Jumping into New Year, Literally!

 In the early 90s I attended NYE parties at Heidi's house. Every year she would insist that everyone stand on her chairs and sofas and jump off when the ball in NYC dropped. I suppose I did this for 15 years.

On NYE, last night, I decided to do the same. I got a small stool that I have had for many years and positioned it where I could get it quickly and jump from it. Tommy had to help me up. I sort of hopped down one foot at a time. Tommy said, "Well, I guess that will pass for a jump." So, I have jumped into the New Year. 

It is supposed to be a tradition in Austria, where she claimed she was born or lived. Everyone said she was Germany, which she vehemently denied. I only know what she said.

I was also going to say "rabbit" as the last word of the year and say "rabbit" as the first word of the new year like Urspo (click on Urspo) does, but I was too busy say, "Help me."  and "Hurry." Well, I successfully managed to get on the stool with Tommy's help and the door facing. 

Do you have any superstitions/traditions to employ for good luck in the new year? 

Blackeyed peas, Explained.

 If you are not familiar with the Southern Tradition of eating blackeyed  peas on New Year's Day for luck in the upcoming year, the explanations in Mental Floss will be interesting.

We will never have a full meal  for Christmas since I am barely up to getting out of bed! Since I just got up from a nap, I will try to load the dishwasher with the usual help from Tommy. 

For brunch, I had half a banana and I think I had milk. Who knows? At almost 5 pm, I had a plain turkey sandwich with Miracle Whip.  Tommy can eat anything he can find. 

Yesterday, I threw out a bottle of MW that was getting too spicy. Today, I opened a new bottle and it was sweet and creamy. YUM! There was not much left in the bottle I threw out. I over bought last summer. Oh, well, still saved money. 

Sitting right here in the living room, you will find me sorting blackeyed peas. Of course, I will do it dry and then rinse the beans later. The crock pot cooks them perfectly. I don't mind if they get a bit mushy. I wish I had some chow chow. I might eat them plain or with some catsup.

Do you eat blackeyed peas? With Chow chow? Catsup? What?

Happy New Year!

Doc and Blackeyed Peas

 Okay, I called doctor's office and talked with nurse or rather to answering machine. She called back and told me they were slammed, too. Doc said to come to the lab and contribute since I thought it was a uti. 

I would have gone to AFC, but lines on TV discouraged me. That place would have been perfect, but not right now. 

The nurse just called and, yes, it is uti. So, the malaise that I diagnosed a week ago was actually an infection! Only when I had pain in my right flank, chills, slight headache, pain behind navel, did I actually believe I was ill. Actually, the chills nailed it. 

When I had Tommy look for the blackeyed peas, he could not locate them. I have no desire to look, nor am I able. So, I bought more at Publix. My new camera came and I thought it included an sd card. Nope, must have been another camera I considered. Then, I had to buy a new sd card at Publix at an exorbitant price. UGH!!

It seems all my packages are thrown onto the porch! Or, they are placed beyond our reach. Doesn't a ramp tell you the people living in the house cannot be trying to step over pots and plants to get to package? 

While coming in from doctor, I took the wreath off the door. So, the undoing begins. Tommy will undress the tree. I will cover the fake poinsettia. We are leaving the battery-powered candles for the rest of the year. There was low-key decorating this year, so it is easy to get down. 

When my older daughter was about 5 or 6, she and I were in the kitchen. I was cleaning up after dinner, and she was trying to clean a few black eyed peas off her plate. She was very sad as she said she did not think she could eat anymore "eye beans because they are looking at me." Of course, I laughed. She was so cute and funny. She did not have to finish the beans, just eat a few.

I will cook the whole pound and freeze them in portions for us. Are you having blackeyed peas for luck in the New Year? What else might you do or eat for luck in the New Year? Does is come from another culture?

EOY

 Embiggin to read.

Brevity by Dan Thompson

Blondie

The menu changed, but we settled on what I could do. I think Tommy was sad there was no green bean casserole. We had turkey, plain sweet potatoes, green beans, homemade cranberry sauce, and dressing. The only thing I did today was make Stovetop Stuffing. The rest was in a can or made earlier. I didn't even feel well enough to make giblet gravy with chopped boiled eggs. (Maybe tomorrow) Later, we had fresh strawberries. Tommy had some in a bowl. I cut mine in a bowl and added a bit of milk. 

The week before Christmas, I realized we had not planted our Amaryllis. I really did not care to rush to plant them. I mean, we did not plant them in time for Christmas, so why rush?  Amaryllis will be welcome the end of January, maybe more welcome than at Christmas. 

I took a long nap today, and then kept going back to rest a bit. 

We ate from the new Christmas plates and the food tasted better on nice dishes instead of paper plates. Okay, maybe it was just a better atmosphere. 

Turkey, Finally!

I got all the breast meat from the turkey. YAY! Tonight, Tommy will get the rest of the meat off. I will make green bean casserole to add to sweet potatoes in the skin, dressing, purple hull peas. and roast carrots and onions. 

Right now, we are waiting for sunset and possible tornadoes. However, at this time there is no bad weather here, just north and south of us. From the weather crawl it seems it will all be well north of us. It has been 78 today for a high, so we pay for beautiful weather with a chance of tornadoes. 

I think I have a uti, so I have done nothing, NOTHING today.  So far, I just feel blah. 

It's 4 pm and I give up.

I suppose you all are finishing up leftovers when we are just starting! 

.

Filters and Frozen Turkey

 We went right past KFC today, but Tommy left the receipt at home. No biscuit today! 

For the last two weeks, there has been a sound of something like "sheet metal" being bent/popped. You know the sound. Well, Tommy denied it was happening. I pointed out it was from the furnace area. He said I was wrong. Then, he heard it and said it might stop. So, the guy came and confirmed it was the sheet metal in furnace. The filthy filter is the problem according to the serviceman. 

The filter was over 1/2 inch thick with dust. Tommy said it is okay, according to some furnace official he heard on tv, to change the filter only once a year. Today, this guy said buy the cheapest filter and change it monthly. Tommy objected, saying the filters are sometimes advertised as okay for 3-6 months. The guy held up both hands and said, "It is your house, do what you want." Tommy brought up the filters advertised for 6 months. The guy said "they want you to buy their filter." 

The filter sucked way down when the guy put it back in and the furnace was on. It is SO clogged. We spent the afternoon searching for the size his takes. Two grocery stores and home improvement stores had none. We came home and I ordered 6 for something like $61. Now, to twist his arm each month to change these. 

Tommy ended up buying a plan to go over the whole system and change some sort of filter outside. Tommy's heat is a gas furnace under the house and a system outside for ac. I do not understand. 

The guy said that not changing the filter often enough will shorten the life of the furnace. Tommy disagrees. He fixes nothing!  Things have to be replaced here. 

How often do you change furnace filters? Or, any filters?

I went in to put the blankety blank turkey in the oven. It weighed about 9 lbs. and after a week, it still was frozen solid except in one place where Tommy poked it. The bottom is solid and the behind part is solid. I put it in at 7:30 pm. A thawed turkey should take up to 2 hours. I suppose I will leave this one in for at least 3 hours, maybe more. Maybe we will have turkey some day. We have had dinner tonight. 

Not Much Monday

 The weather is beautiful, 77F yesterday and 76F today! I cannot believe it is so warm in late December.  There was not much sunshine either day, but also no rain. Yes, I know that is not very interesting, but it thrills me. It is supposed to be in the seventies the rest of the week. 

The state of the atmosphere did not thrill me enough to bake that blankety-blank turkey. Tommy said it was nice and soft, but I was not inspired to get acquainted with the carcass. So, tomorrow, I promise I will. 

I feel so terrible, under the weather. Tommy suggested getting something to eat and asked what I wanted. I said either KFC or a Whopper. He chose KFC. AND, they forgot to give him a biscuit! Can you imagine? He saves it for dessert later. 

Christmas Day

 We had a very good Christmas but no turkey meal. I forgot to take the turkey out soon enough. Three days was not enough for a 9 lb. turkey which cost me $4. So, I took out a package of 12 huge meatballs and thawed that as it cooked. Tommy put bbq sauce on his. I had pasta sauce, but no pasta. A salad rounded out the meal.

We will have turkey and dressing when the turkey thaws. And, it's okay. 

