MORNING ROLL CALL July 2025

[DaveMcK]

MORNING ROLL CALL July  2025

Top of the morning to everyone on this First day July of 2025 

Happy Birthday to all of our July Birthday members.

[MsStretch]

@catwoman500 , glad you missed the 'drama'.  I know I was in the middle of posting when I got "Access Denied" and the Front Porch was gone.  But it's back, and all is good now.

@smoothfox , welcome. 👋  No sign up or registration necessary.  Just bop on in and make yourself comfortable.. 

[catwoman500]

Charlotte busy building her web.

Hey there, Porch Peeps.

Hope this shows up clear enough for you to see the sparkle. Yesterday morning after the night's rain, I saw this web on my coneflowers. It looked so cool. Today the web was complete, but since it hadn't rained (for a change) there was no sparkle. You can't see "Charlotte," but she was right there in the middle of the web.

[LisaS961881]

Thank you for sharing this.

Ah, “Charlotte”….I remember my 8 year old self crying while reading the description of her passing, but ultimately the book had a joyous ending.  Because of Charlotte, Wilbur lived a long and contented life with Charlotte’s children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren keeping him company, ❤️

As Wilbur so aptly put it, “the heat of the sun, the passage of swallows, the nearness of rats, the sameness of sheep, the love of spiders, the smell of manure, and the glory of everything.”

~Lisa

[catwoman500]

@LisaS961881 ... as a first-grade teacher for 35 years, there was not a year I didn't cry when reading that book to the kids. 

[LisaS961881]

A kindred spirit!  

…I taught 38 years Elementary Special Education.  ❤️

I will readily confess that my voice cracked, I rapidly blinked and sniffed a bit, and brushed back rears each and every time that I I read the description of Charlotte’s passing to my students.  Over 73 years after these words were written, they continue touch our hearts.

…..” ‘Good-bye’ she whispered.  Then, she summoned all her strength and waved one of her front legs at him.

She never moved again.

 Next day, as the Ferris wheel was being taken apart, and the race horses were being loaded into vans and entertainers were packing up their belongings and driving away in their trailers, Charlotte died.  The Fair grounds were soon deserted.  The sheds and buildings were empty and forlorn.  The infield was littered with bottles and trash. 

Nobody, of the hundreds of people who had visited the Fair, knew that a grey spider had played the most important part of all.  

No one was with her when she died. “

[smoothfox]

Apologies here.  LIterally just stumbled onto the Front Porch.  Do I sign up or register?

[LisaS961881]

Hello! 
   Great to see you!  Everyone is welcome here.  I’m a “newbie” myself and found this cozy place just a few months ago in the same manner that you did!

I just started posting and was quickly embraced by other members of this forum.  They are kind and genuine people.

Please just pull up a chair and chat.

   ~ Lisa 🏠☀️

[DaveMcK]

Glad to see that AARP was albe to restore the Morning Roll Call thread.

Enjoy everyone!

[MsStretch]

And we are back!  Thank you @DarrylL35959 !

🪑Time to pull up a chair and get comfortable again.

[catwoman500]

Hey, Porch Peeps, 

Yikes! Guess I have been away from here for quite a stretch! I had no clue there was a problem with this thread! Glad to see it's ok. My pages seem to go in backwards order, but I did find the most recent posts.

Just wanted to let anyone who's interested, that Grantchester, Season 10, starts tomorrow night on PBS...at least on my local PBS station.

You all take care, and I hope to be back more often! 

[LisaS961881]

Thanks for the Grantchester info!  I just checked my local PBS schedule, and Season 10 starts up here on the 25th. 😀
…..A few weeks ago on PBS I stumbled upon the first episode of ~ A French Village ~ , and I am hooked!  It’s not a new series (2009- 2017), it’s French with subtitles, and seems to have great reviews, but I had never heard of it.  ….just wanted to share this in case other PBS stations are offering it.  (I enjoy these hidden gems too - like ~ Professor T~. and ~Seaside Hotel~).

So happy that the porch is back,

          Lisa 🏠⛱️☀️

[LaDolceVita]

@LisaS961881  and hello everyone, so glad to see you back.  I loved Seaside Hotel.  Have not heard of A French Village, but I hope it comes to streaming.   I dont have much time for TV but I will look for this.   I love Hotel Portofino, partly for the scenery, they will return in the fall I think.   I miss Doc Martin for their great scenery!  

[LisaS961881]

Goodness yes, Doc Martin and Hotel Portofino!  Both such cozy escapes!  I don’t watch TV that often - maybe two or three shows a week, but when Doc Martin ended, I quite honestly missed the characters!

~ Lisa 🏠

[KellytheBelly]

Hello! So cool you got this back! I was rooting for you @DaveMcK  et al.  ;-D 

[LaDolceVita]

HI folks, I am still alive and doing well mostly.  I lost another dog, 12 years old two weeks ago,  totallly unexpectedly.  Did not know anything was wrong till the morning walk.   This has happened twice before with older dogs,  the result of lung cancer.  

@LisaS961881 @MsStretch  I am so glad you are keeping up the  porch visits.  Thishas always been a nice place to visit and maybe complain a  little😉.

[LisaS961881]

Oh, I am so sorry for the loss of your faithful companion.❤️. 
I too enjoy this cozy place on the porch.

