Thursday and Ducks

 Thursday, we had to go to Cullman to pay for my PO Box. I had tried it before, but yesterday was the final day. My mail would be dropped in the garbage if it was not paid by March 31. So, ill as I was, we had to go. 

I had been told I could pay it at any PO. But, that did not work. Online did not work, either. So, yesterday, ill as I felt, we both tried to make it happen. Tommy was on the phone and I was online. Finally, he got someone on the phone who would help him online. So, he handed the phone to me and she talked me through it. There is no way that I could have figured out what to do. But, she was so helpful.  Again and again, I filled out form after form. 

She was baffled, too, as to why this did not work. 

Tommy went in and told the guy he wanted to pay the box rent. He commented to the employee that the online option just would not work. The employee said lots of people complained it did not work as they drove to PO to pay the rent. 

I wanted a chicken breast, so he went in Publix and bought one and a thigh for him. But, he was given two thighs. I hate thighs and gave most of mine to Tommy. After we left the lake where we ate, I took the receipt, the chicken bones to prove it was a thigh and went into the store myself. The woman was dense at the at the cs desk. She finally leaned over the counter with the bag where chicken was placed with two sticky receipts, one that said breast and a separate on that said thigh. She talked to my like I was the village idiot, point to the word "thigh" and said, "see right here, it says "thigh" and looked at me with much sympathy. I snatched the brown bag she had in my face and told her she did not get it. She volunteered to get her manager. He came and she lurked. He understood the first time I explained it. And, gave me a full refund for both pieces of chicken. I was way too ill to deal with some idiot. 

Jars of peanuts were bogo, so I got two for Tommy. I decided to get a chicken finger since I had little. THEN, I saw very pretty strawberries. In the deli they used a fruit/vegetable wash on the strawberries. So, my lunch was chicken breast and strawberries. Tommy had a thigh and most of my thigh. Chicken and strawberries are an excellent lunch, much better than BK. 

In another store, I found red grapes for $0,99/lb. and Vlasic relish for $0.99 for a 10 oz jar. We now have four more relish, two sweet and two dill.

When we left here, I wanted lunch, go to PO, and to second store. Publix was a trip to straighten out order. There were other chores to do, but I was not up to anything else. 

I did not want to go to the auto supply or art store as I had planned. 

Oh, I forgot. I went to Office Max for a charger.  They brought it to the car at the curb. I have always been given a cell phone charger with the cell phone. Not this time. Then, the charger fits the phone on one end and a usb port on the other. There is no wall box into which to plug the charger cable. sigh Thankfully, I have half a dozen wall box plugs for a usb. By the way, Verizon had a $25 or $30 charger. I passed on that. 

There were not many ducks at the lake where we were parked. Most of the ducks were over where people might feed them or they could find scraps. We like seeing the ducks upend themselves and stick head into the water and right themselves. Today, I was grateful the sky was overcast. It was more soothing than the bright sun I like. About 1 pm, the clouds allowed the sun to break through. By the time we arrived home, there were no clouds in the sky. 

When I awoke on Thursday, I had sinus pressure, ears felt full, and throat was sore. My chest is tight. None of this was happening when I was at the doctor on Wednesday! So, on Friday, I will call his nurse and see what he can give me. I know I want prednisone! 

Allergies are not good!

And, the Doctor Said and Senior Easter Egg Hunt

 

Brown eggs from my chickens that I dyed years ago with color tablets and vinegar. Fancy laid some of these eggs.

I dragged myself to the doctor. I have no uti and cannot figure why I have so much exhaustion, malaise, lack of caring...lol. He suggested it could be allergies. I think he is correct even though I absolutely have no symptoms. My blood pressure was extremely low, O high, and pulse low. 

This happened once before long ago, about 45 years ago. I went to doctor and we decided it was allergies. The malaise went on about 3 weeks and for no reason. It was orange juice I drank every morning. It seems sometimes I can have citrus but not in the spring when other allergies are worse for me. 

Doctor said this is a really bad allergy season, worst than usual. He had no suggestions. So, I need to take allergy meds and figure out what I am eating is helping me feel so awful. He said malaise was playing prominently in the symptoms of others. 

Since I only slept 3 hours last night, I can imagine lack of sleep is part of the problem right now. We are expecting bad weather until about 2 am, so I will be up anyway. Well, I won't give in to the tiredness. 

I was going to move things on the porch, but already the wind is too bad for me to try to rescue things that might blow away. 

I won't be going to the Senior Easter Egg Hunt in Cullman. One of those spry elderly people who is overly  competitive might knock me over. I don't know how I would handle a walker and a reacher/grabber at the same time. There is one old guy who is really short who comes to me with a huge smile and tries to flirt by poking me in the arm and really hurting me. I would hate to have him arrested at an Easter Egg Hunt. He won't listen to me and tells me he is not hurting me and hits my arm again. I am fed up with letting it go and giving in to his male ego and privilege. 

We might watch children hunt eggs in the park. 

How You Do Anything is How You Do Everything.

 I am just too ill to type or think. 

"How you do anything is how you do everything."

I will tell you about my thoughts on this idea when I feel much better. 

What does the title of this post mean to you? Do you agree? 

How have you found this out about someone?

Monday This and That, Nothing Much to see Here

The weather is beautiful here and I am too ill to really enjoy it. Today, I went to St Vincent's to a lab. Well, they brought out a wheelchair with only one arm to transport me from the car to inside. I said I was afraid I would fall. They insisted I just sit down and it would be okay. "Can't you sit down with just one hand?" They did not take it well when I said I have to use both hands to lower and balance myself. Finally, I said, "When I fall on the pavement you won't be happy and neither will I." They suggested I take a sample bottle home and bring it back. 

That is a real pain in the neck, but I did. They gave me five bottles for later. So, now I must go back tomorrow and call them to come out and get the sample. Now, I will not have to get out and go to the lab. This will be so much better even though it is a long drive. 

I am faithfully taking my Azo Cranberry and have been since last week. I am very ill. 

I need to sow seeds outdoors and start some seeds inside.  I might topple over if I try to garden, even in pots. 

Matt Dillon backhanded so many people and slugged them that I am sure he must have damaged his hand enough to bring on arthritis. It is a wonder he remained a fast gun. 

I lost a bottle of meds and had to pay for more myself. I paid $17 for ten pills! That is a lot of money for me. 

Dinner Monday night was leftovers--hamburger, carrots, potatoes, and cauliflower. In a few minutes, we will go in and load the dishwasher. I wanted to put chicken in the oven and assemble the taco soup, but I think it is too late, almost 10 pm. 

If I can, tomorrow, I will make hummingbird feed and load a feeder and put it out. I am not sure when they return around here. 

Has anyone put out a hummingbird feeder yet? When will you hang one? 

My Ear and Siding

 For two years I have had a little bump in my ear, just a mound, not anything that feels like it is going to be infected. The ENT said he had no idea what it was but did not want to lance it for fear of an infection. He gave me a drop to use twice a day for seven days. That did nothing. For two years other similar bumps have come on the inside of my ear and on the outer ear. 