Speaking of food, let's talk Hardee's breakfast. I bought the premade patties of sausage that he likes. He ended up eating them for lunch, snacks or other meals. I was puzzled. But, now he never wants to go to Hardee's. That is good, but he never eats the sausages for breakfast. At least we never stop there, now.

Tommy finished the gingerbread house Christmas morning. It is amazing. I will let you judge that comment. Last night and this morning lots of finger-licking occurred. Someday, I will take a picture for you and post it. 

The day after Christmas, I woke him, something I just never do. I wanted to go see if I could find dishtowels reduced. So, off we went to big box. I did find 5 potholders for $0.47 each, and 9 dish towels for $0.47 each. I also bought one spool of ribbon, sort of a rope type ribbon. Amazingly, the stores were practically empty...not the way I remember the day after /

We drank the last tiny bottle of orange juice the other day, and I could find no more in several cities and even more stores. It was 8 10-ounce bottles for $3.30+10% at The Pig. Today. there was a solitary 8-pack for $4.40+10%. I grabbed it it. To me that $1.10 increase is huge and not alright! So, I thought I could get it on Amazon for less. Nope, twice as high. 

Tommy is really using bogo. He asked me to get diet Pepsis if I could get them bogo in Publix. 

It is 74F outdoors and a pretty day. Right now, I am going to take a nap and test how much the turkey has thawed. Maybe I can put it in the oven later today. 

Did you hit any after-Christmas sales? What did you bring home? 

Merry Christmas!

 

Christmas Eve

Around 1 pm on Christmas Eve, I decided I wanted a Chic-fil-A sandwich. So, we drive a million miles to get one. okay, it was only 12 miles, still too far. In Cullman CFA it was only 1.5 miles and on the way to everywhere. It was delicious. Then, Tommy just drove around and we stayed out for several hours. 

About 7 pm, Tommy suggested we go out and look at Christmas lights. The streets were deserted, thankfully. It was fun. We ate candy and Diet Cokes while Christmas music played. 

We had a can of Roast Beef with Gravy, opened can of kale, and ate freshly baked sweet potatoes on Christmas Eve. 

I had bought a Gingerbread house kit for Tommy to erect. Some mild cursing occurred. He broke one side of the house and thought I would be upset. No, just "glue" it together with the Royal icing. It kept falling apart, the sides, one from another. Finally, he said it needed to set all night. So, it will.  

In the meantime, I chopped celery and onions to add to Stovetop Stuffing. Sweet potatoes are baked, cooked purple hull peas are thawed.

Christmas Day

It is barely Christmas Day, so who knows what will transpire with the food.I have an alternative plan if the turkey is not thawed. 

We just opened gifts that Santa left...lol. I wrapped Tommy's belt and gave him a promise card of a certifiate proclaiming him a Laird and a description of his 1'x1' plot of land in Scotland. He was pleased. Even though he gifted me with the recliner, declaring it was my birthday and Christmas present for the next 2 or 3 years, I did get something to unwrap--gift card for $50 from Nordstrom. Happy Day! Also, the package of Harry & David's Truffles. 

So, This is Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Nothing Happening

 Since I awoke at about noon on Thursday, I have done little. It takes a few days to catch up after doing anything. Unless I put this turkey in the sink with water on Friday, I doubt it will be ready for the oven on Christmas. 

Tommy said he would rather have sweet potatoes than mashed white potatoes. Since I only have a small can of fried onions, we will have half a recipe of green bean casserole. There are frozen purple hull peas. I will probably cook/prepare something else, just don't know what. 

Thursday, we took a package to UPS to return. Tommy took three things into Big Box store to return. Another item goes back to Publix tomorrow or after Christmas. We took a drive around the neighborhood to see what lights were on at 4 pm. Amazingly, there were lots of lights on around the neighborhood. 

We left before 3 pm on the 23rd and the busyness was astounding. I suppose earlier in my life, crowds and cars were not so worrisome. I am well beyond that. So many cars bother me now.  

We saw a special about "Silent Night" and almost watched something else Christmas-y. 

Christmas Eve, Gunsmoke was a Christmas Episode. 

My friend, Lynda, spells her name with a "y," so I learned that when she put a Christmas card behind the screen with a gift card in the Christmas card. 

Merry Christmas Eve!

Hard Wednesday and Nightmare

 We went to Cullman on Wednesday.  Since we were picking up mail, I mailed another batch of Christmas cards, the last I will mail. The rest of the people will get Spring cards. 

I met a woman to get something from her and gave her one of the boxes of candies as a gift because we are friends and she was doing me a special favor.

Tommy bought gas for $2.78/gal, the cheapest we have seen it anywhere. 

Philadelphia Cream Cheese is always on the shelf and never looks like it is lacking. But, 8 ounces for $2 is the cheapest I see it. I know I have turkey bags here, but I got another box anyway. I use lots of these, so what is here is not an overabundance. I had used the last one in the box, and since I have a turkey thawing, I did not want to be lacking. I forgot to check the excess in the back bedroom.

Tommy had some of his salami and crackers for lunch on Tuesday. Wednesday, while I napped he had salami, crackers, and two pears. The pears are on their last legs, so he wants to eat them up. And, he had to cut lots off both pears. 

Wednesday, as we came home, I asked him if he could eat soup or a sandwich. He said he was going to eat the carrots and other vegetables. I found a frozen thigh, left it on the counter and took a nap at 5:30. When I awoke, I had a very little of the vegetables and a tiny breast in the refrigerator. 

Before we left Wednesday morning, the plan was to boil eggs, wash my hair and have a couple of boiled eggs and leave by nine o'clock. That did not happen. I put the eggs on and washed my hair. I had a glass of milk with me and an applesauce cup because I did not have time to peel eggs. Once in the car, I realized the eggs were still boiling. So, I put the pot in the sink and got back in the car. That was about 9 am. Finally at 11 pm, I ate one egg and put the others, still in the shell, in the refrigerator. It tasted fine. 

I had earned points using a Belk credit card. They gave them to me in 8 increments of $10. They expire on Dec. 24, so I was determined to use them for something. I had Tommy go in with me since I did not feel well, and he could get things from racks for me. I could find little. So, I asked him what he needed or wanted. A belt. So, I was trying to help find a belt. When I realized he could pick out a belt on his own...lol...I left him alone and watched. 

So, he got a belt, and I got an Oxo smooth edge can opener. I hope I like it. I wanted just a regular Oxo can opener. I almost had $60 and asked the clerk for something, anything that was about $3. She asked "what?" I said anything and she looked puzzled. Finally, when I said "I have people who will get gifts," She left and brought a big candy cane. Okay. At any rate, I spent $6 after the coupons came off and my Belk Rewards were subtracted. I either spend it online or lose it. 

If I had not felt so awful and seemed to be fainting, I could have found something for me, him, or a gift I could give. Oh well. 

I awoke at 11:45 today and felt exhausted. Last night, I dreamed I was sitting and watching tv and it just went off. I asked Tommy to see what happened. He did not respond. When he is asleep in front of the tv, sometimes he is so hard to wake up that I have to scream and that wakes me up so I cannot sleep for a bit even though I was sleepy when I started trying to wake him. I tried touching his foot one time, and he woke frightened and was very angry. His foot is the only place I can get to him. On with the dream. 

Really yelling, calling his name did not wake him. I finally raised my voice to above screaming and he struggled to get up and came to me. Well, about this time, I came out of the dream and apologized. I still feel bad about the screaming his name like I was sick or hurt. Maybe I cried wolf. Maybe next time, I won't be able to call out so many times or so loud. This has never happened to me before. I suppose the extreme exhaustion from trying to shop, being out and active for so long, and two hours sleep wore on me and caused this nightmare. 

So, I slept late and don't expect great progress, just protein for dinner. There is still plenty of carrots, onions, celery. There never were many potatoes and now there may two bites left for each of us. It looks like I need to open a can of green beans. The turkey is NOT thawing. 

Right now, I have to see if I can use these online. And, I need to order gift certificates for grandchildren.

How are your plans coming along? 

Harry and David

Tuesday, as Tommy went out the front door, I realized he was trying to pick up a package. He finally got it up and on his walker seat. All this time, I was wondering what I ordered. Puzzled, I was wracking my brain as to what I ordered. When he finally had the package on his walker and opened the door, he said, "And, it has MY name on it." 

"Harry and David! That is expensive!" I knew the name, but he did not. When he opened it, he found: 

All this is Harry and David branded.

H&D Dark Chocolate Truffles I hope the package falls open soon.

