ROCK-A-BYE BABY

 I found this blurb in a Reader's Digest. I think. Or, maybe it was an AARP magazine.

"Rock-A- Bye Baby

When 18 healthy young adults slept in a lab for three nights, on the night that their beds rocked them to sleep, they fell asleep faster, spent more time in memory-consolidating deep sleep, and performed better on a memory test the next day."

Source: Current Biology

Webmd.com

When I was an infant, my mother rocked me to sleep. When I was a teen, I loved a rocking chair. My mother laughed and told me I had torn up every rocking chair she ever had with my incessant rocking. She said I had always loved a rocking chair.

Every night, I pushed my foot against my footboard to rock myself to sleep. When I married, I had to quit this habit...lol. Later on, when he moved away, I resumed my rocking. A few months later, I had a king-sized bed and did not have a footboard. 

I think it is high time I get a bed with a footboard. Of course, maybe I could find someone to make a machine that would rock my mattress. It only takes a small motion for me to feel it and be rocked to sleep.

This is a study I found HERE.

Do you ever rock to sleep? Rock in chair, hammock, or holding a baby? These actions are said to promote sleep. 

When I had the six-foot swing with a deep seat, I could sleep in it. I put my foot on the arm and gently pushed. Sleep was instantaneous.

Housework, Cooking Ahead, Ukraine, Movie

 Saturday night, I made a pasta salad like Jewell Tea salad I ate long ago. He refused to eat the one with tuna, so I made one with canned chicken. I added halved grape tomatoes. He said it was good and ate some of it along with Romaine. 

I don't know why, but I felt awful all day Saturday. I still hurt just below breastbone. I did not stick my nose out the door all day...too cold and nowhere I needed to go, anyway. I did not sleep until 6 am Saturday morning and awoke at 1 pm. Even with a good amount of sleep, I still felt lacking. 

Still, not much decluttering has been done. But, I got more done than I thought I would. So, I suppose that is something. Soon, we will be able to see the whole floor! 

We unloaded and loaded the dishwasher. ugh! We both hang onto the counter to work. Tommy is washing a pot and skillet before we run the dishwasher. I am back to planning.

Last night, we both stayed up until 5 am to watch a movie that I highly recommend--North Star. It is timely.  The Germans are invading the Ukraine. Tommy said he wanted to only see what it was like, a warning to me that we were not going to watch the whole thing. It was so spellbinding that he actually wanted to stay up to see it. This movie was criticized during a period of anti-Russia sentiment. You can read about it by looking for North Star 1943. From analyzing the film as I watched it, I think the reaction was over-reaction. However, I have never lost anti-Russian sentiments! 

Have you ever seen this movie? I don't think it is a coincidence that a movie about the invasion of Ukraine is showing now. I highly recommend it for the human experiences. Maybe you can stream it. It was remade, removing many scenes, but I would not recommend those.

Then, it was after 7 pm before I could sleep! I do feel better than yesterday, even without much sleep. My feet were cold from the breeze under the covers! I cannot sleep with air on my feet! 

When Tommy gets the skillet washed, I am going to cook my pork chop and have slaw. It is 2:30 and I have not eaten yet. I have to let this pill work for an hour. 

My food goals are to get the three pounds of hamburger made into three meals this afternoon. I think a hamburger tonight, and stuffed peppers for freezing and tomorrow, and maybe a meatloaf for freezing will be good. Well, those are my goals. Of course, moving along the decluttering at a snail's pace will continue during what is left of the day. 

A few months ago, I cooked and froze a small meatloaf in a tiny pan, just two modest portions. One night it saved us from peanut butter sandwiches or going out to buy fast food. Fresh vegetables and a can of vegetables made the meal a feast. 

It is 59F and a really pretty day. We will take a ride to the park and sit for a bit. I need it since I did not get out yesterday and there is not a window where I can see out! Tommy will put a load of darks in the washing machine and it will be ready when we get back. We have such exciting plans! 

Are you snowed in? What's for dinner?

Tommy Cooks! Pay Attention

Friday night, for some reason my stomach hurt. I had eaten oats because I was starving. Right below my breastbone, if felt like a rock was inside me. I did not feel well at all. I told him he needed to cook his own dinner--a pork chop. He agreed. He did ask if he needed to put oil in the pan. No. 

Of course, I had to talk him through the process. There were still collards and cole slaw, so frying one pork chop was all he had to do. First, he wanted to know if he needed to put oil in the teflon-like pan. No. Since the pork chop was partially frozen, I told him to put a bit of water, like two tbsp of water just to thaw it in a heated pan. No, I don't boil our meat. When the water boiled away, he said he turned it on simmer to cook it. 

Well, I told him to turn it up and brown it. He still wanted to know about oil. I told him to put maybe a tsp of oil in the pan. I did tell him to salt and pepper it just a bit. He ate it and had a good meal without my cooking by adding slaw and collards to his plate. When I feel better, later or tomorrow, I will cook mine. 

One day, I looked up and Tommy was carrying the yellow Tupperware cannister out of the living room and into the kitchen. I said nothing. I keep noticing things are disappearing from the bookcase between the front door and his chair. Good job. He is making the place look better for company and us! 

It is very cold and windy here. The wind snatched the storm door from my hand as we went out. I made a decision--we are not going anywhere Saturday since it is going to be even colder! Tommy is more than okay with that. 

I have 3 pounds of hamburger meat thawing. Tomorrow, I will make another pot of soup. We ate all the last gallon and never froze any. Soup, even the same kind will be good for the next few days when it will be so cold out. 

Well, another comment on the chair is forthcoming. Tommy said the chair is sort of hard. I call it firm. The thing I did not like about the La z boy recliner was that it sort of enveloped me. It was squishy. I sit on top of this chair and like it. Before we got our chairs, Tommy was adamant that he was not covering his new one. Eeww, sleeping and eating in it would make it gross. He slept and ate in his old chair for about 12 years with nothing on the chair. But, as soon as the guys delivering them left, I suggested he get the quilt I had out here. He immediately covered his chair and we both make sure we cover our chairs when the quilt slides off. We tell each other when the quilt has slipped off and a head is touching the chair.

From 6 pm until 10:30 pm, I kept hearing loud noises outside. Tommy said all the banging around was just car doors, people coming and going up and down the street. Well, it sounded like someone was throwing a ball at the carport wall. The utility room door does not fit well or stay closed. He went out and put a piece of cardboard in the door to keep it shut. Well, then he went out and put the cardboard in tighter or something. Finally, the noise was driving me mad. I asked him if someone was in my car in the carport. He went out to drag a bag of soil in front of the door. The noise stopped. The woman whose bedroom is next to carport probably was as irritated as I. 

Even though it was Friday night, these people around here are not noisy or apt to be out much at night, so I doubted it was car doors. No one had lights on and there were no moving vans, so where was the noise? I suppose I will have to apologize to the woman next door. 

He downplays everything. When I smelled gas at his gas meter, he said he could not smell it at the front door and that the only reason I could smell it was I went to the meter at the side of the house. It was not a bad lek. He finally called the gas company "to shut me up." Yes, we had a leak. Yes, I complained nonstop. 

It is now 5:30 am on Saturday morning, and I cannot sleep. 

Has your persistence in raising the alarm ever solved a problem or averted a catastrophe? 

Dented Cans and Mansplaining

 Another example of MANSPLAINING GONE WRONG. Click for the story. 

I have things to do today! It's noon and I have not eaten breakfast. But, I just got up at 11 am. That great sleep was a positive way to start the day. On Wednesday night, I slept only five hours and had a hard day on Wednesday and Thursday. I needed last night's nine hours for recovery. 