I will share that, on a peg to the right of my back kitchen door, hangs the collar of my childhood dog.  After she passed away when I was in college, my father couldn’t bear to remove it from its place on a hook in the garage.  When my parents downsized, I took the collar and hung it at my back door.  Its bow might be tattered and its colors faded, but my memories of her unconditional love are bright and clear. 🌈

I am currently loved by a 21 year old rescue - an affectionate purring love bug who no longer hears.   When she passes, I intend to adopt another special needs senior companion, or hopefully a pair.  

….take care

~Lisa

[MsStretch]

@LisaS961881 , I love this idea of giving back for "wedding presents". 🥰 This actually put a smile on my face on an otherwise indifferent day.  That, and your peonies. 🌺😊 

[DaveMcK]

Good night everyone!

[LisaS961881]

I hope everyone had a fun weekend! 🌸

We just had a lovely, cozy three-day wedding experience that I wanted to share.  While I have attended a few of those “ in lieu of a gift, please consider donating to ****”, this wedding had a thoughtful “twist” on that concept. 

in the invite, we were all asked to “give back” in some manner - whether it be of our time, our skills, or our funds.  The choice was ours to make.  We were then requested to let the couple know what had done with the couple prior to the wedding.…

….Then, over the course of the festivities, this lovely pair would periodically share some of the collective “gifts” (One snippet I distinctly remember, “ a local food pantry was cleaned from top to bottom, lonely shelter dogs were walked and cats were cuddled and read to, and a women and children’s shelter has received dozens of pairs of new socks.”

….

It was such a collectively heartwarming experience, and we all focused on the small ways we could make our own tiny piece of the world a bit better.

…

I came home to some peonies still blooming after the drenching rain, and am sharing those too!

~ Lisa

[DaveMcK]

Lisa glad to hear that his knee replace went well. I've been there and done that in 2009.

[DaveMcK]

Enjoy your weekend!

[LaDolceVita]

@LisaS961881   Knee surgery follow up today, he received A+ on his progress.  I can hardly believe we survived the last few weeks.   Also had identity theft day before the surgery.   I am sort of a basket case!  Actually I am OK and hope to see some of  the Porchers visit soon.  Nice to have you on board Lisa.

[LisaS961881]

Thanks so much for the update about the knee surgery!  You must be so relieved!

(Aside - I too was the victim of Identity Theft - like countless millions of other people - an organization did not safeguard my information effectively.  What a nightmare to death with at what was already a very stressful time!) ❤️

 Hope you both have a relaxing weekend! 🏠🌈

~ Lisa

[DaveMcK]

Homes Destroyed Amid Wisconsin Severe Storms

The Brief Storms swept across Wisconsin on Thursday, leaving significant damage. A tornado hit Dodge County. 

The Dodge County Sheriff's Office said many streets and highways are closed due to power lines and trees being down.

The sheriff's office tells FOX6 News some people lost their homes.

We definitely are seeing the affects of climate change!

We are expecting more stormy weather today.

[papawofboo]

It is that time of year again. Down here in the south we have to put of with these things all summer. Last week I think 25 people died in Mo. and KY. from these storms. This week one took the top off a factory where 75 people were working. I don't think any of them needed a band aid. Go figure, when the Lord wants you, you better be ready. 

[LisaS961881]

…..All summer long?  My heart goes out to you.

My sole experience - Hurricane Floyd’s impact on Bound Brook, NJ - left me with powerful memories. (A google search will show photos of the destruction.)

While sadly, we initially experienced looters and “looky-loos” who drove by slowly, gaping as they observed our pain and loss, we also experienced unexpected heartwarming gestures from total strangers.  ❤️🌈. 

From one who still remembers hearing those news helicopters circling overhead for days, I appreciate your post.

….I am thankful that I only lost “stuff” - which - in the grand scheme of things - means very little.

   ~ Lisa

[MsStretch]

@LaDolceVita , good luck to hubby and you with his knee surgery.

I actually love MyChart (and the others) as opposed to old-fashioned methods.  I can check in online, view all my records from various doctors as they can mine, not have to physically schlep files and records to this doctor or that doctor.  And I get test results as soon as they become available.

@LisaS961881, you can probably still print out your files for your use. 

[LaDolceVita]

Hello folks.  I have been quiet lately because hubby is having total knee replacement surgery in about 10 days.   This requires enourmous amounts of time with dr appointments and all kinds of computer time to fill out redundant forms, watch redundant videos.   I wish I had told them that I do not have internet access and cannot get texts!!!  

All is well otherwise.  For the Porch Ladies only:  I had hormone balancing done by a functional physician with good results.  What I mean is, I had a saliva test which indicated I had high estrogen levels for my time in life, desirable for bone building.   Very low progesterone,  which is not good for someone who has not had a hysterectomy.  Very low in cortisol and other hormones related to energy levels.  I began the hrt  4 weeks ago and feel better, with much more energy.  Thought I would share because I debated with myself whether to pursue this kind of medicine for almost a year.  

[LisaS961881]

….. I just wanted to reach out and ask how the knee replacement surgery went.  Hope the recovery is going well. I’m sending positive thoughts your way! 🌈

~ Lisa

[LisaS961881]

I am so glad that you’ve had positive results with your HRT!  I found myself nodding in agreement as I read how you took your time when making the decision about this. 

i hope that all goes well with your husband, and will keep him in my thoughts and prayers.  

I did smile when I read about you being bombarded with emails and videos.  I do have to admit that I still am adjusting to having all of my medical info available online.  At the risk of showing my age, I prefer paper documents in a folder - so I can highlight portions as well as use post-it’s. 😇

Enjoy the day!  I hope it is sunny and warm there!  My weeping cherry tree is in full bloom, so it must be Spring.  💐☀️🌸

~ Lisa