About a month ago, I started squirting this med in my ear and rubbing it to get it onto the bump next to my eardrum, Finally, I felt it and it seemed like I could scratch it off, and I did. For two days I have been free of the earache that has plagued me the two years this has been present! 

AND, TMJ has quit bothering me. Tinnutis is less. The things my body decides to do!!!

Sunday night, we had a burger from a 4-pack of premade ones, something given to me. We just ate it on a plate with a fork. We had potatoes, carrots, and cauliflower baked in the oven. I put a light sprinkling of garlic powder (not salt) on them. Tommy did not even need salt on the carrots or cauliflower, just a bit on his potatoes. The cauliflower was so sweet with only the bit of garlic powder. 

Since I have been sleepy and tired for a few days, I am going to doctor to see if it is a uti. I do not want to become ill again. 

The piece of siding under the roof has been loose, allowing water behind it. Tommy has refused to have someone repair it. Well, Saturday, a six-foot piece started flopping. He says he will get someone to fix it. I figured he wanted the piece of siding just reattached to rotting wood. Of course, I know that is not possible. Thankfully, the piece of siding broke. Otherwise, he would just want it put back. The house is a brick house, but their is siding on what would be wood parts. He said he did not want to have to paint the house, so had siding put over the wood. BAD idea. 

When I went to a yard sale today around the corner, I bought a table for $3 for the porch. I asked the man to bring it by and he readily agreed. We talked about the repair needed. I asked him if he could recommend someone. He said he is a roofer and does that stuff, too. Then, he said he does yard work. So, maybe someone to mow since our free mowing by neighbor will end. THEN, I asked about someone to help in the house. He said he can do that, too. He also sells scrap, so the rusted storage shed can be gone for free! 

We talked so long that it was 7:30 when he left, right when I would have had dinner ready. I put the vegetables in a pan and loosely covered with foil. In the meantime, I was going to cook the burgers. Well, at 8:30, I told Tommy to come and let's get dinner. The oven was stone cold. I forgot to turn it on. So, we had the burger to avoid starving to death and had the vegetables at 9:30. Some nights are like that. Right?

Have you ever had a strange large mound in your ear that puzzled the doctor? Or, maybe he gave it a name you can share with me. 

I don't often forget to turn on a meal to cook. It was not a big deal tonight, but I will have nightmares about forgetting to turn on a turkey for a meal. Have you ever had a meal that sat without heat?

 

In the Middle of the Night and a Favorite Food from Childhood

 That is me, up in the middle of the night, typing. I went to bed early at 1 am. I was so exhausted but cannot sleep. 

On Saturday night I want to make a favorite dish--salmon and eggs. Mama made this for us and I loved it. The ingredients are simple--eggs and a can of salmon. You just scramble the eggs, cook until almost set, and add the canned salmon broken into chunks. It makes me hungry thinking about making it. We always had this with home fries and gravy. 

I don't like food slopped all over and on other foods. But, gravy on the eggs and salmon and potatoes did not bother me in the least. It seems we always had it with a bowl of beans, probably Great Northern beans. 

A bag of navy beans happened into my hand and made me want to cook some. I was rearranging things when I came upon the bag. I am rethinking cooking beans. The refrigerator is too full right now to add anything to it. 

There is a huge bowl of cooked savoy cabbage, and the leftovers of another head. We need to deal with those first before I cook beans. 

Dinner tonight--pork loin stuffed with asparagus and cheese, butternut squash. This is one of the meals for one that must be cooked. It was given to us. I find these work for both of us when we add more food. We had cabbage and potatoes, leftovers. Between the two of us, there might have been three small pieces of asparagus. 

Thursday night, I cooked four chicken thighs. Tommy ate one along with baked onion, potatoes, and radishes. Since I hate thighs, I had another meat along with the radishes, potatoes, and onion. I had left the kitchen needing attention. 

Tommy went into the kitchen and cleaned it all up and even put one thigh in a freezer bag in the freezer and put the other two smaller thighs in a sandwich bag, stuffed them both in and put them in the refrigerator. He has never done anything like this, storing food in freezer and refrigerator. I was shocked and felt guilty. 

On Saturday, we need to wash all the snap lock lids in the sink and load the dishwasher. I need to find the fireant bait and apply it. That ought to finish me off. 

The very first night I transplanted my Romaine into a pot, something started munching on it. I think maybe something was in the old soil and welcomed a dinner of Romaine. Maybe I need to put in new soil. And wash the pot. 

I have had Verizon less than a month and already it is a disappointment. It is just like AT&T! Annoying. 

Tommy seems to be on a mansplaining kick. When I complain, he says he just wants to make sure I understand. Just shoot me now! 

It is 3 am, and I am getting drowsy. So, off I go. 

Have you ever eaten salmon and eggs, just cooked in an iron skillet and served with home-fried potatoes and gravy? I won't be frying eggs and making gravy. 

Part 2--My Opinion and Helping Friend

 There was a time when Nestle's Nido came in two types. One was for infants and one was for toddlers. First of all, NIDO is a dry whole milk. Unlike the dry milk we usually get, this still has the fat because children need fat. 

I have only found this product in the Hispanic section. It could be in International Food aisle...not sure. 

I found three kinds today. One was for children 3-5 years. I forgot what the other was designated. The one I have was chosen for a specific reason--it has two lines of ingredients. It contains whole milk, soy lecithin, Vitamin C, iron, zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3. 

The other two formulations had nine lines of ingredients. Maybe that is okay. But, I made a decision. And, I believe this formulation is the best. It does say not for children under the age of 1. So, you decide for yourself. This would be great for emergency storage. Or, it can be used for cooking in place of milk you have in the refrigerator.

It tastes much better than non-fat dried milk! Guaranteed!

Have you tried this dry milk? 

The night I picked up the food for the woman down the street, I told her how the box low on the ground hurt my back, shoulders, knees and generally was going to hurt for the next few days. She was sorry and said just to forget about us picking up food for her. I assured her it would be much easier if the box was higher. 

That was Tuesday. She agreed it should be higher. I was not sure what she was going to do. When we went out today, she had not put anything out that was higher. When we came home, still nothing and she was not home from work, the three hour job. I wanted carrots from Publix, so we ran back out and she still was not home and nothing ready. When we came back from Publix, her car was finally home. We stopped and she came out. I noticed she had put a dog crate on the driveway with the same plastic box on top. 

So, this will do for now. If she does continue working, she will need to get a cooler, one with a lid and hinge, not something I have to chase when it falls off while I load the food inside. She agreed but reluctantly. I pointed out the meat would spoil if it stayed in the heat of the afternoon, no shade, and for three hours. She agreed. There is no use my taking the time to give her food that may spoil and make her ill. 

So, that is settled. Tomorrow, I will use the clear plastic box that does not have a latch on the top. 

Tonight, we had to transport the ten cans of green beans down the hall so I could put them into the bedroom. I have a box for green beans, no stacking because I have too many. We put them in, all the 2024 dates on the bottom of the box. That way, dates won't get mixed. 

Tommy drove them down the hall in his walker. But, I had to do the hard work of carrying five cans in a plastic bag. Most people don't realize how hard it is for me to do things! 

