We have those "master meters" that cover a whole block (or so - I haven't used one yet). Thankful that I have both the health and the energy to be able to park, free, blocks away from several of my destinations. Which includes the main city library, where I can get my parking chit cleared for two hours free, but I like to save them that expense, so they can put my contributed dollars to more important use. I'm thankful, too, that my cash gift to that library was credited before the end of the year, so helpful to reduce the income tax, and some mailed ones weren't postmarked till Jan. 2, so not useful for 2018, and I need them, as I had some unexpected income last year and need every credit I can dig up. Should have taken some charitable letters into the post office on Dec. 31 to get 'em stamped! (Or, just possibly, written cheques and mailed 'em earlier, e.g. before Christmas?) Or, even better, made the gifts long enough before Christmas that the agencies could have helped needy families around Christmas? The winter is an especially difficult time for the homeless ones in this cold area. ole joyful

We drove 600 miles last week to look at a couple of places for sale....a lot of the miles for going out of the way. Glad we did tho because we can cross those 2 off the list. The one that I thought I'd like, was a big no! The pics of it on line must have been made 20 years ago. The "7 stall horse barn" was almost rusted down and had big spaces in the roof where metal panels were gone. The other place was so far off the beaten path via a very thinly graveled road, past multiple abandoned, trashed out house trailers, that it was a no! also.

I'm grateful for my mother's care facility. Yesterday they hosted a tea for all the ladies and their daughters (and a son or two). It was so pretty, with floral teapots, every place setting had a Tiffany-blue box with a string of "pearls" inside. Of course, at lunch a couple of hours later Mom didn't eat much, but the CNA always gives her a nutrition drink after, which she enjoys. And when it was time to leave, an activity was starting with one of her favorite activity people, so I was able to simply leave. Goodbye is very, very hard for Mom. blfenton, it was the best move that could have happened. It's too bad Mom wasn't the one making the decision. She could have had so much fun (and we would all have been less stressed) had she done it when she was 90. Things happened pretty quickly after she turned 91. I'm glad your MIL is considering it, and I hope she makes the move. Everyone I know who has done so, is glad they did, and most wish they'd done it sooner.

Cynthia, you gave me study material to make these cold, wet spring days go by happier, thanks. It's been so cold and wet that I only have half my spring pruning completed so far. The magnolias got zapped by a late frost on Tuesday night, more frosts expected until mid-May. The oldtimers maintain that we can get a frost until Memorial Day. Hey, I'm one of them now! I did take my two beloved Reeves turtles out of the refrigerator, concluding their annual winter, "brumation," today, (only mammals hibernate, reptiles and amphibians brumate...same difference! IMHO! 😁), and they're now in their turtle tub, outside in 49°F, and light rain. Otis' eyes seem to have become infected over winter. Their eyelids are swollen shut. I dote over these two little buddies, Otis and Merle, but you can't be on top of everything. Turtles are tough, tough creatures, though, so his recovery is expected. Here's a video of a Reeves turtle (the Japanese sub-species as seen in the video, is almost black and larger than the Chinese, continental, lighter colored nominate species which mine are, diminutive adults now at just under 4", shell length....very little, but loaded with personality, for a turtle!). It's the same breed as my two, who is skate boarding. It's hilarious! Focusing attention/affection onto a person or completely other species, such as the cat in the video, is not uncommon among turtles, as is the case in this video. m.youtube.com/watch?v=bVbtAYPSapw&pp=OgcJCdgAo7VqN5tDtD Moses.