Sylvain,
I could have been persuaded to try that delectable cheesecake!
Dinner too, YUM!
Puppy dog eyes. And he can't decide if he wants to live with you?
Spoiled, pampered, but perfect!

Anna,
Now I want a baked potato... I knew there was a reason I wanted to buy sour cream last week....
I can still see Mom's browned, bubbly cheesey scalloped potatoes in corningware from the oven! My favorite!
Lucky auction people!

We had grand-kids yesterday so healthy eating was a must. Thankfully they do like vegetables so that made up for the pizza the night before. Today the fresh and cooked go into stir-fry.

Actually, I make 2 pies..........1 for the auction, and 1 "just in case" they sell too high and our county Pork Producer president can't buy one (his allowed budget from the county treas. is $500.00). That way our table will have pie whether he buys one or not. LOL My friend Linda (county prez's wife) also makes an extra, so we are pretty well assured of 2 pies..........:>).

Roll dough is rising in a warm oven. I suppose i will cook up the fruit for the pie/s before I go to work. We have to go "visit a dead person" tonight somewhere between 4-7. My nephew's paternal gramma, so we better make an appearance.

Anna,
At the Church auction here, baked goods get many price increases! Some people want it so bad they don't leave the table till the bidding is done.
We have an appearance Friday.

This is a scholarship benefit. There are big rollers there.................one pie last year sold for $2000.00. Mine brought $500.00. It's the Wisconsin Corn/Soy convention, plus the Wisconsin State Pork Producers. A couple of the county pork organizations spend big bucks..............in fact, it was the neighboring county that bought the 2k one. They gave our table tastes. They share. :>)

The cinnamon rolls are for a silent auction scholarship benefit. There are lots of different things there; some counties have gift baskets with cheese, wine, and sausage. Last year there was a "Dog Basket". I bid on that a few times for the "grand-dogs", but it went for more than what I was willing to spend. I mean, it was just dogs. LOL Hmmmm.........maybe next year I should make a Kitty basket.

Anna,
Impressive! It's nice to know there are big spenders when it's auction time. I think at the Catholic Church auction the priest spends the most and offers to cook a supper for up to 4 people. A lot of people vie for that.

I love those dog and cat baskets! I see those mostly at benefits.

Hi, everyone.

Yesterday was party cloudy, balmy and very pleasant. Around dinnertime, the winds picked up slightly, but we had gone inside to prepare dinner. When I took out the garbage this morning, the temps had dropped in the high 50s and the wind was at it again. This has been a windy winter. Today, it's 100% cloudy, damp and windy. We might reach 68 degrees F, providing we are lucky.

Yesterday's dinner was easy: individual salmon pot pies with a simple green salad, cheesecake and/or cookies. It was good.

I had planned a Costco run today to have some passport photos taken. I would have to make myself presentable and to tell you the truth, I just don't feel like it. Tomorrow is another day. My passport expires in November of this year, so I have some time. Procrastination, thou art a harsh mistress.

During yesterday's rum & cigar ritual, dad told me he had stuff on his mind and it was making him sick with worry. I don't pry into his business, but if he wants to tell me about it, I'll listen intently and politely. He said that he was 83 years old, this is the beginning of February, he is scheduled to leave here at the end of April and when he lands in Montreal, he'll be just another old fool with no place to live. So, we explored the possibilities: he doesn't want to go into a retirement home because it's full of old folks in there and you age faster, plus you lose your independence. So, we began discussing his moving in with us. I could fly with him to Montreal in May, close his storage unit, retrieve whatever he wants to bring here, load that into his car and drive the car down here. That way, all the bases are covered. We would know where he is, how he lives, how he eats, make sure he takes his medication, that he is not bored, etc. We didn't want to broach the subject before he was ready to talk about it. Yesterday was the day. He'd like to make the guest bedroom into his bedroom and furnish it with brand-new furniture: fine with us. He'd like to get French cable so he can watch French TV, fine with us. He plans on getting himself a recliner for his bedroom: knock yourself out. And, he said, he could close his door so he doesn't inconvenience us when he's watching a different TV channel. Things are going well and we made an old man feel good again. As soon as he arrives here, Gail will petition the government to get him his Green Card so he can live here legally. Things are going very well on that front.

