Miss Barbara, My word Gurl, I needed a fresh page just for you . . . temptre . . . enabl . . . Dear Friend. ♥ All jokes aside, The orchids and I faired well over the winter, and I will let them know you are thinking of them. You already know that your influence is scattered throughout my collection, and here you go again enabling me more !!! However, I’m not sure if you remember, last year when you baited me with White Elephant. It was right before I left to visit Hallson’s. As a result of your post, I ended up picking out one right then and there !!! It was haggard looking last year, what with a move across 5 states and then too much rain and shade. Here he is, in 2013. And again this year, looking much better. Pic taken today. Ooooo all that white sends my heart a flutter. :P But about this Lionheart business, I will reserve my comments to the actual post, so check back later. :) And Bless your heart for sharing your wind chimes. I ended up spending a half hour perusing that website, listening to all the different models. Your Earth Song is gorgeous !!! But I had to laugh when my ear settled on the $ 660.00, 8ft tall, Himalayan Echo . . . figures, I couldn’t swoon for one of the smaller more reasonably priced models. I would die to have one that big, though. Hang it somewhere high in a tree in the back yard and just let it resonate. I’m sure you could almost feel the vibrations if the wind picked up enough and really got it going. But I won’t be hearing it’s song for a long time at that price . . . good to set long term goals for yourself, right ? I was inspired by your link and ended up finding out more information on the one I just bought. I updated the original post if you want to go back check it out. This is actually my second one. The first, was a gift from my Mother almost 6 years ago after I graduated college. I had it hanging on my porch when I lived in Indiana, PA, but never made it out of the box once I moved to Philly. That is all changing this year as I have plans (or rather a grown adult with a big drill) to attach a huge hook to the roof of the front porch overhang. It is a 42 inch Arias. It does not have a theme or name like my Windsinger and definitely sounds more like cathedral bells. But still just as pleasing. Plus, I think of Mumma Bear when I hear it. ♥ Here is a link to a vendor that sells them, but it also includes an audio clip if you want to hear what it sounds like, as well. Arias 42 Inch Wind Chime Thank you for thinking of me, and I hope to be able to post again soon with more updates. Give hugs to the husband, birds, and little furry ones for me. ♥ Yours, Ludi

One thing I forgot to mention...besides Alzheimer's, my mom has arthritis in her lower back and scoliosis, so the doctor had given me a presciption for the walker..we purchased it at a medical supply store - which was probably a little pricier than other stores, but they were willing to submit to Medicare and her supplemental insurance...the walker retailed at his store for $300 and Medicare paid half...so that wasn't too bad. Also, when we got her wheelchair, I called the same store and asked if Medicare would cover any of it. Medicare actually will rent the chair and pay the FULL amount, as long as you get the specific model they cover. It's nothing fancy, but perfect for my mom...no big wheel in back, but she'd never try to push herself anyway...it weighs just 20 lbs so very easy for me to fold and put in the trunk of my car...this retailed for $400 and with the script from her doc, we pay nothing.... Just last week, I went back to the same store to look into the reclining chairs with a power lift. Mom's chair which doesn't have a lift (well, I guess it does...that is me!!! ) is fifteen years old and quite worn, so it is time for a new one; besides, my back can't take a whole lot more of constantly having to help her get up out of it. Again, I asked about Medicare and with a script, Medicare will pay $300 towards the mechanism in the chair to lift...which I think is fantastic...so we ordered her a new chair with a power lift and massage and heat!!! It actually will go completely flat so if there comes a time, she could even use it as a bed... it also has a "leatherette" covering, so it is easy to keep clean. He also mentioned to me that they sell something that is wonderful for getting out nasty smells, in case there are accidents that get absorbed...just thought I'd share what I've learned lately...take care and be well....Mimi

