Morning Chat

[Blackcat31]

Happy Friday everyone!! Since it is the end of the week, I imagine everyone is in a great mood! lol!
The weather is looking beautiful here lately! Temps suppose to be in the upper 60ies this weekend! I cannot wait!!

Today we celebrate:

National Adopt A Shelter Pet ~ on April 30th raises awareness for thousands of pets that are waiting for (and needing) adoption from the shelters.

Animal shelters require year-round assistance and adoption is a part of the process. Since animals come in daily, the shelters must work quickly to ensure the animal’s health and well being. Only then can they be adopted into their forever home. The day also encourages you to visit a shelter near you and find your new fur baby. Visit with the shelter to consider all the needs the dog or cat requires for the long term.

National Military Brats Day ~ On April 30th, National Military Brats Day during the Month of the Military Child honors the children of military personnel.

About 1 in 25 Americans is a Military Brat. Since the Department of Defense did not keep precise records of military personnel’s children, no one knows the exact number. None the less, those children make up a cultural group whose members live in all 50 states, in most American Territories and numerable foreign countries. While they choose varied careers and interests, they also share a common culture.

National Raisin Day ~ recognizes another food holiday known as National Raisin Day. Raisins are tiny sundried grapes. While sunlight dries most grapes naturally in vineyards, some are mechanically dehydrated.

People have been enjoying raisins for as long as grapes have been growing. Raisins are naturally low in fat and contain healthy nutrients. California produces the majority of the world’s raisin supply.

National Honesty Day ~ National Honesty Day challenges us to be truthful in all we do.

We know the different kinds of lies. We’ve spared someone’s feelings or fudged the truth just a little or maybe told an all-out whopper. Unless we walked on water, we’ve all told a lie or two.
This observance encourages truthfulness. Whether we’re conducting business or speaking with our children, honesty goes a long way toward instilling confidence. We all make mistakes. Sometimes, we don’t know the answer or can’t control the outcome of a situation. However, we can control our own actions and words. And we can speak the truth in all we do


Have a happy and safe day!!

[Blackcat31]

I think all but one of my pets have come from shelters. The pets we've gotten from shelters always seem to be the best pets! It always breaks my heart to see so many animals in shelters looking for their forever homes. As much as I support adoption from shelters, I've also had some crazy experiences with them as well. Once when we were looking for a puppy when my kids were little we contacted the shelter and did the visit, had a background check and picked a pup. Then the woman at the shelter started telling us "how" we would be allowed to raise the pup, what we could/couldn't do, what vet to use etc... she pretty much made it impossible. It was no surprise there were so many animals in that shelter. I've heard some horror stories about strict rules and guidelines some shelters have and while I thinks some rules are necessary, others impact the willingness of families to adopt overall.

I am not a military brat so this isn't a day I was even aware of but since I know Cat Herder is...Shout out to her!! Also to anyone else on the forum that is a military brat! Seems like it would be a tough childhood but kinda cool too!

Raisins are NOT a favorite for me. My kids call them dead grapes... lol! I like them in general but not in anything cooked other than toast. I don't like them in cookies, cake, bars etc... but don't mind them in salads or straight out of the container they come in.

Honesty day...EVERY day should be honesty day! I am sure the world would be a better place if honesty was the focus. Starting from the top all the way down!

[Annalee]

My dad was in the Army but we came back to where he and mom grew up when I was very young when he finished . I despise raisins because my mom made me eat them all the time as a kid due to my iron being low; well, guess what, it's still low, so the raisins didn't help a bit.LOL Am not a big 'pet' person.....my youngest son is and he has rescued cats, dogs, even tried to rescue a raccoon but he lost..LOL Honesty is almost a lost art in the world today!

