CHIT CHAT in VOLTVILLE

[abracadebra]

thanks raven beauty...im hanging....so glad to hear things are on the up and up....yes sounds like a slow healing...for blues...im sure with all these good vibes and prayers...from everyone....he has angels and warm spiritual hugs..keeping him safe....I was over looking at alice in vapeland...they have a new flavour called ravyn tobacco....with a eagle icon....I so thought of you...ill have to give it a try

 

[abracadebra]

it says hints of travel and dreams....maybe its a raven bird....but it looks like a eagle to me

 

[rave]

Great to hear from you Rave. Hope you are taking care of yourself and it seems that you are on the road to recovery. We have been talking about so many things but you and Blues have been a constant on everyone's mind. Just the fact that Blues is home is a wonderful indication that he is improving. The surgery and hospitalization is behind him now. Of course, it is still a daily process that, I'm sure to him, will be slow but the bottom line is that he is getting better and will get stronger each day.

Being home is such an essential part of his recuperation and he doesn't have to eat hospital food! He is home, in a quiet and peaceful environment even with his host of animals. That is a very necessary part for him because of his love for them. They will help him heal. Thanks for the update and really hope to see you in Voltville more often, when you are really up to it of course. Take care Rave. My thoughts and prayers are continuing as always for both of you.

Aww - thanks JoAnn. I'm fine. Now that he is home, I can pay a bit more attention to my own difficulties and tackle 'em. No worries.

The animals at the ranch will be very beneficial to his recovery process. He seems much more at ease already. It probably won't be long before we're trying to hold him back from doing too much.

I may not be posting a lot because I've got my left arm in a brace again. That's a temporary thing. Does make it a tad tough to type though.

 

[JoAnnW]

Aww - thanks JoAnn. I'm fine. Now that he is home, I can pay a bit more attention to my own difficulties and tackle 'em. No worries.

The animals at the ranch will be very beneficial to his recovery process. He seems much more at ease already. It probably won't be long before we're trying to hold him back from doing too much.

I may not be posting a lot because I've got my left arm in a brace again. That's a temporary thing. Does make it a tad tough to type though.

Whenever you stop by will be great. Even if you just "like" us. Holly is also in my thoughts and prayers. Whatever is going around this year seems to be particularly nasty.

 

[Renolizzie]

Hi Raven - Tough is good! Still Obie is so sweet the worst that could happe is he would eat your roses and your baby pine trees.
Boy, that really irks me.
Glad to hear that Blues is home. I'm sure that is good for him.

Typing one handed. You are quite the gal!

 

[IndyJones]

interesting discovery. my x2 cone fits nicely and screws onto my ego twist. (i suppose the extra threads are supposed to be for some kind of tank.) gives it a nice sleek look. since the threads are lower on the device than on the x2, you don't need a shorter cone when using cartos.

 

[SandySu]

yes pretty in pink....there looks like a ghost in the window...maybe a cat....I can see the shape of a eye....ears..looks like a paw on the window frame....or am I seeing things,,

I see what you mean, Debra. I think it's a reflection in the glass of some of the magnolia blossoms. But of course, a ghost or cat would be more interesting. I think it's fun to see things like that. Shapes in the clouds, hear words in a song that aren't really the words, stuff like that. I've always done it, and I think that seeing things in things is what inspires a lot of my photos. And as for the words to songs, on YouTube, some people have taken that to a fine art. I really enjoy those videos where someone has taken words to a song and purposely misinterpreted them. So funny! I've been doing that privately way before Mad Al Yankovich.

 

[SandySu]

Or maybe the photographer?

I think it's the magnolias. I was standing fairly far away and at an angle where I think I didn't show up in the window. But I like the idea that it's a ghost.

 

[SandySu]

Aww - thanks JoAnn. I'm fine. Now that he is home, I can pay a bit more attention to my own difficulties and tackle 'em. No worries.

The animals at the ranch will be very beneficial to his recovery process. He seems much more at ease already. It probably won't be long before we're trying to hold him back from doing too much.

I may not be posting a lot because I've got my left arm in a brace again. That's a temporary thing. Does make it a tad tough to type though.

I'm sorry to hear that you need to have your arm in a brace. I think I know the feeling, having just been there, done that. I'll be sending more healing vibes your way. Come visit Voltville when you can. We always love hearing from you and of course, we want regular updates on how Blues is doing, too.