Since the temp will be a high of 39F on Saturday, I have made plans to stay inside. 

My friend, Lynda, and her dog have solved a problem for me. Over the last two years, I have bought too many cans of meat with dents. (okay, only two) I rarely use dented cans. Her dog can eat them. She says the meats I give her are stretching the dog food and saving her money. I fed any dented can contents to my chickens. These dents extend to the lid, so I am not taking any chances. 

"Mansplaining is, at its core, a very specific thing. It's what occurs when a man talks condescendingly to someone (especially a woman) about something he has incomplete knowledge of, with the mistaken assumption that he knows more about it than the person he's talking to does."

Do you have an example of mansplaining? 

A Chair Garden

 This video is from Robbie, the woman who has a thousand hummingbirds. She had a clever Chair Garden. and good advice.

We went to Cullman today. I received one piece of mail--amount I received in ss this past year. We dropped off soup-type cans and a bag of coke and pepsi cans for friend with $6000 job on the septic tank, went to my house, to Publix and to another store. I found store-brand butter for $1.50. I regret only purchasing one pound.

At Publix I bought two Hormel pork tenderloins that were bogo for $8.99--Apple Bourbon and Original. I was pretty sure this meat bogo was not in our Publix ad. It turns out I was correct. So, I am glad I bought it and wrapped it in three bags and brought it home in a soft side cooler. These look like crockpot candidates. 

We came straight home and arrived at 2:45. a record time for returning home from Cullman. Best of all, the sun was not on the horizon and blinding us! 

Since I had a uti at Christmas, I have not read anything in bed. I have not done my marching or any of the other exercises. Last night, I marched for the first time and five minutes was a piece of cake. Also, another plus for the lift chair is lack of pain when marching. Before, I sat on Tommy's walker. Last night, I sat in my lift chair and had no pain in my lower back when I marched. It will be much easier to do this exercise from now on and I will probably do more. 

The lift chair continues to chalk up pluses for my health and comfort. 

Okay, it is on to decluttering with my right hand hurting. For a few days, I am going to cut back on using it and see how that works. 

What have you done today? Any good meat deals?

It's Wednesday?

 This morning, I thought it was Tuesday. That delusion has stuck with me all day. I had plans for Tuesday, so I suppose they will be pushed to Thursday. I hate when I don't get the day right all day!

My hand developed a third bruise. I think it is because I am overusing my hand sorting things, handling paper, and occasionally lifting something not very heavy. However, even three pounds is too much for my hand.  My hand is achy, but I have age related arthritis. When I get another bruise, I will consult the doctor since I have never bruised easily.

I ordered the long hot-water bottle and decided it was not for me. With water in it, it was too heavy. It did not stay hot as long as the ad said. The rubber bottle would not come out of the knit sleeve easily enough.  And, Tommy had to put it back in the knit sleeve. When I tried to put hot water in it with the knit sleeve and got water all over me, the floor, counter and the sleeve.

The reason it was sent back was the storage instructions. It needed to hang upside down to drain. But, there was no hole so I could hang it and I was not going to clip in with a clothes pin, even if a clothespin would go onto the thick rubber. So, I called well before the deadline to return it.  

The woman at Amazon was very helpful, but could not find it. As it turns out, Amazon gave me a refund. Then, she still could not find the listing in my account. As it turns out, I was not charged, got a refund, and got to keep it!  I tried to get them to take it back AND to get the refund returned to Amazon. No, they would not. So, I have the hot water bottle that they told me to keep or donate or sell. 

Okay, I am sleepy and tired of typing, as my hand hurts. I did comment on blogs, so this is it for me, today.

Has Amazon ever sent you anything without charging you? 

Tuesday Nothings

 While sitting still, I hurt my hand today. There is a bruise the size of a silver dollar on the back of my hand. It really hurts. After three days of not straining and pushing to rise from a chair, I am now injured somehow! Since it hurts, I think maybe I will not type for a bit. The same thing happens to this hand occasionally and I don't know why. 

I have been busy sorting paper! This is not fun at all and slow. 

The Summer Savory came, but we decided to freeze the last almost-quart for a dinner later. So, no immediate gratification in the form of seasoned soup. We need something fast some days.

Dinner tonight will be hotdog on bun with chili and cheese, coleslaw, sweet potato. 

Our Relationship is Complicated

 I cannot let it go nor can I fully commit. One time it is love, the next time hate. It is good for me, but not always fully appreciated. Maybe you can relate to my dilemma. Tommy sort of feels the same way. 

My mother always put diced celery in spaghetti. The pieces were about 1/4-inch cubes. I ate the spaghetti and loved it. She put the same size dices in tuna salad. I ate it. She cut the stalks into three or four pieces and put them into the pan with a roast, along with carrots, potatoes, and onions. I DID NOT eat the celery.

I cannot each a celery stick to save my life! I cannot eat it with peanut butter or even with pimiento and cheese. 

Before yesterday, I put short sticks of the stalk into soup and did not eat it. I always dipped it for Tommy. He would eat it but left a bit. Somewhere lately, I have eaten a soup with slices of celery. They were delicious. 

Until yesterday, celery in what I cooked was strictly for flavor. Then, I threw it away. All that changed for cooked celery. 

So, yesterday I thinly sliced the celery, across the stalk, of course, put it in the soup, and we both ate it. The slices were about 1/8-inch thick, definitely not even a quarter inch. I loved it and Tommy said it is okay.  It was delicious and good for us. 

So, it is settled. I can now eat celery one more way. The next time I dehydrate celery, the celery will be thinly sliced.  I just cannot stand big pieces in my mouth, cooked or raw. I must have something mixed with it if it raw. 

What foods are you ambivalent about eating? How so? Explain it to me. Inquiring minds need to know!

Saturday in Cullman and Soup and Summer Savory

 We went to Cullman with a list and finished the list and got home about 3:30. I am so tired. The day was pretty but below freezing until about noon. But, the humidity was 23% yesterday evening unless it was a mistake. No ice on any of the roads make for safe driving.

Before we left, I grabbed a cheese sandwich and water. Tommy had gotten bread and sausage. So, it has been many months since we stopped at Hardee's for a sausage biscuit. Buying the premade sausage has made the difference.  The sausage is expensive, but much less than Hardees for both of us. 

We got the mail, went to my lot, dropped off a huge bag of plastic bottles for recycling, I went to two grocery stores where I picked up 4 more pimientos and two more cans of cheap green beans. The other store had no bargains today. Sportsman's Lake is still closed, and the Christmas decorations are still in the park.

At my friend's junk shop I saw a table I wanted several months ago. She is the one who is in a wheelchair and the person who asked me to buy food for her friend, saying she would pay me and never did. I had $9.50 on the books with her. Brought her something that put another $10 on the books, got the table for $20, leaving me 50 cents on the books. I mentioned she needed to pay me for the money I spent for her friend and the fact she said she would pay me. She said pitifully that she only had $3 and needed to buy something. I replied dryly, " I have change." She ignored me and never paid me. 

I will just put it on the books next time and never bring her friends food until I get the money. This actually benefits me. Today, she said she would sell me an iron bed and rails for $25. I will never get the money without making an enemy. She has never paid me for one blessed thing I have for sale! But, it gets put on the books and I get "free" stuff. "I will trade you my stuff for your stuff" sort of deal.
 

There is a beautiful, little table in my trunk, so I am happy. 

I took a purse to the shoe shop and had it repaired for $3. The remote for my car had a dead battery, so got that taken care of for another $3. I knew the people in both places, so pleasant conversation made me feel really happy. I have shopped both stores for 30 years, so it felt like home. 