Part 1-Thursday

 This has not been a good writing atmosphere. I was terribly annoyed at the two stores where I shopped. Big Box cashier made up rules as she went along. I could barely get items out of the electric cart and onto the counter. She refused to check them unless I put them further on the counter as I was barely able to get light things onto the counter. There was no conveyor belt, just the little, short counter, so all was near here.  She said customers must put the items over in the center of the counter. She was young and able and after explaining I could not do it without pain, she was an ass. 

I went to customer service and told them she was a racist and ignored my telling her what was wrong with my arm. I was so angry and hurt to be treated that way! She slammed things on the counter as hard as possible when she had to move the items nearer to her. Actually, she did not have to put them down even lightly, just scan the items. My nerves were shot from boxes being slammed to the counter inches from my face. The boxes were hard and loud! 

She upset me so that I forgot to use the gift cards from when I returned things. UGH!

While several surgeries might make my arm better able to do a few things, it also might not. I had already used my arm too much when shopping and driving the cart. 

Then, at Publix, the person sent to bring me an electric cart could not find me THREE TIMES.  I told the guy what car I was in and right in front of entrance and it handicap parking spot. I saw someone drive the cart out of the store and just sit there. Then, the person went back in. Looking at the four parking spots might have helped her to find me! Finally, I told cs I would park in front of the door. We did.

It just so happened the store manager was coming out behind the electric cart, so I thought he was coming to me. I explained it all and asked why three times was needed and then a fourth to find me. He apologized and said he was store manager and would get to bottom of it all. 

So, I have to go cook and the next parts are not my annoyance. 

Annoyed

I lost a complete post on Wednesday night and was so annoyed, disgusted, demoralized, I did not type anything else. Now, I am busy and tired. But, I have lots! So, maybe later? 

Tuesday Stocking Up

 After Sue and Kim told me to plant the Romaine, I did. However, the reason I was waiting was because I was afraid the winds and rain we expected would beat it down. Sure enough, the storms raged, the wind blew and the rain beat down. Since it is dark, I cannot see how the Romaine fared. 

The Romaine in a pot on the porch may not last long as it is extremely hot there, hot much sooner than the back yard garden where I planted it last year. I may go to Lowe's and get another two plants for the backyard. 

Tuesday, I did something I cannot, must not, will not do again. I helped someone at a level that made me hurt like I have not in a long time. I can barely walk and everything hurts. 

A person could not make it to the food giveaway since she had a three-hour job. I offered to pick it up. Not only did we have to bring it into the house, we had to take it back out to the car, and then put it into a plastic box in her driveway. Usually, food and such is in a bag and tied hard. So, I can feel that one bag is meat, another is bread, or there might be produce. 

This time, the only bag that gave away a portion of its contents was a bag with frozen meat. Lots of the other items were just thrown in the window of the car--bagels and such.  The plastic box is too low and too short. So, I had to work bent to the ground, open the bag with meat and spread it out and arrange items so the box would close. I imagine in two hours the meat was all thawed. My back and knees will not recover for the rest of the week. 

Besides chicken breasts and drumsticks, I received ground bison and ground pork.  Some days, we receive lots of meat, mostly meat. Today was that day. Other days, there is so much bread we must freeze half a dozen items. One day, it was several salad greens. Unfortunately, one day was 90%  sweets.  Thankfully, the freezer stores most of the excess. Then, I give away the rest, what we will not eat. 

The woman we helped was overjoyed with her food. But, she must make it easier for me to drop it off at her house. I don't want to be responsible for storing it here! But, she has never asked for us to do so. 

Today, was supposed to be bad weather with possibilities of tornadoes, high winds. With that there is a chance of losing power. The news is over and it appears we are safe here even though there have been tornadoes elsewhere. 

Tuesday, I caught the last day of sales in ads at Publix. I found Libby's vegetables 5/$4. That made green beans $0.80/can, a great price. You did know I would be purchasing green beans? I bought two of Newman's Own spaghetti sauce 2/$4. I bought ten cans that had Dec. 2024. No, I have not overbought. green beans. 

After today, we have at least seven days of sunshine forecast. That makes me happy. 

Did you have storms today? How bad? Have you planted more than two Romaine plants? 

Savoy Cabbage

 Monday was another day without much sleep the night before. But, I did not take a nap. I accidentally went to sleep for only an hour in my chair...lol. Monday was a catch up day. I went around putting away things left out for two weeks. I could have done more, but I didn't. It is amazing the things that get out of place when I am ill. Tommy even carried things to their proper place when I was ill, but I didn't ask him to put away some things.

I finally cut up the cabbage and put it on to cook to freeze. It was a rather shocking cabbage, all wrinkly. It turns out it is a Savoy cabbage. I don't recall having this variety of cabbage before. It will be midnight Monday before it is done. Yes, it is late here. 

Sunday night, Tommy went into the kitchen and washed all the pots, pans, and skillets and cleaned the sink after washing dishes in the sink. I did not expect him to do this at midnight! Earlier, he chopped and cooked the ground sirloin and then had it on top of a salad along with tomatoes, carrots, and cucumber. He had the same meal Monday night. I had the chopped meat with cheese on top and cabbage and tomatoes. 

It should be stormy Tuesday, so we need to remember to leave our chairs down, not lifted, when we get out. We just stand up with the lift and then use the remote for lifting to sit it back down. Having been ill, I did not attend to getting the battery pack for the chair. 

The two Romaine plants are still in the plastic bag from Saturday. Someone, please remind me to plant them on Tuesday. 

I'm almost caught up on folding laundry. It's been two weeks or more since I have seen the bottom of the laundry basket. 

The Savoy Cabbage needs tending so I will stop. Can you tell any difference in Savoy Cabbage and regular green cabbage? I ate some raw, and it tastes the same, so it will probably taste the same cooked. 

Lazy Sunday

 As you can see from the previous post, Saturday was a busy day. I slept well when I went to bed and awoke on Sunday. I was settling down when a nap hit me. At first, I was just going to rest. Once I turned on my left side in the recliner, I noticed I was cold. I put on a zip jacket with a hoodie. I pulled the hoodie over my eyes and the little throw from waist down. That was all it took. I awoke three hours later. 

I did stay awake long enough to watch Meet the Press, my absolutely favorite news show. After I awoke, I was achy from lying crooked! I forgot what movie we watched, then went to Publix for milk for Tommy. I had to wait in the car for an electric cart and then wait in line to check out--over an hour for milk! 

That was my Sunday, nothing important, exciting or newsworthy. 

Dinner--Tommy ate one of the burger patties and cabbage. I ate the leftover pork cutlet and cabbage. Later, I intend to eat salad with tomatoes and carrots.

Even though it is after 8 pm, I have plans: bake something, freeze cabbage, cook another cabbage. Tommy: chop and cook the ground sirloin if it is not rotten. 

I suppose I really needed the nap. A trip to the park and another ride around was what I planned. But, my body did what it needed.

How was your Sunday? 

Saturday a Lot of Nothings but Busy

 Saturday morning, we went to Cullman. 

*I found eggs, 18 for $3.89. I paid $5+ for the last carton of 18. 

*Tommy found gas for less.

*My yard is still there.

*Mail in the box was not crowded and wadded. YAY! Usually, I have to pick it out one letter at a time. 

