Now I really did it :((

[missy]

GM girls and it's wonderful Wednesday!

@canuk-gal I am glad you might be able to cycle today. It's a bit chilly here still. I hope the repair goes smoothly for your mom's opal and how lovely you have some jewelry of hers to wear close to your heart and keep her with you always.

@mrs-b yay for a smooth and yummy flight home. What a contrast to the flight going. Welcome back! And I know you and Tim are having a most happy reunion.

@springerspaniel I hope whatever you end up deciding you enjoy a wonderful and relaxing time. Remember you have earned it and more.

@MamaBee I will keep you posted. I do not see the point if our antibodies are strong. Remember whenever you get the second booster it will eventually wane...so you want to get it at the right time. To maximize its protection. Hope that makes sense.

@Slick1 hope all is going well. Hugs to Bear and you.

@bling_dream19 I hope with each day you feel a bit better and hopefully soon you will receive good news. Sending you so many healing vibes and much love. You are in my thoughts every day.

@Austina the countdown begins. So exciting. And I love your choices.

@marcy hope you are enjoying a lovely week and not working too hard.

Hi to everyone else. Yesterday was a bit of a blur but we got a lot accomplished. Today we are going hiking as it is still a bit cool for cycling. I hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday. XOXO.

Leaving you with Sir Tommy who is just chilling. Oh, if only we could take after cats that way.

 

[MamaBee]

@missy The only thing I’m concerned about is will it be available later if we wait. I would pay out of pocket since it’s been said they don’t have the funding for everyone. I don’t even know if that’s a possibility. I just don’t want to wait and they develop a shortage.

 

[missy]

@missy The only thing I’m concerned about is will it be available later if we wait. I would pay out of pocket since it’s been said they don’t have the funding for everyone. I don’t even know if that’s a possibility. I just don’t want to wait and they develop a shortage.

My concern is what is the point of getting it if we get it too soon and then it wanes. Did you see what I posted in the other thread? Let me find it. BRB.

Relative Effectiveness of Four Doses Compared to Three Dose of the BNT162b2 Vaccine in Israel

Objectives The rapid spread of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) alongside evidence of a relatively rapid waning of the third dose prompted Israel to administer a fourth dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine on January 2022. Thus far, sufficient real-world evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of a...

www.medrxiv.org

"Conclusions A fourth dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine provided considerable additional protection against both SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe disease relative to three doses of the vaccine. However, effectiveness of the fourth dose against infection wanes sooner than that of the third dose."

 

[MamaBee]

My concern is what is the point of getting it if we get it too soon and then it wanes. Did you see what I posted in the other thread? Let me find it. BRB.

I did read that but the way I interpreted that was that if your antibodies were low to begin with it wouldn’t keep the numbers up for long. If we start with high antibodies possibly it will just top us off and keep us going longer. IDK..I decided to ask my doctor what to do because I completely trust her opinion. I’ll do what she says. She’s a very sharp cookie. I just emailed her so I should know today or tomorrow..

 

[missy]

I did read that but the way I interpreted that was that if your antibodies were low to begin with it wouldn’t keep the numbers up for long. If we start with high antibodies possibly it will just top us off and keep us going longer. IDK..I decided to ask my doctor what to do because I completely trust her opinion. I’ll do what she says. She’s a very sharp cookie. I just emailed her so I should know today or tomorrow..

Sounds like a good plan, please keep us posted!

This is an interesting article from the NYT from Feb 24 2022

Got a Covid Booster? You Probably Won’t Need Another for a Long Time (Published 2022)

A flurry of new studies suggests that several parts of the immune system can mount a sustained, potent response to any coronavirus variant.

www.nytimes.com

"
As people across the world grapple with the prospect of living with the coronavirus for the foreseeable future, one question looms large: How soon before they need yet another shot?
Not for many months, and perhaps not for years, according to a flurry of new studies.
Three doses of a Covid vaccine — or even just two — are enough to protect most people from serious illness and death for a long time, the studies suggest.
“We’re starting to see now diminishing returns on the number of additional doses,” said John Wherry, director of the Institute for immunology at the University of Pennsylvania. Although people over 65 or at high risk of illness may benefit from a fourth vaccine dose, it may be unnecessary for most people, he added.
Federal health officials have said they are not planning to recommend fourth doses anytime soon.
The Omicron variant can dodge antibodies — immune molecules that prevent the virus from infecting cells — produced after two doses of a Covid vaccine. But a third shot of the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech or by Moderna prompts the body to make a much wider variety of antibodies, which would be difficult for any variant of the virus to evade, according to the most recent study, posted online on Tuesday.