While I was in a friendly atmosphere, Cullman, where people know me. I decided to shop at Walgreen's and get some otc at the drive-up window. The one here told me I had come into the store, just flat out refused. 

One friend who is semi-retired told me his wife died of covid-19 just before vaccines were available. The conversation made me sad because he is a nice man and seemed to really love his wife. I counseled another young man about educational goals. He has changed majors eight times! I congratulated him for his perseverance. I could not see making him feel bad about his decisions, especially since he is still interested in education. 

We arrived back home at about 3:30. At about 5:30, I decided to make soup. Tommy cooked and chopped the meat and scraped the carrots. I peeled the potatoes prepared the celery and put the soup into the crock pot. Around 6  pm, I decided the soup would never get done. Sooo, I put it all on a pot on the stove and added two cans of diced tomatoes and more water. 

I was so tired that I went to sleep in the recliner. I never finished adding things to the soup. So, I did when I awoke.

Soup

ground beef, maybe 2 lbs. today

carrots, a little over a pound

potatoes, just a few diced small

1/2 bag coleslaw mix

two ribs of celery, sliced thinly crosswise

two 15 oz cans diced tomatoes

can of green beans

diced onions

clove garlic

bay leaf (take it out after cooking)

I intended to put Summer Savory in to season it, but I had none, and Publix does not even carry it. If I put Summer Savory, I don't put salt, pepper, or bayleaf. The soup with the savory is very fragrant. I love it. Tomorrow, if Tommy wants me to, I will add brown rice to the soup. Okay, he wants brown rice. I don't add much, just 1/3 cup brown rice. Usually, I add corn to this soup and lima beans. 

The Summer Savory is not carried at Publix, so I ordered some from Amazon. Do you ever cook with this spice? There is a Winter Savory, too. I use one for soup, hopefully Summer Savory that I ordered. 

Recliners Claimed

 The recliners were put on the curb at about noon and were gone by 8 pm. Hurray! Someone can use them. I told Tommy that people will probably check for free furniture here. He has an old computer desk that needs to go. I mentioned that to him and he did not explode like he did last year. The whole thing is pressed wood, sawdust-like, and it is disintegrating. I had bought it for a hamper and he was not happy. Now, you would think it was his idea! 

I bought Tommy one of the soft cylindrical hampers. I had seen the turquoise and patterned ones, but did not think he would like that. Well, I found some nylon ones in grey, navy, and beige. I chose navy. He threw a holy fit, berated me and my effort and threw it. Then, Friday he had something in it. Friday night, I asked what he had in it. His dirty clothes! Why? Because I have nowhere to put them. ??? He is using the PO bin for his blanket, jacket and two small head pillows. He is so mercurial. 

This chair is so much more comfortable than the Lay z Boy. The only bad thing is it is not zero-gravity. My feet are not high enough, but I think I can add a pillow under my feet and calves to improve it. The L chair was just too mushy for my taste. Both of these chairs have very wide sitting and back area, unlike some chairs and recliners. 

It does not have the pillow that bends my neck too much. I even have to put a pillow there to rest my head. I am not smothered by this recliner. The La z boy was suffocating me, my arms and body. This one is quite firm, almost too much to some people, I am sure. I sit on it, not wrapped by the chair. The arms are wide enough but not so wide as the La z boy. 

In the space of one day, my back has quit hurting. Fridau night is the first night in months I was able to  bring Tommy his dinner. Usually, my back hurts so that I call him to come to the kitchen and fetch it himself. Tonight, we had chicken, sweet potatoes, and collards....again. My back is not better, just not hurting when I try to get up or walk. 

The day before we had these delivered, my left knee kept giving way. It was scary. And, this is my good knee! But, I barely twisted it, so it is not holding up. Hopefully, my knee will heal itself and not collapse. I was lucky that I was standing near something when the weakness occurred. \

Gotta go!

Recliners!

This was an ordeal! It became apparent on Thursday night very late that Tim was not coming nor was he going to inform anyone. So, we worked on and off until 2 am to get things cleared out. I am talking paper and just plain crap! Then, we started at 9 am. Well, that is when I told Tommy to call me, I think I finally dragged out of the bed at 9:30 am. 

They moved the other two recliners to the road. I gave them both $5 for doing so. The guys had to put the chairs together. They moved the chair I got last week and the thing does not fit! I got it on sale with an "as is" tag on it. Otherwise, I would try to trade it. I told you the other chair was big and square. It has to sit cattycorner and it takes up lots of room. But, at least if we have company. there is a third chair in this room. Then, with the ottoman in front of the square chair, the whole setup is massive! 

A room should have some moveable chairs. But, there is no way this room will hold one. I had a couple of massive chairs, but I had a massive house. 

When you come to visit me, I will remove the quilts from the recliners, promise. But for now, mine stays covered to thwart the crumb gremlin. I remarked to Tommy a few days ago that he could use his old quilt to cover his chair. He was loud and insulting. But, after the guys left, he went to get a sandwich from the kitchen. When he got to his chair with a drink and sandwich, he struggled to get to the quilt to cover his chair. Then, he worked to cover the arms well. So, I suppose he does want to keep it from getting gross. 

We live in these chairs! So, I hate to have them get so grimy and nasty. 

Before Christmas, I put four pieces of Christmas chocolate in snack bags and only ate one bag each day. Well, I lost them and had no candy for about a week before Christmas. Okay, today I found them in a pink plastic bin. So, I had to pay Tommy back two bags and we are eating Christmas candy--Kisses, Cella Chocolate Covered Cherries, and Hershey's Miniatures. Now, I will consume one bag instead of just gobbling down all the bags at once. 

I asked the guy to find my two shoes-- one red sandal and one black sandal. I found two knives that slipped off the table and somehow ended up under the table. Suck a mess. But, we are on the way to curing all the ills in here. 

Okay, got one more thing to do today and it is out of the house. So, gotta go. We are happy with seemingly a room full of new furniture. Only twice since I left home have I ever had so much brand new furniture. I prefer second hand. But, this is an adventure! Hopefully, he will be amenable to more change, and not costly ones. 

Do you get much new furniture? Do you like new furniture? What is your favorite style of furniture? What are your favorite pieces you have or have ever had. 

Death Again, List, Shopping

 Still Wednesday here. I got in touch with the woman who knows Tim, the guy who came and dusted and cleaned. The recliners will be delivered on Friday between 11 am and noon. So, he is coming at 10 am and work until noon. He can drag Tommy's recliner out and vacuum there and the corner and move his table and vacuum. He can drag the other recliner and get that corner. Under my chair is filthy, so that needs to be done. Tommy's short bookcase needs to have a shelf of books removed in order to move it. Tommy wants to just vacuum around it! NO! 

In the meantime, we are carrying out things small and large, throwing stuff out, carrying some to other rooms where they go or can live. I have a red sandal and a black one under a table that is so heavy I could never lift it. So, a good job for Tim, plus it needs to be moved for my recliner. 

It is my curb table. I begged Tommy to bring it to his house about five years ago. Now, he is claiming it. Nope!

We need to be somewhere Friday by 1:30, so this schedule works for us, thankfully. The furniture guys can put the two recliners on the road on Friday morning, and it should not rain until next Wednesday or so. Friday will be a heavy schedule and hard on me. 

Wednesday, we went to The Pig and Publix. I bought strawberries, blackberries, one navel orange, bologna, two pounds of carrots for $1.34 and one pound of baby carrots for $0.99, bell peppers for $0.49. The first carrot is for cooking and the other carrot for salads and snacking. Tommy wanted the baby carrots. Everything was on sale one way or the other. Bought two chunks of medium Kraft Cheddar, I found a package of Ball regular lids. (but not on sale) There was one left and I got it...ha ha! There was an empty space where I suspect wide-mouth lids or lids and rings were. 

