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Lets get this up. http://www.smogon.com/bw/pokemon/meloetta [Overview]
Facing a Meloetta is like biting into a Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean—you will never what know exactly it could do. Indeed, out of the new additions to grace Pokemon, Meloetta is arguably the most interesting of them all, albeit the most overlooked. What makes her so unique is the ability to change between two formes which both have almost opposite counters, and in the hands of a skilled player, this can cause huge problems for their opponents. One thing that does frustrate a lot of players is that fact that Meloetta cannot start in Pirouette forme immediately, which is arguably her more threatening forme. However, her Aria forme is far from useless, and can easily function as either an offensive or defensive Pokemon, depending on whatever you need. Her lack of physical bulk and relatively low Speed might make the other Psychic-types of OU more attractive, so always remember to play to Meloetta's strengths. In short, we might not be able to grasp the full extent of Meloetta's abilities for some time to come, but there is one thing we do know, and that is that she can be devastating in the right hands.
 [SET] name: Relic Mixed move 1: Relic Song move 2: Close Combat move 3: Thunder / Thunderbolt move 4: Psychic / Hidden Power Ice item: Life Orb / Expert Belt nature: Naive evs: 56 Atk / 252 SpA / 200 Spe [SET COMMENTS]
The purpose of this set is to fully exploit Meloetta's forme-changing abilities. The idea is to, with prediction, stay a step ahead of your opponent by continuously switching between Aria and Pirouette formes. It is especially convenient when a forme's counter is weak to the other forme, which means if Meloetta stays in the advantageous forme, it will retain offensive momentum in a similar way to VoltTurn cores. For example, Skarmory switches out of Aria forme as it fears Thunder, but as your opponent switches in Blissey, Meloetta uses Relic Song to transform into its Pirouette forme, and Blissey has to switch out again in fear of Close Combat. With entry hazard support, this can force a lot of switches and cause a lot of damage very quickly.

Relic Song is obviously the integral part of this set, as it facilitates the forme-changing that is unique to Meloetta. It is a decently powerful STAB move backed by 128 base Special Attack, while having a 20% chance to put an opponent to sleep, which is always helpful. Close Combat is Meloetta's main STAB attack while in Pirouette forme. Thunder is preferred in the third slot since firstly, rain is extremely common, while secondly, its power can help Meloetta get some crucial KOs, such as on Tornadus-T while in Pirouette forme. It also lands 2HKOs on Jellicent and Sableye while in Aria forme, two Pokemon which block Relic Song. Its 60% paralysis rate (due to Serene Grace) is also a huge bonus to have, letting you give Jirachi that try to counter you a dose of its own medicine. However, if you prefer reliability, then Thunderbolt is a perfectly legitimate option. The last move is a toss-up. With a Life Orb equipped, Psychic is a powerful STAB move to hit many physically defensive Pokemon hard, while Hidden Power Ice lets Meloetta nail Gliscor and Dragon-types.
 [ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
The EVs given allow Meloetta to outspeed Adamant Landorus-T in Aria forme, while outspeeding Tornadus-T in Pirouette forme. Max Special Attack is used as the majority of the time will be spent in Aria forme. The rest go into Attack to power up Close Combat. A Naive nature is generally preferred over Hasty due to most priority attacks being physical, therefore it's more acceptable to lower Special Defense rather than Defense. With Aria forme's huge base 128 Special Defense, Meloetta is generally not in short supply of Special Defense anyway.

The held item is quite a tough choice. Life Orb is preferred because of the sheer power that it brings. However, as Meloetta is all about keeping offensive momentum, it is nice if she doesn't take recoil damage so she can keep that momentum for as long as possible, hence Expert Belt being a decent alternative, especially if you are running Hidden Power Ice. As for other moves, U-turn can be used in the last slot, especially if you're using Meloetta on a VoltTurn team. It is also Meloetta's best way of hurting Latias and Celebi (the latter takes enormous damage), which both of which take little damage from any of Meloetta's other attacks.

The most important thing to remember when using this set is to use both of Meloetta's formes. One common misconception is to send Meloetta out, get to Pirouette forme straight away and start spamming Close Combat, when instead most of the time Meloetta will be attacking in Aria forme. It is usually better to use Thunder when you send in Meloetta as it 2HKOes Sableye and Jellicent trying to block Relic Song and it hits about just about everything that doesn't resist it reasonably hard, while threatening a 60% chance of paralysis.

Teammates that fit well with Meloetta are generally entry hazard users and physically defensive Pokemon. As Meloetta is forcing a lot of switches by changing formes, Pokemon that can set up Spikes are an excellent asset. Deoxys-D is the premier Spikes user for offensive teams, while Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Forretress are all good choices for defensive ones. It follows that spinblockers are good teammates to Meloetta. Gengar is probably the best offensive spinblocker to use alongside Meloetta, although Sableye and Jellicent are still good choices. Some more obscure yet effective spinblockers also include Froslass, which can set up Spikes while blocking Rapid Spin at the same time, and Choice Scarf Rotom, which can use Volt Switch while blocking Rapid Spin. On the other hand, Toxic Spikes cut down on Meloetta's effectiveness dramatically. Tentacruel is an excellent Poison-type to absorb them, while other Rapid Spin users such as Starmie, Forretress, and Donphan, can also remove them from the field. Physically bulky Pokemon are important as Meloetta is quite frail on that side. Gliscor, the aforementioned Skarmory, Deoxys-D, and Forretress are all very physically bulky Pokemon that can take hard physical hits from Terrakion and Outrage-wielding Dragon-types.

Celebi, Latias, and, to an extent, Latios all pose a threat to Meloetta since they resist all of her attacks, although if she carries U-turn, they may be in trouble. Latias and Latios also need to watch out for paralysis from Thunder. Scizor and Genesect easily put pressure on these three Pokemon (though they will need to watch out for Hidden Power Fire). Tyranitar is also good to Pursuit fleeing Latias and Latios. Lastly, Politoed is a key partner to Meloetta. As Meloetta prefers to use Thunder for its power and debilitating side effects, eternal rain provided by Politoed will take her a long way.
 [SET] name: Specially Defensive move 1: Perish Song move 2: Psyshock move 3: Thunder Wave / Thunder move 4: U-turn / Focus Blast item: Leftovers nature: Calm evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD [SET COMMENTS]
Meloetta does not need to be able to switch formes to carve herself a niche in OU. Her Aria forme boasts titanic special bulk, as well as having an interesting set of resistances. With access to Perish Song, she is easily the best Reuniclus counter in the game, and can easily stop last Pokemon Calm Mind Reuniclus that try to sweep stall teams. She is also an excellent Gengar and Alakazam counter. She can take most special attacks with no problem at all and paralyze opposing threats with Thunder Wave or Thunder. Unlike Blissey and Chansey, however, Meloetta can still pack a punch with her attacks, even with uninvested Special Attack. Psyshock is Meloetta's main STAB, which allows her to easily OHKO Gengar, while preventing setup from Pokemon such as Calm Mind Keldeo and Virizion.
 [ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
The last moveslot depends on what you need more. U-turn is the overall best option, as it allows Meloetta to escape from Tyranitar's clutches as the T-Rex switches in as well as scouting opposing switches. It also allows Meloetta to escape from Dugtrio and Pokemon with Shadow Tag which might try to trap Meloetta after it has used Perish Song. Focus Blast can be used to severely damage Tyranitar switch-ins. The EVs used are to make sure that Meloetta is as bulky as possible. Other support options that Meloetta can use include Heal Bell and Light Screen, but she is generally short on moveslots as it is.

As Perish Song is a major attraction of this set, please note to use it wisely. If you are not using U-turn, it would be prudent to not spam Perish Song if you see opposing Dugtrio, Gothitelle, or Wobbuffet on Team Preview!

Specially defensive Meloetta is a fit on more defensive teams needing a win condition, and she generally is not at home on offensive teams. As Meloetta's Defense is her (much) weaker side, physically defensive Pokemon such as Gliscor, Tangrowth, and Skarmory are all good for tanking strong physical attacks that are thrown at Meloetta. As Meloetta is probably most fitting used on a stall team, entry hazards are important to its success, not only for the team, but also because Perish Song forces switches. Forretress, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn are all excellent Spikes users. Tentacruel can use Rapid Spin to clear away entry hazards and absorb Toxic Spikes that would hinder Meloetta's defensive ability, all while setting up Toxic Spikes of its own.
 [SET] name: Calm Mind + 3 Attacks move 1: Calm Mind move 2: Psychic / Psyshock move 3: Focus Blast move 4: Thunder / Shadow Ball item: Leftovers / Life Orb nature: Modest / Timid evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe [SET COMMENTS]
Meloetta's 128 Special Attack and access to good coverage moves can make her a surprisingly hard Pokemon to switch into, while her equally excellent 128 Special Defense allows her to be an excellent specially oriented tank. With a Calm Mind up, anything slower than Meloetta will be taking a huge hit. Depending on your team, Psychic or Psyshock will be Meloetta's main STAB attack. Psychic is preferred due to its extra power, as well as being able KO more physically defensive threats which Meloetta should not be having trouble with. Psyshock should generally only be used if your team has trouble with Blissey and Chansey. Focus Blast allows Meloetta to hit most Pokemon that are immune to or resist Psychic, most notably Tyranitar. Thunder is preferred in the last slot due to its general coverage, as well as 60% paralysis rate, but Shadow Ball is another option to get the super effective hit on Celebi, Latias, and Latios, which would otherwise resist all of Meloetta's attacks.
 [ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
Another STAB attack Meloetta has in her arsenal is Hyper Voice. While it does work relatively well with Focus Blast and Thunder, it does not really add any coverage that Psychic does not already provide. The EVs used are obvious; max Special Attack and a Modest nature for maximum power, while max Speed allows Meloetta to outspeed as many things as possible.