[Gemma]

I did adopt a dog from the Humane Society several years ago, it was easy, cheap and they even paid for the sterilization procedure.
14yrs ago I tried adopting a cat from a shelter that was displaying cages at Pets Mart. I couldn't believe what they wanted from us ontop of the large fee...we had to fill in an application that could take several weeks to process, give them the right to a home inspection whenever they felt like, had to agree to vet visits that they would schedule etc. The whole thing was so ridiculous so we gave up, drove to a pet store and bought two puppies

I lived the military life with my first marriage, it wasn't bad. I liked not having to worry about dental and medical, I hated being alone 6weeks at a time during my husband's field training.

I liked raisons more when I thought they were healthy and low calories

Honest Day...this reminds me of the movie "The Invention of Lying"

[Alwaysgreener]

About 10 years ago, I found a cat that I wanted at PetSmart. We went in that Saturday during their adoption fair.

Anyways, I filled out the application and then sat down for the interview. One of the questions was "where would the cat sleep?", I said anywhere the cat falls asleep. When I asked why they wanted to know, it was because they did not want the cat to sleep in the basement. My response was well I am not going to go wake her if she is sleeping in the basement.

Then they asked about a vet, I said that the cat's vet had closed and the dog's vet did not take cats but as soon as I needed to take the cat there was a vet near me I would call on. They would not let me take the cat until they called the vet to make sure I used them.

I looked at them and at my foster dd and ds, then looked back and said, see this boy and girl, they are my foster kids, and the state has trusted me with these lives and you will not trust me with a cat.

I went to freecycle and responded to a giveaway of a free cat. She is still with us and chooses to sleep downstairs all the time, I never go and wake her and tell her she can't sleep where she wants.

[Gemma]

Yup! I remember them asking a list of my current pets, a pic of the food they were on, and the vet's record to prove they were all up-to-date with their vaccines and so on.... I understand that they have to make sure the animal goes to a good home, but come on, no wonder the shelters are always full

[Blackcat31]

Good morning!! It's Monday! Sunny and almost summer-like over the weekend! We hit temps in the upper 70ies which is rare for my area but I enjoyed every minute of it!
This week is more normal and will be partly cloudy and in the mid 50ies so a bit cooler but as long as it's nice enough to go outside with the kiddos, I'll take it!

Today we celebrate:

National Paranormal Day ~ Each year on May 3rd National Paranormal Day people who believe in paranormal activities are encouraged to get together and share their experiences with each other.
Paranormal is a term used to describe occurrences that can’t be explained by ordinary scientific measures. They are outside the norm. Many words leap to mind when speaking of the paranormal. Ghosts, hauntings, spirit, or poltergeist name a few. However, an extraterrestrial and clairvoyance also fall into the category, too. Have you ever felt a sense of Deja vu? Some believe the feeling is related to the paranormal. Are strange orbs in the night an apparition or simply a moth catching the light?

Nearly every city in the country has a house or location that holds a mystical presence. Whether the history associated with the location or personal experiences, certain places radiate the paranormal. Others need a time of day or year for their mystery to unfold. Even still, it might depend on who spins the tale. A good storyteller can make just about anyone’s spine tingle

National Chocolate Custard Day ~ National Chocolate Custard Day on May 3rd each year celebrates a delicious pudding-like dessert enjoyed by many.

Pastry chefs and home cooks alike make custards by blending eggs with milk or cream and heating the mixture either on the stove or in the oven. Since custards come in a variety of consistencies, you can choose the one that best fits your dessert preference

Melanoma Monday ~ Melanoma Monday on the first Monday in May is an awareness campaign during National Melanoma Month. The American Academy of Dermatology has set aside this day to raise awareness about skin cancer.

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer, and it is the deadliest of skin cancers. The observance focuses on skin health, sun safety, tanning prevention, and skin cancer screenings. By providing resources and information, it’s hoped to reduce the number of melanoma diagnosed.

