hasn't popped up again yet.  I was thinking an iPad might be the answer, but I don't know.

Hi everyone.  It is a cooler 46 degree and sunny morning and we are to only get to 70 degrees this afternoon.  Yesterday turned out to be sort of a lost day for me.  I became so tired yesterday morning that I wasn't sure it would be safe for me to be driving so stayed home all day and spent a good part of it laying down.  I got to feeling better last evening and had a good nap so am expecting a good day today.  I don't have anything on my calendar for today so will again take things easy. 

Janet, too bad that Beth and John couldn't find the church.  I bet you were happy to see Beth enjoy some good food.  Nothing like home cooking.  I hope you were able to rest last night. 

Regarding the iPad, you just had a lemon with your first effort and you are the only person I know of who has had such an unpleasant experience.  I still think the iPad is a great tablet and someday when I replace mine it likely will be with another iPad.  However, there are many other brands now that use an Android system that will accomplish the same thing and are usually quite a bit cheaper.  Samsung has a good reputation as do some others.  You might want to do a little Google searching on reviews people have given to different tablets.  I do recommend that you get a tablet that has the 10 inch screen rather than the 7 inch as it makes quite a difference.  If your computer is 8 or 9 years old I would highly suggest you look into getting a new computer.  You will see significant speed increases and it will come with the pre-installed Windows 10.  I would also encourage you not to call numbers that may popup on your screen like the virus one as you know they are up to no good. 

Good morning.  It's sunny, cool (38^o) and windy.  This week we can expect daytime temperatures to range between 38^o and 68^o.  And that includes the first couple of days of April!   

Nothing like spring in the north country!   

Good morning Larry and Jeanne!  It is cool and windy here in my corner of Kansasland!  I'm bracing for March to "go out like a lion," but expect we will have more of the same for part of April too.

I had a good workout at the gym this morning, and the soreness in my hip is improving gradually.

Larry, the iPad I got (and returned) was the Apple iPad Air.  I thought I might get another like it, but maybe just from another source.  I know now that you are right--I shouldn't have called that number, it was a trap.  Thank goodness I didn't fall for it this time!    scammers, anyhow!  Why can't they do some honest work for a living, instead of that?    Thanks, Larry, for your info and help!     And I'm so glad you feel better today, but can still take it as easy as needed.

We are going to back the car out of the garage, set up a table and start cleaning out the cabinets in the garage.  They are way past the time it should have been done.  I expect we will need a large trash can, too! 

I wish you all a great day.

Good morning I have a loaf of bread going in the bread machine, I only make the dough in the machine because I don't like the extremely tall aoaves but a normal sie. So I take out the dough and  cook it in the oven. 

I still have my cold but each day I am getting a little bit better, I really do hate the very deep cough, however it doesn't hurt to cough anymore.

I got an email that S&F was back up but my login is not working I am wondering if I have to re-register. I emailed Jeanne for help.

Marilyn, I see you got in OK and have posted.  :-)

Thank you Jeanne Yes I did get in and post.

Hi everyone on another beautiful Spring morning here in South Carolina and we expect to get to 73 this afternoon.  Yesterday was a beautiful, low humidity and sunny day here.  Pat and I decided on a late lunch/early dinner out and we went to one of our favorite Mexican Restaurants for a good meal.  We stopped at Kroger's on the way home as Pat had a few items to get there.  The main activity for today will be going to dinner at the church and getting to spend sometime later this afternoon and evening with Scott, which is always a highlight of our week. 

Jeanne, it sounds like you will be getting some fairly warm weather this week.  Spring is a wonderful time of the year as all the new life springs forth. 

Janet, sure hope you don't get any of those terrible winds and dirt storms that I saw on the news last night with the prospect of it being even worse in some areas later this week.  Glad you hip soreness is improving.  I would seriously doubt you would encounter any problems with a second try at the iPad Air but I know you would also like the Samsung or other major brand of tablet that is now available.  Did you buy your iPad Air directly from Apple or from another source.  I did feel much better yesterday.  Pat is also starting to  clean out closets and will donate a lot of linen she knows we will never use.  Amazing what relatives visiting will spur one on to do.  We expect my sister and BIL sometime next Wednesday or Thursday for a short visit.