*I slept 1.5 hours the night before and as of 10 pm, still cannot sleep.

*Skies were a cobalt blue with amazing white, fluffy clouds.

*Friday night, I put color on my hair. It is the first time in 2 weeks that my hair was clean. I had a strip over 2" wide on top of my head. So, you know I felt awful. 

*At 1 am I scrambled eggs for the morning because I did not want to cook Saturday morning. 

*Tommy had one of the sausage patties I bought instead of stopping at Hardee's. The patties were a little on the expensive side, but it appears he has broken the Hardee's habit.

*I talked face to face with my friend who is having knee replacement surgery on Tuesday morning.

*While I was in town, I talked on the phone to friend whose husband has cancer. The news so far is good. 

*I was given 16 quarter pound hamburgers in a box. We had one each for dinner. 

*Dinner--Tommy had patty with green beans, tomatoes, and zucchini. I had patty and green beans and tomato. 

*I roasted two radishes as a test along with the hamburgers in the oven. Roasting did take away the bite. 

*Received 4 cans of green beans and a cabbage along with other food. 

*Bought two Romaine plants.

*Found Ball rings and lids, so bought two of wide mouth and two of regular. Whopping $30 for the four packages. When I bought the lids a few weeks ago, they did not have the bands and lids in one box.

*Ordered a card reader since laptop did not come with slot for sd card! I did not go with the $200 reader, just got one for $9.99. 

Did you plant anything this weekend? What seeds did you sow? Are you killing fireants like I am? 

Since the last two weeks have seen things sort of pile up around here, I am decluttering flat surfaces. Mostly, I have been just putting things down and never putting things where they go. 

Donating to Ukraine, Hummingbirds, and Seeds

 Thursday

Even though I was exhausted from the lack of sleep, I managed to cut up and cook two cabbages. I will freeze some for other meals.  Friday, I might bake the acorn squash or the spaghetti squash. Since Friday has a forecast of 100% rain, we won't be going out or even tempted. 

I still feel week as a kitten, so Tommy went into the store for me. I made a list of bogo items. However, I put a "1" in front of each and even explained I did not want two loaves since we could just buy another on Monday and still fresh bread. Same with every item on the list--grape tomatoes, bread, Miracle Whip; I just don't understand. He says I don't tell him and explain. Well, I said out loud and made a list. What more can I do?  

He also bought batteries, AA and AAA. We are about out. Not really since I am just replacing what we used and there are more here stashed away. We went to The Pig for a case of Dasani. 

There were clothes to fold in the laundry basket. He washed what I asked again, so they are in the basket with the rest of last week's clothes (dishtowels and dishcloths). I know. These aren't clothes. 

The hummingbird feeders I had last year would not open to clean the reservoir. This year, I am adding two more feeders. These have reservoirs I can clean. I wanted a pretty glass one, but they are expensive. So, I am settling for cheaper ones. It will soon be time to put feeders out. I will only put one out until I see one hummingbird. 

Anne in the Kitchen said radishes will roast and be soft. So, I will try it. If I like the first ones I roast, I intend to grow a pot of radishes. I like radishes on salads. Some bite, so I hope I pick out ones that will not be too sharp. This means a trip to Lowe's. 

I hope to find Romaine and Kale plants, same variety I planted last year. I refuse to plant tomatoes, zucchini or squash since some critter gets all of them before they are ready to pick! 

Friday, I did take a pill for my stomach and finished the antibiotic. Monday, I will go for a urinalysis! Hopefully, the uti is gone. 

Since I want to donate to people in Ukraine, I decided to wake my PayPal account. I had completely forgotten how to use it since it has been so long. Happily, I found a substantial amount of money in the account. I have two ways I will donate. There are sellers of art, items that can be sent to my email account for me to print. The other is to rent and Airbnb with no intention of going.  With these two methods, the persons to whom I donate will get all the money with no administrators taking a cut for their salaries. I will write more about that later. 

Friday

I was in bed for twelve hours, so I hurt. I slept for about 10 1/2 hours.  I awoke sooo hot that now my chest is acting up. UGH! So, I am medicating that problem.

Have you donated anything to Ukraine? Well, that is a different conversation we had. 

Better and Gunsmoke

 I think I am better or it could be because I completely missed on dose of meds and feel better because I am not overdosing on antibiotic. I am also take azo cranberry tablets. Maybe I will be cured!

Dinner tonight: chicken with the maple  bourbon spices, carrots, zucchini--all in cooking bag. It is almost done. Leftover slaw will be finished, too. 

I don't think we have any vegetables left in the refrigerator. Maybe there is something in the freezer. Oh, yes! I remember seeing fresh corn cut off the cob in the freezer. We do have salad greens. Tonight, I will also cook pork cutlets. Tommy will chop the ground sirloin and cook it for future meals. 

Still, there are cabbages, zucchini and acorn squash. Maybe tomorrow. I poured off the liquid the chicken, zucchini and carrots left. I had seasoned it all with McCormick Grill Mates Smokehouse Maple. So, the lentils will have that for flavoring. I think it will be a good seasoning for lentils. Maybe?

Matt Dillon wore the same lavender shirt for the whole time in the color version of Gunsmoke. I suppose dressing Kitty blew the  budget for his wardrobe. Did you ever notice the shirt, the same shirt for years?

Today, there was severe flooding in Birmingham in the same places it always floods. 

Monday night, when I went to bed. I was having reflux. It was so bad I got up and came into the living room about 4:30 am to sit up. I read on the laptop and made no noise or turned on a light. I slept in bed from about 8am until noon.  

Tuesday night, same thing except I came in the living room and slept in my chair. I let it all the way back and put a tiny, thin throw over my body from chest down. My arms were cold, so I reached and got a nightgown from top of dirty clothes and covered with that. When I went to the bathroom, I got a hoodie and slept with it zipped and the hood up, still in my chair. At 1:30 pm, I went to my bed and slept for another hour. My day began at 3 pm today! 

Maybe we should elect a comedian as President.

Taco Soup, Pi, Verizon, Gunsmoke, Little, Brown Handbook, Strunk and White

 On the way home from buying milk, we stopped at the pharmacy. Then, he went into Verizon to clarify something for me. He mentioned that there was a new milk that was a2milk--chocolate milk. I was objecting, saying it was awful. He said that the carton said NEW and Hershey. Well, that sold me. I had him go back and get me chocolate milk and Pie for Pi day. So, the new chocolate a2milk is delicious. Now, I cannot drink it all at once. The tiny cheap pie was not good. I gave mine to Tommy.

Dinner prep tonight did not go as smoothly as the other time Tommy "helped." I told him to get four cans of food--tomato bits, tomato sauce, whole kernel corn and black beans. 4 cans. He swears I told him four cans of tomatoes. After all the cans of tomatoes I bought, he could not find 4 cans of tomatoes. Well, I only asked for 2! 

He opened the cans since it is hard for me. First, we drained the ground beef to get all the fat off. Then, I drained and rinsed the black beans. I had him put some of this in the crockpot. I put some of it in. He turned the crockpot on high and 45 minutes later came and told me the crockpot was not plugged in!!! Not his fault nor mine. 

