Light rain is falling over south Jersey....watering the freshly seeded lawn.

No plans till later when I have to WORK!!

I am actually dreading work tonight as we are supposed to have been sold again. I hope it will mean more hours but I won't get my hopes up!

I am off tomorrow so the plan is to take Gretchen to the free animal clinic to get her shots AND go to the garden center to look at stones an retaining blocks.

Later Drew has to work so the plan is to take him to work and go out to the new casino to kill some time and get some dinner.

Sunday is still up in the air depending on my work schedule but weather permitting Im sure I will be out in the yard doing something!!

Have a happy and safe weekend!!

Cheers!
Susie

ps....clocks ahead this weekend......!

Yup, Susie, I'm ready for that time change. I don't like it, but I'm ready, LOL.

May, travel safely next week.

Elery will be here tonight, I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to make with that green curry sauce. Tomorrow Mother and Amanda are coming over to go over the wedding guest list and update addresses.

I have 25 lbs of pork belly in the fridge curing so Elery can smoke it tomorrow and I need to clean the chicken coop, prune apple trees and burn brush on Sunday.

Plus, the steelhead are running, I might take a day off next week to fish!

Annie

Ah yes!! The time change! I actually prefer DST to Standard so I'm glad it's coming.

Have fun working on those wedding plans Annie!

My son is coming to day....just him, to spend some Mom time and do a few chores. And of course to see friends too!

May - have a fantastic time in the Finger Lakes! I was there several years ago (okay, a lot of years ago LOL) and did try several nice wines. Hope you get to meet Jo and Em, it is always fun to meet CF people IRL.

Susie - looks like the entire weekend will be wet here, I had hoped to start raking beds and it isn't going to happen. Good luck with your job situation, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. IMO any change to Acme Markets will be an improvement - our local one is a real horror.

Annie - 25lbs of pork belly? Cool! Is that curing it for Elery to make bacon? Honestly, before I "met" you the only Pork Bellies I was familiar with are the ones traded on the CME - it never ceases to amaze me how educational this forum is!

I am laying low today - had planned to polyurethane the front stairs but the humidity is near 100% so I am not messing with something that needs to dry. Tonight the guys are going to see the 76ers play Clev. DH got seats directly behind the 76ers bench, so it will be exciting for the boys to be close enough to shake hands with the players (and have sweaty towels tossed in their direction) LOL!

Saturday is going to be spent helping DS#2 on his research paper and project. When did the schools start giving 3rd graders research papers anyway? This one has to be 2 typed pages with a PowerPoint and a Diorama. Sat night we have tix to see the Harlem Wizards play the local Elementary School teachers. Should be a gerat game LOL!

Sunday we are going to a new local inn for brunch. It has been getting great reviews so we are really looking forward to it.

Enjoy the longer daylight everyone - stay safe, have a great weekend and definitely a CLINK later!

Alexa

Have fun in NY, May. Maybe you will get to meet Diane in the Finger Lakes area.

Good luck with the work transition, Susie.

Annie, I might need to get advice from you about pruning my apple tree. It has a lot of long shoots and still has leaves from last summer. I have no previous experience with apple trees.

I'll be doing my taxes this week-end (even though I don't have a paper copy of my 1098 yet), and I hope to be able to do it myself using TurboTax or similar software. At any rate, I will do as much of it as I can, so that if I do have to hire an accountant, there will be less work for them to do. The prevailing rate here is $250/hour, and so the fewer hours the better. If anyone in L.A. knows of someone with a cheaper rate, I would be interested. I also have to work on some restaurant floor plans as part of my part time work for a company that makes and installs air cleaning equipment.

Happy Week-end everyone!

Lars

Lars, I just lop off stuff, LOL. Actually, I try to keep the tops tipped off so the tree doesn't get too tall for me to pick the apples, and Dad always taught me to prune the tree so it's like a "vase", kind of hollow in the middle so the sun can get to the center of the tree.