The diverse repertoire of antibodies produced should be able to protect people from new variants, even those that differ significantly from the original version of the virus, the study suggests.
“If people are exposed to another variant like Omicron, they now got some extra ammunition to fight it,” said Dr. Julie McElrath, an infectious disease physician and immunologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.


What’s more, other parts of the immune system can remember and destroy the virus over many months if not years, according to at least four studies published in top-tier journals over the past month.
Specialized immune cells called T cells produced after immunization by four brands of Covid vaccine — Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax — are about 80 percent as powerful against Omicron as other variants, the research found. Given how different Omicron’s mutations are from previous variants, it’s very likely that T cells would mount a similarly robust attack on any future variant as well, researchers said.
This matches what scientists have found for the SARS coronavirus, which killed nearly 800 people in a 2003 epidemic in Asia. In people exposed to that virus, T cells have lasted more than 17 years. Evidence so far indicates that the immune cells for the new coronavirus — sometimes called memory cells — may also decline very slowly, experts said.



“Memory responses can last for ages,” said Wendy Burgers, an immunologist at the University of Cape Town who led one of the studies, published in the journal Nature. “Potentially, the T-cell response is extremely long lived.”
Throughout the pandemic, a disproportionate amount of research attention has gone to antibodies, the body’s first line of defense against a virus. That’s partly because these molecules are relatively easy to study: They can be measured from a drop of blood.
Analyzing immune cells, by contrast, requires milliliters of blood, skill, specialized equipment — and a lot of time. “It’s orders of magnitude slower and more laborious,” Dr. Burgers said.
Few labs have the wherewithal to study these cells, and their findings lag weeks behind those on antibodies. Perhaps as a result, scientists have frequently overlooked the importance of other parts of the immune system, experts said.
“Most people don’t even know what they are — a lot of doctors and scientists are not completely clear what a T cell is,” said Dr. Dan Barouch, a virologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston who led one of the T-cell studies.


“Fundamentally, I would argue that T cells are probably more important than what many people have given them credit for,” Dr. Barouch said.

Antibodies spike after every shot of vaccine — or after each exposure to the virus — and inevitably decline within a few weeks to months.
Waning antibody levels after two vaccine doses prompted federal officials to recommend boosters for everyone older than 12. The extra shots fortified antibody levels and helped to contain Omicron’s spread, but they too appear to lose some of their ability to prevent infections within four months, according to recent datafrom the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Antibodies recognize two or three key parts of the spike protein, a protrusion on the outside of the coronavirus that allows it to latch on to human cells. But T cells detect many more parts of the spike, and so are less likely to fail when the virus gains mutations in some of them.
Vaccines also encode a memory of the virus in B cells, which can churn out fresh batches of antibodies within four or five days after a new exposure to the virus.
This dual punch of T and B cells help explain why many people who received two or even three doses of vaccine could still be infected with the Omicron variant, but only a small percentage became seriously ill.
“You will see a decrease of the antibody levels over time, but if memory B cells are still there, and memory T cells are still there, they can kick back into action relatively quickly,” said Alessandro Sette, an immunologist at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology who led a new study of T cells published in Cell.
Memory B cells become increasingly sophisticated over time, and they learn to recognize a diverse set of viral genetic sequences. The longer they have to practice, the broader the range of virus variants they can thwart.

Researchers showed last year that the elite school inside of lymph nodes where the B cells train, called the germinal center, remains active for at least 15 weeks after the second dose of a Covid vaccine. In an updated study published in the journal Nature, the same team showed that six months after vaccination, memory B cells continue to mature, and the antibodies they produce keep gaining the ability to recognize new variants.

“Those antibodies at six months are better binders and more potent neutralizers than the ones that are produced one month after immunization,” said Ali Ellebedy, an immunologist at Washington University in St. Louis who led the study.

In the newest study, another team showed that a third shot creates an even richer pool of B cells than the second shot did, and the antibodies they produce recognize a broader range of variants. In laboratory experiments, these antibodies were able to fend off the Beta, Delta and Omicron variants. In fact, more than half of the antibodies seen one month after a third dose were able to neutralize Omicron, even though the vaccine was not designed for that variant, the study found.

“If you’ve had a third dose, you’re going to have a rapid response that’s going to have quite a bit of specificity for Omicron, which explains why people that have had a third dose do so much better,” said Michel Nussenzweig, an immunologist at Rockefeller University who led the study.

Memory cells produced after infection with the coronavirus, rather than by the vaccines, seem less potent against the Omicron variant, according to a study published last month in Nature Medicine. Immunity generated by infection “varies quite a lot, while the vaccine response is much more consistently good,” said Marcus Buggert, an immunologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden who led the study.