It was past dinner time. Everything was barely warm, but it was all cooked before it went into the crock. The cheese on top, Kraft Italian shredded, was sort of melted. I tried to stir it in, but it was not quite warm enough. We microwaved a bowlful to eat. It was delicious. 

Since I knew the rice would not cook before we were going to eat, I put a can of water in the crockpot and 1/3 cup of rice and it is heating. We ate without rice. I usually add about 1/3 cup since we don't need so much rice. When I had two bites left, I realized there was no taco seasoning in the taco casserole. !!! But, it was not lacking great taste

It was actually delicious. I kept coming back to the living room to sit down. My hands were shaking when I tried to look at the ads for the week. Tommy was not so helpful tonight even though he was some help. He was argumentative. And still arguing over whether I said 4 cans or 4 cans of tomatoes. 

I also cooked 5 Italian Sausages for Tommy to have for lunches. One will go in the freezer and the other four are in a sandwich bag. He puts these in a bun or wraps a piece of bread around one for lunch. I still have a package of chicken and some kind of pork to cook. 

Just tonight, Monday night, I got the energy to put the last three pounds of butter in the freezer. They are a bit past the best-by date, but I have my fingers crossed. 

Verizon may drive me crazy as AT&T did. I went to get a phone and change to Verizon from AT&T. I forgot why, but something to do with my address, I had problems. So, I just used Tommy's card to seal the deal. I wrote him a check the first of March and it is in his bank. Well, I needed to pay my bill. I did. They accepted my card over the phone and said the amount for monthly service had been taken from my card. However Tommy needs to go in the store and make me an account manager. Tommy went into the store today and was told I have to call them on my phone and let Tommy talk to them and tell them I can be an account manager. AND, my bill has not been paid. 

Matt Dillon keeps getting shot in the same left arm. He gets it cleaned up and there is never a hole in the shirt. 

I need a new style manual. Thirty years ago, Little, Brown Handbook was the authority. I learned to love Strunk and White's Elements of Style. I know I will need to get the latest edition. Is anyone closer to university use of either of these? Or, is there another style book that has come into existence since 2000? Now, I remember there was an MLA Handbook, too. 

Best BOGO Ever for Me

At Publix I saw an ad on an email. Publix has a bogo deal on a2milk. A half gallon is bogo--$4.49 for two half-gallons. We got the last five. Tomorrow, Tommy will go back in and get at least one more, possibly more. From what I have seen, $4.49/gal  is not out of line.

BOGO on a2milk ends on Tuesday night. Get it soon. 

Dinner on Sunday night was from two meals. I ate the leftover hamburger, carrots, and broccoli from Friday night, along with a thin slice of potato from Saturday night. Tommy had pork loin roast, carrots, and potatoes from Saturday night, plus broccoli from Friday night. I love the microwave. 

At one point on Saturday I looked over at Tommy and he was eating mascarpone on saltines. So, since I was hungry, I spread some on Graham Crackers. The mascarpone came from a food giveaway as did the Saltines. The Graham Crackers were $2 at a clearance sale. They were four days from the best-by date. They are a little soft but delicious. I don't want to heat the oven to get them crisp. 

I am tired but must color my hair or wash it. Tommy will break up the ground pork and cook it. Later, I will dump everthing in the crockpot for taco casserole that ends up taco soup. And, that is my day.

How is your day? weekend? What's for dinner?

Sunday Maybe

 Well, it appears I am finally getting a bit better. I finally went to sleep last night and slept five hours solid. But, since DST has set in, I did not get up at noon, but 1 pm. Don't get  me wrong, I still feel very ill. 

Around dinner time on Saturday night, I told Tommy I would cook dinner if he came and helped me. I stood in front of the sink and counter and told him what I needed--cookie sheet, fork, cooking bag, etc.  He was very willing to help. I did not move my feet and held onto the counter. 

Pork loin roast, potatoes, carrots, zucchini, bell pepper, and half a stalk of celery. The celery was only for the flavor. I put garlic powder on the roast. He peeled the potatoes before we went to the kitchen. It was a delicious dinner. I needed it. 

Remember when the utility room door banged for half the evening and Tommy had to go out in the rain and put something against it? Well, something started banging again in the wind late Friday. On Saturday morning I could barely get to the door, but when I tried to go out, I almost fell on the ice on the ramp. 

The ice remained until the sun came out and shone on the ice. I finally went out and struggled every step and found the door closed. He had put my heavy umbrella stand against the door. It was now shoved three feet away. I moved the umbrella stand back in front of the door and added a bag of potting mix. 

I barely made it up the ramp. On my best day, the ramp is difficult. Tommy told me all along that the door was secure. I fell into my chair and finally put it all the way back, turned on my side and slept for almost three hours. 

I opened a can of tomato soup and he tended it. I waited so long that my half cup of soup was almost cold. That is how tired I was, too tired to drink soup.

Saturday, I read blogs but only commented on one blog. Except for the trek to the utility room and standing at the kitchen counter while he gave me things I needed for dinner, I did not move except to go to the bathroom. Tommy waited on me hand and foot. Today may be no different. 

Typing has exhausted me. 

He just went into the kitchen to get me lunch--apple, cheese, knife, and bread. Dinner will be leftovers from Friday and Saturday night. There were not enough leftovers from Friday to eat on Saturday night. 

Snow

 I had two doctors set to give me meds. Well, that is the way I planned it so that if one fell through, I could talk to the other. My doctor called in an antibiotic. If I am not getting better by Monday, I am to go have a urinalysis done. 

I went to the pharmacy and they had received no prescription. When she said this, I asked her to check if it had been sent to another location in the chain. She said she could not do that, for me to go home and call other pharmacies in the chain to see if someone else had my prescription. I told her this chain had a system so she could see any prescription sent anywhere for me today. She denied this and printed a sheet with the name of the prescription. She was new, but several times she turned around and asked someone about what I said. Tommy did not take the paper from the window!

When the wind picked up, something was banging outside. It seemed to be the door was opening and shutting with the window. Tommy is never concerned. I was fretting a bit. Finally, I figured what it was. Remember the utility shed blown over? Well, it is tethered with an electrical line where someone ran power to it. So, it is whacking around when the wind blows. Tommy is entirely unconcerned that the woman next door has her bedroom right next to noise. sigh

For dinner--I put four hamburgers on a tray in the oven and sprinkled just a bit of onion soup mix and then steamed broccoli and carrots. So, dinner is done for tomorrow night. Maybe not since I was starving and ate two of the burgers and lots of broccoli and carrots. 

The temperature was over 70F when we went out today. Now, almost midnight and the temps have dropped and the wind is fierce. We are supposed to get a bit of snow tonight. Tommy put my pot of sedum joy into a larger pot, turned a bowl over it and tucked a heavy towel around it. I just hope the wind does not blow the towel away. The temp is predicted to be 28F Friday night and 20F on Saturday night.

Saturday morning here. It did snow, completely covering the grass, By 7am, the grass could be seen. Now, at 9 am, most of the snow is gone. That's the way we do it in the South. And, that's okay with me. 

Since it was cold last night, I slept with the blanket tightly against my neck and head. Consequently, I became too hot and awoke with an extremely sore throat. I have been up for 45 minutes and am going back to bed.