They send up "suckers" from the bottom of the tree and I prune those right off. Apple trees fruit on "old wood", so any new shoots get pruned. I also prune any limbs that are growing straight down or growing inward toward the tree, any that are crisscrossing and/or rubbing and anything that's broken. Then I trim off the outside "tips" of the branches to keep the tree manageable and attractive.

Alexa, the pork is curing in a maple syrup cure and Elery will smoke it tomorrow over apple chips, then we'll slice it and freeze it as bacon, very yummy!

A third grade research project, though? ugh...

Annie

It's been raining here for the last 4 days. Almost all of our snow is long gone. But that is a good sign...means spring is "springing"!

May, I can't wait to see pix of your vacation! Travel safely!

Susie, I have my fingers crossed that your job situation improves very soon.

Linda...have a good visit with your son. I love "mom time"!

Annie and Alexa...just reading your weekend plans makes me need a nap! You guys just go, go, go!

Lars, I have my taxes ready to go...just have to push the "send" button! For some reason it takes some effort for me to actually press that button !

No big plans here, either. Tim has to work OT all weekend.

I have been on an emotional roller coaster all week. Had a job interview last week and it went really well. But I found out yesterday I did not get the job because during the pre-employment physical I had the audacity to ask what they do with my personal informaton. That's it in a nutshell, the whole process was a nightmare. Probably good that I did not get the job, but I REALLY need a job!

So maybe I'll drown my sorrows and clink with a bottle of wine tonight! LOL

Have a great weekend, all!

Linda
(PS...what is with all these words in the posts coming out green with underlines????)

I'm just back from a lovely week in Connecticut with my beautiful baby granddaughter and her parents. She's really something. I forgot how much personality a seven-month-old baby has! Glad to be taking it easy today, since we are all a little under the weather.
May, have a great time in New York.
Annie, that pork sounds good.
Susie, good luck with the garden wall. Will you build it yourselves?
Lars, think how nice it will be to be finished with your taxes. I wish I were!
Alexa, good call on the polyurethane; we're all supposed to get 2-4 inches of rain over the weekend. Third grade, papers, power point? Geez.
Linda C, have a good time with your son.
Linda Doucanoe, I hope the job search works out. And meantime enjoy the wine.
Clink, with some hot tea, and kleenex by my side.

May-- good time ( sort of) to visit the Fingerlakes-- the Snow Geese are dropping in on their way North-- the newly unsnowed corn fields are a different White-- the honking drives me mad after a couple
of days-- the south end of Cayuga Lake is teeming!

Susie-- you're about 10 degrees ahead of us weather wise-- I was in PA yesterday for a follow up CT and walking around in just a sweater.

Annie-- I'm all for the time change-- means yard time is coming !

Alexa-- yea-- it's spring--wet but at least there's some SUN yahoo to that. I've got to get out there and get the winter mulch off a few beds before the daffies & tulips get higher
else I'll end up with dirty leaves threaded thru the stems & leaves !

Lars-- ugh-- I'm just finishing up our taxes-- they're going to the accountant this year 'cause of all the medical expenses last year-- need to get every deduction possible.

We're heading out tonight to meet a few friends to open camp for the year-- & celebrate St Patty's early . If we manage to get back sometime Sunday there'll be a trip to our favorite Nursry.
One of my Birthday presents from Doc each year is a gift certificate from there. This year I'm on a mission to find a couple Black Pussywillow bushes for the north property line --where we took out a few overgrown scraggly
poplar trees.

Have a save weekend all.

Ugh! Cleaning - again! The tile floor in the bathroom is going down today and hopefully the walls will soon follow. I'm hoping that keeps the dust down! I have to clean the living room Saturday morning. The dining room with all the glass and china will follow, but that's going to take a couple weekends to get thru all of it. Saturday afternoon my BIL is coming over - I'm making Pad Thai for his birthday and since we're cooking anyway, he wants to make sweet & sour chicken as well. So that's the afternoon - we'll probably watch Zombieland Sat night as that's the NetFlix movie for this week. Sunday I'll either collapse from exhaustion, or start on that glass in the dining room!