Although most people, vaccinated or not, show only a small drop in their T cell response against Omicron, about one in five had “significant reductions of their responses” of about 60 percent, Dr. Buggert said. The differences are most likely because of their underlying genetic makeup, he said.

Still, the recent studies suggest that in most people, the immunity gained from infection or vaccination will hold up for a long while. Even if mutations in new variants change some of the viral regions that T cells recognize, there would still be enough others to maintain a reasonably strong immune response, experts said.

One big unknown is how slowly the T cells may decline, and whether two doses of vaccine can create a long-lasting response, or if instead people would need three — as some experts have suggested — to cement immune memory.

“That’s a question that we don’t know the answer to yet,” Dr. Burgers said. “Those are the kind of studies that we’re going to need to do.”

"

 

[marcy]

Hi NIRDI’s!

@canuk-gal I’ve been thinking of you. I am glad your mom’s celebration of life was beautiful. Nice to take it easy this week. That’s nice you can sleep in; I wake up anyway so may as well get up.

@missy gorgeous sunrise picture! Love that over the ocean. WTH your insurance won’t cover out of state doctor orders.

@springerspaniel enjoy your vacation. That is crappy your new position doesn’t start for a few weeks.

@Austina I woke up at 6 am so long for work it’s just natural. I’m not feeling retired these days until the afternoon. Glad Colin got your flight worked out back to the UK. It seems like you guys have had a streak of bad luck with bookings and money lately. Your tiles look great and yay they have started putting it in.

@MamaBee a trip to the Outer Banks would be great. I hope they figure out your leak in the basement; those are hard to trace sometime. Our last house got a crack in the cement foundation in the basement when the house settled and then the window well above it would fill with water during heavy rains then seep in through the crack. We had it sealed but you could tell it leaked at one point. I worried about it when we sold the house but they didn’t say a thing about it during the inspection. That is the curse of selling a house is fixing up things here and there.

@mrs-b that’s great you see the God-kids so often. Sounds like you are feeding them well. I don’t feel retired these days - or at least until mid afternoon. I am enjoying what I am doing and feeling more confident I know what I am doing. They keep giving me more to do so that’s nice. That is so crappy the insurance company insists they will only pay for a drug that obviously doesn’t work for you. Good luck getting that straightened out. Your flight sounds quite pleasant and tasty.

I was up by 6:30 today and working by 8. I got done by none (or quit by noon) and ran out to pick up lunch. I had to go take care of one more work thing this afternoon but it didn’t take long. The rest of my day will be like I’m retired.

Cold and windy here today with occasional horizontal snow. I am wearing sweats today and told Marty I am styling my work clothes after his. Ha Ha. Don’t worry - I have on rings and earrings too.

Take care.
Marcy #IthoughtIwasretired

 

[Austina]

Hello lovelies

We seem to be spending a portion of everyday at the house!

Honestly at this point @mrs-b, we’re just glad to have got through the rigarmarole of getting the flights booked, we haven’t given an awful lot of thought as to what we’ll do once we disembark in Sydney. We’ve been before, but our friends haven’t, so will go along with whatever they want to see. It’ll be December by the time we hit Sydney. Glad your flight back was far more civilised than the outward one. Travelling in style is worth every penny IMO. How on earth can in be in the insurance company’s interest for you to have a drug that’s giving you more issues?

Glad you’re having a few days off before going in to work again @canuk-gal, it’s been an emotional rollercoaster for you lately.

I hope your DH manages to sort out all your flight refunds, it’s an absolute con to have to battle to get back what’s yours @springerspaniel. Dealing with these companies is so stressful and they certainly don’t make it easy. BA‘s recorded message kept saying they were only dealing with emergencies, and to use the website, which is all well and good if what you what to do is doable on the website, which ours wasn’t!

FWIW @MamaBee, I’d be inclined to get my levels checked before having another dose of vaccine just yet. I hope you can get all the issues with your house sorted easily, it’s well worth it in order to get a smooth, quick sale.

Little Tommy chillaxing on his perch, oh to be that relaxed @missy I hope the weather perks out so you can’t get out cycling again. Yes, the days are whizzing by here too, how on earth did we ever find time to work?

It was howling here too last night @marcy, totally unexpected, but it kept me awake for hours. You’ve got to reset your body clock and stop waking up so early, it makes the days so long otherwise. You seem to be really getting to grips with your new job, and it’s great they obviously think you’re highly capable.

We’ve just got back from the house, and had a nice surprise to see the garage doors have been installed. The shiplap has been done on the fireplace, awaiting painting which will (hopefully!!!) be a dark grey as a contrast to the wall colour. The tiler is getting on well too.

