It feels more like late August here. The temperatures have been warm, but not unbearable during the day, and cool at night. Absolutely perfect weather!

Laurie

My wife has a friend who suffered from a major stroke several months back, and he has no family here, so all the decisions needed to be made by an ex who lives on another continent. He needs around-the-clock care, and doesn't appear that he'll recover enough to care for himself. Because he didn't plan in advance, none of his friends here can say anything about his care... it's frustrating for everyone, and I'm sure it's not the way he wanted things to end up.

And happy birthday, Boo! 🤣

Our weather has fortunately been pretty even-keel. Some sun, not too hot, not too windy. We did have a tornado warning last week sent via emergency broadcast through our phones (like an Amber Alert). Crazy enough, people were out walking their dogs *while it was thunder storming* and with multiple tornado alerts. 😮 😮 

If you make sure the tub is clean you have the use of left over water for a bath by adding hot water to it, or keeping it cool for a cool down place in hot weather! 

That was a great question Chelly! We had a 25 minute power outage the other night & I've always kept flashlights in every room in case of an outage. Well, they sure came in very handy in the storm & power outage we had on the 23rd!!  

Thanks for asking! 

Eric, if you do go out in full on mask, I want to see photos!. Ugh!  We have Heavy smoke here between 3 major fires, including one huge one from the U S. fire that has now crossed the border into into B.C. Canadas "rugged terrain" yesterday afternoon. 

Like you Eric, if we don't need to be outside we just don't go either.  When it comes to burning eyes, eye drops win hands down! Lol! 

Yesterday we baked a large lasagna pan size of a raisen bars and or any dried fruit I put in place of the typical matrimonial/date squares, made now only with a raisen & creamy type fruity sauce center with crumbs on top & its so very yummy!  Today we will cut it into pieces and deliver to our elderly neighbours who are also stuck at home. It's a good way to check on these lovely folks & let them know we care. 

I guarentee this only seems like a book! Lolol ...

My son & I volunteer ourselves to do yard work for some elderly neighbours & I help a widowed elderly lady with some of her back bending weeding, also hoping to extend their/her stay in their own homes. If you can help an elderly couple just go do it. Sometimes its as simple as alleviating the weeds growing between rocks on a front yard . Here, known as rockscaping. She's well into her 80's & I can bend easier then she can so, why not?  Being diabetic  we check on Her frequently especially in these 90°f. plus temps. Sometimes I've waited for her to leave the house then go & attack her yard so she comes home & that job is mysteriously taken care of for her.  Well, until someone else tells on me! 

This topic is heavey on my heart, so here it is... How have you planned for your future? No, this is not a commercial for life insurance.  

One of our elderly neighbours is going thru a rough time with a spouse who is now in much needed permanent care & they didn't fully understand the word permanent for the spouse. So, something to really think about and really look into for yourselves are the rules to assisted living and make SURE! YOUR!! wishes are known to your family to prevent the stresses they are going through.  What do YOU want done when you can no longer care for yourself personally at home. In this case, after a person has been admitted to full on care, the spouse can only take them home overnight if they have another far more capable family member who can help that person up if they fall down, staying overnight & all day as well.  You are only allowed so many "lift assist calls" before further assessments  are completed on the one needing up and assessments for the spouse, are also done including drivers licenseing on their ability to move that fallen loved one.  My elderly friend can't change her mind on him staying in care now & if they try to keep him home again, social services and police would be called by the assisted care home to take him back to assisted care, so different then assisted living where you can come & go as you please!! And this is to someone who has the majority of his marbles functioning.  Both are over age 88. 

If your considering assisted living of any kind... Get the papers you'll be signing ahead of time, read & question them before you need to sign on the line. Go tour places & talk to those living there.

Knowing in advance what the rules are once admitted are key to surviving being admitted & all the adjustments needed to be made right down to labeling all clothing items with your name on them.  My heart about breaks for these two as "rules" were misunderstood. So do yourselves a favor & look into what different levels of care mean for you.  Have those very hard conversations with your spouse & your children too before choices are made for YOU !!  Having the loyal ones involved from the start are key to surviving these life style changes.  I mean, do you want your kids wiping your butt? One or two times you might need help, but everyday bcuz the muscles can't work down there anymore, or diapering you, showering you, feeding you??  If you have willing helpful capable adult children its another story but no one needs resentment building bcuz we can't function on our own anymore.  