By the time that's done, it'll be time to start spring cleanup in the yard!

Lisa

Hope Turbotax works for you Lars. I've been using it for some years with good results. Stocks short/long term, farm income, equipment write off, fire loss... no problems. Biggest pain is what I call the great document chase. Turbo asks the question and then you have to find that piece of paper with the numbers. Has motivated me to improve my record storage skills... somewhat.

I'd so love to go chase a Steelie! Maybe Saturday night after work I can go cast off the breakwall. Good luck with that bacon Annie... I'll step outside and sniff the wind to see if I can smell it cooking on this side of the State.

Downer of a week. So far I can only hope the rest of the year goes better. House was broken into this week and small items taken. Camera and prescription pain killers... nothing I can't replace. My friend's son's ex-wife just got out of jail and it looks like something she would do. A rather heartbreaking week on the romantic front. Supervisor is mad because I put in for vacation on my birthday and HR approved it over his objections.... ordered me to work the Saturday which is fine as I don't have a date anymore.

Honestly thinking about buying a pack of cigarettes.

: )
lyra

Sounds like a busy weekend for many! I am just glad it's Friday!!
Tomorrow we'll spend a few hours doing church cleanup (about a twice a year major cleaning deal). I want to do some cooking (see the curry thread) and baking for next week. I also hope to get some seeds started.
Sunday is church in the morning and a trip into town to deliver eggs to a gal that has an incubator. Hens are unreliable! Grrr... She's willing to share her incubator in trade for some chicks.
Maybe a stop to pick up some garden plants and see about lumber for more raised garden beds.
I think I'm going to be "sick" on Monday and stay home to do my taxed. I've procrastinated more than normal this year, but need to get off my hiney and get them done!

Sunday and Monday are supposed to be nice. That will be a welcome change from the rainy, windy weather we're having right now.

Coffee now........clinking later!!

Deanna

Linda, have fun with your son. Very cool mother-son time.

Alexa, sounds like your guys are going to have a great time! I can't believe they are assigning research papers to third graders. I guess by the time he gets to college he'll be so used to doing them he'll be able to churn them out in his sleep!

Lars, good luck with your taxes. I hate doing them, but mine are done (wheeee!!) although not actually sent in yet. Like Linda, I don't like sending them in the second they're done. I guess I just like to go over them again to make sure I don't miss anything.

Linda, I wish you the best on your continuing job search. I just know you're gonna find the perfect position and then you'll be so glad you didn't get stuck working somewhere else along the way.

Cloudy, sounds like a lovely trip. I hope you feel better soon!

Diane, I'm hoping to meet with Jo and Em on either Thursday or Friday night for dinner, SOMEWHERE in the finger lakes area. I realize that's a huge area but we're staying in Skanateles and I think Em lives closer to the south end of one of the lakes so maybe you can join us? We haven't finalized plans yet but please email me through GW if you're interested. I'd love to meet you too!

Lisa, good luck with all that spring cleaning!!

Lyra, sorry to hear about the break-in, that sux. DON'T buy the cigs!!

Deanna, good luck with the eggs hatching!!

I heard birds signing LOUDLY today, and it is warmish and starting to feel like spring. Please, please, Mother Nature, do not fool us with another snow storm now. Come on crocuses!
I have to get my hair done tomorrow, and a pedi/mani, then I intend to do nothing all weekend. I really need a nothing weekend.
Maybe I will bake and freeze a bunch of low calories muffins so I can reach for them when I need a lo-cal healthy snack. I lost 7 lbs my first week on WW, so I don't want to break that rhythm.
Happy weekend everybody...clink (my lo-cal soft drink)
Sherry

Have a 3 lb. chuck roast in the Dutch oven with a beer & an onion. Will eventually be shredded beef for sandwiches, enchiladas, & burritos. Tonight, we're going to make Pioneer Woman's cinnamon roll dough for baking tomorrow or Sunday hoping to get a jump on some Easter gifts for friends. Thank goodness for freezers.