H&D Three Seed Crackers

H&D Milano Italiano Dry Salami

H&D Sharp White Cheddar

H&D Pepper and Onion Relish Classic Recipe

H&D Premium Mixed Nuts Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts and Pecans

10 Pears and 2 Apples

Inside the Harry and David cardboard Box was a wooden box. Nice!

What a nice surprise for him. He never gets anything. Really, I am not getting anything either, just boxes of supplies, mostly. But, I was very happy for him. 

He has never heard of Harry & David. Where has he been?

Have you found a surprise package on your doorstep (PO, Mailbox, top of the car)?

Have you found a real surprise or has anyone in your family?

Wednesday, we went to Cullman and gave the cardinal to our friend. It had wet paint. We told them to be careful. Since I was so late in painting it, it got a coat this morning. Since I think I bought the last spray can of the appropriate can of red paint, I let them use it to add more coats so it can last better outdoors. I went to so many stores and on the internet and red paint was as scarce as TP last year. 

I really want to paint one for me, too, and cannot find red paint. Otherwise, I would just have given them the paint. It is not even on Amazon! 

Okay, there is more to tell, but I need a nap before it gets too late to nap. It is 6:30 now. I slept last night from 6 am to 8 pm 

Merry Christmas if I don't see you before Christmas.

 

My Brush with Dementia

 My grandmother, Memaw, died in 1966 after suffering years of mental decline. I always feared what she had for myself and for my mother. Mama said the doctors said Memaw had hardening of the arteries. 

Later, in the 80s my mother saw some popular talk show that described Alzheimer's. She said it described her mother completely. So, we were convinced she died of Alzheimer's. I still fear it.

At one doctor's visit in 2020, I complained to my doctor that I had trouble reading aloud. I attributed it to the swelling of my tongue and inside cheeks. She said I should go to a neurologist and referred me to one. So, I have spent over a year fearing that I had dementia. 

When I went to the neurologist a week ago, he wanted to know why I was referred to him. I explained to him that I can speak perfectly well. I can read silently. But, when I read aloud I stumble over words and leave out syllables of words I know. I told him I thought the other doctor thought I had Alzheimer's and that I feared it because my grandmother died, diagnosed with hardening of the arteries long before Alzheimer's was identified. 

I also told him I feared the test where I might be given five disparate words and be asked later what the words were. I told him I made a mental list of 3 grocery items, a list I made, and could not remember two of the three! Well, he laughed. I also told him I often called my children by their sibling's name. But, in all fairness my father called us by a half-sister's name. So, I came by it honestly. He asked me if I knew my children's names. I thought that was an odd question--of course I do. This calling by the wrong name started when I had the second child, way back in my twenties. 

Finally, he said he had listened and talked to me for thirty minutes and did not detect any signs of mental decline or dementia. He said that at this point I did not have any worries. Whew! 

(By the way, I bite my tongue and the inside of my cheeks all the time!)

So, there is my brush with dementia. It is exciting to me that nothing is wrong. 

It was too cool and damp today to spray the cardinal, but I sprayed it anyway and brought it directly inside. So, maybe the paint job will hold up. This will be my friends' Christmas present. 

So, I suppose my brush with dementia was all in my mind. And, I guess it would be in my mind if I had it...lol.

Dinner tonight was baked chicken breast with spices, leftover carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery, leftover coleslaw. 

I am mailing my last batch of Christmas cards today. So, Christmas is on the way.

  

A Hummingbird, a Cardinal, and Dementia

 Monday, I took a nap at 5:30 pm and had Tommy wake me at 7:30. I felt horrible when I awoke. We were gone all day. Tommy had to get a CT of his liver, yearly one for him. Well, we shopped our way home. Actually, it was mostly driving. He came in after I said I was not cooking after I got up from my nap.

He left for the kitchen and came and showed me what he found. He found the spaghetti pasta, put the last bit of turkey breast on it along with pickled onion, relish, and mustard. He found the leftover cole slaw and had that on the side. I saw bread, too. I told you he could find dinner from leftovers. 

We watched a Christmas-themed Frasier and Christmas at Belmont. I think there was a third Christmas-themed show we watched. 

When we came home about 4 this afternoon, "Linda-neighbor" was not home. So, I told Tommy to let me get her gift and leave it for her. I had wrapped the candy in blue paper and had a blue hummingbird for her. We drove around and the Christmas lights in the neighborhood were not on because it was still light, too early. When we came back past her house on the way home, she was headed around the house to her front door. She saw us and put the gift back. I told her to not leave it there, so she got it and came out to the car and opened it. I did not mean for her to bring it to us, I thought she was going to leave it outside. A dog might have purloined the candy. 

She said she hoped I had not put something else in the box. She seemed really pleased with candy. And, looked like she loved the hummingbird. I was going to attach the hummingbird to the top of the package, but that was impossible because its curvy, sparkly body. So, I attached the alligator clip to the end of the blue foil package where it was folded. I leaned it in a chair, and I looked as though the hummingbird had perched on the box. She has three feeders, so she likes her hummingbirds, too. 

I am little by little, very little, returning all the things the cleaner picked up to their places! 

Sunday, I attached one wing to a cardinal. Monday, I glued the other wing. Tuesday, I will spray paint it red and the beak black. It won't get many coats, but they can spray it more so it can stay outdoors. This is for the couple who are 90. They have two blue birds hanging in the trees, so I know they like this kind of stuff. I want to deliver it Wednesday. 

Other Tuesday plans: chop celery and onions to jazz up the Stove Top, spray the cardinal, make pumpkin pie. (or Jello salad with red jello or green, or maybe something else. See, my plans are so fluid they sometimes slip right away.

While I waited for Tommy's liver test, in the car I made a call to a close relative. She would start a story and ask me what she was going to tell me. This went on and on. Saturday, I called a friend to ask her brother's phone number. He is supposed to mail me a book. His wife now has to take care of bills and everything because of his memory and lack of abilities. Then, my friend kept forgetting what she was saying. So, I have had three friends with dementia setting in, all this in three days. 

Tomorrow, I will tell you of my own personal brush with dementia.

I am waiting in the darkened living room, typing, and waiting for Tommy to wake up. I think he is pooped from yesterday since he is still asleep at 10 am. He may have awakened in the night and watched TV for a few hours. Sometimes, he cannot fall back asleep. Okay, he is looking at me and talking. No, he slept through the night but walked lots when he went to the hospital. 

So, my day starts. However, I have been awake since 6:30 am. I have a list so we will know what lies ahead today. 

I just saw an ad for a Chia Pet. Have you ever had one? I haven't and think I want one now. No, it is not on a bucket list. 

Sunday Help with Floor

 Why the floor? Because I could not bend to get things off the floor! Besides, you cannot vacuum the floor until you find the floor! My friend had someone in mind to help me. I asked about the person...she said a 50-year-old black man. Hallelujah, someone is coming! He dusted a bookcase and all the items on it, the tv and everything on the table that held the tv, and a step-table next to the TV. He picked up items and bags on the floor and at end of sofa and between an old recliner. Tommy and I threw out lots of papers and junk lying in the midst of good stuff, stuff I needed, wanted, and should be put away--bottle of vitamin C, groceries in a bag, a huge tote bag full of tote bags, and other items. 

Much to my surprise, Tommy has a Dr. Who Role Playing Game. Tommy was not surprised since he knew he had it. He might sell it. 

There were four pouches in the grocery bag and not old at all. I had set the bag beside me, it slipped off, and I covered it up with several other items. 

He carried the very many light items down the hall and put them in front of the bedroom where we keep things. The heat register is off in there. I can go in and put them where I want them instead of having someone just put them anywhere. 

The living room looks bright even with only half the furniture dusted! It's amazing. It feels like my back is collapsing when I bend to dust. So, I am not lazy, just in pain. 

My friend brought him here after their church was over and we took him home. He will back next Sunday. At $15/hour, he is a jewel, a real find. Unfortunately, I cannot have him here for more than two hours at a time. It exhausts me. I sat the whole two hours. Tommy took all the plastic bags and divided them. Some, of heavier weight or larger, we will use. The regular store bags will be recycled. 

We waited until he was almost here, and we could not find the Endust. So, Tommy had to go to Publix after the guy arrived. Tommy brought back two boxes of cereal for himself. He has learned about "bogo" and uses it.