The reason I only bought one navel orange was I should not have oranges, especially navel. I like to remove the thin orange peel and leave the thick white underneath and eat that along with the pulp. I think the white part is delicious. However, I am not supposed to eat much fiber. 

Tommy keeps all his clean clothes in plastic bags or hanging on the coat/hat rack. He puts the dirty clothes in a pile atop and inside mail carrier box. Someone gave it to him and he uses it for a laundry basket. He is very violent talking when I mention better clothes storage but still beside him. On Monday, I proffered an idea--how about getting a collapsible laundry basket, clothes that can stand and hold more clothes, take up less carpet real-estate, and look nice, too. He just looked at me like it was okay. At least, he was not against it. So, I will do that. You know the kind I mean, the tall one that collapses?

One day, this place will be fit for company. I told him soon we could invite his cousin here. He seemed happy about that. His cousin takes him and now me to Bright Star, but Tommy meets him at the door and leaves before he can see much inside. We can also invite Lynda, neighbor down the street. One day, I will get the bathroom cleaned (hire someone) and maybe he will put in the shower he really wants, the kind that has just a floor with a drain it it. The money he saved on these recliners will probably pay for the shower and bathroom remodel. 

A friend died in 2014, unbeknownst to me. I found out in 2016. We were close at one time but I pulled away as she was very dismissive of me, told me how poor I was compared to her in very unsubtle ways. They were millionaires. When I called him in 2016, he was in the last throes of dementia. I am not sure he really knew who I was. Well, today, I discovered he died shortly after we spoke. So, two long-time friends are gone. 

We each had a booth at same craft shows. So, for a while we were just friends at venues. Our friendship progressed until we talked and visited. Since they lived in Huntsville, it was easy and only 50+ miles north of me. At one point when I quit doing shows to go to school, I worked some shows with them. They had a double booth and each of us had a cash register. Then, I did a show for them.  They each were working different shows. 

Now, they are both gone and it seems like the end of something. Well, it is. People just keep dying! She was older than I am, but she died at a younger age than I am now. He died at 83. 

Thursday now. I called the WD40 company and they said to use Dawn and hot water. I am ready to toss them now instead of working on them. 

I have lots of plans for Thursday. Some are calls I need to make. Some are bills to pay. There are refunds to be collected when I make returns. The list is so long that I will not finish today. There are 14 items! One is done. Gotta go! 

Do you ever make a list so long you cannot get it done but it is what you need to do shortly? Like in a few days? 

Contributing

 The person in charge of a food bank is a friend of mine. When I see food exceptionally low-priced, I call her. When I bought the mayonnaise for $1.25, I called her before we left the parking lot and told her. She called me today and said she was in town and went to the grocery store where I saw the cheap mayo. It turned out there were coupons for $1 off on most of the jars. She checked with a friend of hers to see if she could use the coupon on reduced merchandise. She could. Then, she checked to see if she would be limited to the number of coupons she could use at that store. She ended up getting 38 jars of mayo for $0.25, quarter each. Through the years I have called her and alerted her to bargains in all sorts of items at multiple stores. 

I know I don't contribute cash to food banks, but I contribute a way to save money and buy more for the food bank. I also have been giving things to churches for their yard sales which often funds the food banks. I cannot do much, but I do what I can. 

Tuesday, I changed my mind about four times as to what dinner would be. The only constant was the collards I was cooking. We ended up have chicken, collards, and a very tiny bit of the potatoes I cooked with the chicken on Monday. Maybe tomorrow, I will cook the pork loin, bake the sweet potatoes and have collards. 

Since our recliners are at the store, I will now have two recliners to give away. I hope to have that donation in place before the new chairs are delivered. We cannot get rid of the chair Tommy sits in since he needs to sit in it until the replacement comes. The other is not being used, so it can go early. 

The towels soaked in WD40 were washed separately today. I used Tommy's washing powder instead of my ALL and also used Oxyclean. I am going to try to find BIZ again in hopes that works. My other choice will be putting them in the kitchen sink in a pan and washing them with hot water and Dawn. Do you have a solution to getting WD40 out of these dishcloths? I won't throw out the cloths, just relegate them to be cleaning cloths. 

By the way, I decided to read all the stuff on the internet about removing it, so I really need people to just tell me what has worked for them. Oxyclean did not work. These towels were soaked with WD40! 

Three Things You Can Do to Live Longer and Monday Evening

 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO LIVE LONGER.

Do you do any of these three things? 

On Monday night, Tommy knocked a can of WD40 off the kitchen counter. I told him to just leave it and I would pick it up since he cannot reach it and I can.  He was waiting on his plate of chicken, potatoes, and broccoli.  I finished up serving dinner. Several times, I was on the verge of going to the kitchen and did not. Tommy went into the kitchen and came back telling me the can of WD40 had leaked all over the floor. It was in a streak from one side to the other in the kitchen. He asked what to use to clean it. I suggested paper towels to soak it up, some Dawn, and then water to get up the Dawn.

I have a Swiffer thing and showed him how to put a dish cloth in the little holes, so he did. It took a while, but he got it clean. He said there is a clean streak about two feet wide across the kitchen. 

We both were sure I would have fallen if I had gone into the kitchen. He saw the "wet" place and put his walker on the other side and managed to step over the stream of WD40.

As he opened the door to put a cardboard box soaked in WD40 in the trash outside, he exclaimed, 
"It's gone!" I thought the car was stolen. Someone took the love seat. I suppose someone is going to dry it out and use it.   

I received a call that the recliners are in. So, I need to find someone to get things out of the living room before they chairs are brought in. I cannot believe it only took from Thursday to Monday to get it in stock. 

Last night, the three-foot Christmas tree was stuffed into its tiny box and is stored away. Now, I need to cover the poinsetttia and have Tommy ride it to the room on his walker where I store it and I can carry it from there. That is the end of Christmas. 

Do you make a concerted effort to do any of these three things to live longer? What other things do you make sure you include in your life to improve mental or physical health?

Better Night

 I awoke at 1 pm after a better night. I still was not able to go to sleep until 5 am, but I did sleep better. 

I awoke to a voice mail--the recliners are in! So, my whole focus will be getting someone to help me get this stuff out of the way so it will fit. Then, we will have two recliners to join the loveseat on the lawn! 

Yesterday, Tommy just sat when I said we needed to unload the dishwasher, and the few other things that needed to be done. So, I was pushed to around 7 pm, losing hope and energy. He had leftovers again, something different every day, it seems. Now, the day I wanted to finally get all the Christmas put away, I have to think about yesterday's work and getting the recliners delivered. sigh sigh

Okay, two days in the 30s is a temp I find cold. On days like this, I would consider wearing socks and shoes outdoors. 

Okay, I must think and plan. So, stay warm if it is cold where you are. 

So Sad

 The perfectly serviceable love seat has been soaked by rain and snow. Someone out there could have used this. Somewhere there is a family that needs it. But, it is lost.

We were up late or early before going to bed. I needed to hang clothes, panties and nightgowns, to dry. My towels and wash cloths were still in the bag. I have no idea why he decided I did not want them dried this time.

I could not sleep all night because my feet were cold. It is drafty on my feet. I finally got up and slipped in here and got my computer and finally put it away when the battery was drained. 

Then, I decided to pick up small things on the floor. That hurt my back even sitting on the bed, so I turned to the bedside table and found things, like my nose drops I had misplaced. My ear was hurting from the lack, so I used them. The table still looks messy, but it is a start. Bits of things are gone, like tags, their little plastic that attaches them to clothing, receipts. I found $15--three fives. I must have taken them out after shopping and breaking a $20. That was fun to find. 