Never forget that Meloetta is bulky on the special side and not the physical. This means that Pokemon that can take physical attacks are always welcome on Meloetta's team. Gliscor, Skarmory, Tangrowth, Slowbro, and Forretress are all excellent teammates. Other Pokemon that work well with Meloetta are Pokemon that can take down its counters, namely Celebi, Latias, and if Meloetta lacks Psyshock, Blissey and Chansey. Genesect, Tyranitar, and Scizor are all relatively good at dispatching Celebi and Latias, although Genesect and Scizor have to watch out for Hidden Power Fire and Tyranitar needs to watch out for Leaf Storm from Celebi. Strong physical attackers such as Terrakion, Dragonite, Salamence, Gyarados, and Haxorus all scare away the pink blobs, which gives you an easier time to set up. Of course, if Meloetta is using Thunder, Politoed support is helpful, making the attack 100% accurate.
 [Other Options]
Meloetta has a number of other options that she can run. With max HP investment, Meloetta can use a Substitute + Calm Mind set with 101 HP Substitutes to set up on Blissey and Chansey, but she is generally outclassed in this role by Jirachi, which boasts better overall bulk, typing, Stealth Rock resistance and Toxic Spikes immunity. Choice Specs and all-out special attacking sets can work, but Meloetta doesn't have very good spamming STABs, while being weak to Pursuit is never good on any Choice set. She is also too slow to pull off such sets. A purely physical set (with Relic Song, of course) which focuses on the Pirouette forme is plausible, but it is generally walled by physically bulky Pokemon while being outclassed by other physical attackers such as Terrakion. Her Aria forme would also be completely useless with such a set. Finally, a mixed set with Work Up or Hone Claws, coupled with Close Combat, Thunder, and Psychic seems usable, but is outclassed by most mixed attackers in OU, and this is not to mention that the Relic Mixed set does this just as well anyway.
 [Checks and Counters]
Celebi probably stands out as the best all-round counter to Meloetta, resisting most of the moves that she carries, while not fearing paralysis due to Natural Cure. However, Celebi does need to watch out for U-turn, as well as boosted Shadow Ball from the Calm Mind set. Latias with Substitute or Refresh is also a decent counter, although if she lacks Refresh, she must be very careful in switching into Thunder, lest she get paralyzed by it.

Otherwise, Relic Mixed Meloetta can be surprisingly hard to counter, due to its forme-changing nature, it's almost like fighting two Pokemon at once. If she is in the right forme, she will generally be able to either hurt your switch-in extremely badly, or switch to the other forme to keep momentum. The best thing to try and do would be to outpredict her and catch her in the wrong forme, although this is easier said than done. If you are able to get your bulky Ghost-type into her Pirouette forme, or something such as Genesect into her Aria forme, you would have pretty much killed her momentum entirely. If you cannot do that, fast physical attackers such as Choice Scarf Salamence, Landorus, and Haxorus, can take down Meloetta quite easily, whichever forme she is in, while Pokemon with strong priority, such as Breloom, Scizor, and Dragonite, also do very well against both formes. In terms of Meloetta's other sets, the specially defensive set is generally quite easy to counter due to its lack of offense, and the Calm Mind set is walled by Blissey and Chansey if it lacks Psyshock. Other specially defensive Pokemon like Latias and Jirachi are also good at taking on Calm Mind Meloetta.


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Hayden Panettiere is dating New York Jets wide receiver Scotty McKnight, Us Weekly reports.
The 21-year-old Scream 4 actress was recently mistakenly linked to Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, who has reportedly been friends with Scotty since childhood.
"I'm a huge Jets fan and became very good friends with Mark and his buddies," Hayden previously told the mag, dispelling rumors… Continue reading Hayden Panettiere & Scotty McKnight: New Couple Alert?


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|47 - 51 Killing Health Care Law Act
|Budget Control Act of 2011
Grade GovElection 2016
Would you reelect
Harry Reid?
Please note: you can only vote for senators in your state and congresspeople in your district, and only once.
Been in congress
for 29 years
Up for Reelection
Less than a year
Viewing all lettersView in state letters only
Davidc (REP), VA writes
I gave you a grade of F.
Jpc2002 (IND), CA writes
I gave you a grade of F. You are a disgrace. Glad your leaving so I don't have to listen to your garbage.
Grizzlyjr (IND), TN writes
I gave you a grade of F. YOU HAVE SHAMED YOURSELF AND SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR THE FALSE STATEMENTS YOU GAVE ABOUT ROMNEY!! POLITICIANS LIKE YOU ARE A GOOD REASON FOR TERM LIMITS, BUT IF WE CANT GET TERM LIMITS THEN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE...
Nobullschnitt (IND), AL writes
I gave you a grade of F. Which of course you would expect nothing more. I saw the interview on CCN. The host asked you about YOUR Romney lie. You smiled and said "he didn't get elected President did he." For once a chance to see...
Kyimack (IND), KY writes
I gave you a grade of D. for being a lying sack of crap, I was going to give you an A for finally taking your tired old butt home for good, but then i found out about your admitting to lying to get that leech Obozo electe. Good riddance as you...
Wbbadger (IND), WI writes
I gave you a grade of F. You will leave the Senate as the scummiest member of all time! You have destroyed the rules of the Senate just to cover for the worst President in the history of this great country. Hope you know are hated by all but...
Thistle (REP), WV writes
I gave you an A. Congrats! After all the "F"s I've given you over the years, you've finally done the most sane and patriotic thing for your constituents and the rest of the nation. You've decided not...
Captain728 (IND), FL writes
Finally some good news for America! Dinjee Harry is quitting! In my opinion you should be retiring to prison after your "lucrative" political career that encompassed loads of scandals and shady deals. A big "F" for you because there...
Davidc (REP), VA writes
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I gave you a grade of F. You should have been home in your Rocking Chair years ago. Obama is running the Howdy Doody Club in the WH. He is Howdy, and his Strings are being pulled by Valerie Jarret. His Admin. is made up of Cartoon characters,...
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I gave you a grade of F. You dork! You no longer have a say in the Senate "followers", so when Obama does another stupid thing, go to the back of the room and shut up!!!
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I gave you a grade of F. Reid you fell on your face for the 300th time, however this time it left a lasting impression requiring some medical attention. That incident should be a wake up call. It's time to pack it in, go home and allow...
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I gave you a grade of F. The gridlock in Washington points to failure. What do leaders do? What do Chief Executives do? They lead. Do the job you were sent to Washington to do. LEAD 1. 1. We need a Balanced...
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I gave you a grade of F. I guess your "Lunitic" son came to see you today. (Obama) He should be "DEPORTED" back to where ever he came from. No use trying to Impeach him, we would have Peanut brain Joe Biden. Obama thinks the Immigration...
Captain728 (IND), FL writes
F'd again. I hope McConnell can find the 375+ bills you've been sitting on for years. Your desk is where all bills went to die. Now that you're fading back into obscurity legislation will get considered and passed on to...
Jben1446 (REP), LA writes
I gave you a grade of F. I hope this is the last time I have to grade you. So, what are you going to do now that you are no longer Senate Majority leader; resignation sounds good to me. You being replaced and the losses by the Democrat...
Thistle (REP), WV writes
"F" - Harry - Why don't you just retire and fade away?
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I gave you a grade of F. YOU AND PELOSI ARE OLD NEWS NOW TIME FOR ALL YOU OLD DEMOCRATS TO RETIRE & PLAY WITH YOUR GREAT GREAT GRAND KIDS
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I gave you a grade of F.Good Riddance!!!!
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Jgrass (IND), FL writes
Mamber (IND), FL writes
If Obama grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegal's (they are lawbreakers) - and they vote - then we can say goodbye to the USA in fewer than five years. I gave you a grade of F.
Cowgirl81 (IND), TX writes
Grade of F. Thanks alot Mr. Reid for bringing ISIS to America for the beheadings of our citizens and claiming that it is workplace violence. (give me a break) You only say that to not take the blame for your incompetence. Now it is your fault and...


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In 2011, the United States Agency for International Development awarded the global five-year Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) Program to Management Sciences for Health. The program, implemented in more than 20 countries in Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Asia, including the Philippines, aims to support partners to ensure the availability of quality pharmaceutical products and effective pharmaceutical services to achieve desired health outcomes.
By using a systems strengthening framework, SIAPS supports the National TB Control Program of the Philippines Department of Health (DOH) and other agencies to improve TB laboratory and pharmaceutical services and ensure availability of medicines, related health commodities, and laboratory supplies. This is will be done through a strong focus on country ownership and sustainability.
SIAPS Philippines' other key partners include the Lung Center of the Philippines, the Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines, the National TB Reference Laboratory (RITM), the National Center for Pharmaceutical Access and Management, the DOH Information Management Service, and key stakeholders, including USAID/Philippines implementing partners.
- Build the capacity of laboratory and clinic health workers and human resource systems to enable delivery of quality pharmaceutical services to combat multi-drug resistant (MDR)TB
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To strengthen key institutions and reduce the TB burden through increased access to good quality and effective pharmaceutical and laboratory services.
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- Worldwide Rank #1,394,615
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text:
Face Pattern by gkritWatch
©2012-2016 gkrit
***Available for print***
Just great. Do you make concept of every characters?
What do you mean exactly?
Well, I have trouble to reply... How do you begin your Art. By giving a story or just drawing a sketch or just come out of your head? I'm asking, because your Characters is very clear.
I tend to just start sketching out shapes/silhouettes, patterns etc. However, I dont really know WHAT I am going to paint when i start. I let the "randomness" influence the direction of the concept and once I feel I have something to work with, I then go into more detail of how it should actually look.