 

[awsum140]

It's time to go do my nightly physical therapy exercises, so I'll sign off for the night. Here's another photo to say good night with.

This is a house in my neighborhood. I've always liked this place. You know how some houses or properties just appeal to you? And the magnolias go perfectly with the house's color, too, don't they?

In the center, upper, pane I see a face - dark hair, glasses, dark moustache kind of like one of the Beatles or maybe a ghost?

 

[SandySu]

I've got another photo for you to say good morning with.

This is the interior of a wonderful diner in Jim Thorpe, PA. I remember stopping in there years ago and loving all the decor. It's classic. A few years ago, on the way back from a visit to Philadelphia, I decided to visit the town again as a little side trip. Unfortunately, the diner was closed, but I took this photo through the window. Jim Thorpe has some nice old Victorian houses and an interesting old train station, too. The town was named after their one claim to fame, a Native American football star named Jim Thorpe, who came from that town. Before that, the town was called Maunch Chunk.

 

[rave]

I'm sorry to hear that you need to have your arm in a brace. I think I know the feeling, having just been there, done that. I'll be sending more healing vibes your way. Come visit Voltville when you can. We always love hearing from you and of course, we want regular updates on how Blues is doing, too.

Having that arm in a brace is nothing. Sometimes one limb or another just won't work or has rough nerve pain for awhile. It's the MS and is temporary. I don't pay it any mind. Thanks though.

 

[rave]

I've got another photo for you to say good morning with.

This is the interior of a wonderful diner in Jim Thorpe, PA. I remember stopping in there years ago and loving all the decor. It's classic. A few years ago, on the way back from a visit to Philadelphia, I decided to visit the town again as a little side trip. Unfortunately, the diner was closed, but I took this photo through the window. Jim Thorpe has some nice old Victorian houses and an interesting old train station, too. The town was named after their one claim to fame, a Native American football star named Jim Thorpe, who came from that town. Before that, the town was called Maunch Chunk.

This photo is extraordinary!! I really had to study it to determine that it wasn't a well-done painting. It has that whole Norman Rockwell thing goin' on ..... minus the people in quaint clothing.

 

[SandySu]

Having that arm in a brace is nothing. Sometimes one limb or another just won't work or has rough nerve pain for awhile. It's the MS and is temporary. I don't pay it any mind. Thanks though.

I know you make light of it, and having a plucky attitude is good, but nerve pain is no fun, so you have my sympathy -- whether you want it or not.

 

[SandySu]

This photo is extraordinary!! I really had to study it to determine that it wasn't a well-done painting. It has that whole Norman Rockwell thing goin' on ..... minus the people in quaint clothing.

That painting effect is because the diner was dark inside, and I had to do some messing around with it in iPhoto to get it to come out. That distorted the colors and lighting, so it has a sort of unreal effect -- but I sort of like it that way. Sometimes I try for a sort of unreal effect. Just experimenting on what I can do. Now, if only I could learn Photo Shop …

Here's another experiment.

This is a crabapple tree in the yard. I took the branch against the sky, so the flowers showed up almost a dark silhouette. I lightened it enough to see them, which blanched out the sky completely, and it turned out pretty well, sort of hanging there in no-man's-land, I think.

 

[awsum140]

Rave, thanks for the update on Blues, good to hear that he's home and on the road to recovery. Being back home with the cats, dogs and everything else will help him a lot. Sorry to hear you're MS is still in "flare' mode and I admire how you deal with it.

 

[kico166]

Sorry no PG at Wally Mart only VG - My typing mistake

Last time folks I have posted this too many times: I order 100% PG at 24 nic from Wizard Labs, then add an equal amount of Humco Glycerine from Wally Mart to end up with a double amount of base at 50/50 PG/VG at 12% nicotine. Since 6 ounces of VG is only $3.00 in my area it seems to be a good easy, cheap mix.

In addition, when testing new DIY flavors, I use 100% VG no nic to see the taste. If it is OK, then I go to mixing it with my nic base.