We had a meeting with a solar energy company, and a landscaper. Felt far more comfortable talking to him, and his ballpark figure for the garden was actually realistic.

Heard yesterday morning that our friend Sue tested positive, but fortunately she had one bad night, and felt OK by yesterday afternoon. She said she’s feeling almost back to normal today, just a little tired. Thank goodness she’s vaxxed x 3, which must’ve really helped mitigate her symptoms.




Hope all the lovely NIRDIs are doing well,

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

NIRDI shout out!!!!!!!!

@missy Tommy is such a cutie--that photo made my day! We did cycle today in wonderful 17C temps. My dear friend met me at my favorite bench for my appt for repair of the Opal ring. Very costly repair but worth it as it will look like new. It is a special piece and I could not trust just "anyone" with it. They make all of my custom stuff so I trust them. Took my emerald ring for redesign as well. Opal will be ready end of April and no idea on the emerald ring. I am in no rush for that. My friend had on her Alahambra earrings (onyx) and I admired them.

@marcy you are a busy bee!
@mrs-b flying in style! Gotta love that.

Stay safe and well folks.

cheers--Sharon

 

[marcy]

Not bad for a 240mm lens of something over 93 million miles. Lots of sunspots.

 

[missy]

GM girls! Happy terrific Thursday!

@canuk-gal I am glad the ring repair went well and definitely well worth it. Yay for cycling. It's still too chilly here. But soon hopefully.

@bling_dream19 hope the week is going smoothly and all according to plan. Big hugs

@Slick1 happy Thursday. Soon the weekend will be here. XOXO

@marcy I agree with Sharon...you are a busy bee. And that photo is impressive. Hugs

@MamaBee I only worry when we might really need it we might not be protected. Did you hear from your doctor yet? XOXO

@mrs-b I hope you are having a happy reunion at home. Hugs

@springerspaniel I hope you are fully relaxing and enjoying your well deserved time off and feeling happy and content. XOXO

Hi to everyone else. We had a really fun hike yesterday because we saw our two favorite dogs Jenny and Milton. OMG we played with them for like an hour and talked with their parents of course. We were on our way back from the hike and saw them at Nora's (Jenny's mom) house. So of course we had to stop; Milton is now 7 months old and 45 lbs. LOL he is getting big. Jenny is a boston terrier so she will always be small.

Today is another hiking day I think. I got my injectable med delivered yesterday. No needles though haha. I am patient as I am not yet ready to inject my tummy daily. But just in case I need to be prepared.

Tomorrow I have a pelvic US and am worried about that but hoping for the best.

Have a terrific Thursday lovely ladies. XOXO.

 

[Austina]

Hello lovelies

Wow @marcy, what a fabulous photo!

Sounds like a great outing @missy, always a bonus spending time with a couple of lovely pups. Oy to the meds arriving and no needles, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there seems to be no co-ordination with healthcare at all. Good luck for tomorrow, not pleasant, but hopefully it’ll be over quickly and without too much discomfort.

I hope the trip is going well and you’re relaxing and enjoying your time away @springerspaniel

Ooo, I missed your post about the opal and emerald rings @canuk-gal, glad you‘ve got the opal back and have the emerald to look forward to.

How are all the other lovely NIRDIs doing?

Popped over to the house and the tiling is coming along. Going up tomorrow morning to meet a Blind lady (measuring up for blinds)

This week has just whizzed by!

 

[canuk-gal]

Hello lovelies

Wow @marcy, what a fabulous photo!

Sounds like a great outing @missy, always a bonus spending time with a couple of lovely pups. Oy to the meds arriving and no needles, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there seems to be no co-ordination with healthcare at all. Good luck for tomorrow, not pleasant, but hopefully it’ll be over quickly and without too much discomfort.

I hope the trip is going well and you’re relaxing and enjoying your time away @springerspaniel

Ooo, I missed your post about the opal and emerald rings @canuk-gal, glad you‘ve got the opal back and have the emerald to look forward to.

How are all the other lovely NIRDIs doing?

Popped over to the house and the tiling is coming along. Going up tomorrow morning to meet a Blind lady (measuring up for blinds)

This week has just whizzed by!

Not that it matters, but the Opal ring will be ready at the end of April. Tons of work needed. Emerald ring...no time line as I have not decided on a setting yet. Waiting on options based on some inspirations....

 

[marcy]

Hi NIRDI’s!