While melanoma and other skin cancers aren’t 100% preventable, there are ways to reduce your risk:

• Wear sunscreen to protect yourself from harmful UV rays. Reapply sunscreen throughout the day, too.
• Other types of sun protection include wearing a broad-brimmed hat, long sleeves, and pants. And don’t forget the back of your neck.
• Find shade. Trees, umbrellas, and awnings provide excellent sun protection on warm sunny days.
• Don’t let the clouds fool you. UV rays still reach the Earth and your skin on a cloudy day!
• Avoid tanning beds. The UV light in tanning beds puts you at risk for melanoma, too.
• Regularly check your skin for abnormal moles. If you notice changes, see your dermatologist to have it checked.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and is ready for the week!
Stay safe and have an awesome day!!

[Blackcat31]

I am not really a believer in anything paranormal so that type of thing is not my cup of tea but I definitely think there is a huge population of people who do believe.

I like custard but not necessarily chocolate. Im not a huge fan of chocolate really and prefer other types of desserts instead.

Melanoma is definitely something we should all be concerned about. From my understanding it is the most overlooked form of cancer but is the most common and the most deadly.
I am actually quite surprised an entire generation of folks aren't wiped out by it as I remember my mom and her friends in the summer time trying to get as dark of a tan as possible. My mom would use straight baby oil on her skin and lay out in the sun on the hottest, brightest part of the day. Anyone remember those Bain de Soleil tanning commercials from the the early 80ies? Getting the darkest tan possible was the look! lol!

[Annalee]

I make 'egg custard' which my brother and uncle really like.....never made the chocolate but I LOVE anything chocolate....no paranormal stuff for me; hard enough to believe the 'truth' anymore without having doubts so don't have room to believe anything unnatural (LOL) and yes, melanoma is scary.

[Gemma]

I do believe in the paranormal, and I'm very fascinated but that doesn't mean I buy into every claim I come across .

I like chocolate but I only crave it periodically

[DaveA]

Not sure about the whole paranormal thing. Don't think I buy into it, but I also wouldn't be too shocked to find out if something was actually real. As for the Melanoma Day- I'm fair-skinned red head. Me in the sun without sunscreen is like putting a fork in the microwave. It just results in sparks and screaming.

[Josiegirl]

Ooh chocolate custard sounds amazing. But just one more thing I'd have to resist.

I'm not sure I believe in paranormal either. I want to but need to experience it for myself. I feel too many others elaborate stories. And I wouldn't believe anything any ghost tv show offers. Having said that, I believe in 'signs' but then again, that could fall under an individual's interpretation. I found pennies galore in all the appropriate places, when cleaning out our parents' home to the point it sent shivers up my spine.

I have a question about that topic though; has anyone ever been to a psychic and do you believe in them? My sister has an appt. with someone who comes highly recommended. She wants to believe in the worst way. It's costly and she's a huge skeptic. She's going into this looking for reasons to doubt, such as he could find everything on the internet. She's wanting to hear things that only she or the family would know.

Melanoma, I've known many people who've had it and while it's highly curable, you still have to be aware of your body and changes.

I just wanted to add that I love the chat section here and the day-to-day activities BC.

[Blackcat31]

Good Morning Everyone! Cooler and cloudy today but still Spring like so I'll take it!!

Today we celebrate:

National Star Wars Day ~ May the Fourth be with you each year on National Star Wars Day. Or is it, “May the force be with you?” It all depends on whether you like using puns or not. Thousands of Star Wars enthusiasts celebrate this day each year with parties and celebrations around the nation.

Star Wars fans didn’t first introduce the often quoted phrase on May 4th. It was 1979, and Britain elected the first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. On May 4th, the day she took office, the Conservative Party placed an advertisement in The London Evening News, which read, “May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations.”

Star Wars creator, George Lucas, was asked during a 2005 interview on a German news TV channel to say the famous sentence “May the Force Be with You.” Upon doing so, the interpreter interpreted the sentence into German as Am4 Mai sind wir bei Ihnen (On May 4 we are with you). TV Total captured this and aired it on May 18, 2005.

National Foster Care Day ~Dedicated to all the children in the U.S. foster care system, National Foster Care Day on the first Tuesday in May encourages everyone to wear blue and raise their voices to show their support for foster youth everywhere.