text:
CINCINNATI (AP) - Lance Berkman hit a two-run homer, one of three by the Astros, and Wade Miller got his eighth straight win Monday, leading Houston to a 7-5 victory and a four-game split with the Cincinnati Reds.
Berkman's shot in the third against knuckleballer Jared Fernandez (1-3) completed a four-run third inning and extended his career-long success against the Reds.
Seven of his 32 homers have come against the Reds, including a three-homer game at Cincinnati on April 16.
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Graduating Manteca Junior Police Academy cadets began their ceremonies Friday morning with a full inspection by officers and Police Chief Dave Bricker.
The 47,800 acres in San Joaquin County planted in almonds primarily surrounding Manteca, Ripon, and Escalon yielded 47,300 tons of the nuts in 2009.
Even avid gardeners have to take some time off in the summer.
Replacing a residential electrical service may soon cost you $148 in municipal building inspection fees.
Green aliens are coming to Woodward Park when the sun sets Saturday.
A teen was reportedly struck by an illegal bottle rocket in the 200 block of Northwoods Avenue in Manteca at about 10:30 Sunday night as other revelers kept police officers and deputies chasing down calls of illegal fireworks throughout Manteca, Lathrop, and Ripon.
It's been nearly 15 years since the Kolor Blind Souljas – a Northern California hip hop group with extensive roots in Manteca – formally came to pass.
LATHROP – Every year at the end of spring, representatives of the Modesto Area Street Rod Association go before the Lathrop City Council bearing gifts.
here are upwards of 4,200 dogs that aren't fixed in Manteca.
"Paws 4 Friends," affiliated with the national Therapy Dogs, Inc., has set an orientation for those interested in working outside the box with therapy dogs that are trained to visit shut-ins in retirement centers and skilled nursing facilities.
Wording of a city ordinance adopted in January 2008 inadvertently made it illegal to park a "fifth wheel" mobile home trailer on a city street or alley without it being hitched to a vehicle.
The Manteca City Council is seeking applications for the Youth Advisory Committee.
A 32-year tradition continues today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Three Rivers Indian Lodge on North Union Road between Lathrop Road and Lovelace Road.
Manteca celebrates our nation's independence today.
Angel Two Feathers makes his way around the grounds of the Three Rivers Indian Lodge spreading white sage among the elders, the tribal people, and the regular folk alike.
Page 664 of 891
I took a nutrition class once while I was going to Delta College.
The dry weeds choking the new medians on North Main Street as well as the Lathrop Road replacement interchange on Highway 99 are only temporary.
Manteca Parks & Recreation is ushering in summer on Saturday, June 4, with a three-hour event designed to help parents explore recreation class programs for their ...
Debbie Mitzman has been at Sierra High since its opening in 1994.
Ripon High this year celebrated the academic achievements of the Class of 2016 with a College Reveal Night to acknowledge those that have already been ...
One thing has been apparent ever since the City of Lathrop began the push to retrofit the levees that protect its residents from a massive ...
Page 18 of 18
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Low cost drop spindel bought on ebay after homemade flopped
I have searched, and searched. So far I have found some on ebay for $15.00 and then $5 shipping.
I have also found how to make your own with a wooden wheel from toy trucks and a dowel.
Have I used all my resources?
I am just starting out and do not want to spend alot for my amusement or whim.
Open to suggestions.
Thank you.
Welcome Joyt!
A used CD mounted to a dowel with a hook on top works very well. It's a great weight overall and spins extremely well. You can screw in a small hook on top, or carve a notch into the dowel. Dowel should be about pencil thickness, and at least 12". The trickiest thing is mounting the CD to the dowel. I did it once with tape around one small section of the dowel to thicken it to the CD hole's size, and just wedged the CD onto it. It was functional but a bit clumsy; there's no doubt more elegant solutions. But that's one way! CD spindles weren't my idea, others have used and loved them. They do spin quite well, better than many store-bought ones. And their light weight will make it easier to learn on. I mounted my CD on the top, top-whorl style, but you could do it bottom-whorl if you preferred. I've only used top-whorl spindles, so I'm partial.
I've also made some from craft-store wheels slipped onto dowels. Those are nice in that they already have the perfect hole size drilled out to fit a standard dowel.
Happy spinning!
It's also possible to spin with just a stick. A straight stick with about an inch of a branch on one end, that makes a hook. You hook it into the fiber and run the stick along your thight to twist the fiber. Wrap finished fiber below the hook and continue. Great way to start spinning, actually, because you don't have the problem of the spindle dropping to the floor!
I've also seen a primitive drop spindle made with a rock and stick, literally! You use the rock, lashed to a stick, for weight as a drop spindle, and wrap the finished yarn in a figure 8 around the stick. Hard to explain, but very cool when you see it/figure it out. ;)
Here's how to make a CD drop spindle. It's a great way to recylce all those AOL CDs! :cheering:
I hope to be spinning soon!
I made my dowel and wood wheel spindel yesterday and it is a pitiful thing. As soon as it spins one way it reverses and undoes the work. But nothing just works the first time.
I also saw the cd made spindel on a diy show. I guess the weight is a key factor.
I will try again and write with my success story.
Thank you for the instruction and link.
J, are you able to post a picture? I'd like to see, even if it didn't turn out how you wanted it; I don't know anything about spindles, but I'd like to *try* to be useful, anyway.
I found an Ashford top whorl student spindle for $6.25
Here's the link:
Joy Of Hand Spinning - storefront
Here are pics of my sad little spindel.
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Made from a 1/4" dowel and 2 1/2" wooden toy wheel. I should have pre-drilled the hole for the hook. I could not find any drill bit small enough amoung my husband's tools. So I cracked my first atemp with a bottom whorl.
So the answer was to have a top whorl, which I cracked also. Then I wrapped the cracked area with thread. By now my sad little thing really did not work very well. But I have not given up!
Some people just do things better than me
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I broke down and just bought a spindel from ebay. I could have bought a low cost $5-8 spindel but I thought that an investment of $20 was wiser. That way the spindel could carry me from beginner to interm. level. Since spinning has been stewing in my brain for two months I think it is something that I will love, like knitting!
That's beautiful! I think you made a good purchase. :)
I started with a drop spindle, but quickly tired of it and bought a spinning wheel. Unfortunately, I still have yet to dedicate much time to it because I'd rather knit than spin at this point. But I have cleaned, carded and spun a good amount of wool in the year or so I've had my wheel. I'm currently trying to get the hang of spinning 100% angora, but sadly, I mostly succeed at only making small bits of yarn and a lot of fuzz. Wool is much easier to spin. *sigh*
Good luck with your drop spindle! :)
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text:
The Impact Of Mismatch Between Salesperson Communication And Buyer's Needs On Mutual Relations
Despite the important role of communication in the business-to-business sphere, little attention is given to it in publications. The so far conducted research on adapting communication focused on the level and scope of information exchange or marketing in general. However, the explanation to what degree communication, and particularly taking into account buyer needs in communication, has an effect on buyer-salesperson relationships is missing. Therefore, this paper is based on a thesis that salesperson communication at variance with buyer expectations leads to deterioration of buyer's trust, satisfaction, commitment and willingness to recommend the salesperson.
Provided by: Poznan University of Economics Topic: Mobility Date Added: Aug 2010 Format: PDF


text:
I've got a cheap-o Motorola Cable Modem for now and I hate it. I'm used to doing this with SonicWALL routers but life happened. I need a way to isolate these groups securely and keep threats from crossing those circle boundaries. The PowerConnect switch is fully managed I just forgot the IP and forgot how the heck to connect to that.
I can use Linux/Unix on a few computers only. Am I screwed unless I buy hardware and by that I mean good hardware with SPI, DPI and IPS?
- Blue = Active Directory Connection
- Purple = Printer, NAS connection.
- Black = Network connection.
Probably confusing as hell.
Here's an link to view the below image full size