@Austina you house is going to be amazing. Hurry up May! I didn’t send our wind your way - really. It was decent here today but we could get more snow tomorrow. I am feeling more comfortable with this job and they do seem appreciative. I just submitted my March invoice. I almost made enough to pay for my new laptop. Oooh. Thanks - I need to pull out my tripod and try to get a clearer image. I’ll do that on a warmer and less windy day.

@canuk-gal I can add $17 to our winnings - in another 6 months we might be near $50. I’ll be anxious to see your “new” opal and emerald rings. It’s definitely worth it to have someone you trust with special pieces. I really feel like a busy bee today. Marty asked me if I bit off more than I can chew.

@missy thanks - Marty told me I could use his camera and 600mm lens but knowing me I’d break his camera and lens so forget it. Great picture from your hike; love the trees with the beach in the background. I almost feel like I am there. Good luck with the US tomorrow and yay for getting your meds and take your time figuring out if you want to inject those shots. Nice to get to play with Jenny and Milton.

I was a crazy busy bee today. I was working on article #1 by 8, ran to the grocery store about 10 am, came home and worked on article #2 until I ran out to get in line at Wendy’s. Everyone else in town must have had the same idea. After lunch I finished article #2 and #3. Then I lifted. After that I ate a sandwich and brewed up chocolate cookies. I got the dishes done and finally sat down about 7 pm. A friend of mine is coming over tomorrow for her birthday lunch and to play cards. We are going to pick up lunch from Olive Garden. This is my friend I made the hat, mittens and scarf set for so I got that wrapped today as well. She will get a big bag of cookies to take home with her too,

Take care.
Marcy

 

[missy]

GM girls. Happy FriYAY and happy April 1.
Off to my appointment very soon. I am nervous but hoping for the best.


@Austina I agree. This week has indeed whizzed by. Yay for everything coming together.

@canuk-gal yes it will take them time to restore your mom's opal ring but hopefully the wait will be well worth it. One cannot rush perfection. I am looking forward to you enjoying it and wearing it.

@bling_dream19 hope the rest of your day yesterday went well. Happy FriYAY sweet friend.

@mrs-b have a terrific weekend with Tim.

@rainwood let's catch up soon and thanks.

@MamaBee not sure what we are planning yet. I know once we get the second booster we might have to wait a while for the next so I want to be judicious in my vaccination schedule if that makes sense.

@marcy you have mad photography skills. And wow you had a busy but productive day. Good for you. Ummm did you say chocolate cookies? YUmmmmmm.

@springerspaniel the week went so fast. Enjoy a happy FriYay and a wonderful weekend.

@Slick1 woohoo it's friYAY.

Hi to everyone else. We had a good hike yesterday and when I got home and checked my emails my Lab results were back from Tuesday and it was a relief as the PTH went back down. Please let it stay down. What a roller coaster. But yay for good results.

Have a wonderful day girls and be well. Big hugs.

 

[Austina]

Hello lovelies and happy Friyay!

I hope everything went well this morning @missy and it wasn’t too uncomfortable for you. Is this to try and finally get to the root of the bleeding? Fingers crossed that it yields some answers for you, after this has dragged on for such a long time, it would be great to get some resolution.

Wow, for a retired person, you’re certainly putting in the hours @marcy Sounds like you really accomplished a lot yesterday. I’ll bet your friend was thrilled with her bespoke hat, mitts and scarf.

I’m sorry my posts are all about me lately, but there’s finally a lot going on at the house.

We were up there at 9.30am to meet with someone coming to measure up for shades. We had a quote last week and honestly it was I’m hoping this proves to be more reasonable otherwise we’ll be having naked windows Just as we were about to leave, I saw a truck drive by, then it turned around and pulled up to the garage, and it was our counter tops!!!! Of course, I couldn’t leave then because I wanted to see what they were like as we were only able to see them via a Zoom call.

We decided to get some lunch and then come back to give them time to actually get something done, and I’m pleased to say, we’re absolutely thrilled with them.

They’d done our bathroom, we went for grey quartz, and they’d done bath 2 sink, and that’s marble. We waited and waited for them to get some of the kitchen quartz out. It’s actually a bit darker than we expected, but I love it, it’s a great contrast to all the white. It’s a graphite colour, it’s looking back in the photos, but it isn’t, and it’s also not a flat colour either. We’re going back on Sunday when it should all be done.
Guest bathroom sinks, the units are definitely going to need painting!


Master bath (my sink)

Kitchen counter top


Wall & floor tiles of the guest bathrooms

 

[mrs-b]

@missy -

I didn't want to go to bed without asking how your US went. How are you feeling? Did you get the results back? Thinking of you. ox

@marcy - what a lucky friend you have! That's a gorgeous gift you're giving her! I hope you had a wonderful time. The cookies sounded woooonderful!

