Southern Porch Extension

[Verna]

Yes, Edy, we can have backyard barbecues, but our backyard isn't very big right now! We've lived for eight years in a Townhome development--not with swimming pool. Actually, at our age now, I like our home situation. It's nice to look out my window and see folks mowing and trimming and seeding, etc. Before this neighborhood it was a neighborhood in the country with some regulations. We had an acre, and my husband enjoyed working in the yard. We don't have to go far to find clotheslines though, ; )

[ready2go]

I had some business to take care of at a bank this morning. On my way out I pressed the latch handle on one of the big double doors and pushed. It didn't move.

Considering our very cold temperatures today, I figured it was just stuck on some ice. I pushed again, only harder. Again, nothing.

Then, I noticed the sign right in front of my face saying, "Use other door." I looked around to see if anyone was watching, then, made a quick exit through the correct door.

Don

[BeachGrandma]

I can see the sheepish look on your face, Don.

Edy, I'm sorry I've been using your color font. Honestly, I've been trying for weeks to get the aqua color I used at the beginning but I can't seem to find it. I think now I'll go to a dark, dark blue (a deeper shade than Don's blue) and see if that works.

I received the 10 copies of the newly published "God Makes Lemonade" book that will be on the shelves for Mother's Day. I thought the cover was a little too simple but I hope it sells anyway. My story "Angels With Chain Saws" is included in it and I was satisfied with the changes they made in the story. I feel that the new publisher, Thomas Nelson, will do a better job editorially than the previous publisher. They lowered the price for each story they print (it's now $200 rather than $250) but that's ok.

Laurie, I'm so glad your surgery is behind you and pray your recovery will be painless and short. I'm glad your mother is with you now.

My blood test this week shows my hemoglobin is still at 9.5, just what it was 3 months ago. I was mistaken when I said I thought normal was something like 21-30. Rather, it's something like 12-19 or whatever. (Maybe Edy would know.) I was disappointed in this latest reading because I've been trying hard to eat the right things and also taking an iron supplement.

Sleep well, y'all.

[Edy]

Dear BeachGrandma, no need to be sorry - I actually got a chuckle out of it. I figured you were trying to be anonymous, or something.

Hemoglobin normals for men run higher than for women, but I don't remember exact numbers. Around 12 is adequate for them and good for women, is all I remember for sure. I think they can go as high as 16. After Howard's bypass surgery, his was 7.8 and he got by without a transfusion, but just barely. His sweet little nurse from Poland told him to eat beets and almonds and he'd do just fine. So, that's a recommendation for your diet, dear girl. I hope you like both!

Now, let's see if we can find your favorite color (the ID for mine is #008000, and for this color #008040 - perhaps the one you used, which is perhaps too close to notice the difference?)

The above #008040, is one color box to the right of mine, and this is #008080, two boxes to the right of mine.

Let's try one down from #008040, which is #408040

...and one down from #008080, which is #408080

One more to try: #004040 which is four color boxes to the left of mine

But, I do think you found a lovely alternate color in that periwinkle/lavender!

[ready2go]

My color matches my blue eyes, so I have dibs on that one.

However, anyone else can use it too. They would just have to pay me hefty royalty fees. Let's see here: a dollar a word should do it.

Don

[Edy]

I get a kick out of your great sense of humor, Don!

[Verna]

I've done that too often, Don, and turned around to see someone smirking at me.

Mariane, are you eating iron-rich foods? I'll let you have all the liver that's ever on my plate. I'm so proud of you for meeting the creative requirements for God Makes Lemonade. I've tried several times, but somehow, nobody picked me for the team!

Edy, I'm just impressed you alluse color. I don't even see any place to choose one. . .and do you have to choose it every time?

We went from 80 last week to low 40's this week, but it's fine with me with the sunshine brightening the world.