SandySu, thanks once again for these excellent pics you've posted. I've started a new photo album for them and have one of the winter scenes up as wallpaper on my computer right now. View attachment 167856

Sorry you're down in the dumps about your arm surgery. I'm more inclined to judge by how I'm feeling/performing rather than what a dr. says. It seems you've made significant improvement because of your PT, so may I suggest a wait-and-see attitude? I am keeping you in my prayers.

Lizzie, loved the goat pictures! Goats can be so much fun; we had them as kids. We received 4 orphaned babies and bottle-fed them. My mom had her heart set on goat's milk -- guess she should have examined them a little closer. They all turned out to be billies, haha. They followed us around like puppy dogs. They'd stand at the end of our 1/4-mile driveway every day waiting for the school bus to drop us off. They quickly learned how to open our screen door and would walk right into the house. Mom didn't like that part, LOL.

Debra, sorry about the trouble you're having. Gee, if we could only pick our relatives.

Gee, I hope Holly's doing okay. Would love to hear from her. Hope she is recovering from her illness.

About DIY:
I've only been making DIY juice for a couple of weeks, but I love it. I started pretty simple, though, with mainly fruit flavors and ethyl maltol for sweetening. The EM doesn't sweeten a whole lot, but I've found it really makes the fruit flavors pop.

This morning I made a chocolate cream vape with 4 flavors & EM (double chocolate clear, double choclate dark, whipped cream & sweet cream). It turned out pretty darned good & I ended up vaping about 1 ml of it. My 1st vape of it, and hence my 1st impression, however, was "Oh no it tastes like burnt coffee ." I waited a bit, and then it really did taste like creamy chocolate, more like chocolate icing than chocolate candy. I think I just tasted too soon, needed to let the wicks get more saturated first. It will be interesting to see how the flavor changes after a bit of steeping.

In less than 2 weeks I've now made around 16 different juices, some more than once (I keep vaping up all the watermelon, juicy peach, pear, pineapple & buttery nipple -- can't stay out of them they're so good). I'm only making 5ml batches for right now, because there are just so many flavors I want to try.

The only juice I've made so far that I don't like very much is the banana nut bread. I couldn't really taste anything at first. I added some barvarian cream to it, and now it tastes better & I can at least taste the banana in it. Still not a favorite, though.

I don't vape tobacco flavors, so I'm not making those. But be warned, many tobacco flavors must steep for a month or more before tasting good. There's lots of good info over in the DIY forum.

Have a great day everyone!!

Maybe going to give it a try. Funny, but the first 8 months I couldn't stand tobacco flavors. Now they are the all day vapes - both w/ and w/o menthol. Where /what brand has clear chocolate? I've noticed a huge difference in the longevity of the coil with clear vs dark joose.

My back physical therapy will be covered by Medicare for a short while, but the arm physical therapy is covered for longer because it's post-surgical. So, go get an operation, and then your back can be treated for longer. Go figure!

One thing I was told back when I started having back trouble is to do exercises that will strengthen your core muscles. Also, these muscles are important for keeping your seat on horseback. So a while ago, I asked my physical therapist for an exercise to strengthen my core muscles. She gave me an exercise she calls a curl-up: lie on your back. Bend one knee so your foot is resting on the bed, mat, whatever you're lying on. Raise your upper body off the bed till your shoulder blades are touching, but not your head & shoulders. Be careful to keep your head up, level with your shoulders, not bent forward in an attempt to lift. The lift comes from the back/shoulders, not the head. (I got a sore neck the first week, and I was lifting my head, not my body.) Hold the lift for 8 seconds, and do it 10 times. Then do the same with the other knee bent and the leg that was just bent extended, i.e., switch sides and repeat on that side. I was amazed to find the muscles under the bottom of my rib cage straining. I always thought my core muscles were in my abdomen. Live and learn! Anyway, any of you with back problems could try this exercise. I think it helped a little. Also remember the old advice to lift things by bending your knees and letting your leg muscles help. I hope this exercise helps someone. My back was hurting when I laid flat to do some of the exercises and then had trouble rising. Since I do these right after those exercises where I lie flat, I've been able to rise pain-free.

Thanks! I've got this message noted to find again to print. I 've started a book on (older) Women & Horses that has a lot on exercise to strengthen for riding. PT has me doing lots of stretching to break down the myofacia that's like a glue keeping the muscles from moving freely. Stuck in the scaps & CT junction. Good side: can do stairs & get up from knees again. I know I need to be careful how I lift but have their blessing as carrying wall forms also gets in passive arm stretching. Really sleep much better too!