We watched Homecoming: A Christmas Story. I love Patricia Neal, but not for this part. Once Upon a Christmas is a trio of Disney character cartoons. The first was about Donald Duck, the second, Goofy, and the third was "and there are others." Cute. 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation was wonderful as usual. 

Tommy handed me a penny and said he got it at Publix when he went for the Endust. I was puzzled. I kept asking him why he gave it to me since I knew he used a credit card. Finally, I understood. TOMMY FOUND A PENNY. I always tell him to look when he pumps the gas, and I will get out and pick it up. He was sitting on an electric cart, so he could get it off the floor right next to the electric cart. 

For dinner we had turkey breast and a cookie pan full of carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery. I drizzled olive over everything and sprinkled the seasoning over them and baked for an hour. Tommy has one more helping of the turkey. And, there is a whole bowl full of the vegetables. He has one more helping of the turkey. 

I absolutely cannot stand raw celery unless it is diced and in tuna or potato salad. I cannot stand cooked celery unless it is chopped and in soup or something. Well, I have been cooking three-inch stalks as flavor in many things for years and for Tommy and he never eats it. Today, it was more trouble, but I sliced the stalks in 1/4-inch slices and we both loved them cooked with the other vegetables. So, I suppose I am doomed to slice celery stalks so we will both eat celery.  

Decorating is done! I did not get one thing done, but it is no problem. Now, it is on to cooking. We will eat well, but I have nothing that I am stressing over right now.  

I must nap. Tell me what you want!

I could not find it in the grocery, so I just made it myself! sort of

 For weeks, I have searched for one holiday product--goat cheese with orange and cranberries. Saturday, I decided to make it myself. Of course, it is not identical but close enough taste-wise to make me happy. 

I cut in half a log of goat cheese, used leftover whole berry cranberry sauce I made, and bought a jar of orange marmalade. 

Here is how I did it:

*Put four ounces of goat cheese in a bowl.

*I used about a quarter cup or less of cranberry with whole berries and made with less sugar than it was supposed to have. This was all the cranberry sauce I had. 

* 3 big tablespoons of Smucker's Marmalade. 

* Mix with a fork. Don't mix too much. Or, mix away.

When Tommy tasted it on a cracker--Wheat Thins Lightly Salted--he liked it but said it needed more cranberry. Well, I had no more cranberry! So, I added the juice which made the cheese sort of runny but did not detract from the taste. Tommy explained he tasted cranberry on the first bite of the cracker, but then it was all orange. Now, I am just ignoring that, wishing I had not stirred it more...lol. 

I have the second half of the log of goat cheese and will make this again when I cook another bag of cranberries. Next time I will have more cranberries to use and will make sure they are at least cut in half, maybe not. Also, I used Smucker's instead of Bon Maman. Smucker's was cheaper. I chose Smucker's because I could see pieces/shreds of orange peel. Bon Maman was free of solids as far is I could tell, I wanted the pieces of fruit for the visual. If you have or can make your own orange solids in the form of marmalade, do it. Next time, I will stop mixing at the stage the goat cheese looks like cottage cheese. 

The cranberry and orange might be good just poured over the log of goat cheese. Maybe you would want to flatten the round log a bit or just crush it and pour the mixture over that. Don't get it too gloppy unless you like it that way.

This dip/spread was beautiful, great for Christmas! The other half will be made for NYE. This was much better than the log with cranberries and orange, but more expensive since I had to buy the marmalade. I am going to experiment with making some sort of orange add-in that is not exactly marmalade. This might be better on a Water Cracker. 

We watched Home Alone until A Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart came on. I hope that Carol is shown that has Kelsey Grammer in it. I love that one. We watched a Bonanza Christmas story, too.

And, we had a little Christmas music.

In an hour or so, a person is coming to pick things up from the floor (main job) and dust and vacuum the living room. I am already exhausted, and it is only 11 am. 

Cooking and Warm Weather

 Friday night, I told Tommy if he would peel, core, and dice the huge bag of huge apples in the refrigerator, I would make him an apple cake. I took 13" pan and sprayed with PAM, dumped in the diced apples, sprinkled cinnamon over them, and sprinkled a spice cake mix over it, poured 3/4-cup of melted butter over it and baked on 350F for an hour. I wish I had sprinkled raisins over the apples. Next time. It is delicious! Tommy likes it and wishes there were more apples and less topping of cake mix. Next time. 

Then, I had him get out the five pounds of giant misshapen carrots and peel/scrape them. I will chop into three inches pieces. I plan to cook them in the oven--carrots, potatoes, onions, green peppers, and the rest of the grape tomatoes (about six), plus any other vegetables I find lurking. Adding garlic cloves and Italian spices. This is for Saturday night. I think we will have pork chops, too.

I am trying to get the refrigerator cleared of food that needs to be eaten, plus make room for Thanksgiving foods. The apples and the carrots were taking up almost a whole shelf! Milk is once again 3 half gallons for $10, but I don't think I will stock up because the refrigerator was too full and hard to manage before Thanksgiving. 

Right now, I have one dish ready for Christmas dinner--purple hull peas. I just wanted them. I may freeze the rest of the turkey breast for Christmas and not bother with a whole turkey until after Christmas. Sounds great to me. Since I just discovered Christmas is Saturday, I suppose I will put another turkey or turkey breast in refrigerator to thaw. I change my mind of a dime. 

One channel promised/advertised a Christmas movie and did not come through! "SANTA WHO?" was supposed to come on at 7 pm and did not, so I settled for Hollywood Christmas Parade. 

Saturday morning and it's already 70F at 10 am. I think this is our high today, not sure. 

There is a bag of six chicken breasts that I need to cook today. I suppose I will freeze them for meals later. 

I have so much to do. Sunday, after church someone is coming to help out with getting things off floor over in a corner and all over the living room! I am tired already thinking about the ordeal. 

In a minute I will be eating my brunch of something. How is your Christmas prep coming along? 

Forgotten Christmas Decoration, Tommy's Sandwich Creations

 Thursday night, we watched Coat of Many Colors, a story about Dolly Parton. There was not a bit of Christmas in it, but I suppose it was shown as a holiday special. 

The boneless turkey breast was delicious. We each had a meal from it. I imagine we will have at least two more meals each from it. Tommy added cranberry sauce I made to his plate. Friday night, we will have turkey breast, carrots and cole slaw. Tommy might want cranberry sauce again. 

For years I have wanted a life-size, cardboard, Coca Cola Santa. I have been obsessed. Last year, after Christmas I finally acquired one. I was going to bring it here and use it, but I forgot about my plan. But, it won't go to waste. Next year! I also wanted my 3-4 ft. Santa blow mold, too. But, it is in the back of my storage unit and not as easily found. We had several one-foot-tall Santa and Snowmen. I gave those to my grown children. Those are about 40- and 50-years-old. I love blow molds. 

Because of a crowded freezer, I took out some bread. Of course, we try to eat it instead of throwing it out. I told him there was pita bread to eat. I had some salami that I cannot eat, given to us on a charcuterie board and some white cheddar that was dried from being frozen. He came in and showed me his "pita sandwich." Inside the pita bread, he had salami and white cheddar cheese, and he had microwaved it all. He put mustard on it and seemed really happy about his lunch.  I provide "stuff" and he becomes creative. It's cute. 

I also make sure there is lettuce of some sort and tomatoes. He helps himself for lunch and sometimes adds things to his dinner. Of course, sometimes I do make a sandwich for him, but rarely. We eat lunch at different time.

Since I only managed to sleep six hours on Thursday night, I am already drooping at noon. 

Yesterday, I saw a sign that said $2.09 under the cartons of 18 eggs. I whipped around and went back. No, the sign was for a dozen eggs. No way! Eggs prices are the one thing that I have seen that are causing me alarm.  It sort of triggers my alarms. So, today, I found the last carton of 18 eggs and paid $4.29. It is okay since I want eggs! I will forego some egg eating and shop better. Some are boiling right now.

On Friday in Cullman, we saw gas for $2.82/gal. Of course, Tommy had filled up for $2.88! 

By the way, my Pfaltzgraff dishes, four-place setting. 16 pieces in total, only cost me $53. I opened my savings "bank" and had only to put a bit more with the savings to buy the dishes. I had not spent my bank money from last year, so this was sort of "free" money and dishes since that paid for the rest of the dishes. The dishes were free as far as it coming out of my pocket right now.