text:
It meant one OTHER thing too: The Vegetable Garden space was physically 'dry' enough to actually plant. In 20 years, we learned however, that there is OFTEN a dry spell early in May, so you plant. And then the rain returns for a month, and your plants ROT…..a 2nd planting isn't fun! That being said………… our grower, Mr. Stucki at Millenium Farms was pushing us to plant….sending all this "El Nino" history and we weren't paying much attention UNTIL……… he said he was finishing selling his vegetable starts 2 weeks earlier than normal…..and if we wanted some………….oh oh……..
SO……….this garden has been 2/3 planted since May 10.
On May 3, we planted a giant tomato plant we'd luckily found at the annual Master Gardener's Plant Sale in Canby, yep, the King of Cherry Tomatoes: a Sungold Variety….it was too big to even put a kozy Coat around it….but we gambled anyway…..along with all the deck starts for Rodger, and just the FUN DAY that this LARGEST of NW Plant Sales can be……… THIS plant, now 20 days later is taking off (smile)….but was already pretty big on day 1, eh?
***this plant now is over the top of the cage!!!! smile.
Yes, on May 10th we took off for Millenium Farms where we chatted with Michael and Missy for over an hour, and HAD to simply get all the plants bought and get home…..(they are terrific people)….. So on May 11th, evening, the garden space had a NEW look:
Whew. was I exhausted. By now, R has 2/3 of his deck pots planted. THEN? Of COURSE! The weather collapsed….rain/damp/gray/humidity, all the "rotting" effects of a rain forest were in the garden, and I took desperate measures in a grand experiment…..clear bags over the tomatoes:
Those bags have been on/off those plants 3 times depending on the weather, and I DO think it's helped…..they are coming out of there today permanently. Must get a pic of how wonderfully everything looks out there.
WHAT AN EARLY START! Whew. NOW, must get going……we almost lost Mr. Mac to a Bacterial Infection…..got too sick so quick, we didn't get him in soon enough to start the anti-biotic. So, after a struggle for 2 weeks forcing down medicine, helping him along, cleaning up the messes, he's on the way back, and now…I take him down for a swim! Yea!
Let's see if I post an update soon………….. hm.]]>
one very interesting park note I love is seeing the coyotes regularly….there's a small pack of 3 (I think it's 3)…living below our house….they may appear anywhere along this bluff…..come along to see if any bird or squirrel has passed under the feeders, then head out toward NW Skyline to cross and head downhill from there. SAT NOTE: The 3-legged member of this 3-some seems to have disappeared over the winter. Sigh again:
Nov 3. Last post. A fall walk into the park with a camera and a dog. a season's changing…… and I had a feeling it would be a quiet winter for us.
The 2014 Winter……was a month spent between Nov and Christmas awaiting updates on Rodger's dad who had finally fallen ill and been placed into hospital……he finally passed on Christmas Eve. We got the call during our neighborhood gathering here at the house…not too pleasant. So, Rodger spent Christmas week there in the bay area sorting all things out, preparing for disposition of remains, a small service, etc etc. NOT pleasant. That explains how December was a very quiet, uneventful holiday time for us.
THIS year? We BOTH came down with some kind of cold virus that kept us pretty low….extreme coughing, and misc cold symptoms….that went on 4-5 weeks….Mark recovered first, but the holiday season was NOT fun………for 2015.
That's TWO years in a row………… I think we need a healing vacation, you know, like a month in some fabulous place to be treated like royalty. Hm……
Did ANY Things get done? Nothing much to even note: cleaned the chimney, made some soup for my cousin recovering from arthritis surgery, and on and on….that kind of thing.
We did visit new acquaintances in Vancouver Jeni & Will Brown….R had met at a Deadhead weekend….talk about nice people. Wil. has a nice fishing boat….takes some of his customers out for salmon runs on the Columbia….they had a completely separate freezer FOR fresh caught, wild, filleted salmon….and sent us home with 4 packs. About once a week: foil wrapped salmon dressed in a bit of onion, lemon, garlic….roasted in an oven. YUM.
I shouldn't forget about my baking class. Neighbor Melanie T. who teaches baking at a local Community College, gave me a 3-day class (sure, not all day)…..on making sourdough…..and since that time to this, and I know for a while into the future, I will continue to enjoy a vastly improved bread to what I'd been making for a long time…. the curing and retarding of growth into a 3-day period vastly improves flavor and texture. Yum.
For about the 3rd time since we moved here, we ran into another Tugboat Cooking crew (3 this time) ….who end up pushing barges up the Columbia to the Eastern side of the state….shifts last about 7 days…and these guys clean/prep/cook all the meals the crew gets….it's always the 5-6 carts of "everything" that astounds you on first look….and yes, the store opens a private cashier line for them.
At least we enjoyed a quiet 2-man Thanksgiving Dinner together…..spending the day prepping and cooking the meal to "our standards" (grandma turkey dinner) and watching some football. It was a perfect quiet day for us and for remembering our families, not too many of whom are left.
I finally got to meet the one niece, daughter of my sister who passed away from cancer years ago when her 3 little girls were small…..pre school age. They grew up without her, had a couple of step-moms, none of whom were memorable, and via the FB and a visit now and then, I've been thrilled to become friends of theirs……this is one BIG JEWEL of 2014-2015…………and I SO hope I get to continue seeing them now and then. They're all in California………… maybe an excuse to travel?
The Christmas 2015? Just two of us again…..making our Christmas dinner, a few football games, and this time, cocktails! We HAD put up a tree, things looked beautiful……it wasn't a bad time………..
A dear friend I knew in Utah …..almost 35 years ago….who I'd only been "hearing about" since then came to Portland right after Christmas…..once again, my little person was astounded to see that thing they preach blossom as truth again: REAL friendships don't end….and when they're renewed, it only takes minutes to be right back where you were….that was this visit….we didn't stop talking for 3 days….David may buy a 2nd home here, so I'm only hoping we meet again soon.
**HE did come back just a couple weeks ago….spending some time with other folks he knew here and looking at listing for available properties. cool.
We did have a little cold snap and a bit of snow for a week….I always find myself bound by some 'code'….to make sure our bird friends living here continue to be fed, thawing a feeder, (including thawing hummingbird feeders)…..and they Do come in when it's freezing……I can't imagine what the mortality rate is for wild birds in a cold snow period like this.
And so on and so on……..and here on Jan 22…..the big wet period MAY BE behind for this week….we're going to have a few days of moderate, warming air, and rain only every other day. I'd be SO happy to see some things dry out a bit.
So, my diary's caught up a bit…..not much has happened, eh.]]>
JOIN me for just a few brilliant visions my head saw this morning, here, the peak of fall color:
I don't even have to leave the yard these mornings….in the BACK of the house, our tiny Deciduous Redwood (now about 10 yrs old..) is ready to shed its needles…..it's gorgeous spring summer and fall……
SO…..One doesn't have to walk far from this house to find so wonderful a rain forest, that the shorter vine maples often have to bend and stretch and search for light. hence. many scenes like this:
or these……
**Those BENT limbed trees are all over this park…..the nature of the rain forest!
Halfway into our walk, we pass MAC's favorite late winter romping puddle, the Elk Wallow….it's just now barely returning with all the rain, but not quite "rotten" enough to intrigue him….by January, if he's NOT leashed walking by this, it is irresistible to him:
And, then uphill for a big, yep, it works the lungs, good reason to walk, eh….. some other tree scenes are simply breathtaking (at least "live" they are…I know, it's a phone camera):
and on the way back, if you're looking you'll find a few "bird buffets"….rotten trunks now full of bugs for our feathered friends:
or this one:
**bigger, and looking like there's a nest or two up higher…..
ONE massive old fir ….I'm wondering about termites…..SOME ANIMAL is taking on some of the thick bark of this tree….it's a GRAND HUGE OLD fir:
****AND this morning's walk was NOT along the VERY scenic Wildwood Trail…..sinee I prefer to let MAC walk unleashed, I often stay on the Fire Lane…you seldom see a soul unless a jogger or two….but if you and I HAD walked the Wildwood, this is what it looks like out this far from town:
Thanks for joining me……….I USED to THINK I was giving up my own wants to WALK this dog for HIS sake….and long ago, I realized I GOT more out of it than this wonderful animal companion, who loves the walk, but his nose is always looking' down….. and, well, he's right in a way, you need to make sure you don't come across coyote scat and step in it…..damn coyotes! They poop right ON the trail…. OH well!
We're back home now with an appetite! How about some just baked sourdough toast and eggs and bacon? See ya soon.]]>
Wow, our weather turned within a few days from the endless summer dry warm bright worker-bee busy life to dark gray, wet, drizzle, fog period now forecast for 5-6 days……and the plants in the yard seemed to be on pace, maybe not so noticeable in the bright sun as they are now……… but with the long-term forecasts ALL calling for 5-6 days of rain / gray…….it was TIME to get any yard work done ahead of it.
The LAST Flowering HUGE plant: the Datura, and NO, we're not making tea out of it
The "favorite" fall tree for how the leaves/shape appear:
The Deciduous Redwood we have….the needles finally turning gold/brown, soon to drop:
The Huge Leafed Catalpa Tree stuck in a narrow space between house and a row of firs….has finally almost shed everything, but it IS the yard space I have to pick up with the mower/bagger MANY times and drop on the garden….I got it really cleaned out last night expecting the rain to start:
Yes, the Garden is now under a heavy 4-6″ layer of mulch for the winter:
Oh yes, Rodger got his turn at cleaning the chimney prior to fall wood fires….yes, done ahead of the rain, and we should be set for a couple of years now:
Even some vine maples in the forest seem to be showing strains of a very DRY summer:
So….yesterday was a very busy day getting the place ready for the rain period to start….and today, I spent reading a book! Yes, recovery!]]>
I had to decide Oct 1 whether to even "pay" for another time period for Blue Host to maintain this site…..so I Outta find it IF….. this next year I Do learn to write in this little 'diary' again, OR….just back up the database and put it on a DVD scrapbook for ALL my "0" grandchildren to read about. Hah.
That being said, SO MUCH has gone by since August……… I'm simply going to throw up a few pics and a few thoughts about the last 60 days…..as fast as I can, I MUST get back to FB quick to make sure I haven't missed anything. Hah.
So the walk through FALL begins:
FIRST observation Oct 28, 2015. Sigh. I am truly feeling melancholy, a little blue this morning. For the first time, ALL long term weather forecasts are calling for our entering the normal "wet" period of late fall that may well be here through spring……and ALWAYS……when that first starts, I feel a bit empty after having 6 straight months of fabulous perfect sunny days/ warmer nights. Day long shades of gray, and little drizzly rain bits are not my cup of tea, although I WELL know that's HOW you have a rain forest. And how can I WHINE…….of course I wouldn't trade this for the serious long-term drought killing California.
2nd Observation: I just turned 69. Just HOW did that happen? I used to the "little kid" in the family a short while back:
Yep, that's right….the last one you can still be NOT in your "70's" . . .a decade I am not fond of yet…..you begin to be discounted by fewer friends (fewer are alive for one thing…hah)….. others you know that ARE your age…..begin to discuss Prostates, bumps here or there, digestion, prescriptions, doctors, and on and on. NO! Let's talk about our friends we miss or even see, and about where/what we're doing…… let's still be ALIVE while we ARE alive and healthy……NOT start to sink into that nursing home machine 10-15 years before you should. ENOUGH of THAT!
SO………. remedy. While I type, Playing a bit of Debussy (Children's Corner)….spot of tea, and just let myself SIT here and mind-wander. Hm……I already feel better.
And…. one of my NEW adventures IS Bread Baking….starting with learning Sourdough from a fabulous Prof. Melanie Templeman, who we're lucky enough to be neighbors with…my first class mid-day pic:
**I'm already up to attempt #16, and AM getting better….(that being said, on #16….I completely forgot SALT…oh well).
Friend and ex-neighbor Krysta stopped by not long ago….
.now living on the coast, she's got a lot of life surrounding her….2 new kids, a degree in nursing meaning she's working plenty at the hospital, and dealing with "marriage"….. AH, maybe that's ONE little part I do NOT miss about being younger…..A LOT of added stresses older folks don't have….or need .