[Edy]

Verna, yes you do have to select your font color every time, just as you would the italic or bold feature. When you go to post, along the top of the writing field you'll see a bunch of little boxes (bold, italic, underline, etc.) ending with the last box "Font colour." Click on that to find a bunch of colored boxes to choose from.

Then highlight your entry to adjust your entry as you please. I first click on the B for bold, because I think it makes the colors easier to read. Then click the color you want. You may have to trial-and-error to find the color you like best.

So, this would be how your final message would look (minus the spaces, which I added so you could see my "original").

[color=#BF00BF] [ b ] Howdy! [/b] [ /color ]

[ready2go]

Well, it's 5:15am here on our frozen tundra and I have already been busy.

I just finished baking a half-dozen apple/cinnamon doughnuts made from a King Arthur mix. After they cool a bit, I'll make a vanilla/powdered sugar/butter glaze for them. A couple of them for breakfast will be tasty!

In 2-3 hours I plan to toss some bone-in country-style pork ribs into the slow-cook crock pot for dinner tonight. They'll cook over a bed of sliced onions and in a sauce using a recipe I've never tried before, but it looks like it would be good (brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, garlic, ketchup, ground ginger, red pepper flakes, and more). The left-overs will be great, plus, sandwiches made from the ribs will be good, too.

Y'all come on over. There'll be some good eat'n around here today.

Don

[BeachGrandma]

Go ahead, Don, make me feel guilty! What I should do is forward a copy of your post about cooking to John to let him know all the trouble you go through to prepare nutritious and delicious meals. John knows the names of every frozen prepared entre in every store within 25 miles of our house. Cooking is a four-letter word to him and if I weren't around, I'm sure he'd have every breakfast at McDonalds, every lunch at Hardees and every dinner at BoJangles. I applaud you for being health conscious and experimenting with new recipes all the time.

As for me, I didn't get enough sleep last night so I'll try to get in a few more winks now.

[Verna]

Good morning to all!

[BeachGrandma]

Good morning, dear friend Verna!

Are you all interested in having a drawing for the last "God Makes Lemonade" book that I'm ready to give away?

If so, the drawing will be next Tuesday night, March 26 at 6 pm. It's open to anyone, whether they frequent the porch or not.

Just pick a number between 1 and 25. Th number or the entry closest to that number will get the comp book by mail.

I just asked my grandson to write a number between 1 and 25 and put it in an envelope. Next Tuesday night I'll ask him to reveal it. Ooooooh Big Surprise!!! I can feel the tension rising!!

Pick your number now and post it, ok?

[ready2go]

Go ahead, Don, make me feel guilty! What I should do is forward a copy of your post about cooking to John to let him know all the trouble you go through to prepare nutritious and delicious meals. John knows the names of every frozen prepared entre in every store within 25 miles of our house. Cooking is a four-letter word to him and if I weren't around, I'm sure he'd have every breakfast at McDonalds, every lunch at Hardees and every dinner at BoJangles. I applaud you for being health conscious and experimenting with new recipes all the time.

Mariane, I don't mean to cause any trouble, but the ribs slow cookin' in my crock pot are starting are starting to smell so good I can hardly stand it. And, there are several hours left for them to cook.

Don

[Verna]

Mariane, I'll take number 6. You can catch me at Don's. His dinner sounds better than mine, so my sweetie and I will put our snowshoes on and head his way.

[Edy]

Verna, you're so cute! And, I see you in living color, now!

Mariane, I'll pick my favorite number 17 - it's the age I wanted to stay all my life. I even wrote a "Farewell to Seventeen" in my journal as I tearfully watched the hands on the clock slipping toward midnight on April 23rd, my birthday eve.

BeachGrandma, are you also the person who introduced me to Eva Cassidy? I found this song, and I cannot get enough of it. If anyone needs a prompt for a good cry, her singing will do it. Did you know they did a Nightline special about her life? Here's the links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDy3lQYPzS4 (I know you by heart)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXU219b3Zdw (Nightline)