These were ordered from Walmart.com and they are made in China. They are not supposed to be good quality, but they look fine to me. Since I have never seen the originals, I suppose I am ignorant of what I am missing.

Someone is supposed to come on Sunday to help me get stuff out of the living room.

Do you own a life-sized Coca Cola Santa? What is the price of eggs where you live/shop?  So, it's the weekend. What are your plans?

Pfaltzgraff Winterberry

 Wednesday night, we saw more Christmas-themed sitcoms--The Mayor, Kenan, Young Rock, and The Christleys. I passed on Kelly Clarkson since I can barely stand to hear her speak. However, she is a fantastic singer. 

I finally put the batteries into the boom box and the quality of the music is great. Now, where did I put the white remote?

While I took a nap, Tommy put all the ornaments on the tree. It is so pretty! 

I have been wanting Christmas dishes for years. But, since I had Wedgwood "Strawberry and Vine (above)," I used those at Christmas and had an abundance of red on the table along with snowflakes. Well, I no longer have that pattern and it is discontinued. I wanted Lenox "Holiday" and changed my mind after thinking about the gold rim. So, Pfaltzgraff Winterberry service for four (head of this post) is what I purchased. Actually, it is prettier than Lenox "Holiday." I broke my bank, but it is my gift to me this Christmas. Actually, this is money I saved a penny and larger denominations at a time. Some of the money was found on the ground.

We went to Cullman today and I had one piece of mail. The rest was junk mail. I sat in the car once again at Office Max and gave the young woman a list and she shopped for me. I needed several items but settled for Lysol spray, 10 ft surge protector and a rack to hold envelopes/mail. The mail was crawling all over the table. The surge protector is dying, and I needed the Lysol right that minute. 

At the junk store where my friend has still not paid for the hamburger meal she asked me to buy for friend, I found her in bad shape. Her death seems imminent, within the year I expect. I have $14 credit for things I have given her to sell, things that I didn't want. I found two cute lamps, 2/$5. 

Double Luck green beans were $0.69 for each can. I got two and will get more, hopefully. I love this brand. Cream cheese was a 2-pack for $5 or 1-pack, 2 for $4. Guess which I bought. Even though there is a warning that cream cheese is scarce, I have not found this to be true. Have you?

By the way, did you sign up for $20 instead of buying cream cheese? It was in the previous post. 

I bought a can of Pet Milk at a high price, but I did it anyway! I cannot find the receipt, so I have no idea what I paid.

We are home. I must see if the lamps need rewiring.  Okay, only one lamp works. That's okay because I was going to rewire both or sell both as is. I love them, but for the right price... I can be fickle with my latest love.

A boneless turkey breast is destined for the oven and will be dinner tonight. Since it is 4:45, I need to get busy. Tommy is skinning carrots. The 3-lb. boneless turkey breast and a halved onion are waiting for the carrots. We will have a can of green beans.  5:15 and it is in the oven! 

Tonight, we will both have two chocolate covered cherries and one Hershey Kiss. That is it for the sweets and the dinner will not be high in carbs. So, we get Christmas candy for 11 days, but just a bit each day rather than pigging out and then going to buy more. Yes, I could and would and have done it. No more. 

What kind of pretty Christmas dishes do you use? Do you ration your sweets?

 

Free $20 if You Don't Buy Kraft Cream Cheese

 GO HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Christmas Movies and My Recliner

 We tried to watch a movie that sounded cute--"Office Christmas Party." We could not make it through the film. 

Another night we watched "The Star." It was a short from the 1940s. The story was the nativity played out in the West. The three Wisemen were three cowboys on horses carrying a Christmas tree and all sorts of toys from a store. They bought so much because the owners were thrilled with making the sales. The rest of the story is just as bizarre and charming. They did follow a star. Okay, no more hints. The movie was only 30 minutes long. 

I don't think I have mentioned A Christmas Carol starring Reginald something. 

We found "Home Alone 2." That is always funny. Okay, it was in New York.

Several sitcoms have their Christmas episodes playing. I hope to catch WKRP in Cincinnati where they have the turkey drop! Oh, that was Thanksgiving. Bummer.

Plus, this the Duke month and a John Wayne movie is on every night. I saw one where James Arness/Matt Dillon was part of the cast, AND he had blonde hair.

I am so far behind on everything! Tommy just sits. Well, so do I...lol. But, these are two-person chores.

No, the recliner did not come on Dec. 15th like I was told it would. So, now it is January 15th. I am so annoyed. I need that chair. I guarantee it will not come in January.  

Three more cards go into the mail today. 

We just now picked up two prescriptions and rushed back home to start the dishwasher since laundry had been washing. We finished loading it and turned it on. Tommy put things in the dryer and then brought in stuff to hang. NOW, we are running back out to get me a new and free phone since this one holds a charge about 30 minutes. 

Tommy will put ornaments on the tree tonight and we have no more dinners in the refrigerator, so I must cook something. 

How is it going in your world? Are you behind on Christmas preps? Are you seeing many Christmas specials? 

Nothing Much Accomplished

 Monday--nothing much was accomplished. 

I did get out my fat, battery-powered candles, three in graduated heights. AND, there is a remote. With the remote, the candles can all be timed from two to 8 hours. A "flame" dances like a live flame I love the look, love the convenience. They are on the shelf beneath the tall table on which the tree sits. I bought a package of red berries on alligator/roach clips. I just put the four bunches of berries in front and between the candles. 

There is another set of these candles I have not gotten out, yet. 

About the remote--how do you keep it from being lost, sliding off the table, just how? Well, I put each of mine in a sandwich bag or snack bag. Since the remotes are so tiny, I just know they will evade me if they are not inside something I can see when the remote slithers away. 

Outside, the mum is just sitting there, not red enough, not shiny. I hate to give up! 

Tuesday, we went to Tommy's yearly appointment at one specialist. I sat in the car and addressed Christmas cards. Since I forgot to take my Christmas stamps, I just used the summer flower stamps. 

Today, we covered many areas/cities in Birmingham , shopping or driving to get somewhere else! I finally got a hamper, something I badly needed. Hopefully, the vibrator foot massager I purchased will help with the swelling in my feet. I also bought red pen, contact paper, Hershey's Kisses, Hershey's Miniatures, a cookie sheet, and a small box of Werther's Original Caramel Sugar Free minis. I love the Werther's. 

I am exhausted and have no idea what will be for dinner! Maybe a nap will help! 

I forgot to look for a surge protector for my laptop. It is almost 4 pm and it is still 70F degrees.

Has anyone ever used a foot massager? Know anything about them? 

Laptop Charger, Gifts, Toaster

 Sunday, I got a new cord for recharging/using my laptop. It was an ordeal and cost $93. I managed to wrap one present, the only one I have to wrap.

Russell's and Whitman's chocolates are $9.99 each for a small box. I only buy them when they are bogo, which they were this week, so $5/box. I had coupons for $1 off one box. That made each of them $4. That is a good price for a gift. Then, I wrapped one for a friend and put a hummingbird on top. I used the $0.50 blue foil wrapping paper and the bird was the same deep blue. So, I combined several bargains for one beautiful gift. 

I bought six of the boxes of chocolates, and we ate the Whitman's sugar free box. I now have 4 more gifts left. I may or may not put an ornament on top. It depends. 

Did I say?--I put my red hummingbird on top of the tree in place of a star or angel. Tommy really liked it and suggested how to make it look prettier. 

After an exhausting day looking for and driving to look for the charger/power card, I came home, cooked spaghetti, opened a jar of sauce and took meatballs from the freezer. It was delicious. I forgot to steam the broccoli!

I bought a toaster, cheap one, nothing fancy. When I came here, I think I had a piece of toast. Then, I realized the extent of the roaches. About a year later, after telling him roaches were probably dead in the crumb tray, I picked up the toaster by the top with two fingers and asked him what he wanted me to do with it. He said, "Drop it in the trash." I did. 

We now also have a plastic box that seals. After toast, the toaster goes into the box and is sealed with locking handles. The top has gaskets, seals, and locks. I rarely eat toast, but occasionally I do want a piece! I had once piece today for a scrambled egg sandwich. 

Sunday was bright, clear, and only a small breeze and in the 50sF. It was a good day, a very good day. 

Monday, Tommy cancelled an appoint for me since I had a fever the night before. My head and ears are suffering since I ran out of one of my meds. Sometimes, missing one day makes me ill. 