**An overdue BIG project for OUR household has been…..getting some maples down that were either already on last legs from termites, OR…leaning toward the house because that's where the sun was coming from…. and this September we DID it….WHAT an adventure it is simply to watch a crew dancing up 30-40 ft in trees with heavy chain saws hanging from their belts while they slowly cut a tree down to size. THEN….OUR own work began, cleaning up the entire site, splitting the trunks, getting the last huge trunk (164" around at the base) cut down…..WHEW! There were some adventures here….some exercise, and a HUGE satisfaction moment when the stacks were either stacked for curing this winter, or IN the woodshed for warm fires that'll begin soon…… Not SURE that MAC understood the scope of the project, but he sure like THIS little pile of ex-wood bits:
**almost done….. Splitting wood's the fun part, stacking….the good exercise part:
SO….got that done…… got the garden cleaned up, deer fence once again, rolled up and put away, plants dried, frozen, or…. A relief kind of to let this year's garden go…..the year was So warm, dry, that harvesting continued TOO long….wore me out!
And…..the space was turned over for the deer to salvage dinner snacks as they wishes:
Not long ago, a friend I have not seen in some 30 years visited….it was non-stop talking, dining, and learning once again, real friendships remain no matter the time and distance. Dave's a fabulous guy, and he's already missed…..we're hoping to see him again soon…..
Okay….I Do admit one thing……….with summer out of the way and gray days upon us, I "allow" myself a bit of pleasure……. (no, don't go there)………I get to "READ" a few books I've gotten ahold of through the summer…..waiting first is the one about "how/what animals feel/think" . . ..a subject I am close to, as we've grown to understand a LOT more about nature living here the last 20 years than we used to. And, now that MAC has somehow gotten to be 11…..when we first got him, I was thinking, "Well, HE'll be the lat dog you'll ever have…….and now, he's already as old as I am…….and I'm probably TOO well aware I just might be showing a few signs of being 69 as he's showing being 11…..HOWEVER….he STILL does a strong powerful swim session 1-2x a week down in the river…. he's been a great friend.
Sigh. Time to go………….. there's one piece of birthday cake left and it's noonish….
hm……I think my birthday will be completely gone when this piece gets put on that plate in a bit………okay. I'm 69 now. Whew.]]>
okay. NO time to sit around in "August" of high summer smiling at roses….. work is finally "required" in the vegetable garden. Simply because, the production there is NOW at a point harvest must happen……..THIS is the point one works for in the 3 months that lead up to this. Some things had to be done NOW:
**Thin/Prune some Bay Laurel branches poking through the deer fence. I wish people would take some…cook with 'em fresh, or dry them…… it's cool to have the plant that gives us "Bay Leaves" in the yard:
This year, I surrendered the north end row of the garden to mostly "Volunteer" plants since with most damp years we don't see these, so it was simply an experiment. … but in this row are 2 kinds of tomatoes, 2 tomatillos, a bunch of garlic plants and then some planted chard, thyme, rhubarb…. The bay laurel is at the end….but I was amazed how BIG even these volunteers got and how much they too are fruiting:
The Tomato rows begin with some "Stupice" (Russian) heirloom tomatoes that truly work well at our altitude, they are early, perfectly tasting like a big slicer…..We and a couple neighbors have been dining off these are 3 weeks now almost ev day….delicious:
And the other 1st plant in the row is the SUNGOLD, our favorite 'cherry' tomato…. that plant is absolutely FULL of fruit…..so this next month, there will soon be "spares"…..we won't be able to eat all of them:
This was an "experiment"….an Italian huge Slicer tomato (oops…forgot name at moment)….but the plant and fruit are SO heavy, you can SEE that it's bending the tomato cage itself:
**I've mentioned on the FB how, since Aug 5, I've been pruning these plants back, and maybe this can show you why…..I HAVE TO…..they're producing lots of fruit yes, but STILL growing vines/branches….and in 4 weeks….by mid-September, weather will be changing and not in the Tomato Plant's favor. So TODAY, THESE rows all got a major cutback of vines:
now, at the Southern end of the garden…..this early cool crop row of what was lettuce/chard, celery, is finally been chopped out….we had enough Chard to get tired of it…..I'm NOW awaiting to see just how the corn Does RIPEN up…..it's about done with the tassels dropping pollen period:
2nd Harvest of the Oregano meant…..it went into the compost heap….1st harvest produced 2 quarts of dried oregano……. too bad I couldn't have sold it…it's one hardy annual:
And Thyme was harvested…….now drying in our Dining Room:
It DID well….smells wonderful:
I sure don't KNOW what KIND of heirloom Zucchini Michael & missy gave us this year, but it's unquestionable that it's been the most amazing squash plant I've ever seen….. Rodger's made zucchini bread 3x and plans more:
Now…the Tomatillo Plants are coming into season….and even though I cut BACK the number of plants THIS was a summer with weather perfect for these guys…..I will have MORE than I'll want to turn into salsa….will have to give some away within a couple weeks:
THIS……was the tomato harvest TODAY…… (will do this again in 2-3 days):
And what garden is complete without a few of these guys blooming by August…..2 of ours are already finished pollination, now drooping, and seeds beginning to form……by November, they are Perfect Bird Feeding plants out there….they remain standing until the seeds are all eaten:
And THIS GARDEN…..in AUGUST…..is one of the BIG reasons Mark doesn't have much life outside of being home…………..but it's exactly WHY one DOES do the tiring work of the 3 months leading UP to this….to see, enjoy, preserve, eat, etc etc…..the beauty that grows out there.
that's all folks!]]>
First task is to calculate how many supplies you'll need buy finding out just how 'many' quarts the cousins hope to take home…..we came up to around 100……. To make 100 quarts of pickles, it will require:
*about 100 lbs of cucumbers
*about 15 bundles of fresh dill weed (from a farm hopefully, the store bundles are small and wilted
*a few dozen garlic cloves…..and these you'll find more varied than you'd think depending on where you look…..this years fresh garlic came from West Union Gardens.
*Dried Red Peppers. Purely for aesthetics, and that Grandma & Aunt Merle both used them.
*Fresh serrano & Habanero peppers.. . . . . as folks have gotten used to the habaneros, this year the split was 50-50….. so these are 'winning' over appetites.
*Fresh Grape Leaves….from our yard
*dried alum – 1/8 tsp per jar. Reputedly helps retain crispness.
*Canning Salt – about 10 lbs
*Vinegar – about 3 gallons.
*optional…..and we haven't added…….. bit of dried mustard seed and/or celery seed.
Everything but the cucumbers and dill weed may be bought earlier, but those last two items are best fresh…and bought ONE DAy earlier than the pickle day…once home, the cucumbers are rinsed, blossom end cut (to avoid spoilage),
and brined overnight:
Over a few days time, hopefully, the house has been prepped so that just before the cousin-crew shows up, we're ready:
And HERE is where the day gets lost in business…..not another pic taken until we were done….I wanted 2-3 to show the mess that this can be at times, but NO….we were all moving too fast…..talking the whole time, it's a great little family event:
This all began when there was only ONE Aunt left alive ….and by luck, she still made her mother's pickles, lots of them……Here's Grandma Ray's written recipe, and Aunt Merle's Notes….. the pic on the left is used on the label…it's Grandma Ray at 16:
Last time a post was published, we were going on and on about the Evening Grosbeaks.
*That beautiful huge flock of evening Grosbeaks was gone by Mid-June as we thought they would be…..boy, were trees 'quiet' in comparison for a while, till the rest of the Black Headed Grosbeaks ALL arrived and began calling those beautiful long floral calls every morning beginning about 5:00 am. BUT they too, have JUST finished fledging their last bunch of chicks, and have already thinned out by half……there are NO birds calling in the mornings. Seems sad in comparison to the beautiful sounds of spring.
*First of July company were the Ebert/Hoppe's from Minneapolis….Thomas was here to perform a wedding for Matt & Kate….. this things was one gorgeous affair held in the Hoyt Arboretum ….on a sloping hillside …. one of the most beautiful weddings I've been to, memorable, and so MANY fabulous people. We were lucky to be included!
*Matt/Kate, Todd/Lizz came up about 2-3 weeks later for an evening of some music fun…..perhaps it was obvious some had been enjoying a little wine when Beethoven inspired the MICE to appear:
****Click on the mark-matt-tod text…I don't know why I'm not getting an image uploaded!!
mark matt todd
*The GARDEN! This year is almost in the record books for being DRY and HOT…..it's been impossible to keep the lawn from dying, it's solid brown….and all the flowering shrubs are demanding time/water we've never had to give them. The toll on the vegetable garden is visible….the lettuce exploded in growth, bolted, withered….the Chard is still out there and giant but a little bitter by now. IT was SO hot, I never replanted any lettuce….so there's about 15% of the space empty…….now while The cool weather crops suffered, tomatoes/tomatillos are SO tall I've had to tie up branches as best I can for the tomatoes, they're all well over 6′ and trying to spread out….they're JUST beginning to ripen, though, tasting great, and that MONTH of fresh tomato dining will likely over-ride any negatives I've felt this whole growing season….I've just never had enough free time to keep up!!!! As I type this, the big orchard boxes out front full of flowers NEED water….and I'm NOT going out there in the hot 96 sun to do it…..they're gonna have to figure out how to suffer it out until about 6:00. Whew.
Lord! After last winters winds blew off about 15-20 shingles from the new wing of the house, it was obvious, this older portion would have to be replaced…..DONE in July! 25 yr guarantee …. to save a little of the cost, Rodger tore out the old chimney from the front older part of the house ….(we'd replaced that wood stove with the new one in the family room in the newer portion of the house)….that was a bit of a drafty, and dirty chimney hole in the dining room. Rodger had most of gone by the time I took a pic:
With the help of pal Aaron show showed up by surprise, and gladly so, (it was AARON who crawled into the attic opening to grab that old chimney and lift it out)….. soon things were all on the ground to get hauled off:
I was left to vacuum/clean the inside of the room where the bunch of ash/crumbs from old fires fell through that opening while it was open:
And we were ready……as the roofers arrived soon after with supplies:
Best part of that story is that the 3-man crew showed up at 7:00 am next morning ….and as the day went, it was obvious they wouldn't finish ….. I didn't like that because good rain was expected sunday. On their OWN…..they decided to stay put 'cause THEY wanted a day off Sunday….there were there until 7:30 PM….and did a beautiful job….and boy were WE happy with that action….it DID rain lots Sunday afternoon…. yea!
*PICKLES! THIS IS the weekend the cousins will be here for what's become an annual family tradition. NEW cousins this year? Joe & Stacey Smith from Kennewick…..Joe works in the wine business there….they're lots of fun, and hopefully will have so much fun they'll be here every year. Joe is the grandson of Aunt Merle, the last Aunt who was still making these back in 2008….she taught us how to do this stuff…… and Joe's Aunt Nancy P was with us from year one, until she too passed away 3-4 years ago of the scary Mursa Virus, we still miss her fabulous personality, and loving spirit:
**THAT picture was taken in 2009…..sigh….
Getting READY for it? It's a little work……the cost for supplies (not jars) is about $2.25 per quart, and a jar cost give/take $1.00 1.15…….so you're not saving much money, but you're sure getting something that makes memories, and if I may say so, are delicious. SO……OUR 30 jars are here, and each cousin brings how many jars they want to make.
Everything else? I've been collecting as I tour around farms, markets: so we have some beautiful just harvested garlic, dried red peppers, grape leaves out on the vine yet, canning salt, habanero & Serrano peppers ready, vinegar, leaving the Cucumbers and Dill Weed at the Pumpkin Patch awaiting our arrival tomorrow……
We'll bring them home, get them soaking in cold water tubs overnight, cutting off the blossom end……and await the cousins saturday morning!
The new dishwasher has a hot enough rinse/dry cycle, it's wonderful to load the jars in there…. when done, they're ready for packing….the real fun of the day.
I can't believe it was early June for the last post…..it's been a VERY busy hectic hot 2 months…… whew!]]>
***THAT being said, if you want to skip the boring Mark story, go straight to the bottom and enjoy listening to some of my favorite ORGAN Pieces, things I would have LOVED to play when I was having those thrilling experiences, sitting on the bench of some wonderful Musical Instrument playing for Church, a funeral or a wedding.
**above, This is the world famous "Wannamaker Organ" at Longwood Gardens near Philly…built by yes, "Mr" Dupont trying to out-do even his own brother's pipe organ…and he certainly did…..
Here's the short preview of the just released 2015 PBS documentary "Pulling Out All the Stops"…..about a world Pipe Organ Competition that ends up with 10 semi-finalists at the "Wannaker" Organ location mentioned above. It's a truly fascinating documentary and I hope your local PBS station plays it soon:
From the age of 4-5 when I was first showing interests in Piano, and those piano lessons went on for years, and THEN the little Hammond Organ the Church had, I got quite captivated BY the organ. THEN, I learn there really ARE bigger Pipe Organs….. at 15 I got to take an Organ class that ended up our playing on the Pipe Organ at the "new" Methodist Cathedral in Boise, ID….I don't think ANY other instrument has ever moved me as much since then.