Friday Not Good

 Thursday night here and I have done nothing. I think I have a uti. I have been inordinately tired for about four days. So, it must be the same old thing. I have done nothing except take a long nap and read stuff on the internet. I have about .5 degree of temp, so not so bad., actually, nothing at all. 

😢 A whole page popped up, so I chose this one, how I feel. I wish I knew how I got it. 

There are Tik Tok videos that come one after another, so I let that run and laugh lots.  I don't even feel like looking for anything amusing. 

I will cook the zucchini for Tommy since he loves it in olive oil and garlic.  No, we ate leftovers--pork loin, cabbage for him, slaw for me, a bit of leftover pasta. I had mine with olive oil and parmesan cheese.  Maybe I will cook tomorrow. 

The plastic on the stove eye can wait. There was lots on the internet that called for scraping with a wooden spoon. I have no wooden spoons here. However, I do have a wooden paint stirrer. 

It's about 10:30 Thursday night, and I am having trouble walking. Hopefully, I can get meds tomorrow. 

Friday now, and I can barely walk. Temperature is up 2 more degrees. And, I cannot reach my doctor.

Thursday Things

 Tommy's coffeemaker is very pretty and very clean and shiny. It makes the same number of cups, yet has a smaller footprint. This is a very good thing with limited counterspace. Years ago, a church member in town asked if his church could send people to work in my yard. Of course, my answer was in the affirmative. I decided to make pumpkin bread for the guys and have it on a table outside. 

When my friend heard, she gave me a coffeemaker so they could have coffee with the pumpkin bread. She said it worked fine, that she wanted a new one for some reason. Several years later, Tommy said his coffeemaker died, so I gave the gifted, used coffeemaker to him.  I gave him the one he used for twelve years until it died last Friday. I would say that coffeemaker served long and well. When my friend gave it to me, it was working just fine. 

All along the interstate, redbuds were in bloom. The made a nice lacy edging to the trees, sort of like crochet or tatting on the  edge of a dresser cloth or a tablecloth. All around the neighborhood redbuds are blooming. We need one. 

We were watching Modern Family when Mitchell said he bought a Diva cup. Of course, it was for Lily. I asked Tommy if he knew what was a Diva cup. He said no, so I explained it in plain language. You should have seen the reaction that showed on his face. He did not make a face on purpose, but his horrified reaction showed. Men are funny. 

Resident Alien is better this year than last. I cannot imagine how people think up these things. 

Wednesday night, we had pork loin and cabbage. I didn't get around to baking the acorn squash or the spaghetti squash. Tommy could have other vegetables that were cooked, but, he, too, had lots of cabbage and pork loin sandwich. There is enough for another meal. 

On Thursday, I promise I will cook the other 2 cabbages, 3 spaghetti squash, and 5 acorn squash. Okay, maybe not all of it. 

Wednesday, I found Hormel Chili No Beans bogo. So, 2 cans for $2.99. Spending $1.49 a can is much cheaper than full price. I only bought 4 cans, This is not a staple like tomato products and green beans.  But, occasionally, I do want chili cheese dogs. 

Tommy washed a pan with gunk in it from long ago. I was just waiting. Every time he washes dishes, I walk in a huge puddle of water....grrr. I don't say anything, just throw a used dishtowel down and use my foot to wipe it up. I am going to research what will remove the plastic from the eye. If you have a product you can recommend, I will check it out. Do you have a personal favorite for this task? I am reading on the internet in the meantime.

Wednesday was so gloomy. Today, Thursday, I can see blue sky and brilliant sunshine out the little fan light. So, today is shaping up to be a pretty and pleasant day. How is your day and week so far?

Scaring Myself

 When we went to a food giveaway, I was helping Tommy bring things in because he had too much to carry. I had an orange plastic bag with 12 tiny cartons of orange juice and two one-pound blocks of cheese. I stood at the freezer door of the refrigerator, stuffing little 4-ounce cartons of frozen juice into crevices of the over-stuffed space. 

I put in all I could was ready to put the cheese and the rest of the cartons of oj into the refrigerator. As I tried to close the freezer door, it was stopped by some barrier. In order to figure it out, I turned and sort of swung the bag to the stove which is right next to the refrigerator. 

Within 5 seconds, I heard popping and sputtering. I immediately turned to see flames and smoke from the bag. Obviously, the eye had been on for several hours. I snatched the bag off, scattering the remaining oj all over the kitchen along with the bag with a burned hole. 

As I snatched the bag off the burner, I could see the two one-pound chunks of cheese were on the burner still! I quickly pushed them off the burner and onto the counter. Some of the plastic cover on the cheese and a layer of cheese continued to sizzle and bubble on the hot stove eye. I turned off the stove at some point, but the electric eye still was too hot to get anything off the eye, so it continued to melt cheese and the heavy package of cheese stuck to it. 

All this took less than ten seconds, much longer than the telling. I watched our house fully engulfed when I was four, and fire scares me. It took an hour for my elevated pulse to calm down to normal.

Tommy wondered what the smell was as he came in the door. He said he could not imagine it was a smell from scrambling three eggs before we left. When Tommy went into the kitchen to see what happened, he said the stove was still on but at an extremely low temp. 

The kitchen has little light and this stove has the knobs on the front of the stove on a little ledge just below the top of the stove in front. The stove has been here since 1980 when he bought the house. 

My solution--I will paint a dab of nail polish on the "off" mark on each knob. I should be able to see that. Usually, I have to bend to see the writing on the knobs. 

We also were given two butternut squash and two acorn squash and two cabbages. So, you know what is on the menu this week. 

There is food we won't eat, so a trip to the parking lot at Piggly Wiggly will get rid of that. 

Monday night, I slept three hours, so I was tired on Tuesday, exhausted, I sat reading on the laptop until 5 pm instead of taking a nap. Finally, at 5 pm, I staggered off to bed. I asked Tommy if there was anything he could eat for dinner. He asked me what was in the refrigerator...lol. I remembered I had put baked tenders in the freezer. I found them and put them on the counter and told him to leave me half. When I came in at 7:30, he was eating a huge salad and tenders. 

Saved by overcooking, intentional leftovers. 

Days of 80F temperatures are over for a bit. It seems it may snow some this weekend. I was enjoying not wearing even a light sweater. 

Have you ever caused a near-catastrophe? Go ahead. Tell me and make me feel better.

Coffeemaker Thrown

 Last Fall, Tommy bought a box for charging a car in order to start mine last Fall and in the future. Well, it did not work. We had a neighbor  remove the battery, took it in for testing, got a new one, brought it back and the neighbor put it in the car. 

I wanted to return the charger box, but Tommy said we might need it later. Okay, it did not work and might not ever work. But, he was adamant! By the way, this thing felt like it weighed ten pounds, Okay, probably it was five, but hurt my hands and shoulders to pick up, even with both hands.

Our new friend, L, had a tiny plastic box that did not weigh a pound that she used to start her car, only it had broken. It would still start her car if she held it together hard enough! I told her to call if she could not get it to work because I wanted to see if our box worked. 

One day, as we entered the neighborhood, we saw the hood up on her car, so we went there and tried out our charger box. No, it would not start her car. She got out her little box and held it together hard and stepped away and started her car. 