Sandy, just keep working that shoulder and I'll bet it'll continue to improve. The shoulder is a very complex and delicate joint so when it gets disturbed or injured it can take a while to get back to normal.

I've found that if I don't bend and stretch daily, IE no couch potato stuff, my back gets sore an aches. If I stay active, bend, stretch, even just vacuum the rugs, no problem at all. I guess it's a use it or lose it thing. Actually, any exercise or movement/motion that requires you to maintain balance against some weight, and not a lot of weight is needed (bag of flower while making bread for example) will help strengthen the core. Everybody is different, for sure, but the basics of using those muscles in the back, abdomen, buttocks and sides will help with most back problems.

Wabbit, you and Mrs. Wabbit have a good trip, the Chief and I will try to hold up the male end here while you're gone.

Tail, bad luck on the pooter. They can be sort of like vaping, backups for backups of your backups are always a good idea (laptop, desktop and tablet).

LOL! Wish I could find the " like " button..... Never mind the "What he said"!

interesting discovery. my x2 cone fits nicely and screws onto my ego twist. (i suppose the extra threads are supposed to be for some kind of tank.) gives it a nice sleek look. since the threads are lower on the device than on the x2, you don't need a shorter cone when using cartos.

Ooooh. Good to know! Thanks!

I see what you mean, Debra. I think it's a reflection in the glass of some of the magnolia blossoms. But of course, a ghost or cat would be more interesting. I think it's fun to see things like that. Shapes in the clouds, hear words in a song that aren't really the words, stuff like that. I've always done it, and I think that seeing things in things is what inspires a lot of my photos. And as for the words to songs, on YouTube, some people have taken that to a fine art. I really enjoy those videos where someone has taken words to a song and purposely misinterpreted them. So funny! I've been doing that privately way before Mad Al Yankovich.

LOL! Bet you'd like some of Bob River's twisted Christmas too! Like "Police Stopped My Car" done to the Feliz Navidad tune!

SandySu - love your pics!
Loving the goat stories! Great to hear from Rave & the update on Blues! Keeping ALL the Volties in prayer.
Off to get things in' order' for the fur-kids outside before we head back into the deep freeze.

OH - RAVE: that study on the PG. Did it make any differentiation btw brands? Here there is a $10 price difference but labels read the same. Thanks.....

Hi Raynes! Hope all is well with you. Miss 'reading' you!
Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk 2

 

[kico166]

That painting effect is because the diner was dark inside, and I had to do some messing around with it in iPhoto to get it to come out. That distorted the colors and lighting, so it has a sort of unreal effect -- but I sort of like it that way. Sometimes I try for a sort of unreal effect. Just experimenting on what I can do. Now, if only I could learn Photo Shop …

Here's another experiment.

This is a crabapple tree in the yard. I took the branch against the sky, so the flowers showed up almost a dark silhouette. I lightened it enough to see them, which blanched out the sky completely, and it turned out pretty well, sort of hanging there in no-man's-land, I think.

Quick note : doI see the beginning of a custom wallpaper border?

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk 2

 

[SandySu]

In a little while, I'll be going to get my hair trimmed. It's sort of annoying to have to get it trimmed all the time, but I do like my new hairstyle. Anyway, after it's trimmed and looking decent (it looks pretty shaggy now), I'll get Bill to take some photos of me to show you the new hairstyle. I was going to walk to the hairdresser, but it rained a little just a few minutes ago. Do I dare walk, or will I get soaked?

 

[SandySu]

I've started a book on (older) Women & Horses that has a lot on exercise to strengthen for riding. PT has me doing lots of stretching to break down the myofacia that's like a glue keeping the muscles from moving freely. Stuck in the scaps & CT junction. Good side: can do stairs & get up from knees again. I know I need to be careful how I lift but have their blessing as carrying wall forms also gets in passive arm stretching. Really sleep much better too!

One thing I've been reading a lot about re. exercise for horse riders is Pilates. I took some classes a while back. It focuses on core strength and balance, both good to cultivate for riders. There are some books on Pilates for riders and also yoga for riders, which I haven't delved too deeply into. Read up on what's already out there so you don't reinvent the wheel.