We went to get water at The Pig, and I got other things. I also needed batteries so bought them at Publix since I needed bananas, too. As is my wont, I asked Tommy what we needed or wanted. "Maybe ice cream." I laughed loudly. And, ice cream came home with us. 

I love Cella chocolate covered cherries. Even better is dark chocolate covered cherries. I found those and will wrap them in anything, maybe newspaper, and put them in a bedroom, not mine, where they are almost inaccessible to me. The wrapping cannot be pretty enough to put in here or I will decide to eat the candy. 

Okay, time to cook dinner--chicken breast for me and thigh for Tommy, steamed broccoli, purple hull peas. 

Do you eat the goodies too soon? Do you have to hide them from anyone? 

Tommy's Day, Death, Stupid Mum!

 Well, Tommy's birthday is over. He liked the chicken and the zucchini. There were other vegetables I could give him, but he just wanted zucchini and lots of it. 

In the end, I put a small jar of apricot jam, 10 ounces of Italian Zesty Dressing, and a package of Onion Soup mix, cooked together on the stove and poured over the chicken tenders. I should have cooked them at the last uncovered, but they were fine covered and baked in the oven for an hour. I still have half of what I mixed up, so I can do this another day. There are two tenders left for lunch tomorrow. 

The brownies were a hit even though I obviously did not leave them in long enough. So, I scraped his liquid brownie into another pan and baked them again. Same with my portion that had not been removed from the pan. The last time I thought I had forgotten how to bake, the thermostat was broken. This oven bakes 50 degrees hotter. However, it could be fluctuating. 

He never wants anything--pie or brownies or cake--defiled with ice cream. I knew that but thought he might relent since it was his birthday. No go.  He also likes his ice cream plain.

The temperature is rising and will be up to 65F by 6 am. We will pay for this weather with a chance of tornadoes on Saturday. 

I saw in the obituary of another person that a friend died this summer. The obituary said she had predeceased the person who had died (did not know her.) I was beyond shocked! We were not close and never could be. Her daughter committed suicide at fifteen about 15 years ago. Five years ago, her husband committed suicide almost on the same day her daughter died. 

Funny story--She believed very much in the Rapture, which I do not. When her husband died, so did her mechanic. (Her joke, not mine.) So, she had to buy a car and bought a new one. When I saw it, I told her at the Rapture, I wanted her car. She became angry and defensive, yelled at me and told me her sister would get it. I laughed and asked her if her sister was going to still be here. She realized what she had said and would not laugh, just was embarrassed. 

For fifteen years, she served as a voluntary phone counselor for people who were considering suicide or who had a loved one commit suicide. My friend had to take sedatives to sleep, something to wake her enough to function, something for depression. I think her continual immersion in suicide could not allow her to heal. I mentioned this to her only once, and she said she had not thought about it that way. I have no idea if she continued with the counseling others because she sort of disappeared, moved away, I think. 

Even though she had diabetes and had to have half of several hammer toes removed, I wonder how she died. Covid? So, now I have to find one of her relatives listed in her relative's obit and see if I can find out what happened. I wonder if the two deaths by suicide by her family, and all the drugs she contributed to her death. ???

There were a group of women bullying me and I had no idea why. When I told her, she knew why and had moved to stop them. One woman had told people I had chased her and tried to hit her. My friend told the other women that she had seen me walk and there was no way I could chase anyone. Plus, she told them I was not like that. So, some of the women came separately and apologized when they saw me. 

I have a stack of obituaries that need a bit of investigation. 

On Tommy's birthday, I did not ask him to do anything to help out. Of course, I didn't do it either. We went to get his oil changed and mail a letter for me. He seemed to be out of sorts at time, but I said, "Okay, let's have an argument, okay?" and he stopped picking a fight. 

I give up on the mum I was going to spray. I refuse to throw good money after bad. I might give it a spritz of the clear glitter spray to see how it works, but I refuse to spray it all over first time. If it looks okay, I might throw a string of fairy lights from last year. It has a remote, so it will be easy to light. 

So, Tommy had a very good day, it seemed. Tomorrow, we will plant our Amaryllis (pink one and red one) for the house since they should have been planted two weeks ago. Maybe Saturday, we will put up the tree. 

Did you have a very good day, too?

Well, I had this post ready and the computer quit. The cord from here to wall died. The last time this happened, I got a warning. On Friday, the laptop just quit. Saturday weather was not conducive to driving to Hoover to get a new one, Or, to Big Box. So, on Sunday we left about 1 pm to search. I found one at Office Max and paid too much. But, laptop now works! 

AND, I am tired. Tommy actually fluffed the tiny tree and did it right. THEN, he said don't you want me to put the ornaments on the tree. He likes it, obviously. Nothing for Christmas was done today. So, I think I will go with red and green. I am going to cook pasta for spaghetti and have salad or just steamed broccoli--red and green. I might get out the ornaments. 

Did you get any tornadoes or bad weather on Sunday or anytime on the weekend

Tommy's Birthday

 He is 68 today, December 9. So, I robbed the cradle. I have things planned to cook for him. I asked him if he wanted cake and what kind, or brownies. He said, "Oh, just brownies." I have vanilla ice cream, which I know he will love on brownies. Or, maybe not. He likes his ice cream "neat," same with brownies.

His canes by the door and his reacher. They always fall down, and he has to get something and scrape it along and finally get it up. I know somewhere in a thrift store or antique store is a reasonably priced umbrella stand. But, I just cannot walk and search. So, I went to the internet and found some cheap umbrella stands. But, the reviews were awful, saying they fall over. We don't need the whole stand falling over. 

So, I came across the blue Tardis umbrella stand and got him that. You could tell he was happy to get it. Thrilled! He loves Dr. Who. Plus, I bought him a box of Russell Stover assorted chocolates. The Tardis is very heavy and does not fall over!  It will probably never hold an umbrella, but that's okay. Reachers and canes need support. 

We have been discussing what he wants for his dinner. Well, we could not find any ground beef in the freezer. It is there, just not discoverable right now. So, he is getting chicken. I am making a new recipe, so he won't just have a chunk of chicken, which I love. I have a pack of chicken breasts I will use. I put in the refrigerator to thaw a pack of Italian Chicken Tenders, a boneless turkey breast, and something else in the poultry family. 

I will mix Italian or Russian Dressing, apricot or some kind of jelly, and onion soup mix, cook it and pour it over the chicken to cook in the oven. I suppose I will cook zucchini in olive oil and garlic, and whatever else he wants. 

He takes the ads each week and looks it over. I tell him to circle things on sale that I buy, that we need, or he wants. He always circles zucchini and squash. However, I am not paying $2.99/lb. I do find them cheaper elsewhere. Wednesday, I found zucchini for $1.99 lb. So, we are both happy. 

Thursday is a day of Tarzan movies from 30s and 40s, so we are going to binge watch these movies. This will be fun. 

One store in Cullman has a buggy or two of deep discount items, some weeks more, some weeks less. forty or four of the same items. I always check this. As I did check it on Wednesday, I thought it was strange. There were Dr. Pepper 8 packs stuck on the sides of the buggy. A mess of greens lay in the bottom of the buggy. There was an odd assortment of other foods, no two alike.  I reached in to pick things up. 

A couple standing and talking, stopped and looked at me. I was horrified when I realized I was looking over their cart of food. They laughed and said they had done the exact thing with a lady's buggy, shopping out of her buggy., so they understood. We had a good laugh and talked a bit. My cheeks burned for an hour!

Okay, change of plans. I awoke after 11 am since I could not sleep last night. He said he wants to go and get his oil changed for his birthday. ??? He watched Tarzan. 

He likes his candy. He has never had a box before, in his hands, all his own to eat whichever piece he likes. I am the candymeister...lol. I sang "Happy Birthday" in a little, squeaky voice because I had just that minute gotten up. He laughed. 

Okay, I have to gather things for this chicken dish. And, cook. 

Have you ever shopped from another customer's buggy/cart? Or have you had someone shop from your cart? I hear people deliberately steal items from a cart if the store has run out.

Hijacked UPS Truck?

In Hayden, AL, a car drove into a Christmas parade! No one was hurt. This was in the same county and also the area where FedEx packages were dumped.  

Christmas programs we have seen on TV in December.

