SUPPER CLUB - Tuesday, Dec 19th

[purrfect-lady]

Good morning,

We have pouring rain here this morning. Makes for nasty working conditions for the crews at the train wreck site. It is about 30 miles south of us. One bit of good news, the number of lives lost was originally reported to be 6 but late yesterday that was reduced to 3. I-5 is completely blocked southbound. They have two detours, one past our house and one through JBLM (military base) and both take about two hours. What a mess it all is. Massive cranes were brought in overnight and have begun removing the 13 derailed cars, some of them dangling from the overpass. It's a slow process as they have to preserve evidence, make sure the overpass is sturdy, and trying to preserve the roadbed. We have never had an accident of this magnitude in our area.

And later this morning, we'll be out on I-5, northbound,taking my brother to Seattle for two doctor appointments. It's going to be a long day. we won't be getting home until about 8pm so my neighbor will have to come in to potty and feed our furry crew.

CHICKIE - Happy birthday to Daniel!! Where does the time go?? happy for the report on Lint and Blackie. I was thinking of them yesterday and meant to ask you. It's a wonder you get anything done at all with all the fur-folk you so lovingly care for.

LINDA - glad to see you! And what fun to visit your special family and your god-daughter and make some new old memories. thank you for sharing a photo. I hope the weather behaves for you to get away to Yosemite. Since you posted such a nice picture and had such a nice time, I'm going to give you a pass on your supper last night. But that's it for the rest of the year!

BECCA - glad your DH is improving. But the Chest PhysioTherapy (CPT) is still a good idea for him. The more he can clear from his chest, the sooner he will be well. Sorry, I'm not a gingersnap person, but Late DH#2 loved them. So I made them for him. I should ask Bill if he likes them, I suppose. We've only been married 25 years. But I'm afraid he'll say yes! His all time favorite is oatmeal raisin.

TINA - you are rockin' now! Shopping done! Travel trailer moved for Kevin! quilt tops finished and one quilted! You go, girl! I wonder what's going on with your mom. Perhaps she's simply annoyed that you didn't do what SHE wanted this weekend so is vying for your attention now . . Let us know.

JANA - I've seen those coin offers and they always look like scams to me. Fortunately, my dad was suspicious of everybody (even me!) so he didn't fall for that kind of thing. But the scammers make it look so honest.

VELDA - I haven't seen a recipe for bars like Payday Candybars. They sound delicious! Care to share that recipe??

IRISH - your days sound busier now than ever. I love those towels that are cut in half with the crochet'd top. They are great gifts for everyone in your family. I use them in the house and in the trailer. I have a pattern to make them with fabric, not crochet, and I should get that pattern out and get busy myself.

BECKY - glad you have some good help with your crowd and all the chores they generate. Sounds like a festive time looming in your house! I miss the chaos of family around, Bill and I try to do something fun together on Christmas Day. One year we spent all day writing a script to include all the goofy gifts my sister sent us (thrift shop gags, mostly), and then videotaped a little movie of us using all the gifts. some of it was pretty funny. Then we mailed the VCR tape to my sister as our 'thank you'. so we manage to amuse ourselves even without family around. (but I'd prefer the family!)

I have no supper plan. Since we'll be home so late, so we might stop somewhere along the way and get something with my brother and nephew. My nephew is the one who had the brain tumor in October. He's still not driving much - just back roads that he knows very well. So since Bill knows Seattle, this is why we are doing the driving today - and probably to any/all other future appointments Albert has in Seattle. But so wonderful that despite his own problems, Jeff is there for his dad, being a solid support. Anyway - no cooking tonite.

What's the deal in your kitchen tonite?

[Becca]

Hello everyone,sunny & Supposed to be 66.I’ll not complain.

Maryz I love oatmeal raisin but hardly ever make them.DH is improving daily.
Safe travels and prayers for DB& DN.Great he’s able to support his Dad.

Jana Don’t get me started on telemarketers.My Dad Was conned by them.My DB & I Both tried to get him to stop but no he continued.I too could see them getting what they deserve and be very happy.My Dad lost Thousands.We Have no clue how much.

Irish It was mentioned on here about receiving mail with all kinds of names.Heres a sample of how some of ours have been addressed.Aunt & Unc,Papa & Nana ,Grandma & Papa.The list goes on.It amazes me that we even receive them.I too love those towels.Wish I was an accomplished crocheted.Hope your day is good.

Tina You are really making progress on all those quilts.Glad DS got the camper.

Linda Have a great vacation even if there’s no snow.Thats a beautiful story about the family.I loved lots of my grade school teachers .
And the quilts are beautiful I know.

Chickie Its Amazing you can squeeze in any quilting with all your farm duties.

Well it’s another day of no idea what to cook.Maybe a burger for DH.He mentioned them yesterday.And chicken tender for me ,Will adda veggie.Lots of goodies here. Becca

[FarmChick]

Good morning! We are gloomy again, but warming to upper 50s today. Saturday will be a temperature crash, and Christmas will be frigid. I guess that’s the season.

That train wreck is such a sad event. I heard it was speeding almost three times faster than limit there. Now, I do have a question: if it’s a high-speed train, why is there a 30 mph limit on the tracks? Why weren’t they built for speed? I’m sure heads will be rolling, and the train didn’t have the positive control to avoid the over speeding. What were they thinking?

Lint and Blackie are out there again this morning and got a bucket of sweet feed. They were standing at the gate hollering at me—impudent and impatient critters!!! I love them!!!

I can’t believe where time went with Daniel… 19 years! What a surprise to get a call to go to the delivery room and begin the adoption processes from there for my DD and DSIL!