@canuk-gal - how did I miss this? Would you mind giving a brief recap on the opal ring? I think your pieces are gorgeous and your designs are lovely. I hope it turns out beautifully!

@MamaBee - pls tell us what your dr says when she replies? I know I've already had my fourth shot, but I'd just be curious to hear.

@springerspaniel - thinking of you and hoping you're not working too hard. Did you decide to take the vacation? I saw the postman leaving with a package when I got home from PT today. Having checked the tracking updates, I believe it was my ring. Bummer. Hopefully Monday.

@bling_dream19 - thinking of you and praying for peace and wisdom. oxo

Tim has had a couple of days off work so we've been hanging out. Went to see The Lost City yesterday - lots of fun. Planning on going for a walk tomorrow. I did a yoga class yesterday and had PT today. My back is feeling pretty good (allowing for the fact that it's still my back and inherently crappy) and I'm feeling well. It's nice to be in Boston in time to see all the leaves and flowers come out; I love this time of year when it goes from drab to lush.

Hugs to all!

 

[missy]

GM girls! Happy Caturday Saturday!

@mrs-b I am so glad you are feeling well and spending time with Tim enjoying activities. I also love this time of year when all the flowers are blooming. Our cherry trees are pinkalicious right now. Thanks for asking about my US. It's not looking good. I have to wait for the MD's report. The tech doing the test (fourth time she's done it for me) said she saw an area of thickening that was concerning but she couldn't for sure say what it is. The doctor won't read the report til next week and since they do not have a patient portal I have to wait til Tuesday to call and ask if it is ready for pick up. One day at a time.

@Austina last time I had the US (in October) my lining was too thick so we are monitoring it to see where it is now. I am not sure what my next steps will be but waiting for the report. Thanks for your kind wishes. Your house is coming along nicely. It's been a long wait but well worth it. Think of how much has changed in just the past 12 months. Mind boggling really. Glad things are coming to fruition and excited for you to be in your new home. For the washing machine and dryer I would do what we have done. We have a set of machines upstairs (my front loaders) and a set of machines in the basement (top loaders). Greg does washes downstairs and I do them upstairs. Haha.

@bling_dream19 thanks for checking in with me and hope you enjoy a wonderful weekend.

@Slick1 hope all is well and the weekend is fun.

@springerspaniel have a wonderful weekend and hugs to Freddie and Clyde.

@MamaBee thanks for the info and support.

@marcy I second @mrs-b your friend is lucky to have you. What a gorgeous gift.

@canuk-gal hope you have a happy weekend. Ours is pretty chilly so no cycling today.

We had a good hike yesterday and planning on the same today. We took a new route and it was beautiful. And not a soul around. Just the way I like it.
Have a wonderful Caturday Saturday girls. Big hugs.

Speaking of caturday leaving you with Fresca who was enjoying the hammock last night that Greg made for them.





And where we ended up after our hike yesterday. I will never get tired of this.



Enjoy a beautiful weekend. (((Hugs))).

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

NIRDI shout out!

@missy hope you don't have to wait long for the US results. The kitty hammock looks very cozy--along with the other 5 star amenities you provide! Cool day with a bit of precipitation, so no riding today. Multiple errands anyway.

@marcy I think my lotto ticket yielded 5 bucks. Pshaw.

@Austina limited action for a while; now your house builders are making up for lost time!! Nice choices.

@mrs-b hope you are enjoying your weekend. The opal ring I inherited from my Mother is a large piece that she wore very frequently. Hence it is in disrepair cuz it being so well loved--I look forward to it being restored to its former glory. Good stuff takes time.

I work all next week and my first day back after almost a month off was just fine. I didn't forget what to do! My colleagues were very kind.

cheers--Sharon

 

[mrs-b]

@canuk-gal - YAY for not forgetting how to do your job - and also for kind colleagues.

@missy - I swear to goodness, AG, I am sending you the BIGGEST hug. Hoping for at least ONE THING to resolve for you without intervention by the medical profession! Love to you. ox

@springerspaniel - it's here. I love it. I love YOU for selling it to me. Blessyoublessyoublessyou!

 

[springerspaniel]

@mrs-b I am SO GLAD the ring arrived safely and that you like it!!!!!!! I bet she looks real purty on you.

 

[mrs-b]

@mrs-b I am SO GLAD the ring arrived safely and that you like it!!!!!!! I bet she looks real purty on you.

She's old world glamor! I love her! Thank you so much.

 

[Austina]

Hello lovelies

Sorry @canuk-gal, I misunderstood about the opal ring.How lovely to own something your mother loved so much and to get it rehabbed so you can wear it.