Sure, in that little cow town, by 12-13, I was installed as the local "Church" "organist", and then mini-region Organist, and thought THAT was fun until that Pipe Organ class later…..every time, that instrument got more complicated so did my feeling that I'll ALWAYS love this music. THEN, just as I go on my Mormon Mission, at the farewell gathering in Salt Lake City, for that "week's" group of new elders, I was selected to be the organist for it….and played the music on the Assembly Hall Pipe Organ on Temple Square…my, wasn't I coming fine?
Well, that was that. I gave up religion as soon as I came home from that mission, and left music behind as well…..to get a "life" started, a career, "coming out", all that growing up stuff.
Of course, while I lived in SLC, I "would" go to the Organ Recitals on Temple Square once in a while, and simply thrill every time I could soak up the grand depth that ONE PERSON could pull OUT of a GRAND complicated instrument like pipe organs.
Of course, I'd discovered The history of these organs by then….not just for Church! 100 years ago, they were everywhere…..big Macy's stores, Theaters, Movie Houses, Many Private huge organs built for the uber-wealthy, and then of course, the big cathedrals. It was ONE of those big rich names from history that had an Organist hired for a recital EVERY morning at 7:30 to begin his day, in his own dining room. I've loved them from those years to now……
Even a couple years ago, friend Serafina, in the bay area, arranged for us to meet a friend of hers, the master organist at Stanford University…..teaches Pipe Organ there at their own cathedral. THAT was a bit of a thrill itself…..but of course, if left alone, I "could have"…been a little more daring:
And finally…..now, I have somehow realized, I do want to make a bigger effort to see these instruments in concert……and am going to take some time finding out where/when these recitals are held, who IS the king of the Organ Players now, and on and on. I have a little homework to do.
BUT, hoping you'll join me, HERE are a few short clips of my favorite organ pieces….the fun ones. You might as well, IF….hah, you've already read THIS far. HERE ARE SOME FUN little PROGRAM LINKS TO HEAR this magnificent instrument one piece at a time:
1) Probably the world's most famous POWER Organ Piece is Widor's Toccata and Fugue in C Minor. It's 6 minutes…..sit and enjoy….this guy plays this SO perfectly……(think he's gay…hah)…Prob not, he's simply Australian, Mr. Siegfried Franke, head organist in Melbourne's Westminster Cathedral.
2) Same organist, but this other most beautiful Toccata, the famous: Lanquetuit, again 6 minutes of wonderful video:
3) Perhaps some Grand AMERICAN THEATER Organ for FUN? Here's that classic, "Puttin' On the Ritz"…from a long departed master, Walt Strony (Embedding this vid was not allowed…you must click and go see him perform….fun):
and…of course, there was even one Mormon Organist I liked a lot, who very rarely stepped outside the strict performance boundaries….. but did a delicate little cuteness for Christmas here…. John Longhurst, the Mormon Tabernacle Oranist plays "Go Tell It on the Mountain" at a christmas program there…..(**move the cursor to about 1:00 minute to hear the FUN improvisation).
AND LASTLY…..if you THINK ONLY OLD people are enjoying Organ Music….here's your NEW GENERATION ORGANIST…..American Cameron Carpenter here playing Royal Albert Hall….his craftsmanship is quite astounding (the clip IS 17 minutes….skip first to about minute 2…..and listen only as long as you enjoy it):
So. now you know a part of me I don't talk about much. Let me know when you hear of a great pipe organ program coming up…….I might be there!]]>
It's finally been OUR turn once again to host the BIG flock of Evening Grosbeaks….only ONE other time has the crowd been this big and lasted, now, for 3 months…..somewhere been 30-35 birds arrived at the neighbors 3 doors down in January…and soon moved over to our place since the feeders were in BACK away from the road….and we went to work encouraging them to stay…..4 feeders put up that THEY like… SOON, all trees around us, at the tops, in the mornings, were alive with the calling, and it was rather thrilling….so ALIVE.
They spent 3-4 weeks like this, and then sort of seemed to split up….we began to see pairs at the feeders, less calling ……but….that stayed that way only about a week or two…soon all were back, and HAVE nested…….and JUST this past week, been bringing fledges to the feeders….Fun and yet sad…..FUN to see chicks staring at all the others feeding trying to figure out how it works, and STILL nestling up to a parent who shoves them away now…..it's a tough world kid!
So here we are June 1…….my "SUSPICION" is……once these chicks are adjusted and well, this entire flock may move on……..these birds are rather well known for being unpredictable. IF they do, glad they stayed to long, and yet, their beauty and company will be missed.
2* The Other Birds:
**The Speckled Junco….is a real beauty….most slate juncos are just varying shades of dark gray with a black head…no, this little guy has white spots everywhere on his back….and it's been fun to see how often he's at the feeder…..given me an inkling of how many juncos there are. I NEVER knew……since they were often here…. but since HE's often here, it could just be a 'few' that are nesting around us. **the SAD story…..Juncos are ground nesters….but ONE chose to nest up in a roof corner……12′ up. Her chicks just fledged prematurely…one died landing on the sidewalk below….She called for hours there….trying to scare us away and get the chick to move. Sigh.
**Black Headed Grosbeaks…….we have 3-4 pair……and the males calling from the very tops of the tallest trees in the mornings.. . .. NICE way to say HI……I'm here, Ladies! Are you ready? **They're nesting NOW.
**WITH our VERY WARM/DRY spring, water's become a precious commodity even here in the rain forest…..we're seeing some birds we rarely see come in just for water and bathing: the Western Tanager, Townsend's Warbler, and some kind of sparrows……it's FUN….since the best bath is right at the back window.
3* GARDEN. **As is expected now, every spring, our perennial plants came up perfectly and early since it was dry…..so we BEGAN summer with potatoes, oregano, leeks (from last fall…ready to eat now), rhubarb,
and finally garlic and shallots are on their way. I used the little tiller to get a place for whatever we'd find at the Canby SALE May 1, and Millenium Farms Mr. Michael & Ms. Missy Stucki about the same time…..so NOW…….out there are -24- Walls-o=Water surrounding 13 tomato plants and 11 pepper plants…WHEW!
always a tiring day to get that all set up, but now it's there and roots growing….most COOL. The NEW "trendy" tomato seems to be the PINEAPPLE EXPRESS from Michael….we're testing that….but we have our fav's: Stupice, San Marzano, Sungold, a Siberian experiment and a couple others….this will be fun……. ALSO WELL on their way Lettuce, Chard:
Celery, Parsley (eating it now)….that's leaving us 3-4 rows yet to be planted and it's TIME to get that done.
**on a sad note, the BIG tiller wouldn't shift into gear ….I KNOW,should have found that out in March …..and taken it in then…..got it to Roy Boys who by now were all backed up, so it took a month to find out it was rusted to bits….and repair costs would be around $500. It was sent to recycle………and the little tiller finished the work out there………
**SO WHAT IS GOING TO GET PLANTED? *corn? *Tomatillo? * ???
4* Company: John, Toni, Maeve, & Leah Cunningham were here in May for a few nights….what a blast that was…….seems we may have to visit Boston someday!
5* Company: Jim Tueller & John Zimmerman visited from Florida! What a blast again, as always….seems I've known Jim all my life….. after all, he even held the same Missionary Jobs in the Mission Office that I did, just a couple years after I returned home……a favorite life friend! Maybe a Florida Visit will be needed too!
6* Downing TREES! 4 of them! The huge maple right at the top of the slope, and right by one old tool shed…..was rotting and leaning toward the house……….. I used my BEST personality flattery traits at the Portland City Permit Offices to get a rush job on what usually takes a month: permits are NOW required to remove any tree in Portland….this guy got me an inspector out in 2 days…….and soon we were watching Roots and Shoots Justin Keane & Crew dancing up in those tree tops getting them cut down……with ALL finish work to be done by US….. hence, their one day fee: $1600. OURs? a lot of back breaking work stacking, moving, unstacking, moving, re-stacking firewood for this winter.
……and cleaning up the slope below……and spreading a truck load of woodchips all over the yard
(mark's job)……I've gotten the chips around, Rodger's cleaned the slope, and now, the REAL hard work of the splitting/stacking, etc etc etc…..can be stretched over a few weeks so I won't end up dead. What a fun kind of torture/adventure.
7* MISC good times have been plenty here…..it's been a GREAT wonder spring……hope it continues……and can't forget….the Julie Teal Strawberry Shortcake Party at her house out on Sauvie Island right ON the Columbia River…..with Nancy Grossenbacher, carol dubosh, and a crowd…..that's one of the highblights of the year.
8*….oops, HUMMINGBIRD NOTE: Seems like there's been a LOT of them, BUT…..only my luck at keeping records of how much sugar/water I cook for them for the past 8 years can prove changes in how many come……..AND………… LAST may……..there were enough hummers here to average consuming at least 2-4 cups daily MORE last year than now…….. given we have been warmer and dryer, I wish I could translate that into numbers of birds…..I AM left with some wonder if we lost a few that tried to fly up from MX through drought stricken California. Sigh.
I can only HOPE the rest of this summer is one I can keep up with…….this moving/stacking wood thing is about the first time I've truly felt being 68 years is not a good thing.
We're completing 3 months of the warmest weather on record for mid-winter here in oregon. Our snowpack is nothing on the mountains, and summer fire season will likely be a serious one. That being said, it HAS been very nice to keep up with house cleaning without wet mud everywhere! It also means some nature fun we might not have explored other wise. **It also meant, in JANUARY, we saw mating dives being performed by Anna's Hummingbirds, our tough little year-round resident….it was a bit shocking…..but FUN.
Oh well. Just a quick note here, like the last few "barely-alive" blog posts….hoping SOMEDAY, I will get back to keeping this little diary…it was an enjoyable task.
**Evening Grosbeaks…..the big flock FIRST sighted here in the 'hood in late January at the neighbors…..SURPRISINGLY, and without a hint, moved over here a little over a week ago, and it's thrilling….a bit more costly in seed, and worth every penny. Many mornings, there are solid counts of this most beautiful migrant bird. They ARE unpredictable in moving about, we can only STILL hope 2-3 pair remain with us for nesting and raising chicks.
**Rufous Hummingbirds…..the very FIRST males were spotted at our feeder last week, right in time with the usual siting, and now there are at least one if not two, that are settling in waiting for the ladies to arrive……the poor female rufous….they do EVERY BIT of the work of nest building, raising young…the males simply show up first, set up a territory and attempt to mate with everyone when they arrive. They must a tiresome sort in the evening….they have nothing to talk about except……uh….. you know.
Cousin Mary joined us for a weekend in February of dining out, wine tasting, and a lot of fun. I am SO happy to think she will continue to come visit despite we lost her husband, my cousin, Stan, in November…. and we may very well go visit her in Idaho this summer.
So really, quiet sunny winter…..meaning a lot of yard cleanup's already done, pruning DONE, thinning and removing weeds….getting done, it's a NICE feeling…. WE DID get to California for the Ripon Almond Blossom Festival….great to see the family, but things are SO uncertain with the fact there's clearly not enough water to keep all the orchards alive….some are already being cut out….old trees….sad…..
WASHER / DRYER – ! As a "guy" type, well, sort of, I always bought the "sturdy", simple, 3-cycle machine for the modest price believing I live life simply…… Those old sturdy machines for about $350-450 each are long gone and new ones come with computer boards that I don't think will last the 25- 30 years these things used to last. That being said, THIS time, I wondered what it would take to have a great pair of washing/drying pieces to….work in this wetter muddier climate…. By the time "R" did the research, we found the top of the line machine that would have cost about $4000 installed and done, THAT firm also makes the top of the line SEARS/KENMORE model…..with a huge washing tub…..for HALF the cost. That's what we got. And boy am I happy….it's the first machine big enough to wash a bed comforter at HOME, and so we've put this thing to the test…. I'm happy the old ones broke……this is fun (and we hauled it home and installed it ourselves!)…..
I think I'm breaking new ground on the coming to understand sourdough bread (basics)……I'm not the kind of guy who reads reads reads cookbooks, bread books and comprehends what it seems to take to "KNOW" what your making, to "KNOW" the "FEEL" of creating that dough, and learning the patience of feeding/refreshing a starter for at least 3 days to get a full wonderful flavor….but I AM and am enjoying it more all the time.
Well, this seems to expose our winter as one boring period of life……..and maybe it was, we haven't been as social as in times past…. is that ALSO the sign of getting older? Yikes…..I better shake THAT behavior off……. and with spring knocking at the door, I don't think that will be hard to do.
There. I did it, NOT much in content considering all the wordy stuff here. With luck things will improve…now. out to the yard…..get the work done out in the SUN! yes. I said it. SUN….. in PORTLAND…….in MARCH!


