Community Chat

[Bird mama]

Freddie - feffernewtons (lol) are like a German spice cookie

The ones I ate by Stella D'Oro were powder sugared covered and looked like this:

I've seen some that look like they have a harder, glazed like covering like this (yech - lol)

I know, some of these things look like boiled eggs don't they?

[Bird mama]

Broke my heart when Stella D'oro stopped making these

[Bird mama]

Hi Fencers - I'm back to work for 3 days, then off 4 (lol). After New Year I'll probably go into shock when I have to work a full 5 days. It was nice to have clear skies and watch the sunrise this morning. I just looked out the window and saw some snow flurries. I don't think they lasted more than 5 minutes.

[Winifred]

Bird mama, how is that new desktop doing? Also appreciate you explaining those cookies. One would think I would have known something about them having lived in Germany for three years - and I grew to love their food. Boy oh boy!!!

Not as cold this morning as yesterday morning - perhaps a good 5 to 10 degrees warmer - if you can use that word - this morning than yesterday. Yesterday I sat here with gloves on and that does not work any too well - my hands were blocks of ice - not so this morning. We may get some rain today and then tonight the temps really dive and they say we will have snow. Brrrr.

Stripes did not come in last night - never did find him and he has been hovering as he is not any too comfy when it is so cold. He must have found a corner somewhere to snuggle in - course we did not have those horrible winds last night either. Just went out and looked again and he is not there. That macho drives me crazy sometimes.

My neighbors have two rescue bunnies - one died - it got parvo. I suggested they get shots for their bunnies and they say they cannot afford them. Well I cannot afford them either but still get them for all FIVE critters here at my house. They will probably lose the other one also now. And they just adopted a rescue doggie - but it came with shots and chip. Shame on me but I reminded them his shots have to be renewed in a year.

Brought along a jug of coffee - fixed some blueberry bagels so you all had best hurry. Have a great day everyone.

[Bird mama]

Freddie, thanks for the bagels and coffee - it's cold here (finally) and the coffee is delish. It just hit me that I rambled alot on this thread this month and wasn't clear most of the time. I bought the desktop in 2012 and still love it as much today as when I bought it.

The scarey thing about Parvo is it's contagious to other animals. Your neighbors don't realize they are putting other animals at risk, especially if they keep the rabbits outside.

Keeping birds is relatively inexpensive but I can remember when my dog Max got older and needed surgery to remove kidney stones. You rob Peter to pay Paul sometimes. When Max needed an MRI I remember my DH putting half the cost on his credit card and me putting the other half on mine.

I'm one of these people who make sure my pets eat before I do. Good thing I was not born with a big appetite LOL.

[Queenofo2]

Hey gang. As usual this time of year I've had another episode with lung problems. I've never really got over the problems that started in Oct when my doc wanted to hospitalize me with pneumonia and I resisted. I did improve, but never really got back to what for me is somewhat normal......that cough just never went away nor did what I am sure was some infection. I got worse and tried to fight with home remedies, but finally realized that I was just going to have to go back to the doctor. I couldn't see my doc yesterday so saw a new man yesterday and he ordered a shot, prednisone, and an antibiotic. I am feeling much better today though my cough is not much better, but hopefully it will improve as the days go on. Anyway, I just have not felt like posting nor really enjoying the holiday. Our plans for company Christmas Eve obviously went out the window, but this sort of thing is so typical of me since childhood at this time of year so I wasn't surprised. Thankfully I'm better so enough from the medical center

Years ago I worked with another girl whose mother made Christmas cookies that sound like the ones you mentioned Bird Mama. I distinctly remember the anise and how much I liked the cookie, unlike anything I'd ever eated. I'm sure I knew at the time what she called them, but after all these years don't remember, but it makes me wonder if they were the same cookie. Mmmmmm. Makes me hungry just thinking about them.

Bird Mama, hope you've enjoyed your mini vacation and also hope your family is all feeling much better.

Just checked our temp and it's 6 degrees. There was some snow on the ground when I got up this morning and a few flakes fell, but we never got much more. No precipitation is expected tomorrow, but the temp is not expected to go very high. Interestingly yesterday it was lovely, almost balmy when I went to the doctor and I knew it was supposed to get bad today hence my reason for seeing a new doc yesterday when I could have seen mine today. Was not going to get out with the cold expected and as it turned out to be a reality.

Hope Stripes decides to come in tonight, but cats have a knack for finding cozy little hidey holes.

Happy Tuesday all. Sue

[Bird mama]

Sue, my mom had COPD and my middle sister spontaneously had a pneumothorax (lung collapse) when she was 30. We had 2 hospitals stays for her (sister), a chest tube and that awful pump attached to it. Based on all of that, it seems change of season, especially summer into fall, really causes problems with lungs. My sister is fine and never had another one, but she has to be careful when it is cold and windy. I tell her all the time, wear a scarf! I was the one who drove her to the hospital when her lung collapsed and I will never forget the date (March 11, 1990) or weather conditions near midnight that night. Fog so think you couldn't see your hand in front of you. I was blessed because when I put her in my car and got my mom in the back seat, all I said to both of them was close your eyes and relax. I turned my headlights on, hit the gas and never stopped. I mean I didn't stop at the end of the block, I didn't stop at any lights and hit that freeway with a vengeance. God was with me and cleared all people and traffic. The only time I did stop that car was when I approached the ER entrance and actually drove over the black mat that triggered the doors to open. My sister stepped out into the doorway of the hospital.

I vaguely remember a security guard screaming stop (lol). Not for nothing, after that experience, that particular hospital installed concrete poles around the entrance of the ER doorway .

Although I'm not one for reincarnation, I've often joked that I was an ambulance driver in another life. I've driven my aunt to the hospital while having a heart episode, I've driven my dad to the hospital after his appendix ruptured.

[Epicurean]

Well, went yesterday for my second mama gram for this week. turned out O.K., just careful because of my family history. Oh, did I mention the latest in my saga!,??? I am losing my hair. Not just a little, but a lot on the very top. my Dr. Gave me a medicated shampoo plus a RX to use at night, but I am going to see a Dermo., just too be sure. Hope you all have a Happy and Healthy New Year!!!!

[Bird mama]

Epi, this must be the year for call backs on the mammos. Mine involved in depth ultrasound because of tissue asymmetry. I didn't think being lopsided was a big deal, but I guess the actual tissue inside looked suspicious.

I am so sorry that you are experiencing hair loss. I hope the dermatologist can help you out. I don't know if this would be helpful - I've been taking a biotin supplement for nearly 2 years. When I started seeing what I perceived to be more hair in the drain than usual, I thought it could be stress or finally post menopause was catching up with me. When I found out my thyroid was jacked up the endocrinologist asked if I lost hair. I said, not since I starting taking biotin supplements daily. I was also lucky that the synthroid didn't make me lose hair either. It may not do a thing for my nails, but I think the biotin (I use Nature Made brand) helps my hair.

I'm a natural redhead who doesn't dye her hair. When I was a kid I remember all the older ladies with red hair had thin hair and it instilled in me a fear of losing my red hair. Heck for all I know, their hair could have been dyed.

[Bird mama]

My wish and prayer for all the Back Fencers is that we have better health, more calm, less family drama and increased prosperity in the new year. I also pray for peace - domestic and foreign.