I came into the living room to look out for snow. None. I was a little hungry but drank a bit of water instead of eating. Eating during the night is one bad habit I don't have and don't want. 

Of course, a trip to the bathroom was necessary about every 45 minutes. I was busy all night doing one thing or another. 

Finally, at about 7 am, I came back here into the living room and plugged up my laptop. Tommy never missed a beat. Just now he saw a light and my face--laptop light shining on me. About 8 am I went to bed and slept, waking around 1 pm. 

The pillowcases, wash cloths and hand towels are ready to put away. A huge package of bscb will be dinner tonight and probably the rest of the week. I need to cook the zucchini tonight or it might spoil! And, we need to empty the dishwasher! That is more than enough for me this afternoon. 

It is a dreary Sunday, but that is okay. I have nothing planned, anyway. Maybe we will get the tree and fake poinsettia put away. That's a dream. 

Did you get snow? Do you think a loveseat would dry and be useful?

Saturday This and That

 Since I had no idea what Kim was talking about, I looked it up. I know what wooden beads are, and I know what tiered shelves are. But, I had no idea they were a "thing" together. I looked it up and I still don't. However, I saw lots of wood bead garlands in the furniture store.  Right now, I have zero interest in either. However, that could turn on a dime and I will be a fan. 

The really good loveseat is soaked by rain. That makes me sad as I am quite sure people are around here that need good furniture. I do point out that I just cannot stand up using it. People, otherwise, will ask what is wrong with it. In the same vein, standing from sitting in this chair is wonderful. I have little pain in back, knee, and hands. The arms are square and flat and not all cushion-y. I despise the look of the new chair, though! Plus, the firm cushion keeps my back from hurting me while sitting. If the cushion ever gets limp, I will take it to upholsterer to put new foam and polyester wrap. No, I cannot do it myself. My hands could have done this 30 years ago and easily. 

The square arms have an advantage over the really curved and soft one--I can put a plate of food on it without having to balance the plate so it does not slide. My pills don't roll off. I do have a quilt thrown over the chair. Already, I have spilled food and gotten crumbs on the quilt. 

Last night, I slept four hours and got up at 9:30  am. At 12:30 pm I went back for a short nap and awoke at 5:30 pm. I actually feel good. That's a plus. I had scrambled eggs and a sausage patty for lunch, my only meal. After I ate, the plan was to put it all in the refrigerator. When I awoke, it was all sitting on the stove--five hours! I discovered it an hour later, so six hours not refrigerated. Tommy went in and washed the skillet out and left food on the stove, right next to the skillet. Well, it is the refrigerator now. And, the skillet is clean. 

We never stop at Hardees for sausage and biscuit now that I buy and cook the whole package of sausage. However, he never has it for breakfast. He eats it as a snack or for lunch. I am puzzled. He had two for lunch today along with one piece of bread. The sausage is less expensive than two sausage biscuits and coffee. And, the twelve pack lasts for several meals.  

We have been inside today. Tommy went to take laundry to the machine and out to get it for me to hang. Then, he retrieved the mail. I have not done more than look out through the door window to see if the loveseat was gone or not. NOT 

It is almost 7 pm and the plan is to unload the dishwasher and plant the Amaryllis. Maybe we will have a bit of snow in the morning. How is your Saturday? What happened at your house or will tomorrow?

Chair and Food and Sleep

 Since I have had 24 hours to use the new chair, I am happy. The guys put the chair down and said, "Is that okay?" I agreed it was and asked if they could move the table back. They had to move it to get to the space to remove the love seat. The lamp was not plugged in, so I could not see the edge of the table was not even with the chair or the door. 

I immediately called the store and asked if they could move the chair since we cannot.  She said they had gone home and she would be in Atlanta. So, it would be Monday. I hurt myself trying to yank the chair, and then I quit. 

Sleep did not come until after 6 am. I got up when Tommy called me at 9 am and said I was not going to Cullman. Then, I could not go to sleep. Finally, I went to bed and he called me loudly just as I was drifting off. I ran from the bedroom in a knee-length summer nightgown and a sweatshirt over that and barefooted. He was telling me the guys were here. Since he only had on shorts, he went into the kitchen. It would take him at least 3-5 minutes to get his pants on. 

I know they thought I was crazy to have them come back here to move a chair two inches. But, that is the degree of my back problems. And, I forgot to give them money for their help. 

After that, there was no way I could sleep! I suggested going to the grocery store. Well, he finally was ready to go about 2 pm. As we went here, there, and yonder, we have tried to get someone to take this love seat. 

Groceries:

Bread Store:

read Store:Six huge brown rolls, the ones sold at Outback $2

envelops of cheese sauce $1

Publix:

18 eggs $4.29 yikes

Bread $3.49

Mott's Applesauce 3 for $6

grape tomatoes $1.48

Chocolate 2 for $4 Sugar Free

Wheat Thins, Lightly Salted 2 for $6

Diet Pepsi for Tommy bog2  $14

Cheerios bogo 2 for $5.79

Then, I had a $1 coupon for purchasing two. for $5.79 I got an extra $1 off for buying two, making it $4.79 for two and $2.40 for 18.8 ounce box. 

I may have to get chickens again if the price of eggs does not drop! The bread store had no reduced bread and we drove a long way to get it.  Applesauce cups are for the car. 

Wednesday and Thursday night, we had chicken, brown rice, mushroom soup, green beans and a small jar of pimiento. 

I may get out frozen pieces of chicken and figure out vegetables. It is tiring to keep going to sleep or almost going to sleep and not getting completely asleep or have someone wake you!

Some people can go straight back to sleep. That is not me. How about you? Can you go back to sleep when you are awakened?

Three New Chairs

 In the store where I have bought the two reindeer and the Santa, finally bought furniture. The Lazy boy recliners will be delivered maybe February 28. Too long! Tommy paid for them in full on October 28, 2001and Lazy Boy is making money off our money. Not acceptable. 

In the furniture store I had found a chair that I do not like but feels good on sale. I got it for less than $300. Sold. 

Tommy was so angry that I wanted him to look at the chair. He cannot fathom he might see something I missed. But, he did go in and looked at it, sit in it and give his opinion. So, I bought the one I do not like--a square gray chair! The one I like was brown, a color I hate, but it had curved arms and wood down the front of the arms and across the lower part of the chair. I would have gotten it but the seat cushion did not have much support. So, I bought for comfort. There is a chance Tommy thought I got this one because it is $50 cheaper. I am quite sure he said I should get it because it was cheaper. 

In the meantime, before I purchased the chair, I asked Tommy to look at recliners. He did and I decided I wanted one from there and said he should, too.  The color is Truffle, looks sort of olive greenish, sort of tweed. I called and cancelled the order for the Laz y boy and he paid for these, two that were ordered while we sat there. 

The chair was delivered free of charge since we had paid for delivery on the recliners. I gave the guys $5 apiece to carry the loveseat to the curb. We immediately put a "FREE" sign on it. 

So, I am sitting in a chair that supports my back. I am exhausted. Furniture shopping is tiring. Spending so much money is a stressor. However, the recliners at Lazy boy were twice the price as these. However, these don't have heat or massage or zero gravity. I really need the zero gravity! I can do without the heat and massage.  Anyway, it is done! Oh, these are lift chairs. But, the lift scares me.

I forgot to say that these don't have the huge pillow at the top, so it does not push on my head. 

I haven't bought new furniture since 1972, preferring antiques, curb shopping, any furniture that might need to be upholstered or in need of new springs. Having to spend real money on furniture, and furniture yet that I don't even like hurts and stresses me. 