With over 400,000 children in the foster care system at any given time, and a new child placed into care every 2 minutes, the need for support services, essential items, and foster parents is high. Foster children have an uphill battle with startling statistics to overcome and need the support of our communities across the country. National Foster Care Day shines a light on these children and points us all in the direction of solutions.

National Bird Day ~ We honor our feathered friends on several holidays called Bird Day in the United States. The day celebrates birds of all kinds across North America. With over 2,000 species of birds in North America, birdwatchers and nature lovers alike will appreciate the beauty and variety of these winged friends offer. From songbirds to waterfowl and domesticated birds, they come in every color of plumage and wingspan.

During the spring, migrating birds move to their summer nesting grounds. It’s an excellent time for those new to birdwatching to learn to identify birds by species. Enthusiasts also know that birds will migrate through backyards and stop for a rest, a bite to eat, and a drink if the right habitat is provided.

Have a wonderful, safe and happy Tuesday!

[Blackcat31]

~My mom brought my younger brothers and I to see Star Wars when it first came out in the theaters. Going to the movie theater was a huge treat! I liked the movie but have to wonder if it was because anything played on a huge screen in a theater when you're 10 years old is amazing but still I went on to eagerly watch the next two sequels/prequels ( I forget what they call them now). Years later when the series was "revived" with The Phantom Menace my son was about 9/10 years old and he fell in love! I never did actually watch any of the movies beyond the first trilogy but I understand the love of the story for sure!

From my understanding Star Wars lovers are just as abundant and fanatical as trekkies/Star Trek fans are!

~ My parents were foster parents when I was young. I remember many of the children that came through our home. Some stayed a short while and some were with us for 2-3 years before moving on. It was a hard and fun at the same time. I imagine it had a deep impact on who I am today as a person and a provider. Shout out to all those wonderful people willing to be a foster parent today! It's a rewarding but heart wrenching experience and takes a wonderfully giving person to do it! <3

~ Bird day!! I just love love love love watching the birds in my yard! I spend a lot of time sitting on the deck over the back yard with my camera in hand just waiting for the perfect shot! I've managed to photograph some really cool and unique birds!

This morning I saw a couple Evening Grosbeak in my feeder... imagine my surprise when I actually went to the window for a better view and I saw over dozen in our cherry tree!! It was soo cool! They aren't rare in my area but it is rare to see so many at one time in a "flock" as they aren't really the type of birds to gather in large groups!

Our trees are just starting to bud and the frogs just started singing a few evenings ago so it's getting to be about the time I can watch for Blue birds, Orioles, Northern Flickers and Scarlet Tanager.... like the grosbeaks, they all live in my area but aren't frequent feeder birds because they eat bugs etc and tend to stick to the tree tops away from people.

[Blackcat31]

I just wanted to add that I love the chat section here and the day-to-day activities BC.

Thank you Josie! Things have slowed here over the last year + so I figured a morning chat might help get the conversation moving along and the board can be a bit more lively!

I know FB seems to be the go to place for many but I just can't... It's too dramatic and silly. Makes my blood pressure rise so I just avoid it all together. Keeps me calmer.

[Gemma]

Good afternoon,
By the time I watched Star Wars it was old so I didn't fully recognize the special effects the movie was famous for...but I do love Yoda, I named my dog after it

My in-law foster parented for a short while, they wanted to adopt and I guess foster parenting was a requirement .

DH and I both enjoy feeding and watching the many different species of birds that visit our backyard. It can get expensive, so this year I started making my own suet cakes, and cylinders
The Oriole got here a few days ago, but I still have not seen a Hummingbird this year, usually they get here sooner

[daycarediva]

Huge Star wars fan thanks to the hubby!

Former foster parent

Bird nerd. I have different bird food in different feeders for the various birds, just told dh that I need a trail cam after seeing cool bird photos from one, and I have photos of them on my phone. My daycare kiddos recognize many local birds by sight and know some by sound now, too!