Marilyn, we haven't used our bread machine in several years.  I suggested to Pat we donate it but she wants to hold on to it.  The bread you are baking sounds delicious.  Pat has used her bread machine to mix up the dough and then made cinnamon or sticky buns from the dough and baked in the oven but again not for a long time. Glad you are getting a little better from your cold.   

I'm late getting here today. 
Larry, I ordered the iPad from Blinq, a company Curtis has ordered from before.  I also wanted to ask you:  is Windows 10 very difficult to learn/adjust to using?  Curtis said it might give me as much trouble as changing to an Apple Computer would, as far as learning the new system.  As I sure am not good at this stuff, I don't want to make it even harder on myself.  Thanks for your suggestions.  I do appreciate you.

Beth's eye is really a problem.  They took her to the eye specialist yesterday, and they say she has glaucoma.  Her pressure in the left eye is very, very high, so they will put special drops in it for a week, take her back and then if it's still too high, make a hole with a laser to relieve some of the pressure.  That's what John said, but I'm not sure he got the story straight.  I will make sure I go along next week.  If i'd known they would let her see Dr. Fry, I'd have gone yesterday!     Then, a week later, she will finally be seeing a neurologist.  She is losing weight, down 25 pounds already.  But this Mom is still praying!

I've been awake since before three this morning, so I'm fading.  And am about to head for bed, even if it is still light out!

Hi everyone on a cloudy morning with rain in the forecast for us this afternoon.  It is now in the 60's and is to get up to 79 later today.  Just my usual Thursday planned with going to coffee this morning and then to the Wisdom group at church.  The rest of the day will be free.

Janet, I didn't find Windows 10 hard to adopt to at all.  However, I had used the various iterations of Windows over the years.  Some folks are getting a Windows 7 computer but if you don't have that on your old computer you might as well start the new one with the latest software.  There are some very easy techniques  to use where you don't need to get involved in the some of the newer details of Windows 10 although it isn't as daunting as it may seem.  As always I will be happy to try to help you in anyway I can.  One tablet brand I didn't mention is the Microsoft tablet.  My son has had that tablet for several years and likes it and it uses the same Windows 10 software which would make your use of it pretty much like using Windows 10.  However, I am not trying to make your decision for you. 

I am so saddened to read of Beth's continued health decline with her eye and that loss of weight sure doesn't sound very good.  While easier said than done I have learned to not go into tomorrow or worry about things in the future that I have no control over and to just appreciate the blessings of today and what I still have and to spend very little time on thinking of the past. 

Larry:  Trying to not predict what is ahead of us isn't easy but only praying eases the anxiety and reading "Jesus Calling" helps so much - they have bible verse to back up the daily meditation. 

Janet:  Comfort prayers for Beth, and you. 

Our lives seem to be changing faster on health issues for Don. 

Today, there is a small vase of daffodils on the desk in our little guest room - awaiting cousin Dennis and wife.  Corned beef is in the slow cooker for our dinner tonight.  They will stay two nights.  Next week, our oldest son and wife arrive to a hotel in Scottsdale area to look for a rental - this move is for her new job which she doesn't start until the first of May.  Their house is going up for sale in the Denver area a few days late because of two snowstorms in a row.  Thankfully, only a few broken branches and not other damage - it was a dilly of a storm.

Janet:  Good luck on the new iPad.  Often, I search google for "how to" and print instructions out - checking off one at a time in exact order.  That seems to work for me - Don can do everything when he thinks about it - I like the written orders.   

Now, I cannot get into Senior's and Friends. 

Hi, friends,

I've been busy doing things for my sister in law. Her apartment building has had to be evacuated for about a week while some pesky electrical problem is resolved. So, the cat needs some loving, food, and a clean litter box.

My only physical complaint is what feels like a shin splint in my left leg. I'm considering calling the doctor tomorrow to see what, if anything, can be done.

Great news, my daughter in law and granddaughter are coming next Monday! I really love them, and it will be such joy getting to share hugs and loving kisses.

May our Lord bless y'all.