Do you find that shopping for brand new furniture is stressful? 

I gave the guys $5 apiece to put the loveseat on the front lawn near the curb. Well, I went out after Tommy looked under the cushions and put a "FREE" sign on it. But, they have the loveseat facing the house! What is with that? And, Tommy put the sign on the back of the loveseat and thought it was just fine to face it away from the road/ GOOD GRIEF! I want it taken before it rains, otherwise, no one will want it. 

We are supposed to get the recliners between one and two weeks from now. I surely hope so. In the meantime, Now, the ottoman I was given works with this chair at the right height not to hurt my back and legs. 

He found $0.49 under the cushions.

Miss Kitty

 Every time we see her getting onto a stagecoach, we know there is mayhem ahead. She has never gotten onto a stagecoach without getting hurt, shot, knifed, raped, kidnapped, in the desert alone, beaten, slapped, held hostage. Oh, by the way, this happens every time she is on a train, too. Once, she ended up driving the stagecoach, hat and hair flying. 

I am tired and cooking. So, this is it. Have you noticed how each show with Kitty goes? Of course, I am talking about Gunsmoke.

Doctors

 Well, I am exhausted after two doctor appointments in two days. On Monday, my doctor said something like--and with your having Hashimoto's thyroiditis.... . Well, I was gutted. NO, I did not know. He said--well, it is right here. I asked why he had not told me. He said he had and I assured him he had not. "That is not something I would forget!" So, I have another autoimmune disease.  

I have never asked this before, but

WHY ME?

Never mind; don't answer that or give me some philosophical answer. Please! 

That is why my tongue and cheeks are swollen and why I have other strange things happening, like I am cold. I almost cried just writing this so far. Why me? 

Today, I went to my family doctor and he said that he, too, knew, saying yes, it is written right here. Of course, I expect he thought that I knew. I was afraid I had another uti coming on, but, thankfully, no. 

 These appointments have been scheduled for months, so it was not something that was caused by a recent development. I received results of tests. 

Tuesday is a cold, bright day. I will take cold if I get sunshine. 

Tonight, we still have chicken, so no cooking of meat/protein. The zucchini are waiting, so I can cook that for Tommy. I will find another vegetable or two.

When I sorted the blackeyed peas, there were no stones and few questionable peas. But, I did find a perfect kernel of corn. I was shocked as I had never found another vegetable in the blackeyed peas. 

I got something from Publisher's Clearing House, so maybe I won $5000/week. I will share with Tommy. 

That's it for today. I need to get off here and plan my new room.

A Dream

 

Probably fuzzy! 

better image of a Chesterfield chair

This dream seemed like it lasted a long time, like all night. I had a new, large-ish room on the back of the house. It had lots of windows and this chair. I have wanted a Chesterfield chair for a long time. This chair is plum, velvet, I think. 

We could see out the windows and see hummingbirds from all the windows and knock out roses. It was a beautiful dream of a well-lighted room, no carpet, beautiful mill work, pale pink walls, curtains like a dreamy breeze, furniture with character and not new. 

This is a better PICTURE OF THE CHAIR. While I love this chair, I actually found one with a seat cushion, not this kind. 

I went to the doctor and had some shocking news. I am too tired to write more. 

Coatrack Search

On Friday night, I searched the internet and found some suitable hat/coat racks to order but have shown nothing to Tommy. I suggested we go to a store near us. Well, somehow, we went at almost dark, not part of my plan. But, he was watching movies, so I decided to take a nap. Then, he was watching something else when I awoke. So, we finally got going.

This place had one coat rack, not my style but Tommy has no style. The people took it out to the car for him, but he said it did not have enough hooks. So, that was that. 

However, in all the waiting, I was sitting in front of the Christmas sale section. I fell in love with two deer with wreaths around their necks. I also found a branch with green leaves and beautiful red berries. I could not find any branches elsewhere before Christmas. Well, I did buy a branch from Dollar Tree and the berries fell off if you looked at them. So, I threw that away. The deer came home with me and the branch. 

The first chair inside the door and that I sat in was perfect! I wanted it. They sell recliners, so I may go back and see about those. They were closing soon after I got there. This store has possibility, and I will be going back! 

My weight loss now is 20 lbs in two weeks. 

The rain on Sunday means we won't shop! So far, it is an uneventful Sunday, and it appears nothing will change. I am still decluttering from three weeks of being ill and recovering. It is amazing what gets left where it is used or dropped. I found a box to store the deer in and it was full of chunks of Styrofoam. What's with that. So, it is in the trash. 

Maybe if I get the container for the ornaments, Tommy will undress the tree. 

Sunday is a good, low-key day! Was your Sunday more exciting than mine? 

Friday Doings

We went to Cullman on Friday. I retrieved a can of spray paint, the red paint I used for a cardinal. While at friend's house, we left soup/tuna type cans for a mutual friend. Her septic tank is going to require $6000 work. I am not sure what that is for, but she contacted 3 companies, and that is the cheapest quote.

I went to Publix and bought a few things, went to another store and bought one thing, got the mail, found gas for $2.85, got a burger and flew home. We did not want to be out when the roads froze over. There were lots of icicles hanging from the rock/boulders that line the road where the way was cut for the road. 

At one store in Cullman I found the six-pack of Minute Maid orange juice that we depend on in the car and bought two at an exorbitant price--$4.49 while it is usually $3.30 or less. I also bought one jar of Mayo for $1.25. I bought a moderate-sized package of TP. The shelves were skimpy. I also bought two more boxes of Ziplock Holiday decorated bags, quart and gallon. 

Back in Hueytown, Tommy got his covid booster at Publix. I found his bogo Pepsis, really b2g1.  I will get my booster when I am certain the uti is gone and I won't need additional treatment. 

I am looking for Halos or similar item, but have not seen them in the stores. I did not want either of the oranges. And, I do not want citrus from Florida. Produce from Florida does not have high nutritional value like other states' produce. 

About 10 minutes after Tommy had made four trips with heavy groceries, his coat rack fell on him. I tried to warn him but got an aaaaah out of my mouth. He set it back and loaded his clothes on it and it fell three more times. He was distressed. I volunteered we would buy him a new one tomorrow or I could glue it and clamp it. He is adamant about not fixing things and said he is sick of me doing so. Sooo...

I am going to call all sorts of stores and shop the internet since I don't have the energy to traipse from store to store. This is the old me talking. 

I asked him if I could have the hat/coat rack. "WHAT FOR?" He became angry when I said I could fix it and use it. He wants me to throw it in my storage unit, not glue it here. I don't understand. I really intend to fix it and give it to him. It is the ugly bentwood kind. 

His arm is very sore from the covid vaccine. So, we won't go shopping for a coat rack today. I will continue at a snail's pace getting Christmas out of here. Friday was busy. Saturday will not be busy. 

Copycat Recipe

Back when I was a new wife and a new mother, a temptation came my way in the form of a Jewel Food truck, a grocery store on wheels. He came in with a catalog and brought your food to you when you chose from a catalog. I only bought two or three things in the whole year it came by our house. However, one item I bought multiples times. But, once we moved in 1970, I never bought anything from Jewel again. I don't think a truck was in that area. The thing I loved the most was a boxed item, one I had to add a can of tuna and mayonnaise. 

However, a few years ago, I decided to make it without the box of ingredients.  I remember there were pasta shells, a packet of relish, and a pouch of seasoning. Even though I decided to make this several years ago, I just got around to making it. As I said before, I had to add mayo and tuna So, here is the recipe I figured out.

pasta shells

1/3 cup mayo (NOT Miracle Whip)

2 Tbsp sweet relish (maybe a bit more)

1 packet Lipton Recipe Secrets Vegetable Recipe Soup and Dip Mix

1 small can tuna, drained

I ate it warm, but tomorrow will eat it cold. I like it both ways. How much pasta? I used the pasta package from the Suddenly Salad. ???  Shells is what it was made with originally. So, I stuck with shells, but I am sure any pasta would be good. 