My own Mom is fortunate bcuz she has 5 kids. We all help in one way or another when we can. My Dad amazingly provided for Mom to stay at home with liscensed care givers on a rotating schedule between my siblings & light house keeping when my sisters need a break... they are all doing fabulous for Mom.  Dad also provided for veterinary care for the dogs.  

Its also important to not allow one child to carry all the weight, have two do the business end and ALL help when we/they  can & watch each other for signs of needing a break & make sure breaks are taken.  I can't help much with my Moms personal  needs as I'm 5 hours away by car. I had promised my Dad well before any sign of cancer or dementia arrived,  that if they ever needed a loving home for their two little dogs that I would gladly take one or both the dogs.

Missy... is my little girl dog, she's 6 years old & is a sweet Maltese × shitzu & so fun, active and bonus, she just loves Gwen & Gwen loves her!! Gwen is 2 months younger then Missy.  My siblings requested that I take one of Moms two dogs home with us in March. Boo,  Weighing far too much for her back little legs to lift her off the floor and showing signs of arthritis & bad teeth & constant begging for food! Once home here, I fed her Missys diet of chicken, rice & dog safe veggies & fruit & lots of very slow walks, tons of love & attention, Gwens been amazing with Boo too.  But, I did not realize or know that Boo she'd her fur & she is my first shedding dog, ugh! I'm allergic to shedding dogs.  she is brushed out almost daily by me. A local dog groomer told me about a de-shedding shampoo & what a difference that has made.   She joined us weighing in at 24.8 pounds!  Last weigh in, she weighed 20.3 pounds. She can go up & down stairs now,  runs on walks & is often the first pup to the door to go for a walk. My siblings can't believe she is the same dog!! I mean this girl dog has hips now & can put a wiggle on like no bodies business, that tail is a happy tail too.  She can tell the time! As soonvas we are in̈the kitchen in the mornings she gets her first treat if the day!! At 11 a.m. she gets some yogurt, Missy too ofcourse, by 4 p.m. daily shes in front of me pawing me first for some attention, she actually does this frequently in the day but when it comes to meals it's a different message from her! lolol! at 10 p.m. nightly, shes back letting me know its time for a few mini milk bones & Denta Stix for brushing her teeth.  She can really let me know of I'm late on dinner. I've never had such a food motivated dog! She looks more like a cocker spaniel then a shitzu & her colours are so golden with the tell tail senior graying around her mouth & face.  Today  Boo is 13 years old, HaPpY BiRtHdAy Boo ! 🎂 

I'd love to know about your pets? Do they keep you on schedule too??? Do you do their grooming by yourself or take them to a groomer? Home made dinners or kibble ? ... Cats are welcome here too... 

Have a great day everyone & stay safe!

Or... I could freak the neighbours out and get one of those full-face respirator masks! 🤣 

There are certainly a lot of gargoyles in that photo! Wow! I asked Google what the purpose of gargoyles were back in the day, I already knew, but was curious to see what it would say... I admit to laughing when it said to use as "down spouts for water" , I didn't know that, and to warn of the dangers of sin, this I knew & to ward off evil spirits.  

I  best get on with my day!  I walk the dogs about this time as its cooler for about another hour. 😎 

Being a new widow with a new Ostomy only a few weeks before becoming a widowed & then stumbling on your site a few years in was a game changer for me!!  I read your story & I was so moved by the honesty in it that I joined to become a member. I'm not a member anywhere else,  here only. I most always keep a small sticky pad in my purse with this VO address on it and I encourage anyone I can to check you/us out here,  I even give the addy to people who have friends with an ostomy so they can give a check here too. Maybe we should all pick a day to hang out occasionally in the constipation remedy isle of a pharmacy to poach new members or to hang out by the till checking out ostomy purchases & reach out to them! Lol! 

You do a great work here Eric & I so appreciate the chance to be a member! I appreciate everyone of the members here too. 

Thank you ALL! 

Hey Linda , we do collect seashells and most countries in Europe(EU) have the same currency,  the euro , so no problems on that front sine Ireland is part of the EU 

and no money left in our piggy  banks,  we spent 7 weeks in total away and it cleaned us out but was so worth it ,

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gbnd7gcjWfAdtc5q6

vid of fluffy dog 

and photo of church in St Pol de Leon with some gaegoyles, 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/dYB2LDKS4DhZHmqd7

if you like old churned history in general ,

France is a great place to start,  that church has part of it that are in place since the 13th century