DH got some spring clean-up done this week. Good thing 'cause it's supposed to be a wash out of a weekend. Since December, seems like every week there's a coastal storm. Chance of moderate coastal flooding for 3 tide cycles so we'll be keeping our eyes on the Sound.

Went to the NY neuro doctor this week. I asked blunt questions & got blunt answers. I guess that's good but I'm bummed anyway. I had to take my handicapped parking application for his signature. My last two have been four year terms. That's what I was expecting this week so I was major bummed when I looked at the form & he'd checked the "Lifetime" box. (sigh) I'm cleared to do anything that doesn't cause pain with some limits like not lifting more than 2-3 lbs. or putting both arms over my head at once. He said I'm going to have to accept that there's too much nerve damage & the neuropathy isn't going away. It interacts with the lupus. It's permanent & long-term will worsen. I asked about the steroids & he said that after watching the progress for 6 months & considering the benefits versus risk potential he sees me as a candidate for lifelong steroid useage. Again, major bummer. The steroids combined with the pain meds have brought the pain down to mostly manageable levels. So, we'll just wing it as to when to taper off & when to restart based on how I'm feeling. I have a lot of adapting to wrap my mind around. I guess I really thought I'd get better. Hoping, anyway. Now it's time to face reality, knuckle down, & relearn how to live my life. I am so grateful DH is here. In the back of my mind, I'm still believing that if I can just keep working on re-conditioning my muscles will compensate for the spinal damage & I'll be able to live a mostly normal life. I cannot tell you how much I hate having to be pushed in a transporter chair. I can't even use a wheelchair because the arm movements are just h@ll on my spine (most of my damage is in the thoracic area (between the shoulder blades). I'm ambulatory at home but can't walk around a store or even into/out of the doctor's office.

TGIF everybody. I'm glad this week is over. I'm ready to start a new one. This one was bad.

/tricia

I'm ready to spring forward with the clock, I love DST.

Busy weekend for many, I can tell that spring fever is starting.

We are headed to the regional home show tomorrow. I'm gathering ideas for our kitchen redo. I'm already bored with looking at cabinets, would love to find something new and exciting... Right now I have a list of what I don't want. I've been doing my homework over on the Kitchen Forum.

Sunday, no plans. I'm working on the hallway floor. Pulled up the carpet to expose the hardwood. Looks good except for the paint splatters and glue spots..

Nancy

Lyra/Michael, do NOT buy those cigarettes!

sorry about the date.

Way to go, Sherry! 7 pounds!

nancy, I missed the home show last week. I was getting the taxes done. Sigh.

Annie

/tricia sorry to hear you got the news that you really didnt want to hear. It is difficult getting older, but better than the alternative.
Lars...no smokes. Take a breath of fresh air outside instead.

We are having a 'Rib/Wine Fest' on Saturday. Bruce has been on a smoking frenzy (not cigs). He has been stock piling ribs in the freezer along with a pork butt and a turkey breast. I dont like the name pork butt, sure doesnt make me want to eat one of the pulled pork sandwiches when you hear what part its been made of. Will do sides of mac and cheese along with calico beans and a pan of marinated mix veggies (onion, peppers, squash, mushrooms) on the smoker tomorrow. I am making 5Minute Artisan Bread the Olive Oil recipe. Not sure if it will be made into a boule of focaccia bread. Everyone is supposed to bring a bottle of wine to share. Thought this sounded good to have wine tasting also. Someone has already asked if they could bring the fixing for margarita's....oh well it was a good thought. Should be fun spending some time with friends we havent seen for a while.

Hope everyone one has an enjoyable weekend!