I made caramel spread the other day and gave some to our neighbor Joyce. She has a sweet tooth the size of a football stadium. She ended up pouring the stuff over her vanilla ice cream. I am told it made her toes curl. She had some with toast and found herself in Nirvanna. Bernie (her husband) tells me the only thing she didn't do is pour some on him. I saw her yesterday, and she remarked: "Such a small jar. I'm running out.". I've printed out the recipe for her. When she returns to Colorado, if she feeds the 3 grand-kids that stuff, she'll have to knock them off the chandelier with a broom as they experience their sugar fit. Dad had some on his toast (the breakfast of champeens) this morning - again. Better than sex, he exclaimed. It's high praise. I only make the stuff. I don't eat it.

Last night, Lucy was the cuddly snake we enjoy so much. She moved behind my neck, came down the right side and slid right into my T-shirt through the neck's opening, where she enjoyed my warmth and the seclusion. She stayed there a long while and decided a change of vista was in order, so she crawled up on my head and just sat there, checking out what everyone was doing. Then, she got rambunctious and wanted to explore all over the place, so I returned her to her vivarium. Snakes make awesome pets.

I'll have to do some grocery shopping today, nothing major, only those darned staples that always run out as soon as you buy them. It shouldn't take too long and I wish I felt like it. Since I really don't feel like it, it will seem like a genuine chore that takes an eternity. But, the sacred hieroglyphics from Pharaoh Amimpotent's The First's pyramid are abundantly clear: the slaves never got a day's rest in all their lives. The translated text clearly says that had the slaves been given a day off, they would have just wasted it resting: unacceptable! Amimpotent didn't start a dynasty, as his name clearly indicates.

Take care, everyone
Sylvain.

The weather is crazy; first we have a day as beautiful and hot as summer and the next day it pours rain. We were under a tornado warning but thankfully it missed us. One tornado touched down a few miles away at Fort Stewart Army Base; no injuries, only property damage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Sylvain, just checking in to say how delighted I am that your Dad is making the decision to come live with you. You so graciously and considerately allowed him the time to consider this carefully. You not only made him feel good, you made him aware that he is loved and valued.

Sylvain - will it be difficult to get a green card for your father? Does the immigration debate impact you folks in any way? I hope not, as we have very few immigrants (or citizens) who are willing to take in a homeless snake and give her a loving stable home at no cost to the taxpayers! Such behavior should be rewarded.

Sylvain, I had to pop out of lurkdom to tell you that you brought tears to my eyes when your daddy finally wanted to discuss his future.

After taking care of my mom until she had to go to a nursing home (Alzheimers) my dad spent every evening with her, first feeding her supper, watching Wheel and Jeopardy together all the while rubbing her neck, hands and head as he had done most evenings during their marriage. Unfortunately she took a dislike to him as the disease progressed yet he persisted in loving her. Of course from time to time he became overwhelmed with it all but not often.

She died one month shy of their 58th anniversary. Dad then continued to live at home and I became his helper even more than before. After a year on his own he said he could no longer take care of himself and home. My husband graciously remodeled our office into a room for him, moving all our office items into our bedroom. He hooked up cable for him, hung a hummingbird feeder outside his window, put a urinal in his closet and seldom did they have harsh words. When dad came down with large cell lymphoma we had our work cut out for us, even though my brother and sister lived within 15 miles of us they "worked". sigh. All families seem to have dividing lines such as ours.

Dad died in his room here in his recliner and I have no regrets. I was his favorite and I adored him. He taught me to love the outdoors and to love reading. I would take him to the Navy base across our lake so he could see pictures of his ship, sit in the gun he manned during WW2. I fished and hunted with him till my teens. He was a good dad.