@mrs-b, come on, you know what @missy would say - "this thread is worthless without pictures" We NEED to see the ring on your finger.

Isn't it great to know your ring has gone to a good home where it'll be loved and appreciated @springerspaniel ?

I hope you can get some answers on Tuesday @missy, this has gone on for far too long, and you must be so fed up to be no further forward. Greg is just so clever, and clearly his efforts are much appreciated by the local kitties.

We were guests at a gender reveal party today, and I guessed correctly - it's a girl

I hope all the NIRDIs are having a relaxing weekend. We're going to the house tomorrow because I can't wait any longer to see my island

 

[missy]

GM girls and happy Sunday!

@canuk-gal same and it looks like today is our errand day. Rain rain rain all day and most of our week. Hello April. Thanks for the lovely wishes. I am glad your coworkers were kind and comforting to you. Gentle hugs from me.

@mrs-b to second @Austina

And thank you for the hugs @mrs-b and right back at ya! I am worried but what can I do right now so one day at a time. Now to take my mind off things please share photos. Pretty please.

@springerspaniel I can't wait to see the ring on @mrs-b. I love how we keep the bling in the family. And old world glamour is right up my bling alley.

@Austina aww thanks so much. I am nervous because of what the tech said. She has been right three times so far. But I wait for the report from the radiologist and hope for the best. Yay for whoever it is having a girl. Congrats to them and best wishes for a healthy happy baby. XOXO

@bling_dream19 I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Big hugs.

@Slick1 I hope all is going smoothly and you are enjoying a lovely weekend. Just found out one of my friends is retiring from teaching. This year. It's crazy how many friends of mine are retired. We are still (hahaha in my mind at least) young. Hugs. Speaking of young...

@marcy hope you are enjoying a nice weekend whatever you are doing. XOXO

@MamaBee have a sweet Sunday and hugs.

Hi to everyone else. We had a good long hike yesterday and looks like no more outdoor activities for a while. Rain is here to stay but it is April after all.




Leaving you with two photos during our hike yesterday.








Enjoy a beautiful Sunday girls. XOXO.

 

[MamaBee]

@mrs-b Your opal ring is on IG! I wanted to tag you but I have two Instagram user names for you..I didn’t know which one to use. It’s gorgeous!
I‘m sorry I didn’t answer about the vaccine. I’m going to wait until just after April 22 to get my antibodies checked again. If they are still high I’ll wait to get the booster. If they are dipping it will depend on the number.

 

[MamaBee]

@missy I’m hoping you’ll get your results before Tuesday…All my fingers and toes are crossed they will be good..XO

@Austina This must be such an exciting time for you to see everything coming together at your house. I love seeing all the photos! All of your choices are so pretty!

@marcy I‘m sure your friend loved your hand knitted gifts. Gifts that are made by hand are the very best.

@canuk-gal I‘m happy your return to work was smooth. Keeping busy will be good. I can’t wait to see your mom’s opal ring restored. I think it’s wonderful that she loved it so much she wore it all the time.

@bling_dream19 I hope you are doing well. Thinking of you..

@springerspaniel How did I miss the ring you sold to @mrs-b? The description of old world glamour has me dying to see photos! Are you wearing your emerald a lot? That is one gorgeous ring.

@Slick1 I hope you are enjoying the weekend. Have you see your children lately?

We are in Maryland since Friday. We’ve lucked out with good weather. We took a nice walk yesterday....It’s really hard to stay away from crowds here..but we didn’t go downtown where it’s wall to wall people. No one is wearing a mask even in the shops. There’s a jewelry store I would love to go into but I feel with all the crowds it’s not worth risking getting Covid.
I’m spending most of my time washing sheets and blankets. My son stayed here overnight with the children. They must have made forts because I have a pile of neatly folded blankets on top of the dryer. That’s the signal that they need to be washed. We have a very small washing machine and dryer here. I can only fit one thin coverlet in at a time. The small washing machine and dryer are all that will fit in the laundry room. The laundry room was previously a child’s room. The house was built in 1904. I have no idea how they washed clothes then. I was thinking of a washboard and bucket? I have no idea where they could do it here. The kitchen was also an addition with a bump out. I may have the plans. The former owners gave me a huge box that I need to go through..
Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Hugs to everyone.

 

[Austina]

Hello lovelies

Thank you @MamaBee , we’re getting really excited that the house is moving along so quickly now. I think ‘in the old days’, they had ‘copper’ outside that they used to fill with hot water and the poor old servants would be flogging themselves doing the washing and hanging it straight out to dry.