Use Mayo, not MW. I like sweet relish, but I am sure it would be good if you substituted or added dill relish. The soup mix was not softened when I started eating it but was better about ten minutes into eating. So, stir soup mix and relish into mayo as pasta is cooking to reconstitute the soup mix.

As I figured out this recipe, I measured nothing. So, maybe you will want to change the amounts. Plus, add-ins would be good. 

Tommy said it was "edible" with a face that said he did not enjoy it. He dislikes tuna. He would like it better with a can of chicken instead of tuna. I would make it with the larger can of chicken breast which I have. 

It has been 52 years since I bought this boxed meal from the truck. In my opinion, this tasted the same.

Just now, I realized the sodium content was very high! Maybe there is a different brand of vegetable soup mix with a lower sodium content. 

Dinner on Thursday night was the baked chicken, Tommy a thigh and a breast for me. He ate 1/2 of his thigh. I ate half a breast. Part of the baking needs to be frozen. It was good to have chicken because the beef hurt my gastrointestinal system. So, since I felt better today, I was able to make lunch for two more days, and dinner protein for ten or more days. YAY! I froze three breasts and three thighs. 

Update: I found another vegetable soup mix--Knorr. I will try this one Saturday or Sunday and tell you how this cmpares. But, the Knorr has a bit less sodium.

Have you ever heard of Jewel Tea? Did you ever buy a product from their truck? 

Better

 Every day, I have a small window of time when I am alert and feel almost normal. I don't feel ill late in the evening. In the morning I always feel ill. Then I have to take my antibiotic. I go to bed and feel ill in the morning. Wednesday night, when I felt normal, I did a few things. Mainly, I took the wreath and stuffed it into a garbage bag and put it in the room where it will live until next Christmas. 

This year, I will store things in my Christmas tins so as not to store them empty. 

Earlier Wednesday evening, Tommy cleared a path in his stuff to the other recliner. He said it was lumpy. It was, but I could recline and get pressure off my spine and had my feet up. 

He insists on keeping all his clothes in the living room, food, and all his paperwork for bills and banking. He has a box with many containers of mustard, crackers, multiple jars of peanut butter, and boxes of cereal! It is a habit borne of limited mobility. While I understand, it is annoying. Besides, why does he have to have so many of each at his fingertips?

Tomorrow, we will prepare a box of food we do not eat and take it to a parking lot and give it away. I get the free item at The Pig for others even if we will not eat it. I have two boxes of boil in bag white rice and other items from there. There are magazines, too, things I have read and need to pass on to someone else. 

The next time we go to Cullman, we have a garbage bag of aluminum cans to redeem. The price of aluminum cans is $0.55, so maybe we will wait as prices are going up. 

Thursday now.

The furnace guys who called and cancelled and rescheduled gave me a chance for another two hours sleep! Still, it was not much sleep. 

Today, my absolute minimum goal is baking two packages of BSCB and a package of thighs. Piddling and putting things away should happen. Maybe not. 

Since I won't be putting that horrible med in my body, I should feel tremendously better by 5 pm. 

Do you know anyone who stores food by the chair in which days are spent? 

Wednesday and Booster

 I have nothing. I slept well on Tuesday and several hours on Wednesday. I have done nothing! We did go to Publix to get Tommy's covid booster. They were out of Pfizer! So, we will go back or elsewhere. 

We know the best booster is the one you get, but my allergist was adamant about getting a booster like the original inoculations. So, we will do exactly as he said. 

While we were in Publix, I purchased four more Christmas design storage and freezer bags. That makes 16 boxes. Several years, I have not gotten the reduced items fast enough, so this will hold me if I miss them next year. 

We also cruised the neighborhood and picked up 4 more of the pink bags with paper inserts. We want the Cheerios coupons. Tommy is cutting the rest out for my friend. 

It is bitterly cold even at 54F degrees, which is not that cold! Plus, I only wore a sweatshirt. Being ill affects my perception of how cold it is. 

There were phone calls I needed to make. So far, I have managed one call per day, not good. 

I know I am dehydrated, and I have lost another pound. Ugh! And, all of Christmas is still up in the house. ugh ugh

My goal today is to cook the steak more from yesterday. I may cook the fresh green beans we received, too. I also need to fold clothes, wash the plastic lids from glass containers, put away folded towels and such. 

Tommy is going to clear the way to his other recliner so I can possibly use that until we get the good recliners. It is filthy, looks filthy, and absolutely needs to be vacuumed, but I am going to throw a quilt over it and use it if I can. 

I Thought I Was Well Tuesday and More Bargains

Tuesday, I wanted to shop the ads since Wednesday is the day new ads come out. I felt better, so no problem. Well, not well, not really. 

In Publix, I always check the sale rack. There I found the ziploc  bags with Christmas designs marked down. I ended up buying 10 boxes at $3.15 apiece. I checked the shelves for the regular, non-holiday theme. There were more bags in a box in the holiday-themed ones at a cheaper price. So, check Publix for cheap storage and freezer bags. The Christmas designs make me smile in July! Plus, I think of what a bargain I found. Oh, part of the bags with Christmas designs were still on the shelves with regular products, so check there if the sale rack has none. 

After the Publix trip, we went to Piggly Wiggly for coleslaw and potatoes. There was a third store to visit, but suddenly I became tired. All I bought in Publix was bscb and ten boxes of Ziploc. 

Before we went to the two grocery stores, we went to a food giveaway. Some weeks, there are only three cans of food and a pack of hamburger buns. Not much. Other weeks, there are 8 kinds of breads and rolls. It is all inconsistent, but I have no complaints. Today was a good meat day. We got:

Huge pack of Publix ground chuck $19.99

2 chicken breasts $13.66

2 organic chicken breasts $12.77

4+ lbs of chicken thighs $6.81

apple bourbn pork tenderloin

$13.00 shoulder blade steak

6 huge, sweet potatoes

4 bags and boxes of salad greens 

Low sodium potato pancake mix...will give away. 

The thighs are thawing so I can cook them with the two packages of chicken breasts I bought for half price (bogo) at Publix. I could barely get part of the meat in the freezer. I left the flank steak to cook for dinner on Tuesday night; So, four packages of meat went into the freezer. 

Two of the bags of salad greens went straight into the trash. One was slimy green and the other was turning bronze and wilting. 

At 5:30 pm, I was staggering and could barely walk, so I told Tommy to put the meat and the three potatoes in a freezer bag with half cup of water and tie it up and stick six holes in the bag and cook it on 300F degrees, wake me in an hour and a half and let me look at it. 

Folks, he can cook!

As I came out of the bedroom, I asked him if he put salt and pepper on the meat. He said he thought about it and did not want to put too much. "Salt and pepper it as you would something on your plate, but not heavy." 

The shoulder blade steak looked like it would be fatty and tough. It was.  However, I will cook it again to make it more tender. Since it was frozen solid, it did not cook long enough to tenderize. The taste was delicious. I asked Tommy how he liked it..."It was beef and not ground hamburger meat." 

We did a drive around the neighborhood to find a pink bag of ads and coupons. Tommy cut all them for my friend who is in charge of the food bank. We saved out the coupon for Cheerios. Tomorrow, we will get more packs of coupons in pink plastic. We only want the Cheerio coupon. We ask people if we can have them or take them from vacant houses. 

