I read an article about making water available to bees during summer and it sounded like a good idea. Whether it was another phony baloney story or not, who knows? Since the little guys need to land in order to drink, using a shallow dish with stones works well. If what I read is wrong, who cares? I love the color and iridescence of these.

I found stainless steel dishes and old pans at the now defunct flea market which will work great. More easily cleaned than ceramic and unbreakable, they make a great water source for the deer and other wildlife. So I purchased these glass (not acrylic) beads to fill the pan with and I think it will also look pretty (was surprised at only $1.60 each!). Something attractive to set their fuzzy butts on when taking a sip. I wondered why some of the dishes were so thick, my brother explained that they are insulated stainless plates used by the hospital to keep patients' meal plates warm. But when they hired a food service, all were thrown in a dumpster, not even metals and plastics are recycled. He said he was shocked at what hospitals throw away (that would not be harmful or contaminated) that missions or clinics could use. I am attending a fundraiser tomorrow for a friend's son that is going to Ghana with Medical Brigades.org.

Pat Catan's got new items in for Easter and spring, and the store is pretty well stocked except for some items that are depleted in their warehouse. They had loads of the square sets of three paper mache boxes, and several bins of the heart shape and small talls. If I can find the heart label of the blue ponies and it prints well, I may get a few more of the boxes before they are all gone. I think the small talls would be nice with a pincushion top and I plan to cover them with paper or fabric. The short rounds covered also, maybe a berry top.

Another one of my favorite samplers that you don't see very often, Mary Haslehurst from Scarlet Letter. Different than any other I've stitched with its freehand side stitching and the flame stitched top which I really enjoyed.
Yesterday my nephew went to the dentist for a molar extraction, and was told to immediately visit his doctor. His heart rate was going up and down like a yo-yo which was never caught before. He is in a lot of pain with the tooth and can't have it pulled until the issue is diagnosed. On April 8 he will have an echo and a monitor, two days later a stress test along with two others I never heard of. Since he is Type 1 and 48 years old, they will give him a thorough work up.
Regarding the Medicare plans I previously mentioned, I chose the BC supplement that requires no co-pays for tests, hospitalization, ER, doctor visits, nothing. It is more expensive and you forfeit any amount toward dental and a yearly eye exam with glasses, but since I'm not sure what else may develop this year, I thought it best to have full coverage. I can change at year's end back to an advantage plan if I choose. My thinking - I pay for full car and house insurance, why not myself? More peace of mind than anything. I also had to purchase a part D Rx plan and the only two drugs I take are quite expensive so I will fall into the dreaded donut hole in a few months. Mark chose the advantage plan (which includes prescriptions) from Aetna called Coventry and will pay $0 per month. Excellent plan with low co-pays and you even get a $50 allowance per month from CVS for over the counter items!! And $250 toward dental! And glasses/contacts with exam! I plan to join the same at year's end once all the tests and doctors are over. Today is the last day to make a change so we made it!
Hope your week went well. April is upon us! Rain today, my husband is golfing in it.
Thanks for visiting!
p.s. Those cookies are melt in your mouth, more cakelike, and it may be hard to form a ball because of the soft batter and that's OK. Very old recipe! Original was a little different and rolled in cinnamon sugar, we love this recipe more.
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