What's outside of your picture window today?

I don’t have any beautiful pictures out my window today. Just freezing cold, ice and snow. I thought you might enjoy this photo of my grandson and his friend on their ‘sleep-out.’ My son’s neighbor is an Arctic explorer so he built this large structure and then dug a cave in it. The boys, aged 8, got bundled in their “arctic” gear and spent the night outside!! Temp was -7

I love this!

@becsbuddy, @johnbishop and all... Love the boys in the 'arctic'! What a fun time and wonderful memories for those boys and parents as well. I love it. Make good memories when you can...BTW: it's winter in Jax, Fl today! About 2 this afternoon, a cool front came in and we went from 74 to 48 in record time. Tonight we'll get down in the '30s, tomorrow up to 43, and tomorrow night we may get down to freezing. We now have winter. A touch of rain this afternoon too. Had to turn the heat back on...had the ac on for several days while we were in the '70s....so, here we go.

All the feeders are filled, water is plentiful, plants moved together to huddle and keep each other warm...or so I suggest to them all. Closed heavy drapes in Florida room overlooking patio and full of windows and cooler air, until I get the new windows installed. Then I may be able to keep the thermostat on a more level keel. Hope so.

John, how do I get my pictures on the cell phone to the computer? I think I have to have them on the laptop to send to you if I'm using the laptop to write...right? If so, just need to know how to transfer it to the laptop. Or, I can write on connect using the phone, and maybe your instructions above will work? I think I may be able to send you all some pics I've been saving just for you!

Hope all are well. I'm perking along, staying very isolated due to the covid outbreak. A dear friend and neighbor, 93 years old and remarkable woman, living alone for years, very independent, with severe lung issues using breathing aids all day long but living pretty well...had a heart attack last week, in hospital for 3 days, home and now in Hospice due to covid she got in the hospital and can't survive. I'm heartbroken. Another friend and neighbor, 76, Parkinson's issues, fell down her stairs last week, taken to hospital...not Mayo where she is a patient, much to my horror....and had very serious, long surgery fusing her vertebrae and other issues, is in a cast for 3 months. Devastating. She won't' be going home at all, and I pray she can survive. I think it's best I hunker down seriously, more so now than ever, and stay safe, quiet and focus on improving my home life. Gradually, of course, as I've learned through time and from your spoonies.

I'm breathing better today, still have issues but staying quiet is good. Life is good, if confuing at times and crazy most of the time. All in all, life is a good thing~ Blessings to all. elizabeth

Hi Elizabeth @ess77, The instructions in the post above (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/672515/) work for either a cellphone, laptop or other device you are using to access Connect. I don't normally use my phone because it's harder for me to type unless it's just a few words. I normally just email the photos on my phone to myself and then go into email on my computer and download the photo attachments from the email to my computer. After that I can upload the photos when I'm using my computer with Connect.

@ess77 Hello Elizabeth. Did you arrange for your Medic Alert yet? Just checking. ❤

@artist01 and all.. NO...I really got sidetracked yesterday when I planned to do it.

I'll call LIfe Alert Monday and order it. I think I'll get the shower button, the thingy to wear and push, and whatever they have to keep with me . That covers it all.

Also,y friend w/COVID, IN Hospice has a stair chair, electric. I need one to stay in my home safer and longer, and she and I discussed this move for her before she got hers. Think she paid 4700. For it. I will chat with her family to see if I can buy hers when they close her place. She'd be pleased and it will help a lot. I really miss these gals, not able to call a d ck on each other or whatever. Getting old is a crock! Full of sadness a d discomfort. And I'm finding good new friends, new challenges..some good...and rest from so much. Peace is a good thing.

Blessings to you l. Stay safe and behave! Elizabeth

Elizabeth, I live alone. When I was in end stage liver disease some friends pitched in and signed me up for a similar system, Mobile Help. It was awesome! I had a friend stay in the evenings, but was able to confidently be at home, alone, during the day. I had the very basic system, which came with a call necklace (water proof); a wrist band; and, a little call box, which I used when I was out of the house.

@athenalee, and all...Thanks for the information! I'll ck it out tonight. I will order one of the systems tomorrow. I appreciate your concern and the recommendation. Right now, I'm having some serious low glucose readings, all day long. I can't get my glucose above 61 since 1/28! I suspect my autoimmune system is involved with this, but will soon find out, I pray. I'll be at Mayo Monday if not before for tests....doc wants me to go to ED this weekend if I can't get it up. I don't intend on doing that, unless ...I need all your prayers now so we can find the cause and get me up and going!

blessings to you. elizabeth

@ess77 Elizabeth! It's time for yet another lecture on medic alarm systems. You've repeatedly said "I'll do it TOMORROW." No, do it TODAY. Please.

@artist01, @athenalee, @johnbishop, and all...I'm ckg the prices on the medical alert systems. Quite a disparity in cost. I'll make a decision in the next day or so. Hate contracts and such, so working on it. I'm not ignoring or putting it off, just need to know what I'm doing.

Well, I have my first tanager! It's lime greenish, a finch body and bill, finch size, and absolutely lovely. I adore this bird. He's very friendly, one of the birds who come around just as I'm putting out new seeds and cleaning up. Several birds - chickadees, tanager, cardinals, and I think it's a thrasher all come around to watch me work on their food. It's a hoot. There is someone who begins putting out a beautiful, loud call to arms for everyone that there's fresh food so come and get it. Interesting little friends. Also, have a new mockingbird coming around. When he's there, the others move aside. They can be a bit bullyish, I think, but I've always loved them. Several others I'm identifying and will let you know.

I have another bird's nest just built the last few days in my mailbox, at the front door mounted on the brick wall. This is the 4th nest there. I put a basket on the ground for mail and so far, the mailman isn't disturbing the nest. I should have eggs soon. Will keep you informed as it progresses. I hope and pray the bluejays and others will leave it alone this time. I've had midnight fights with the big birds destroying the nest and killing the eggs or babies. It's traumatic for me...imagine how the parents feel!

I had 7 lousy, fun squirrels a couple of days ago, all at the same time, running up and around the crepe myrtle tree. I have finally figured out how to best set up the feeders to give squirrels limited access and it's working. They don't like the safflower seeds, and not much the regular mixed birdseed that has more tiny, little millet seed and such. They love sunflower seed, peanuts, not P.B. suet balls, the fruit and nuts seed mix. So, I set them out so the tree rats can be entertained with a metal tube of shelled peanuts, water, and another feeder with seed. Everything else is out of reach or covered with a baffle and enjoyed by all the other visitors.

Oh, I have a large and growing burrow running from outside my fence into the patio to the pavers. There's a mound of scratched-out dirt next to my building. The entrance hole is about the size of a large FL grapefruit or a gallon jug, too big for a mole. Who is this visitor??? I tried to drown them out with my water hose. Didn't work. Ideas, my fellow window watchers? Possum? Raccoon? They live in trees, I think...have a board member coming to ck it out and hopefully get it to move. I don't wish it harm, just want it to be happy elsewhere.

Samantha, the cat, is not happy with that critter either. She loves to go out on the patio, a favorite thing for her, to watch the birds and squirrels. But, now, with this addition, she refuses to stay out long. Inside after ckg it out, smelling everywhere, stalking a while...

That's all folks, from rainy, overcast, and COLD - 48 - Jacksonville, Fl. Another book, but I'm catching up with you. Back on the computer now. Blessings to all. elizabeth