What I really want to say is that you will never regret what you and Gail will be doing for him. Even though you have written of your growing up years parents do realize too late how they could have been better parents. Our part is to love them and then love them some more. I will be praying for you, Gail and your Dad. This truly is a wonderful thing.

Joy

Hi, everyone.

Actually, dad has accepted to talk about coming to live with us. He did so when he was ready to consider the possibility. He spoke with Gail about all that today while I was gone shopping. He managed to do so without any tears and for that, we are thankful. It's a big step in his life: no longer being in charge of his lodging, food, business and all that. We will talk about it again soon and (tentatively) agree on what has to be done to move down here with us definitely. Dad is the only family I have left and vice versa. He has to mull things over in his head and come to accept our proposal on his own terms. It's a huge step and acceptance is key here. But, I have to imagine that it lightens the burden that is currently weighing heavily upon his shoulders. It can't be easy to completely realign his life at 83 years of age. Things are slowly moving in the right direction, without ruffling any feathers. And that last point is paramount. It's dad's decision and his alone. We propose and dad disposes.

When we first moved here, Gail and I lived in our small efficiency unit condo, I only had a small desk for my computer and its paraphernalia. I vowed that as soon as we moved into something bigger, I wouldn't have to put up with a cramped work space. One day, I went to the Salvation Army and I found a massive wooden dining room table, complete with 2 leaves. They didn't have the matching chairs, but the table was gorgeous and absolutely pristine. I swear, you could comfortably seat 10 people around that one. I bought it for $248. At that price, they even delivered it; the deal of the decade for me. The computer and the table will have to be moved out of the guest bedroom to make room for him, so will the hide-a-bed that sits in here. We'll deal with that one when the time comes. I'll be able to install my work table where dad now sleeps, with room to spare.

Immigration shouldn't be a problem here. Being a legal resident of this glorious country is important to us. At his age, dad is not a threat for the local labor market. We'll start the legal proceedings as soon as he moves in.

It smell so good in here, you have no idea. I was reminded this morning that the cookie tin was running on empty. So, I baked 2 batches cookies. The salmon pot pies are baking in the oven. We should be ready to eat in about 20 minutes. Dessert is covered and it should be good. I'll serve a nice chicoree and boston salad with a plain garlic and olive oil vinaigrette. Since there is salad, we won't open a bottle of white wine because the vinegar doesn't play well with wine. Nonetheless, it should be good.

Take care, everyone.
Sylvain.

Sylvain.
SO happy your Dad made the decision to stay with you!

Joy,
(((HUGE HUGS)))

Dads and daughters ... mine adored me and I adored him.

Sylvain, your story about your dad necessitated a Kleenex. Lovely, lovely sentiments. You're definitely one of the good guys.

Yes - Sylvain - I respect your ability to let go of the past. That is not easy to do and often poisons the present. Good on you!

Sylvain, I assume you are not an only child? If not, are the rest deceased, live far, far away, or estranged? Estrangement is sad...........I have a sister that by her choice, is estranged from the rest of us. I know Mom felt bad about it and said that she couldn't change her and wasn't going to worry about it any more, but we all know that it did bother her. She is being treated as an equal in the estate (which 2 of my siblings and I would very happily short-change her, but we know Mom would come back and haunt us, so we are abiding by her wishes). All she wants is Mom's money which she will blow in VERY short order.

The rest of us get along fine, thank you very much, tho one of the sisters living here is loathe to make decisions (which is why Mom did not pick her to be PR or Executrix). It has been 6 months, and this sis says that we really don't have to make a decision right away on what to do with the rest of her memorial money. "Let's just think about it a bit". Oy-vey. My youngest sis and I have been the decision makers, and both of us had Mom's POA for her health care. She did not want just one of us to have the total responsibility for that in the event that it would come to that. Her reasoning............I am oldest and am very good at decisions. Sis 2 is in France, and obviously not in a position to do that. Sis 3 is the one that "can't" make the decisions. Sis 4 is the estranged one and we all know what HER decision would be. Brother, most times, is so hard to get a hold of and pin down, Sis 5 can be a bit wishy-washy, and Sis 6 is like me...........make a decision and get on with it. (Mom's way of thinking too, actually). So Laurie and I have been pretty much the decision makers, and I always ask her before i do anything that needs some kind of feed-back, tho technically I really don't HAVE to.