So, I was not as well as I thought I was today and now I am worse! I have med to last Wed and Thursday. Then, these meds will quit making me feel so awful. But, I did have a good day. Today, I really needed to be out. The temperature was 53F and the sky was a brilliant blue, not a cloud in the sky! 

I know the weather is rough in some places and people are stranded in cars. Here's hoping you are snug and warm in your house or other abode. 

Have you ever bought the Ziplock freezer and storage bags with holiday designs?

Publix BSCB and Other Stuff

 Tommy took a list I made from our perusing of the Publix ad. This is what he bought.

$2.99 24 oz zucchini

$2.54 x 2 Quaker Cinnamon Life (bogo--$5.07)

$1.40 x 2 Hormel No Beans Chili (bogo--$2.79)

$6.69 x 3 Diet Coke - $6.69 (b2g1)= $13.38 

$13.99 x1 People Magazine 

The man loves zucchini cooked in olive oil with garlic, so he chose zucchini over yellow squash. He should have bought both. He had circled the Life cereal, so it went on the list. I certainly did not know he liked this. But, he is onto the bogo thing, and this was bogo, so he will eat it. Unfortunately, I get the urge for chili over a hotdog and have no No Bean Chili. the price is always appalling. But, at $1.40 a can, it is not so expensive. I will freeze half the can or more since Tommy does not like chili over a hotdog. 

His Diet Pepsi was not on sale, so he settled on Diet Coke. I would have nixed this price, but I will explain to him why it can be gotten cheaper. Not a problem, though! He told me about the Betty White edition of People when he went in last time. I was exclaiming how I wanted it. So, he surprised me with the edition. 

Total--$43.82 Saved--$17.17

The Hormel, Kraft Mac and cheese is stock up. Coke, zucchini, and Life for use now. 

Monday, for dinner Tommy ate turkey, blackeyed peas, pasta, and cranberry sauce. I had a piece of cold turkey since it delicious cold and blackeyed peas (hot), half a banana. 

All the Christmas decorations are still here. I don't know when I will get around to putting it away. The trip to the grocery store where I sat in the car exhausted me. So, I am not pushing it. 

I forced myself to stand and hold onto the counter and load the dishwasher while Tommy handed me the dishes. Then, Tommy washed the rest of the items that would not fit, like large bowls. It will be an ordeal to get them out, but, of course, Tommy will help.     

Tuesday now and it was frigid overnight, below freezing. However, I was warm in bed wearing a sweatshirt over my thin, short summer nightgown. At least, the day will be dry! 

The most I will pay for boneless, skinless chicken breasts (BSCB) is $1.99. However, I will buy Publix bscb for more. They are $4.99/lb. now. But, bogo they will be half that. The reason I will pay that much is because the breasts other places are poorly trimmed. I am sick and tired of paying for gobs of fat, bones in the shoulder of the chicken, and long strings of whatever it is. I feel like I am still coming close to my $1.99 limit. 

I will buy two big packages today and cook one with a huge package of thighs. The turkey has one or two more helpings of meat left. So, I need to cook another batch of protein. The turkey went a long way and has certainly helped when I have not felt like cooking. This was the turkey that cost $0.49/lb. and was cooked on Thursday, I think. 

Okay, my turkey sandwich for breakfast killed off the turkey. 

What kind of decoration do you use as a celebration or homage to Valentine's Day? The day after Christmas employees were shoving the shelves full of Valentine's red hearts and cupids. I had a heart-shaped cake pan that I could bake a cake or use to make a heart meatloaf. Now, I may hang a heart on the front door. Maybe the amaryllis will be blooming by Valentine's Day!

SNOW in the South

 Tommy reminded me that I had mushrooms in the refrigerator. They were for salad or something. But, with this malaise and not being hungry, I had not been near the refrigerator. So, I put the mushrooms in a skillet and drizzled them with olive oil. The pickled Vidalia onions sounded good, so it went into the skillet along with garlic. I was going to add other things and top with the last of the jar of spaghetti sauce. 

It was strange because after all the sautéing, I could distinctly taste the pickled Vidalia onions and the separate taste of mushrooms. It was delicious. Too late, I thought about adding the bit of the jar of spaghetti sauce, but that would mean I had to get up from sitting. 

Tommy saw that the first episode of Cheers was on, so we stayed up too late and watched that. 

THEN, it snowed. It was really pretty and covered the ground well. I went out once to take pictures. But, later I was too afraid of ice, so I did not get any more.  After 80F on Saturday, this is all a shock...lol. 

Tommy went into the grocery store for bread and came back with ice cream, too, chocolate for me. When he came back, he triumphantly brought the ad. Once home, I went over it and circled what I wanted. He did the same. So, we made a list. We are such an exciting pair. 

At noon, there was snow on top of the car, so it is over. 

Weight

 Reading about a blogger's (SAM, Coffee, Money, and Thyme) child eating at school reminded me of what Tommy told me a few days ago. His father worked for the railroad and died before mid-terms his first semester. His mother had not been in the picture for many years. His father's work benefits provided well for Tommy and his younger brother's education. So much for background. 

I asked Tommy a few days ago if he gained weight when he went to school--40 lbs. !!! I asked how he managed to put on so many pounds. He said he made sure he got his money's worth of the food plan. He added that when he went back home that summer, he lost all the weight he had gained during the year. 

When he came back home, he was emancipated by 18 and his brother by 17. He owned a house. Now, I can just imagine how little he cooked. But, he ate at his grandparent's house two doors down. 

I am down 14 lbs from what I weighed about ten days ago. I just eat little. Of course, we do eat two chocolates from a box of Whitman's. 

When I prepared food, I ate little. Now, I don't even eat dinner. I just sit and he gets what he can find. He has even encouraged me to let him help me load the dishwasher. Usually, I am the one trying to get him to help. 

Yesterday, I ate a chicken sandwich, but it was a foldover sandwich with enough meat for a whole sandwich. I do eat half a banana each day or a whole one. 

The Christmas decorations and the tree can stay up all year for all I care right now. This medicine has taken all desire for anything away from me. Tommy is in the kitchen making "fixing food" noises...lol. He has washed two loads of clothes for me, another load of blanket/throws and my white clothes--underwear and towels and nightgowns. 

Okay, he was washing the crock pot and other things instead of preparing something to eat. I put a pound of blackeyed peas in the crock pot and cooked them four hours. They were done before midnight on Jan. 1. Whew. 

Midnight Kiss

 It has been over two weeks since the dishwasher has been loaded and run. However, Tommy keeps washing just enough dishes. He just wanders off and stays gone in the kitchen. When I stagger in, the kitchen looks pretty good. It is not perfect, but he keeps enough dishes washed so I can cook.

All decorations are still up, although I did bring the wreath in. It lies here, ready to be put away.  Tommy washed three loads of laundry and offered to do more. He washed his fuzzy blanket I gave him years ago and four of the throws. I had to hang all four of the small throws, and he dried his in the dryer. The dryer has only one setting--hot--so I never put anything in it except kitchen linen and bedclothes. I don't feel like hanging things, especially since the last are not dry. 

The temp reached 80F today, so this gives us the opportunity for bad weather. 

Since we received the filters from Amazon and Tommy replaced the old one, the furnace no longer roars and strains. It is a smooth-running machine now. 

New Year's Eve, we wanted to watch one of the musical specials. But, that was not to be. So, I think we watched Gunsmoke. The fireworks were far away, so we saw nothing. There no special snacky things here. But, all in all, since I felt so horrible, it was a pleasant evening. 

After I "jumped" off the stool, Tommy was coming into the living room past me. I turned and started to kiss him. He lowered his head like I intended to kiss him on his head. I said, "We have lips." We then shared a peckity kiss.