Love, Ruth Ann

[attachimg=1]

Our operation for boiling down maple sap is in full swing. We have collected about 50 to 55 gallons of sap so far. it takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon or syrup.  Ontario unlike Quebec we are not allowed to add brown sugar to our syrup to thicken the sap faster.

John, that takes me back to some very faint memories.  I haven't seen something of this sort since I was very young.

Hi everyone on a very rainy and stormy Friday morning in our area of South Carolina.  We have had some heavy rains and one lightning strike that sounded like it was in our neighborhood.  We are to have periods of rain throughout the day and night.  Nothing particular on my calendar for today other than to pay bills as this is the first of the month.  I think this will be a good day to stay home. 

Carol, Pat has that book "Jesus Calling", which was given to her by a good Christian friend.  It sounds like you will be pretty busy with company.  Do I read correctly in your posting that Don's health is getting worse?  I sure hope that is not the case but know that time marches on as we get older and health issues seem to multiply.  If you haven't already done so you will need to re-register and wait awhile to be approved and then you can log on to Seniors & Friends. The files were lost when the server crashed so we are getting a fresh start.  I just checked and the site is up and running this morning. 

Ruth Ann, to evacuate a whole apartment building must be a terrific task.  Nice of you to tend to her cat. Hope your leg pain goes away soon.  It has been many, many years since I had shin splints but still remember the great discomfort they caused. 

John, thanks for sharing the picture of how you make the maple syrup and I had no idea it took so much sap to make one gallon of maple syrup.  No wonder it is expensive to buy.  How long does the sap continue to run?

Jeanne, I have never seen maple syrup made as don't think that was done in Missouri where I grew up at least not in our area. 

Quote from: Carol on March 31, 2016, 03:33:26 PM
Now, I cannot get into Senior's and Friends. 

Carol, I hope you've managed to get back to S&F now.  We had a very bad technical problem requiring us to start over so make sure that you click "REGISTER" and not "LOG IN" as everyone is now a Newbie! 

That's a fantastic photo of your syrup operation John! 

Darrel and I have begun on a very long and arduous task--cleaning out and purging stuff in the garage!  Then to continue to every closet, shelf and drawer in the house.  Well, that's the plan.  We will see how our bodies hold up.  Neither of us can do a good half-day's work any more.    But we've at least made a dent, and have boxes and bags full of stuff to donate.   Why do we hold onto so much STUFF?? 

John, is there any reason why you couldn't add the brown sugar to the syrup for your own use, if you wanted to?  You must sell a lot of it, huh?  I'll bet it is expensive, since it takes such a huge amount of sap to make a single gallon of syrup.  Boy, that does sound good!  I bought a tiny leaf-shaped bottle of it when we were in Canada, and it was delicious.

Larry the sap season runs March and April about until the trees start top bud. Once the buds start coming out the season is over.
Janet we go by the Ontario rules. I find adding brown syrup effects the taste a bit. Also maple syrup in it's nature state is also OK for low sugar diets. as it does not seriously impact sugar levels in the blood. It sells in around the vicinity of 65.00 dollars per gallon.

Hi, friends,

It's good to hear from y'all again.

The maple syrup procedure reminds me a little bit of the way the old folks used to get molasses. In my grandparents' community in Alabama, the sugar cane was harvested, then under a shed about the size of a 2 car carport (as I remember), it was ground by a mule going round and round hitched to a harness and pushing a contraption that ground the cane and extracted the juice which dripped into a huge kettle over a wood fire. It was then boiled and stirred until it thickened into syrup.

Of course, it was very tasty.  The ladies made big yummy biscuits and as the foam was skimmed from the top of the mixture, it was put into shallow pans where it was mixed with chunks of freshly churned butter until there was a tasty slurry that all the folks, kids included, enjoyed on those yummy biscuits. 

I must have been about 4 years old when I had that memorable experience.

Today my leg feels not quite as painful as yesterday, so I was better able to take care of the cat. He was so glad to see me today that he really enjoyed marking my pants legs with his cheeks and purring, then meowing, then purring again.  A sweet experience.

Y'all have a wonderful day.

Ruth Ann

My first husband had been raised on Log Cabin "maple" syrup and didn't like the real thing.      