Probably more than any of you wanted to know about my family dynamics. LOL

Hi, everyone.

Beautiful day here in Delray-les-Plages, 77 degrees F, 73% relative humidity and no wind at all. It's a nice day, very comfortable to sit outside and just shoot the breeze in the shade while laundry is running its course. I'm sure glad I don't have to take all that to the pond and scrub them on stones and washboards.

I started a load of whites after dinner last night. While he was drinking his coffee this morning, dad asked me if I wanted him to start the dryer. Sure, start the dryer. I was going to do that in a few minutes anyway. He walked into the laundry room, I heard the dryer starting and he walked out of the laundry room. It took me a minute or two to realize that he had only been in there 5 to 7 seconds, at best. So, I asked him if he had transferred the clothes from the washer to the dryer before pushing the start button. Nope! The dryer was running empty. So, I got in there, transferred the clothes and pressed the button again. Good help IS hard to find.

Dinner tonight will be beef stew, by popular request. I have prepared it and it is simmering in the slow cooker as I write this. I might make some snails in garlic butter with broiled cheese on top for starters. That always starts the meal right and it won't fight with the Cabernet Sauvignon I have lined up for it. Dessert is covered; no problema.

My sister passed away 25 years ago (brain cancer). My mom passed away 1 year later citing that, with my sister gone, she had no reason to keep on living. Needless to say I was never the golden child in that family unit. So, dad is my only remaining family. He lost sight of his brothers and sisters decades ago. They were never close, but their mother held the family together until she passed away. Then, they all went their separate ways like a bunch of cockroaches when you turn the lights on. I have no idea where they all are and I'm not going to hunt them down, either. Sherlock Holmes, I ain't. Those are aunts and uncles I haven't seen in 30+ years; I don't miss them.

I startled Lucy last night when I picked her up. She was sleeping and being handled caused a bit of a panic. She rolled herself into a ball, protecting her head inside the ball - the instinctive reaction to danger. I picked her up and carried her to my recliner, where I massaged her spine and applied a warm hand around her tail until she calmed down and stuck out her head. Poor Baby! I was certain she was awake. Anyhow, spine massaging and gentle treatment won the day. Then, fully awake and reassured, she started exploring and climbing. We had a good time in spite of the shaky start. Then, I brought Lucy to Gail, wheren she proceededyto fall slaeep in Gail's arms. Dare I repeat myself and declare yet again that ball pythons make awesome pets? I think I just did.

Take care, everyone.
Sylvain.

Snails? I think this is the first time I've heard someone say they eat them. I just wasn't expecting that.

Family issues -- we all got 'em (or at least so it seems). Even in my husband's family, which seems like the most 'normal' family in my wildest dreams (compared to my own, anyway), there still are issues.

Sylvain, I thought of you today as I was watching a TV show on 'Animal Planet,' with a girl in the UK who had a 16' python that she had taken in from someone who felt it was too dangerous to keep any longer. (This girl had a LOT of other snakes and lizards, so definitely not without experience.) The show was centered on taking this snake to the vet to be weighed and measured; but as they were trying to get it into a bag and a box for hauling it there, she could tell it was in a bad mood; then, at the vet's, the snake actually bit her on the arm ... so they gave up the idea of measuring and just weighed (although I didn't catch what the weight was). Yikes, I confess to being a snake lover myself, but when they get to the size where they could actually eat you I don't think it's a very good idea to keep one in your house... Kind of like keeping a dangerous bull in the barn, or something. So -- maybe I just missed it, but how large is Lucy, actually?

And, I would also like to say kudos to you for offering to have your dad come to live with you; whatever difficulties that will present, I'm sure you will never regret it!

Snails, yum! Although they sound much better as escargot, eh?

Ah... which brings to mind my plan for raising slugs and selling them as "shell-less escargot"