I hope @mrs-b and @springerspaniel don’t mind. It’s this stunning beauty @missy, isn’t it gorgeous?

Sold - Pink sapphire channel set eternity band in yg

I think this ring speaks for itself. It pains me to let it go. I bought it from a vendor on IG recently. It is a hot pink FC sapphire eternity band, size 6.5, about 1.5 cts, 3 mm yg band, no chips or cracks. I am selling it for $1350 plus shipping and insurance. My IG link is...

www.pricescope.com

Sorry your weather isn’t great, it’s glorious here, in the 80’s.

We’ve just got back from the house, the tilers are nearly finished, and the worktops are all on. I’m itching to get a broom and sweep up, everywhere is filthy and covered in layers of dust from all the cutting of the tiles and worktops.



Busy work week ahead for you @canuk-gal, and yes, it’s all happening now at the house.

Spoiler

Of course the first priority is that the baby is healthy, but Granny is secretly pleased it’s a girl!

Hope all the lovely NIRDI’s are having a great weekend

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

NIRDI shout out!!!

LOL a snow squall blew through here last night--snow flakes the size of quarters! Whiteout then 10 minutes later, sunshine. Spring!!

Really exciting day here--groceries then cooking. Looking forward to roast beef tenderloin, scalloped potatoes, salt and pepper and hot wings, and asparagus with balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese. I'm hungry already!

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday folks!

cheers--Sharon

 

[MamaBee]

HI:

NIRDI shout out!!!

LOL a snow squall blew through here last night--snow flakes the size of quarters! Whiteout then 10 minutes later, sunshine. Spring!!

Really exciting day here--groceries then cooking. Looking forward to roast beef tenderloin, scalloped potatoes, salt and pepper and hot wings, and asparagus with balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese. I'm hungry already!

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday folks!

cheers--Sharon

Your dinner sounds delicious! Enjoy!

 

[marcy]

Hi NIRDI’s!

@missy mmm chocolate chip cookies. I am delighted to hear your lab results showed an improvement in the PTH. Yay. I hope your US results are better than the tech thought. I am rather surprised they would even comment on it to you. Thank you - I told @mrs-b I like to remind my friend and Marty they never had it so good. I’m impressed you can go on a hike and not see anyone. That’s very possible here but it’s not like we live in a heavily populated area. Gorgeous pictures though! Nice you are getting rain and not snow.

@Austina your house is really starting to come together now. Woo hoo! Your kitchen is going to be fabulous. I can see lots of Christmas goodies spread out on that countertop. I no longer feel retired. Window coverings are nuts! While we were waiting for our house to be built I kept using %off coupons at Kohls and Penneys to get us drapes. Sadly we found out we should double the distance it says they cover. We ended up having Budget Blinds put in some shades and shutters as well.

@mrs-b thanks I tell my friend and Marty often how lucky they are to have me around. I like to remind them. Nice that Tim has a few days off. That movie does look good. I’ll probably wait until it comes out on PPV. Sorry to hear you back is feeling crappy but I am glad you are feeling well. Enjoy those leaves and flowers - we are probably 2 months ago from that here. My allergies hate those weeks but it is nice to see green again.

@canuk-gal we are closing in on maybe $35 dollar now. Tiffany is going to HAVE to lower their prices for us. We drove by the local lotto office yesterday and I pointed out I sure look forward to the day we can in there with our multi billion dollar winning ticket. Marty said something like um yeah. I am glad you have kind colleagues.

@springerspaniel are you still enjoying your vacation?

@MamaBee I totally enjoy seeing your gorgeous rings rotating as your avatar. Yes, I agree handmade gifts are the best. I think I’m make my friend and her husband a throw like the one I’m working on for my family’s white elephant exchange. That’s great you are having nice weather and had your son and grandkids visit. Cute they built a fort. I see @Austina answered about where they washed things; I would NOT like washing clothes outside.

I can’t say I did a lot this weekend but I was always busy. We ate out lunch yesterday and breakfast today. I have potatoes baking now and Marty is starting to grill steaks. I got laundry done and then had to wash Marty’s coat because he got sawdust all over it. We picked up a new chair for me in the den. It’s got a big lumbar support that I swear I don’t feel but when I put my hand back there it’s there. I hope it works okay for me. The big / tall man chair was not comfortable for me. Marty put it in the man cave; when we have parties we are always short chairs anyway even though there are a lot downstairs for the poker table. I told him he didn’t know my new “job” was going to cost him so much money.

We went to the park last night to get sunset pictures and try to catch a very young crescent moon.

Take care.
Marcy

 

[marcy]

Here is Marty's very skinny moon. It was with his 600mm lens.