Linda—what a great photo! How neat to have students and parents to visit! I often wonder what happened to my teachers from elementary school.

Tina—hope you get a chance to catch your breath now that your quilts are almost finished. Don’t let your mom get you down!

Becca—hope your DH continues to improve! I wonder if I could do those towels… I can only do a basic stitch. I have one hanging on my stove handle now. They are essential!

Irish—glad you got a roast beef sandwich! You are a good mama!!! Have fun with the towels! They are essential kitchen accessories!

Jana—my late DH couldn’t resist the TV ads that said “call 1-800-xxx-xxxx . Usually we had nothing but junk from the scams. It drove me crazy and about broke! No gold, that’s for sure!!!

Vel—I’ve heard of those candies! PayDay is one of my favorite candy bars. If you share the recipe, I’ll be copying it too…

Becky—So glad you get help with all the chores! I spent many hours with Grandma as she washed the dishes and I dried.

I’m quilting today! I finished my top yesterday afternoon and managed to get it sandwiched and pinned last evening after dinner and chores. I was a tired puppy and overslept this morning.

Mary—I hope you have an uneventful trip today and enjoy the company of your DB and DN. You have a great, supportive family! Well, YOU are the great support for ALL of them!!!

Dinner tonight… maybe tamale pie…
Bon appétit!

[auntjana]

Good morning!

First off, the train derailment. Don't believe the speed reports that are coming from that website. They are not neccesarily correct - wait for the black box. As Michael studied the pictures of the cars and the track, the train left the rails a distance before the curve. The track was moved 6 -8 feet out of alignment. Also, the way the cars left the track didn't seem right to Michael for a speed related derailment. Michael thinks that this will take about a year to solve the exact cause. By law, the speeds for any curve are calculated to handle 100 percent more than the posted speed, before a possibilty of coming off the track. Most derailments are caused by a rail problem or the flanges on the wheels climbing over the rail head. None the less, those 3 lives lost are still sad. Also not known outside the industry, is that the Obama administration, lowered the standard of safety for the train cars built by the Spanish company, who did those Talgo cars. Michael also is not a fan of the push, pull consists that railroads use on passenger lines, as it creates a safety issue. The engine on the rear of the accident train yesterday, was a much heavier engine than the lead engine and would have continued to exhert power on the train as it derailed, continuing momentum. OK, enough of today's lesson on trains.

I got the robes finished and will do all the pj bottoms today. Then this elf is done sewing! Oh the Batt Cave is in shambles in minky and flannel!

Dinner - out!

Enjoy,
Jana

Michael just taught me one more thing about that high speed Talgo train, it tilts, which adds to changing the turning moment caused by centrifugal force, which allows a higher speed around curves. He checked his speed charts for curves, and this all seemed to be close in tolerances.

[Irishgram]

Good late morning from, right now, very sunny and almost spring like, SW. Pa...But I do see some odd looking clouds down the way....

Mary, hoping for a good day today...It will be a long day but I'm sure, with your driving companions, it will be a good day...Amazing what your DN has gone through and be able to get his life back in order and also to be such a good support for his Dad...You know, you really do have a super family...
That really was a terrible train accident, any accident is bad but at this time of year, makes it worse...So Bill's favorite cookie is oatmeal raisin, I knew there was a reason I liked this guy...That to me is in a tie with the ginger snaps...Of course I do make a super cut out sugar cookie that rates up there also...And then I have a nut roll type that I like and does it sound like maybe I like cookies, home made cookies????At Cari's wedding, the cookie table was a huge hit, mainly because that was something new in that area where it's a tradition around here.....
And speaking of cookies, I just had a cup of tea and 2 pizzells (sp) that my sister made...

Becca, glad to hear your DH is improving, has to be your nursing skills and all that TLC...Isn't if funny how the "old time" Post Offices took care of things...Often we'd get cards addressed to Grammy and PapPap Q with just Larimer written on the envelope and we'd get them....I think now, people just don't want to be bothered but we sure do have a special person at our PO.....

Chickie, I agree, how do you manage to get anything done with taking care of all those 4 legged critters....Will you do me a favor and when that wintery blast comes your way, send it north and not east....

I think my tea break is over...Today is carpet scrubbing...That is if I can get the scrubber out of the basement...Terry might be stopping tonight and I might just have to wait for him to lug it up for me...But, there's always something else to do, I'm sure...Just talked to my DDIL, Cindy and she's already baked about 6 different types of cookies this morning...
Yesterday when I went to see Jim, I found him laying across his room mate's bed...He's done this before and they feel it's no big deal, the room mate is never in the room..Their policy, as long as they don't bother each other, it's OK..But, it is funny, when I get there and don't see him sitting in the sitting area, I start checking rooms and beds....

As far as dinner, there again, that's up in the air...Might have to check the freezer...........

You all have a great day............

Happy eating............

[FavoriteGrandma]

Hi ladies,
Just a quick one today, so sad about the train wreck. Prayers going out to the victim's families. Tragic any time, but especially close to Christmas.
We are having sloppy joes and fries tonight. I just can't seem to make a nice dinner after work, but it will do, I guess.
I wouldn't say I get help with ALL the chores, Miriam! And maybe I am just a little too picky for teenagers...LOL
You all enjoy your evening....Becky

[auntjana]

A fun Christmas video to watch - it is by The Piano Guys - control 500,00 lights with 88 keys - I saw Three Ships. On You tube.

It was filmed over across the valley from me, in the middle of the night and the cops did really show up. And yes, he playing the piano in the cold on the street!