ttod, You poooor thing! I feel for you, I really DO understand! I'm going to tell you a rather long story, and really there IS a point to it.:) With any luck, maybe it will zero in on your problem or maybe it won't help you but just maybe it will help someone else who's going through this. Exactly what you describe is what was happening to me three years ago. At first I too thought chiggers. Then fleas, then mosquitoes then allergies from something I got in to. Never on my face. The first couple weeks it was only on my torso and a few on my legs, usually the outside thigh area. Going into the second month I would wake up with the little 'bites' on the outside of my arms then on my outer calf area. More and more, month after month. Doctor was baffled. Sent me to a dermatologist who sent me to some uppity-up specialist who asked me how often I bathed as in his words, it looked like it was a case of bad hygiene! Back to square one. Every day from the moment I put my feet on the floor until I crawled in bed, I checked, double-checked and then added to my spiral notebook list of things I came in contact with that day. Another doctor who didn't want me in his office because he feared I was contagious, prescribed a lotion for scabies over the phone.I used it as directed, no results but I did learn it causes cancer. Neat. A whole year and bottles and bottles of liquid Benadryl and OTC itch creams later, I was again sanitizing the family room. The fold-out couch was rather heavy so I asked my son to give me a hand moving it. As my son got behind the couch he asked "Mom, what's this????" Heck, looked like someone had sprinkled a whole container of tan baby powder on the back of the couch...the part you lean against. Long story a bit shorter...... The couch was in front of the very large window. Outside that window, with it's fronds just reaching the window screen the year before....was our Australian Fern Tree. A bit of Columbo'ing and here's what we figured out..... The fern would create this really tiny, very fine powdery stuff on the underside of it's fronds....it's spores. The air would blow those fine particles against and into the screen and onto the couch. I took my daily nap on that couch! My face was at the far end of the window, and my head was elevated and resting on a hand towel. Even though I would vac the couch, those teensy spores from the Australian Fern Tree would just filter back in through the screen as fast as I vac'd. I never saw that little powdery spore stuff...they are a golden color as Was the print on our couch (notice I say "Was" ?) I'd take a nap and those spores would stick to my skin. I'd crawl in bed taking the spores into bed with me where they had even more time to embed into my pores. I took a shower every morning but lie on the couch again and if I didn't nap on the couch, I'd crawl into bed at night where the spores, that I took to bed with me the previous night, were waiting for me. Hubby never once was bothered by the spores in bed. DX= terribly allergic to spores from ferns. And of course, ferns of any kind are my very favorite plant life in my back yard. Moral : A year and a couple thousand dollars later, and arms, torso and legs full of scars today, going nuts changing detergents, clothing manufacturers, sanitizing my home, not touching anything I was not familiar with....... And it all came down to fern spores that came in through my window screen (Southern Calif----that window remains open all year). Whatever you have, I really feel for you! I know getting a good night's sleep isn't easy when you are itching and worrying about what is causing those little red 'bites' you're losing even more sleep......it's sooooo frustrating! Maybe start thinking outside the box. Wish I would have...would have saved me a lot of time, money and stress! I hope whatever it is that is eating you, you find out soon. Please keep us updated!

yeah, I was in shock because I had an a okay from the doc in the later part of November, but there is really no way to tell for sure if it's back without scans. No real tumor markers in the blood like there are for other cancers. Just the one blood test that can indicate there might be a problem if there are some higer levels of(insert something I can't pronounce and therefore can sound out to spell it.. here! LOL) and that was totally normal. yep, Terri, its not a fast grower. But as the doc told me my first visit a few years ago, there is also no cure. So, I just hope that the little buggers don't get resistant to the fun little chemicals! LOL I'll play a little video blaster game in my head while taking chemo! lol But, we might watch this for a while too. It's just one lymph node, and there were a lot more involved last time. But apparently this one is HUGE HUGE HUGE! Yeah, I always say, more is more! I don't believe the old saying , less is more! So, hopeing that there are no more little buggers in the new scans. Thanks for the prayers everyone! Darn! I jUST found a great new hair stylist for my last 3 cuts that I LOVE! And at fantastic Sams no less... and incredible cut for $20 bucks! Beats every $75 cut I've had lately! lol Oh, and guess what? Baseball season starts today. Ryan's team is travelling to Tennesse today for their first games! Sheesh! seems so early and so cold! Go RED STORM!