text:
Author has written 5 stories for Death Note, X-overs, Hetalia - Axis Powers, Misc. Games, Fusion Fall, and Higurashi/Umineko series.
My name is C.C and I'm from the USA.
I will write some stories with smut in it, so if you don't like it, don't fucking read it.
My ALL TIME FAVORITE GAME IS FUSION FALL!!!!
Draw A Circle, That's the Earth~!
I am willing to take ideas for fanfics. I'm not kidding, I get too fucking stuck on a fanfic, I usually quit it. -.- I hate it so much.
"I am Cannibal!" Cannibal - Ke$ha
"No mater what we breed, we still are made of greed, this is my kingdom come, this is my kingdom come." Demons - Imagine Dragons
"Why does love always feel like a battlefield?" Battlefield - Jordan Sparks


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Brookdale Churchill
Mooresville, NC 28117
(include area code)
- Assisted Living
- Independent Living
- Memory Care
Our Community
Blended Retirement Living in Mooresville, NC
Brookdale Churchill provides exclusive Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care services for seniors. Located just 25 minutes north of Charlotte, North Carolina, and just two minutes from Interstate 77, our community is set on ten acres of beautifully landscaped grounds with 135 private apartments, a courtyard, lovely gardens, walking trails and a full range of services and amenities.
With a continuum of care located on one property, our loving family is designed to support seniors who have independent lifestyles and those needing assistance with daily activities. Residents have the security of knowing they can remain here without having to relocate and separate from their familiar surroundings and friendships, should their needs change over time. We can facilitate moves throughout our campus with very little interruption.
A Wonderfully Active Lifestyle
Churchill's residence has a lovely restaurant-style dining room, wellness center, activity room, library, Internet cafe and ice cream parlor. There is also a gift shop, hair salon and a bistro offering so many engaging conveniences for each resident and their unique interests.
Our staff works hard to provide an active schedule of programs and activities both inside our community and with outings in and around the beautiful Lake Norman region. Residents can take an exercise class, play bridge, pinochle, poker, bingo or Wii bowling, enjoy a movie night and be a part of the garden or walking club. You can also join a day trip shopping at Northlake Mall as well as visits to local restaurants and area attractions.
We have many religious activities on-site in our chapel, including bible studies and religious services. On-site rehabilitation services and a dementia resource center provide added support for our residents and Lake Norman Regional Medical Center and Presbyterian Hospital are minutes away, if ever needed. Whatever your needs and interests, Brookdale Churchill is a premier retirement community, providing so many options.
Partnering with the Local Neighborhood Community
Churchill is proud to host and facilitate the area's largest gathering of healthcare professionals each month for the South Iredell Healthcare Forum. This event brings 60+ healthcare providers into our community to share ideas on a continuum of care developments for our residents and the community at large.
The forum features an educational presentation by area physicians and other local healthcare experts. Our staff developed the Churchill Positive Aging Series which focuses monthly on one aging topic and is presented to our residents in a lively, fun and educational atmosphere. The general public is invited to attend both of these series.
Fine Dining
Homestyle cooking and restaurant-style dining are served three times a day in our lovely group dining room. Residents can choose from a daily selection of entrees and our fine dining experience is prepared by a trained chef and receives nutritional support and recommendations from a registered dietician. We strive to satisfy each resident with delicious dietary choices, sensational service and always accommodate special restrictions and requests. Snacks and beverages are available 24-hours a day.
To help alleviate any confusion or added stress, we keep mealtimes very routine for our Memory Care community. Residents all sit together at the same time and same table each day. Meals are served on colorful plates and tablecloths so that they can more easily distinguish their food. We also provide easy-to-eat snacks between meals, helping to ensure these residents get the nutrition and calorie count they need.
Learn More About Our Community
To experience Brookdale's Churchill community and the exceptional services we offer, please give us a call or submit the online form on this page.
Levels of Care
As the population ages, more people are discovering senior living and the peace of mind we offer. Our community's approach focuses on being a trusted partner and listening to your needs, understanding the life you want for yourself or a loved one and customizing a solution that puts that life within reach. After all, the Golden years should be enjoyable, and our community strives to make this possible.
Brookdale Churchill offers three levels of care:
- Independent Living promotes a rewarding lifestyle for independent seniors. We provide vacation-style amenities and programs, allowing you the freedom to live a more relaxed and comfortable lifestyle. We enable seniors to trade in the responsibilities of home maintenance for the sophisticated comfort of a well-deserved retirement, with activities and wellness opportunities in an engaging environment.
- Assisted Living is where residents receive personal assistance and support with the daily activities and services needed, such as medication management, meals, bathing and dressing, as well as daily living activities and amenities for housekeeping and linen services, transportation and recreations. Our individualized care plans provide an ideal blend of convenience and support, with respect for personal preferences.
- Memory Care was created over 25 years ago and continually embraces current research in Alzheimer's and dementia care, coupled with the experience of caring for thousands of people with dementia. Associates help residents create daily moments of success, offering opportunities for them to experience a sense of purpose and meaning. A gently daily structure is provided to help maintain and encourage current skills.
More About Memory Care
Our Memory Care program offers a secure environment for those with Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia. We believe that no matter where an individual is in their life, each has the right to live in a dignified manner and enjoy meaningful experiences every day.
Deeply rooted in a person-centered approach, our program focuses on sustaining feelings of belonging and purpose while seeking to preserve a sense of self. Providing excellent dementia care is a complex task that requires ongoing guidance and teaching for our staff members. All of our highly trained associates receive initial and on-going training in proper techniques, approach and care for seniors with dementia.
An established set of protocols and techniques enables our team to intervene when challenging behaviors resulting from dementia arise. The whole-community philosophy is the key that empowers our staff to identify any unmet needs, and be a part of the solution.
Strong, Professional Relationships and Staff
Brookdale Churchill has always been a leader in our local healthcare region by facilitating and coordinating a number of professional leadership groups and speaker series for residents and their families. We take special interest in helping bring awareness, education and raising funds for Alzheimer's disease by co-chairing and working on the planning committee for the Iredell County annual Alzheimer's Walk.
Our residence is not only the premier retirement community for seniors in the Lake Norman area, it also is a highly desired workplace for area healthcare professionals. Churchill has become a leader in the region as the host and coordinator of several forums, workshops and other educational presentations and events for our residents, their families and the general public. All of our residents are greeted with warm sincere smiles each day and are lovingly attended to by a compassionate staff.
Learn More About of Levels of Care
We invite you to experience exceptional Independent and Assisted Living, as well as Memory Care at Brookdale Churchill. Please fill out the online form or give us a call to schedule a tour.
Our inviting community provides the care and services you need, plus the amenities of a resort. While the levels of care will vary with each resident, every effort is made to ensure a comfortable and supportive retirement lifestyle for our seniors.
Personal Care
- Assistance with personal needs including dressing, bathing and dining
- Licensed nurse available
- Personal solutions
- Medication management
- Personal care assistance available around the clock
- Ongoing monitoring of resident's health status
- Behavior tracking and management
- Weekly housekeeping services
- Personal laundry services
- Linen services
- Three freshly-prepared, nutritious and appetizing meals served daily
- Snacks and beverages available throughout the day
- Room service
- Daily programs, events or outings
- Scheduled transportation services available
- Incontinence care/management
- Short-term stay options
- Specialized intervention programs, including weight management, nutrition tracker and falls management
- Respite care available
- Coordination of hospice care
- Specially designed environment for individuals with limited mobility
- Ancillary services including pet care, in-room food service and errands
Apartment Styles and Features
- Studio
- One-bedroom
- Two-bedroom
- Shared two-bedroom
- Wall-to-wall carpeting
- Window coverings
- Individually-controlled heating and air conditioning
- Kitchenette with refrigerator, microwave and sink
- Telephone hookup
- Basic cable included
- Private bath including step-in shower and safetybars
- Walk-in shower
- Small pets welcome
- All exterior doors alarmed for resident safety
- Handicap accessibility
- Emergency response system
- Fully sprinklered fire safety system
- Outdoor courtyard
- Outdoor walking paths
- Outdoor gardening areas with raised beds
- Recreation and activity room
- Library
- Chapel
- Sitting rooms with fireplace
- Spacious family room for social gatherings
- Fully enclosed sunroom
- Full-service dining room
- Private dining room for intimate or special celebrations
- Gameroom
- Ice cream parlor
- Beauty/barber shop
- Bistro
- Gift shop
- Washers and dryers available for personal use
- Located near shopping and fine dining
Learn More About our Services
For more information on our programs, amenities or our accommodations, please give us a call today.