We took the ~$100 box to Auto Zone. They said they did not have a policy of coming out to the car. Every time I have gone there, someone came to the car to get a battery. But, now it is not the policy. He also said the only way he could help was with a receipt.

So, we stopped in Cullman and they guy was baffled by this lack of "policy." He said the only way I could return it was to get store credit put on a gift card. Okay with me. He said the store in Hueytown could have given me store credit. 

L gave me the box from her box and I will get one next time we are in Cullman. We/he cannot afford to lose $92.  I hope they carry the same item. 

His new Black and Decker Coffemaker came today. He got it set up in the kitchen. I asked if he had washed the carafe. He very loudly told me there was no need to wash the carafe, it was his and I was not to tell him what to do. He is such a child somedays. We stopped to talk to L. I mentioned he had a new coffeemaker, "but he refuses to wash it before using it." She made a face and said he should. He is now running vinegar and water through it, so maybe he will wash the carafe, too. 

Oh, yeah, the coffeemaker was thrown onto the porch since walking up a ramp is too much trouble for the Amazon delivery person. And, it was in front of the door instead of to the side. I wonder still if the ramp does not tell the delivery person that someone who lives here might have a mobility problem. 

Sunday Nothing and a Video for You

 Sunday was a lazy day. I got nothing done. Plenty of sleep took away some of the pain of Saturday. However, I settled in to watch TV and finally took a nap in my chair. I put the chair all the way back, turn on my left side and pull up my knees. Tommy said I slept three hours even though I only intended to rest a bit.

Today was the last of the 80F days. Now, the temperature goes back to 60s and it will rain, maybe storm.  I am calling it-- Spring has arrived! Even temperatures in the 60s is reason to be happy.

We decided Tommy would eat the last of the meatloaf and I would have the last of the chicken. He may eat the last of the ground beef instead, not sure. 

Monday won't be fit to be out and about, even to step outside. So, we should be able to catch up around here. 

I found this video about STORAGE AND A CAKE. Some of the storage ideas could be useful.

It's Monday and the rain has yet to arrive, so we may go out to grocery in a bit. 

Do you like the storage suggestions? 

Saturday Haul and Meatloaf

 Saturday was exciting. We went to Sam's Club! I have only been three times. Plus, we were getting things we needed. Friday night, Tommy came through the living room with his coffee maker. It died. So, we needed that. We ran out of plastic spoons and Tommy said just to get forks, too. I needed guaifenesin, but the Mucinex version is soooo expensive. 

Well, there were no coffeemakers and no plastic spoons.I wanted to get a new TV, so we wandered by and he said we have one. His 50" lost the picture and he pulled out his old 32" TV. It seems so small now, plus the screen seems dark and he does not know how to fix it. 

When he first went in, he stood in line and collected his Sam's rewards. It would have made a 50" TV almost free. 

We did get a two-foot stack of paper plates, a ton of plastic cups/glasses, I could barely lift the package. Then, I spied these little 5" plates at less than half the price per plate of the larger ones. So, we got those, too. Sometimes, we waste a plate for a tiny amount of some food. We bought 300 forks! 

I had him drag a table into the cart. It's like a huge TV tray. I need one for several things. Of course, this will work for one activity. He can run things through the self-checkouts, so the checkout was quick. Lines were so long and some people had one of the flatbed carts with so much merchandise. 

Coming out of Sam's, I squealed when I saw the Girl Scout cookie display. Of course, I got Thin Mints. Tommy chose the new cookie--adventurefuls. I did not like it after I tasted it when he bought it. I still did not like it later when I had my second and last one ever. 

When we came home, I ordered a coffeemaker--Black and Decker 12-cup Programable  and the med from Amazon. The med is made in the USA and Mucinex is made in England. I bought 200 for the price of 20 from Mucinex. Of course, Mucinex last 10 days whereas, the brand from the US will last 50 days. It is a win. I do not have good luck with time-release meds. So, I try to avoid them. 

Making the meatloaf was a fiasco. I used a can of the Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes. The result was a watery can of tomatoes, and big chunks of tomatoes instead of a tomato-y sauce. I did not have bell pepper, a must for my meatloaf. So, I took a chunk of meatloaf mixture and baked it on a pan in the over. I put the rest in a pan, thinking I could dice up bell pepper and press it down the next night. 

(There is no problem with the tomatoes being watery as the can was chock full of chunks of tomatoes! )

Pressig down the bell pepper into the meatloaf worked well until I realized that I had not put PAM in the dish for the meatloaf. Sooo, I sprayed another casserole and emptied the meatloaf into that pan. When it was cooked, it was too loose even with eggs and oatmeal. That was okay, but it desperately needed salt. I salted mine on the plate, something I never do. 

I said to Tommy, "That is not the best meatloaf I ever made, right?" He very solemnly said, "No." It is the worst I ever made. sigh Well, there is a third night of meatloaf left. I think I will remake it by mixing it up and reseasoning it before I freeze it. I know that is weird, but now I don't like it. 

A can of the cheap tomato paste I bought last year is what I will use from now on. I had used catsup in the meatloaf and on top for years.  When I used a can of tomato paste with less sodium, I love the taste of the meatloaf. 

That was my Saturday, tiring and productive. Have you bought your Girl Scout Cookies? Will you? Have you ever tried to experiment with a recipe that was delicious and made it almost inedible? Do you ever go to Sam's Club?

Starlight Coca Cola

 

Limited Edition

I had heard about this new Coca Cola flavor. It is supposed to taste like space. NOT! I have tasted space and this is all wrong. 

Usually, when a new flavor comes out, it is not sold as a single. I found this 20 oz. bottle staring at me from an end cap. I brought it home after it jumped in the electric cart. Being from space, it had never seen an electric cart. Besides, it wanted to cuddle with the Beanie Babies I was adopting. 

I finally put Starlight in the refrigerator and today we tasted it. It was gross. Tommy liked it and drank the rest. I have never liked any of the other new flavors Coke has brought us. I don't like Cherry Coke, Vanilla Coke, Coke Zero. None of them.

I remember when Coke introduced New Coke. It was awful. Pepsi was better, so I switched to Pepsi until Coke came to their senses. Space Flavored is no better than New Coke. 

The bottle is pretty.

Have you tasted space in the new Coke Starlight flavor? Did you like any of the other iterations of Coca Cola? 

Friday

Getting all the tomato sauce and green beans labeled and onto shelves has been a chore, to say the least. I use a Sharpie and write the year, sometimes the month, too, onto the top of the can and front. So, it is a lot of handling of heavy cans. Yes, a one-pound can is heavy to me. While not handling cans, I picked up a pen to write and clicked the top. The pain was excruciating in the back of my hand. That stopped all useful activity. 

Now that I am no longer with AT&T, they sent me a phone, the free one they said they sent in November. Thanks, AT&T (sarcasm). 

I have grass-fed beef, thinly cut pork chops, and maybe chicken thawing. I know I am making meatloaf. I want to cook the pork chops in sauce my kids were wild about. If there is chicken, it will be baked with carrots, onions and potatoes. The last time I cooked three meats in one day, it was just as easy as cooking one meat. Portions of all those are in the freezer. I will do the same today. 