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas                                                                                                                   A Christmas Carol, Jim Carrey                                                                                                                     It's a Wonderful Life                                                                                                                                    Michael Buble                                                                                                                                                 A Christmas Story                                                                                                                                Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer                                                                                                    Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

A boom box for the living room came on Monday. Now, we can listen to Christmas music other than when we are in the car. Yes, we go low tech here.  I chose it because it has a remote control so I don't have to get up to turn it off when we don't want it on. 

Tuesday night dinner was a salad with turkey on it. 

Wednesday dinner will be a casserole with turkey, broccoli, carrots, mushroom soup, cheese, and brown rice. Or, maybe not.

Since Thursday is his birthday, I will probably make something with zucchini since he loves it. He really wanted sweet potato casserole for Thanksgiving, so maybe that, too.  Maybe not. 

Tuesday night, we went after dark to purloin the pink bag of ads and coupons from a house that is not occupied. Well, tonight it was, so we know where another empty house is to get ads. 

Then, he asked about looking at Christmas decorations "across the way." I thought he meant across the intersection. But, he went onto a big road out of the subdivision and into another larger neighborhood. 

We were stopped/blocked by a large vehicle in the street and another car on the other side of the street. I thought it was an emergency vehicle, first a firetruck and then an ambulance. People were moving around in and out of the vehicle. We could not pass, so were patient since it was an emergency.

Finally, Tommy said it was a UPS truck and they were unloading it into the hatchback behind it. I sure hope it was legitimate and not thieves. I saw someone and yelled, "Hey," trying to get someone's attention. The guy yelled and ran to move the car on the other side of the road. In ten minutes there were at least a half-dozen other cars, all with lights on and I suppose loading up with packages. If this was a crime, we had front seats. 

Okay, we just returned from Cullman. I am exhausted and still need to cook dinner.

Big, Fat Hen

 Monday, I re-baked the hen, and it was more tender, not really tender. Tommy and I had a meal from it on Sunday and Monday. There is leg and thigh still on the bone. I took off the breast meat and have enough for at least three more meals. Tommy took the rest of the meat off the carcass. He probably has enough for five meals. So, we have eaten four meals from it and have enough for 3+5 meals in the future and four from the past. That makes 12 meals from this 6.5 hen. We might get more meals. 

I think the hen or chicken, whatever they called it was old. She probably quit laying, so they butchered her. Okay, maybe not, but I wonder. Tomorrow, I will put in the refrigerator something else to thaw, probably a turkey, turkey breast, or turkey breast roast. I think a roast is a boneless breast. I do have many packages of breasts. I might add a package of thighs for Tommy. 

Monday night, he had a large portion of mixed vegetables and brown meat from leg and thigh, and cranberry sauce. I had breast meat and cranberry sauce and salad. Tuesday night the meat will be on a salad since we have salad that needs eating before it goes to waste. 

My blogger has spell-check on the screen. I don't have to click on anything on the menu to use it. At first, I only noticed it when commenting. Now, I see it here when I type a post. Try it. Deliberately type a word wrong and see how two blue lines are under the misspelled word. 

Click on it and choices for spelling appear. The blue lines appear under each and every word and disappear when you move past that word. Maybe you have already seen it and used it. If this function had to be installed, I must have accidentally installed the function. 

Tommy's toe where he has no toenail looks fine. There was very little blood on the band aid and that was at the base of the nail. 

Monday was a rainy and stormy day early, and miserably dismal all day. I did not step foot from the house. Tommy only went out to the road to get mail.  

Tuesday lunch--we both had a turkey sandwich. Tommy put bbq sauce and mustard on his. I had a halo with mine. 

I received my first Christmas card today, from a blogger. I suppose I should be addressing and sending out mine. Have you sent cards yet? 

Bad Dream--where do I get these things?

 I had a bad dream and it scared me. It was not scary, but someone might die.

I was in my house and heard a big noise. I looked out the window and saw a wrecked car. Well, it looked like it had been dropped from the heavens because it was banged up. There was another car and a man standing up. So, for whatever reason in my dream, I just ignored it. 

Later, I thought I heard Tommy calling me. I went to the side door and could no longer hear him. Thinking he was having a problem, I went outdoors and could not see him or his car. Oddly, my car was not in its usual place. So, I walked from backyard to front yard. 

Over at the corner where the black truck was still sitting, all wrecked, were two black mannequins. Not only were they a shiny black, the were black people. It appeared they were part of some sort of art installation. I went over quickly because it appeared there was a man lying in the road with these two broken black statues. 

Well, it was a black man who was sharply dressed and badly hurt. When I started talking to him, he held up his cell phone. It looked smashed with no more glass, a flip phone like mine. I dialed 911, I stood and waited for it to ring, like holding it for three minutes would help! 

After this, it was all jumbled with me thinking about going back to my house to get my phone. I think someone else came by and I think the poor man got help. He was all beat up and bleeding all over. 

I woke up and knew no more about what happened to him or where the figures came from. 

The night before, I heard nothing, but Tommy said there was a crash, and he came to see if I were okay. Later in the morning, he discovered a box with about 50 cans of food fell from their perch on a 60-year-old tv tray. Why did you put that can of food on the TV tray??? I am giving away at least half of the food. I think I got up about 5:30, went to the bathroom, and came and sat on the bed trying to figure out something. I don't know what. Now, I think I knew something happened but not what I needed to figure out. However, I did fall asleep quickly. 

My nights are busy!

Monday, I have done nothing. I need to put that hen back into the oven. We ate some last night, but I think it needs a bit more cooking so it won't be so tough. We will have turkey, kale, and carrots tonight. 

I realized the poinsettia ornaments I put on the wreath are for indoor only, so I will remove them. I may put them on the tiny tree. What was I thinking? The wreath will only have the red bells and ribbon on the greenery. I think that is a beautiful look, just red and green.

So, mostly, I have made Christmas decisions. I have a gingerbread house for Tommy to put together and decorate. And, I must get the construction paper for the paper rings to make a chain or many chains to hang around the doors. I haven't told him about that yet. ...lol. Tonight or tomorrow, I will get the tree out.

How are your Christmas plans going?

More Christmas

 Today, it was very warm out, at 5:30, it was still 69F. This was the last day free of rain. And, Tommy won't help with putting out lights on the ramp. So, I told him to return them. He quickly said, "Okay." And, he seemed happy about it. 

The wreath is finished and on the front door. It looks beautiful. Instead of a big red bow, I put a bought decoration--two bells with their own bow. And, around the greenery are five or six poinsettias on clips. I hope they don't fall off. 

Every year, I get him to straighten and fluff the 3-foot tree. He uses his forearm to straighten them, saying he cannot pull them out. So, it has never been fluffed, just mashed. It is so strange. So, we are heading into the grumpy season for him. 

I will pay someone to fluff it since I am still itching from the wreath fluffing. He hates Christmas because he might have to spend two cents extra. But, he is front and center if anyone else does the inviting, preparing, and cooking, and spending. Plus, in all these years, he has only given me one gift. But, he loves his gifts. 

Just now, I put a 6.5 lb. hen in the oven. It had been thawing for four days and was still mostly frozen. So, it will have to thaw and cook in the oven! I cannot understand how it takes so long for a small bird so long to thaw.  I ws really suffering when I got it out, out of packaging and into pan for the oven. Consequently, I left out the celery and onion, left them on the counter. UGH! I did manage to put salt, pepper, and ground sage on it. 

My hand still hurts. I have not checked to see if my hip is bruised. But, it hurts! 

We will have Stovetop Stuffing, green beans, and jellied cranberry sauce to go with it. I just had a tangerine. It appears we do not have more canned, jellied cranberry sauce, so I will cook berries. 

My next Christmas goal is to put up the tiny tree and decorate. 

Run Me Down?

 As I was sitting in the electric cart, loading things in the back of the Rogue, I heard a man say, "Can I help you with that?" Seeing a man behind me, I said, "No, I have it all now." I put in the last two bags as he stood silently about a foot from my back. 

First of all, it scared me when he stood behind me. Was he planning to snatch my crossbody purse? What? He said nothing. Most people comment on the weather, how crowded the store and parking lot are right now, how they are so glad there are electric carts. AND, they don't stand so close behind me! 

I never approach anyone from behind when I want a cart. I think it is just polite with all that happens these days. 

I got off the cart as he got on. THEN, he slammed the cart into me, sort of hesitated and ran into me much harder. I was screaming in pain. I was hurting soooo. He hit my hand which was immediately evident. Then, it started swelling. Last night, two fingers have some sort of internal injury.  He also ran into my hip in the front. 