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INDIANAPOLIS � Taken aback by speculation that his crew chief change largely was made because of the No. 99 team�s disappointing performance this season, Carl Edwards spent a good portion of a 20-minute interview session explaining that former crew chief Bob Osborne really is dealing with significant health issues.
Then Edwards was interrupted by some good-natured � but still fairly sharp � heckling from fellow driver Clint Bowyer, who was sitting nearby.
�Hey, Carl! How many different ways can you explain why you fired somebody?� Bowyer said.
A day before his first race with new crew chief Chad Norris, Edwards went out of his way to say that team owner Jack Roush made the change last week because of Osborne�s ongoing health issues � not because the team will enter today�s Brickyard 400 ranked 11th in the Sprint Cup points standings.
�I can�t overstate enough that Bob is a very, very dedicated guy to our sport, and he is going through something right now that would be tough for anyone,� Edwards said. �And for him to have done what he has done at this level and to have kept it quiet, he is just a tough, tough man. He is a good friend of mine, so I am really thinking a lot of him.�
Osborne remains with the team in a management role. But Edwards said Osborne could return as his crew chief once his health issues, which the team has not disclosed, are resolved.
�What we are trying to do right now is make the team better and fix any issues we might have, which we don�t even know exactly what the issues are,� Edwards said. �If we don�t do any better here, and Bob is up to it, we will probably put Bob right back in as soon as he is able. If this goes well, and Bob is doing well in his new role, and that is the best thing for him, and Chad is doing great, then we will move forward with that.
�Nothing is in stone right now. It could be a whole different scenario next week, and we all know that. We are doing everything we can right now to be as good as we can right now.�
For now, Edwards is working on establishing a relationship with Norris.
They�re off to a good start, as Edwards was second in qualifying Saturday.
�I think with the structure at Roush and the way we have done things, I don�t expect to miss a beat with Chad here,� Edwards said. �We talked a lot here this last week and even through the off weekend, and I don�t think that there is really much of a learning curve.�
Edwards did acknowledge the relationship will be different. Osborne has an engineering background, while Norris is more of a traditional crew chief who will rely on the team�s engineers for information.
�(Osborne) is an engineer, and he stands on his own two feet and does what he thinks is right, and that has given us a huge amount of success,� Edwards said. �Chad appears to be � and I don�t know him really well yet � (but) the structure seems to be a little different where it will be a standard crew chief-driver combination where he will rely on the engineers more than Bob did because he doesn�t have the same engineering background. And I think there will be times where that is better and times where that is worse. I think we will just have to see.�
If things don�t get fixed quickly, Edwards knows he is in danger of missing out on NASCAR�s season-ending Chase after losing the title to Tony Stewart on a tiebreaker last season.
�Chad and I agreed we are putting our feelings aside,� Edwards said. �We are going to tell each other everything. If I don�t like something he is doing, I am going to tell him, and if I am doing something he doesn�t like, he is going to tell me. We are going to race hard, communicate, and it doesn�t matter. If we like each other, great. If we yell at each other, it doesn�t matter. We are going to try to be fast. It seems to be going well so far.�
Five-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson said the move could jolt the No. 99 team�s performance.
�It�s tough, but they are at a point and time where they have to do something different,� Johnson said. �I�d imagine that from the final few laps at Homestead until now has been the toughest part. Now they�ve probably turned the page and are moving forward with the decisions they�ve made. I would assume it brings a little bit of new life and excitement to the program.�
Johnson isn�t exactly an expert on going through crew chief changes, given his longstanding partnership with Chad Knaus, but he imagines Edwards won�t spend much time looking backward.
�If I was Carl, it�s time to look forward,� Johnson said. �We�ve turned the page, we�ve made the decision, and he had a short period of time to get stuff done for this year. The window is closing. Knowing Carl, he�s a strong race car driver, strong-minded good leader and has all the qualities to make the best of this situation he naturally has. Time will tell what really happens, but they�ve got to get going, and they�ve clearly made the decisions to do that.