Yesterday, we went out for one thing at one store and went nowhere else. However, something came to us in the form of a popup Tupperware stand in a grocery parking lot. The woman gladly brought the items to my car for us to examine. I looked at cannisters (tops did not appear to be tight enough); spaghetti holders (at $10 each, I would need ten of those); short, very fat cannisters (too weird); a pitcher and glasses and tray (not interested, just wondering); a divided tray (I will take it). 

Tommy gladly fixes his own salad from items in the refrigerator. I can cut bell peppers and there are usually shredded carrots or baby carrots and grape tomatoes. I prepare zucchini and squash for salads. But, he misses some things and must take out ten containers to make a salad some days. We had the tray in the car and he was looking with interest, holding it. That is a good sign. 

If he thought it was a waste, he would have been uninterested or not talking about it. I asked him if he thought this would help him get salad fixings out. He said it would. So, I had enough cash to buy the first piece of Tupperware I have bought in about 6 or more years. I was tired and did not wash it yesterday, but today I will have it ready for use and loaded. I have cut thin gs up for him and he forgot about the food, could not find it, or probably became tired of unloading the items. 

There are six divisions and a center part that has a covered container. In the summer I can slice or dice tomatoes for the center container. I think more produce will consumed and less wasted. 

I have my eye on a cheap container for spaghetti, but once filled, I cannot lift it. So, it would be relegated to valuable countertop real estate. So, I procrastinate. I had the spaghetti in a flat airtight container and could not lift that. So, I put spaghetti into gallon storage bags. I still cannot lift it from a shelf safely. Now, I just put a few packages of the Ronco in a storage bag. It works for me. 

Have you seen the huge jars that Cheese Balls, like cheese puffs come in at a Big Box store? That is what I want, but who wants to eat all these puffy cheese balls? Well, I probably could and just die! Since I cannot lift it full of spaghetti, I won't even try to find one that is empty. Speaking of spaghetti, prices have risen on my precipitously on my beloved Ronco.

Okay, I am looking forward to 78F today and 80F for two days. I love this. What are you doing this Friday or plan to do? Do you ever thaw out several meats at once to cook and have ready to eat? 

Double Luck

~~Wednesday, we went to Cullman where I exchanged the Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes for the same variety with no salt. 

~~Since I had only one key to the lock I put on my second storage unit, I went to the locksmith and paid for a new key--$3. That was much cheaper than a new lock. 

I had not gone to PO Saturday, I checked Wednesday, got lots of mail--only one piece that was not junk mail. 

At my yard, the daffodils in the back yard, the old ones, are slow blooming.

BK at the lake watching ducks was fun.

The Double Luck green beans that were $0.69 are not available in No Salt version. An employee told me that the company will quit marketing these green beans in our area. They will quit supplying them to the Southeast because they don't sell well. WHAT??? I was upset. 

He said the best peaches ever, Argo, will not be sold in the Southeast, either. Argo peaches only come in a large can, 29 ounces, I think. These peaches are so good because they are soft and look raggedy. I know the other brands have nicely cut peaches and these don't. But, they are my favorite brand. They are products of same supplier.

There was other stuff, but I am tired, so might write again on Friday. 

While I was talking to the employee, I asked him about the Food Club salted butter that was $1.50/lb. He said the store bought the butter short-dated, and they knew it was short-dated. When it was gone, it was gone. So, now I know. Remember that the date was March 8 or something really near. It is all in the freezer, so that will extend the best-by date. So, no more cheap butter from this store. 

Have you ever seen or bought Double Luck green beans?

45,000 pounds of Chicken Fat and Reducing Sodium in Canned Beans

 It all spilled on Deadman's Curve in Birmingham. The smell will be disgusting.  I cannot imagine how it well be cleaned up, but I suppose there are experts at that kind of cleanup. Still, the stench will linger.

That is a lot of schmaltz!

Have your ever cooked with schmaltz? I did once, making biscuits.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

As you may remember, I bought 12 or so cans of Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes for $0.72/14.5 oz can.  The sodium content was 200 mg. I was horrified. The No Salt version was 15 mg. 

I decided to look at the can of green beans, my favorite canned vegetable and the one I eat most. I almost had a stroke when I discovered there were 380 mg of sodium. I have some cheap green beans in my sights, but I need to see if there is a No Salt or Low Sodium version on sale also. 

While I thought about the several dozen cans of green beans I have, I wondered if I could reduce the sodium. I always drain the beans before I heat them to eat. When I put them in soup, I never drain the liquid. When I looked it up on the internet, I discovered I only reduced the sodium by 8% by draining the liquid. By soaking for 30 minutes, I can reduce the sodium by 45%. 

Then, the article goes on to talk about cooking the dried beans, so I wonder if this method only works for dried beans canned commercially. I hope it works on green beans. 

If this is the fact with green beans, the can of green beans that had 380 ms sodium would only have 209 mg of sodium. This is a significant reduction and good for our health. Of course, the fresh green beans I cooked and froze have no added sodium. 

Sodim content reduction by draining, rinsing, and soaking. 

I only know I won't be canning green beans, maybe freezing. I have avoided much sodium for years, but it appears I have not done well with the canned food. 

Do you look for ways to reduce sodium? Do you need to reduce sodium? Do you can or freeze green beans?

Slim Chickens

 We saw a new chicken restaurant soon to be opened--Slim Chickens. It is right in a stretch several blocks that has KFC, Chic fil A, and Chicken Salad Chick.  Of course, places like DQ are also in the area. We will try Slim Chickens after we try Chicken Salad Chick. "Slim Chickens" is a play on Slim Pickens an actor and rodeo performer. 

My heart hurt when I saw that Five Guys has closed their doors. I love that place even though I rarely ate there. When we ate there, the only time Tommy has been there, the total was around $25. He was shocked. Well, I am not eager to spend that much money on burger, fries, and Coke. Plus, and, more importantly, it is a horrible meal in terms of health. But, I grieve for having lost a chance to eat there in Cullman. 

Watching the news from Ukraine upsets me greatly! I cry about this, some days more than others. It is just too much. 

Speaking of Ukraine, I found out several years ago that part of my family is from Ukraine.  

Monday, when I purchased bananas, I decided to pick up a few more cans of the No Salt Hunt's Tomato Sauce, since I had only bought diced tomatoes. All the cans I have gotten so far, have a date in 2023. 

My right hand finally is fully free of pain when I use it. For several weeks, any slight movement caused great pain. Typing does not seem to really bother me, but I don't pound keys of hit the end of fingers on keys or arch my hand and fingers. However, there is a small knot, a round thing, on the back of my hand. It does not hurt nor does it move. I wonder what it is. 

Today starts a stretch of five days without rain and tomorrow the temperature will be in the 70s for at least six days. I love it. I need to force myself outdoors to sow seeds in some of my planters and plant bulbs. It is so warm now that I don't think I need to sow the flower seeds indoors.

I slept a whole 3 hours last night. If I get a few things done early, I can nap without feeling I am lazy. It is almost 8 am.

Do you watch the develops in Ukraine? Have Hunt's tomato products been on sale in your area?