John it's a lot more expensive around here - my daughter bought me a small "jug", maybe about 1 pint, for $50.  And that was from friends with a small maple syrup/sugar business. 

Hi everyone.  It is a cloudy morning and we had a little rain a hour or so ago.  Yesterday we ended up with a little over 4 1/2 inches of rain in about 24 hours.  Needless to say things are a bit soggy here.  It is to get up to only 70 this afternoon and we are to see the sun.  We just stayed in all day yesterday.  Not much on the agenda for today.  I do need to make a quick trip to Walmart to replenish the breakfast drink I have each day.  I am looking forward to watching the two games of the NCAA Final Four that will be on this evening. 

Carol, we found that having to get ready to move motivated us to get everything cleaned out although we brought some things with us that now are being sorted out to be donated.  However, we just took it in small stages and it all got done. 

John, thanks for the additional information on the syrup making. 

Ruth Ann, nice memories of the biscuits and sorghum.  Glad your leg was feeling a bit better yesterday and hope today it is even better. 

Jeanne, I well remember having a lot of Log Cabin syrup growing up as we often had pancakes and on rare occasions waffles.  Thank you for helping with my avatar.  I didn't even notice until I had posted this message.   

Good morning, friends,

I have been on the computer. It's great to hear from y'all.

Have a wonderful day with our Lord.

Ruth Ann

John, thanks for the info re the maple syrup.  I've never had the privilege of seeing the process, or of even living where the maple trees grow from which it is harvested.  My mom used to make sugar and water syrup for our pancakes, and thought it was great when the fake maple flavoring became available to put in it.  But I preferred it plain.  Darrel enjoys white Karo syrup, heated, on pancakes sometimes.  I remember the cabin-shaped Log Cabin syrup containers, in fact, I have a small one still--at least until this purge is done!    I'm sure you enjoy the "real thing" in Maple Syrup!  Do you use it in other ways than on pancakes and waffles?

Ruth Ann, thanks for sharing your memories of the Molasses making.  My folks used to buy "black strap molasses" and we used it in various ways.  It's said to be very good for you! I love it when something triggers our memories of days gone by and we can share them here! 

Larry I wish you could share some of that rain with us!  We are bone dry and blowing away!  Enjoy your games this afternoon and stay dry! 

My sweet husband just took the car to town and filled it for me, as I am going to Moscow soon to Toni's party.  And tonight is the Sr. Prom!!  I don't know what to wear!  (Memories!)

I need to get off here and get my teeth brushed.  It will soon be time to head out.  See you later!

Hi Janet. Yes maple syrup can be used in many ways. Most commonly on pancakes or waffles. It is also used over ice cream or as a sweetener in tea or coffee, or any other way you may like to use a sweetener in place of sugar. It is considered better for you than sugar.

Hi everyone on a 50 degree sunny and calm morning here in South Carolina.  The high is suppose to be 68 for a short while this afternoon.  I stayed up too late last evening watching the basketball games, neither one of which were particularly exciting.  The first game was a rout with Providence winning by over 40 points and the second one had North Carolina winning for over 10 points.  The Master's Golf Tourney week activities are underway and getting started on a very nice morning.  In addition to the golf, there are also many other activities going on related thereto.  Many of our church folks leave town during this week as school is on spring break and a number of people rent out their homes for the week. 

I had a really nice thing happen to me as I was putting my purchases at Walmart in my truck yesterday.  I had mostly pretty heavy items including 6 gallons of distilled water we use for the CPAP machines.  This nice couple walked by and saw I was struggling a bit as was exhausted from all the walking I had to do in the store and they wanted to help me load the purchases in the truck. I willingly accepted their kind offer and really appreciated the help. 

We will attend Sunday School and church today as usual.  I signed up several weeks ago to bring the devotional today for our Sunday School class and have something ready to share.  I expect we will eat out after church and then have a quiet afternoon.

Janet, we used to always have some clear Karo syrup to use on the table or mother would make the sugar and water syrup.  We had enough rain to share some with you a couple of days ago.  It seems you have been in dry conditions in your area for several years.

John, do most of the farmer up your way make their own maple syrup?

Time to start a new week HERE