Linda, would a music stand be heloful for your brother to hold his books? I use a very ancient one my son found for me. There are small clip on lights, too. My DH is in an assisted-living facility and I've sent books on houseplants and essays on gdns. (several of the women there garden in small area) and mysteries, Bill Bryson's books and other interesting witty writers, books on local history...whatever I think someone (only 16 residents) would enjoy as DH gets to know them. (So far the mysteries seem most popular). There is a common area with bookshelves I'm slowly filling up...LOL Magazines too, are passed along. In fact one of the most appreciated were some 1903 thru the 1940's Life, Saturday Evening Posts and Ladies Home Journals which DH said really struck up some remembrances and good conversations...sorta like us here on GP...LOL No expense as it just so happened I was clearing out my jillions of books...but buying used books online is easy and cheap if I ever run out. I've told mgmt. folks to pass books on to Goodwill if and when...but for now seems to be welcome effort. Haven't checked here but it's possible the local library would have a volunteer to deliver wanted books twice=monthly. Years ago when my FIL was in nursing home in Nashville there was such a program. As we were in GA it was so helpful for FIL to have his book needs solved locally. I've not tried the books on tape but may have to eventually, but for now I still prefer the book itself. I do often read books online... Rudyard Kipling most recently. Not the same as holding a book though...josh Here is a link that might be useful: Music Stands

Good morning! It's overcast and 64 here this morning. Today's the day I treat the granite, so the kitchen windows will be open while I go grocery-shopping. The stuff stinks to high heavens! Raeanne, my oldest Dson and DDIL are coming in very late tonight. They'll be driving down from Dallas, and she can't get off early. I'll probably take a nap this evening while waiting up for them! Youngest Dson and his family are coming over tomorrow to spend the long weekend with all of us. His new job now gives him weekends and holidays off! Two full days with my kids: I'm so excited! QOD: I'll be hanging out with my sons and their families, doing whatever we find to do. It only matters that we're together, for me. I know that we'll eat out some, a challenge I'll be prepared for with my WW "dining-out" book, and my kids love my kitchen and are all such good cooks, so they want to get in there and cook some, too. I'll get lots of time with the granddaughters, too. Dee, I hope the biopsy goes well. It's awful having things hang over you like that. Jen, holidays make some of the seasons, so I don't blame you for posting your favorites! Patti, I was so tired from my unsuccessful shopping yesterday that I didn't mind not going out to dinner last night. We don't have but 4 little restaurants around here, and they'd all have been crowded. I'm going to clean house today and have H take me out for dinner tonight instead. Suzanne, stay warm! I'd gladly split the difference in our temperatures with you right now! Got to get busy with my counter treatment then shopping. I hope everyone has a good day! I'll probably peek in this weekend to get my SS-board fix. LOL

With 2 staff off work this week I've been helping as much as possible with my buddy/boss to double time running around office buildings to get the plant watering/maintenance done. Each day we made sure to sit down and have a proper lunch - no choice we were burning calories like there was no tomorrow. Every night I reclined on my couch with the fan blowing on my throbbing feet - whew. I've slept 12 hours last night and it's noon! Next week I will actually be going in on Monday to water my babies because they don't know it's a holiday and it doesn't matter to me, I just don't want them fainting. At least it's back to normal again. Today I'm cooking up a storm for my freezer. Still stewing tomatoes from the garden. Going to shred zucchini/onion/carrot/turnip and dump them in a 3 minute boil in chicken broth (just enough to cover) and cool it to freeze for winter soup base and I have about 6 black bananas that are screaming banana/walnut bread to me (I freeze that in slices on a tray, then ziplock so I don't have to take a loaf out. Later, when I'm bored - hahahahahahahahaha - have to pick more tomato, beans and get them in the freezer too. Tomorrow I hope to pull spent plants out, work in my grass compost and plant lettuce, peas, beets and other fall plants (have to check my garden books again). I just love this time of year. I don't can stuff - YET - but that is on future to do lists - still organizing the basement junk and getting rid of clutter. It's better to can stuff - cheaper in the long run and less risky in case of a power outage but I'm not quite there yet. Sorry for being MIA but it's been so busy this week I've actually just wanted to sit and stare at the TV at night. No energy to even play on the laptop at all. This evening I will catch up reading all of your posts and get back in touch. Love ya! Peggy

Hi Guys! Patti---Thanks for stopping in, now don't be a stranger! NHSuzanne: BJ=wildchicken, PTSD=post tramautic stress disorder, FB=f@cebook, LOL= laugh out loud, IDK= I don't know (literally). Your weekend sounds GREAT! Would LOVE to get a perrenial border going I am going to work on that SOON and make some guerilla gardening seed bombs wth all of the seeds I've collected so far: LOTS of Shasta daisies (does anyone need some seeds?) I'm happy to mail them! Artic lupine (a few volunteers popped up after our lot was bulldozed & since they are too hard to transplant, I'm working around them---I love lupines! Tons of cosmos--I can never have enough! Also some day lilies (orange.) My 3 little apple trees are bearing fruit and the deer are eating them all! I did pick some and make some apple juice the other day tho'. Milkdud: Yeah, your DH's sneaky snacking has caught up with him! I work with my DH, so when he has a mid-afternoon milkshake, I know it! he just flunked his life insurance physical, but won't do anything about it, so my mouth is SHUT. I'm just going to make healthier meals at home and see how it goes. Dee: You might want to just put a fresh vacumme bag in the vacuum and run the hose part underneath your china hutches and furniture, then tear open the bag and pick through it for the ring---ya never know. I've recovered earrings that way. Wodka: Liver stories: When I knew we were having liver, I would wear my rubber boots to the dinner table and put the liver down my boots, then go straight out to the dog and feed him! That dog knew it was treat time when I wore my boots to dinner! HI MADDIE!!!!!!! Yes, Alli---what a sweetie! I normally hear from Zig at Christmastime when we exchange cards and pictures. Well, I actually made it to the "big" grocery store here today (it's closed on Sunday-and there is only one community grocery here.) I have been going to the small store each day in town and making dinners on the fly. BUT!---I bought everything I need to start my Mediterranean diet. I was going to start Monday, but I am instead starting Sunday (tomorrow.) My Med diet book & recipe book should arrive by air on Tuesday! I'm pretty excited about this. I looked up recipes last night and this morning and am planning the week'S meals tonight. I might post some of the better, easier recipes here. Okay, everyone---enjoy the weekend and if anyone wants Northwestern Shasta Daisy seeds, lemmee know!!!!