I yelled at him and he gave me a whispery, low-key, "I'm sorry." It was as though he only said it because he thought it was necessary. Well, that made me scream at him. He said, "I was trying to turn around." Still, this made me furious! 

Tommy said he did not hear me screaming while I was being pushed backwards three feet. He saw I was okay. ??? What qualifies as okay? I could barely walk. He did not even roll down a window to hear what was happening. 

I would have been apologizing profusely instead of giving a barely audible apology that did not sound sincere. He just sat there while I whimpered and then screamed at him.

I was barely able to stay on my feet. Thankfully, I did not fall. Have you ever had someone so rude to hurt you in public?

Roach Clips

It seems that roach clips are the new way to attach ornaments, even the balls. Most of the ornaments sold one at a time are glued onto a roach clip. I wonder how long this will last. Have you seen ornaments with roach clips glued to them? 

Tommy went to my doctor after I spoke to my doctor about my toe and explained that Tommy's toenail was coming off and hanging there. So, Tommy likes him is going back for another appointment. We both have an appointment in January, mine first and his 15 minutes later so we can make one trip. 

Tommy's toenail was hanging by a strip at the base of the nail. Tommy said it did not hurt at all, just a snip, snip, snip. He said the doctor had a needle and pain med lying there in case it was necessary. It was not red or anything. It has a Band-Aid on the toe, so I cannot see it. 

As we left the parking deck, the attendant asked Tommy--who are you for, Auburn or Alabama? Tommy replied that he went to Auburn. The guy was happy and told Tommy there would be no charge for parking because "Alabama has hurt us enough." I hope he has a job next time we go there...lol. 

We went to Publix for eggs. I hate to run out and I had just eaten the last of them Thursday. The chair by the dumpster in the park was still there, and I examined it and left it. It was a chrome, metal-framed chair with padded seat and padded back. It looked like something a mechanic would have in his office for customers.  I know the seat had gotten wet and the back, too. The chrome was in good shape, however. And, dew has formed since it was put out. 

Formerly, I would gotten the chair, strip wood and material, replace the wooden seat bottom, upholster the seat, and tighten or replace screws in the metal frame. It was rickety side to side. There will be other chairs. I don't have a work place here. I had bought a worktable the size of a sheet of plywood for my basement at my house. This chair was going to be one I sit in either outdoor to work in carport or to work inside. 

Tommy's pen needles from Amazon and my hair color arrived safely with no detours to the woods. We have no gifts or anything pricey expected, but I hope it all gets here safely. 

Have you noticed as you type that we have a spellcheck on blogger that runs all the time and for each word? It is good. I could have sworn I typed "chrome" instead of "chrone" like I did. I check to see why there were two blue lines beneath. However, it does not do so well with commas and such. I know the rule to refute their proclamations, so I refuse to change commas. 

We watched "Annie Live" on Thursday night. Did you see it? I cried, bawled at first because it was so sad. I knew what was going to happen, but I could not get over the sadness. 

Friday, I bought One A Day Vitamins for Women 50+ for my Pink Purse Project I started last year. I need to go out with a list and get the buying finished. It will be Christmas before I know it. 

Sooo, I suppose there was nothing to say? 

"FedEx Drop Off Here" and Yard Sale Finds

"FedEx Drop Off Here" was on a sign on I-65 about 40 miles north of Birmingham. This is where a FedEx driver threw packages into a ravine in Blount County, just north of where I live.

In the meantime, another dump by FedEx in Alabama happened just south of the first in another county.

I tried something new on Wednesday night. I had bought broccoli and we were having some for dinner, the florets. So I could get the broccoli in a gallon bag, I cut off the woody-looking stems. Then, I decided to peel it. I cut it into sticks prior to dicing it. When I tried it, it was so tender I did not dice it. Now, I am going to put it in my salad tomorrow with tomatoes and Romaine. Tommy took a stick, chewed it and said it was okay, hardly any taste. For picky kids this might work for a stick along with carrot and celery sticks. 

People have written about peeling the stalk and eating it. For years I have said I was going to try it. Now, I will never throw one out again. 

For dinner on Wednesday Tommy had turkey, sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli. I had the rest of the roast beef I opened last night, Romaine, grape tomatoes, steamed broccoli. I hate everything except the breast of turkey or chicken. 

Wednesday, we watched PBS--My Garden of a Thousand Bees. The program was fascinating and the bees so large on the screen. 

At a yard sale on Wednesday, I bought a vase (about 14') that comes apart. Then, I have a candlestick. Plus, there were about two cups of tiny "crystals" that hang on lamps and chandeliers--$5. Then, I found four rolls of new wrapping paper--$2 for all four. I do not need wrapping paper, but this is shiny. There were 3 Drive grab bars, two 16" ones and a 24" one--$10. Total--$17. I can resell all the hanging crystals. 

Cost of his car repair--$1100.00. He took that news very calmly. I did not. We have yet to get it back.  Okay, they called and it is ready. 

We are going to see if the chair by the dumpster is still there. If so, it is mine!

Have you ever eaten broccoli stalks raw or cooked? Do you ever watch PBS? We watched it on APT--Alabama Public Television. 

Tuesday Plans and Execution and Surprises

 Plans are delayed while we get the wire fixed. I pulled the wire sticking out to attach the ornaments to the wreath. The wire sticking out was how I was supposed to unroll a piece to cut and use. Then, it gnarled. Tommy is dismantling this plastic container that is sealed. So, I will have a wad of wire! That is okay because I bought a wire cutter in the jewelry making dept while out yesterday or the day before. Surprise wad of wire!

Okay, it only took almost an hour to free the wire from its container. Now, he is cutting pieces for me. ugh this is not how I planned it. ...lol. Surprise help!

Another day at  the Most Hated Big Box I found the $5 throws reduced to $3. I bought two because I managed to lose both Tommy's car blankets. They were much larger and much thicker and he had had both since he was in High school. I felt sooo bad. He did not get upset with me at all. Surprise markdown.

The dermatologist gave me a prescription cream for use on my face for a condition. Stupidly, I applied a pain reliever cream which really hurt. They were both in boxes. You mean I should read the prescription label? Surprise pain1

Plans for today include taking Tommy's car to the shop, buying COQ10, buying dishwasher tablets, getting our flu shots. Yes, getting the wreath made up is part of the plans.

Today, Tommy wandered into the kitchen about 11:45. I heard little noises, but I never needed to know what he was doing because I figured he was fixing his lunch. Mostly, we make our own lunches unless I decide to make something for both of us. 

About thirty minutes later, I decided to go into the kitchen and figure out what to eat. He had washed a huge sheet pan, a colander, and various other items used to take meat off the bones from the stock. I was amazed, shocked, and grateful. Surprise dishwashing!

Last night, I gave him the sheet pan with all the bones and skin and some of the vegetables from the stock pot. He sat in his chair and deboned it all. I gave him two square brownie pans for the bones and for the meat. It seemed like he worked for hours. Now, there is a brownie pan full of meat that I need to freeze in portions. I had to empty the bone pan half way through. The carrots, celery and onion are in a bowl. The stock is still simmering. There was a gallon to begin. The stove has been on for three days! How long should it simmer? 

We took Tommy's car and left it at the garage. They called. The problem is in the wiring, so who knows how much it will cost or how long it will take. We went into Publix for our flu shot and decided to get Finish tablets for the dishwasher and decided to get the drying agent and also saw a dishwasher cleaner tablet. My dishwasher got gunk in the hinge of the door, right in the flexible part that covers the hinge. So, we got that. Surprise needs! Really, we need these?

We had a hamburger in the park and I found a chair to rescue from the side of the dumpster. It will probably be gone by the time we get Tommy's vehicle back. Bummer! Surprise chair!

I carried the Christmas planter with the poinsettia into the den to place outdoors. Then, I noticed the velvet leaves and decided to keep it for use indoors and not buy a live poinsettia. I paid $5 for it at the yard sale, but a real one would cost so much more. I can use this every year. Surprise saving!

I bought Halos, broccoli, garlic and grape tomatoes. All three were reduced but not by much. I walked out of  Publix having spent $45. Shocking. Oh, I did get a Santa Pez that is a tree ornament. Surprise prices!

Okay, I need to cook broccoli for Tommy, so I had better go and do it. Surprise cooking!

How are your Christmas plans coming along today?