Wow, Connie, I don't even know what to say. I've never heard of anything so mean-spirited! I feel so badly for you. Incredibly odd town--don't think for a minute that you've done anything in the wrong--it's a great idea. What about trying in a different, possibly bigger town? God bless you and lots and lots of hugs going your way, sweetie. I will be praying for your dh to find another job elsewhere as quickly as possible.
My goodness, Norma, your poor sister! That is a very good plan. Sounds like your garden is coming along nicely. Lemon basil...I used to grow it and use it sprinkled over cucumber, mozzarella, and tomato chunks, with a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, cracked pepper and sea salt...heaven!
We have a friend in another town, that fundraises all the time. He will help us. All fundraising will be done outside of this town. The community has made themselves clear. We are bowing out.
__________________
"Do the best that you can where you are, and be kind." by Scott Nearing
Well its late but I wanted to come on and say hi. We took yds to the dentist which was frugal because our insurance pays for 2 cleanings each year.
We went car shopping. Our truck is getting too expensive to run and we test drove a used car. I don't know if we can afford the insurance on another auto but we are planning on calling the insurance company in the morning and seeing how much it would raise our insurance. I hate going into debt but its one of those situations where you can't win either way. I just pray we make the right decision.
Not much frugal today. I used a free deodorant sample, got some reduced hb meat and got some items for 50percent off at the grocery store. I guess the best deal was getting tp at 50percent off for the store brand. I bought 4, 24 roll pks of it.
I fixed dh and ds sandwiches made with free sandwich meat I had gotten a while back so that was frugal.
Jacki, we don't have the Boggle game. When my son moved into his older brother's bedroom a while back he said he didn't want any of his games but I saved some of them back anyway. When he wanted to play monopoly I said you told me to get rid of it but then I told him I have saved it. I wish I had a basement or an attic to keep things the kids have outgrown but the way its always been I have had to get rid of most of their things as they outgrew them or didn't want them since I don't have places to store stuff. I wish I had kept my kids books for my future grandbabies. Some of them I can tell you still from memory because I read them so much. I try to spend as much time as I can with him because it all goes by so fast and then they are grown. I am sorry about the loss of your dh's grandmother. I hope your dh and fil make the trip safely.
Anna, I hope everything will work out well for your nephew. I am sure its a hard situation.
Lisa, the carpooling is a good idea. I talked to dh about it the other day. The problem with his work is there are only 4 of them that work the shift dh is on and only one from our area. They have the men leave early a lot of times and some has to stay so that wouldn't work for him.
Well I had better start the dishwasher and go to bed. Take care everyone.
Norma, you do what you have to do where the lawn is concerned. It's ridiculous when you can't get a man in the family to do anything! I hope your sister is feeling some better from her TIA at least?
Thanks everyone for all the birthday wishes. Her game got rained out after we were there a full inning and she said my birthday wasn't that much fun. I told her she had her fun yesterday with family over and ice cream cake and presents. She then completely turned around and said I was right, it doesn't matter about the rain out.
And Norma, thanks again for your support for everyone's support actually. Yes, funds are getting really tight but he will not break me, I won't allow it. He, the ex, almost forgot Alyssa's birthday and he sent me a text message at about 5 pm stating he'd almost forgot and this madness has to stop. I didn't send anything back but I really was itching to send one that said don't blame me for your inability to remember your childrens' birthdays. I have not had any contact with him since that one Friday he did the text message frenzy.
Well my friends, enjoy your strawberries and cherries and even peaches and lemons. I'm just getting a kick watching my garden all of a sudden spring to life! We need to plant a few more things and need to do it this week so they'll get a good start.
I'm off to bed. Hugs to you all my good friends!
Lisa
__________________ Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old, and Lazarus was dead...Now, what's YOUR excuse? Can God use you or not?---God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the CALLED
I am so sorry to hear that things are going so badly for you and your family... I can't imagine living in a town that is so mean spirited. Here in Columbus there are some kind of fundraisers it seems every week. We were asked yesterday as a business to sponsor a box dirty car I think?? It was $125.00 and we'd get our name on the box car. Unfortunately with us saving every penny to get a new car, that money is just not available. A young college student a few weeks ago and a co worker at a restaurant in the short north of Columbus tried to stop a patron from leaving without paying a $100 tab, he ran over both the ladies. The college student is paralyzed for life, they had a big fundraiser at all the restaurants this past weekend. They had out tip jars.
It's thundering and heavy rain here so I'm not going to be on long but I did want to send out my support to you Connie.
Jamie
Thanks for the sympathetic shoulder, it's been a stressful few days and right now I'm not speaking to my middle sister. I can't believe we were raised in the same family, she is so unrelenting. We weren't raised like that. My little sister who has had her fair share of falling off the wagon is still a very loving person and really when the chips are down, I know no matter where she's at she'd come to me if I needed her. My middle sister I'm not so sure about.
Norma
Your lawn care idea sounds like a good one and perhaps now is a good time to start thinking some creative ideas to reduce the size of your sisters yard. I've been puzzling on that one myself as we have a huge yard with 5 trees in the backyard as we get older it's not going to be so easy to run around out there. I'm thinking gradually adding pebbles or bricks to reduce the size especially around the trees in the back as it's hard even now to duck underneath and get around them mowing. Definitely some lower branch trimming is in order this fall.
EllenMelon
Where are you???
Anna
__________________ We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
I can sympathize with the AC war, dh and I have it all year round. He wants it sub zero, I leave it off as much as possible. Winter I want the heat up, he wants it down.
One very good tip a engineer friend gave me a long time ago.... close all the rooms you aren't in door's. Air Conditioner works harder to cool all that space including closets and make sure your basement door is shut, you don't need to cool the basement.
Anna
__________________ We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
to you danstigerangel!!!!! I hope you have a wonderful day!!!!
Anna, I'm so sorry your middle sister is being like that. She's m ising out on just having family close, maybe some day she'll realize it, hopefully sooner rather than later. I think it's wonderful that you are supporting your younger sister. I'm sure she appreciates that so much.
We had storms off and on thru the night but now the sun is coming up and it's somewhat cooler. I need to hop in the shower to get ready for work and start the carpooling!
I wish you all a peaceful day. Will check in when I can.
Lisa
__________________ Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old, and Lazarus was dead...Now, what's YOUR excuse? Can God use you or not?---God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the CALLED
I have won the AC war here. A while back I installed a programmable thermostat, and NO ONE ELSE in the house knows how to program it! (that is me doing a very evil laugh). DH would set it on 60 if it were up to him. I have it on 73 which means that upstairs it is about 80, even with fans on, but downstairs it's cool.
Lauri, have a super happy birthday!
Lisa, good going on the carpool Now that it's summer it should be easier to carpool, without all the afterschool stuff the kids are into.
NOT frual was forgetting to take the bag with the MEAT in it, out of my van yesterday after shopping. Sigh.
Norma, I bet your friend would do your sister's "meadow" that one time only, if she let him post a lawn sign advertising his new business!! Sorry things are rough for her right now.
Jacki, we have Boggle too! My Big DS and I love to play cutthroat Boggle. I'll have to get that back out after his final exams are over. He doesn't need an excuse to get away from schoolwork right now!
My sympathies to you on the loss of your DH's grandmother. I hope you & your DH have many happy memories of time spent with her that you can treasure forever.
to you danstigerangel!!!!! I hope you have a wonderful day!!!! 
Now that it's summer it should be easier to carpool, without all the afterschool stuff the kids are into.
NOT frual was forgetting to take the bag with the MEAT in it, out of my van yesterday after shopping. 
Sigh.
Lauri
