I Think I Broke Tommy

 Still Memorial Day

At 1 pm, I went for a nap. Around 2:45 I awoke to go to the bathroom. Or, did I? I could hear rattling around somewhere in the house. Okay, he will quit. No, he did not. So, it was about time I wanted to get up since 3 pm was how long I wanted to sleep.

As I stood in the kitchen door, I was stunned. He had on a pair of clear plastic gloves and was using the pot where I boiled eggs to wash all sorts of utensils. 

I finally broke him. (not broke him in)

I went to my chair. Then, he dried everything and put it away! Having put on gloves made me think he was getting dishpan hands. I had moved one of the boxes into here, out of my room, so he uses them. 

THEN, he went outside and watered the flowers for the second time today. 

Around 5 pm, I noticed that the five ears of corn had all the silk removed and were drying on a dishtowel on the stove. Since I only planned to boil one ear each, I was shocked all were still out of the refrigerator. He said he only wanted one ear. Finally, I asked him to put the other three back in the refrigerator. 

Dinner was excellent. I heated the meat in bbq sauce. I love bbq of any kind with slaw. Of course, the corn was sweet and fresh and deviled eggs were a treat for me. He hates eggs so never eats deviled eggs.

I did not exactly break him. The one thing he does not do is wipe the water off the floor when he washes dishes. I suppose since he washes dishes and all sorts of stuff I will drop a towel on the wet floor and mop it up with my foot. He has never done any of these things before, so maybe he will catch on to the water on the floor. 

Memorial Day 2022

 This is going to be a good day, a beautiful Memorial Day. The sun is shining and it will be be 90F, maybe warmer. Although I only slept 3.5 hours, I still feel great. I know that will pass and have penciled in a nap...lol. 

The pork butt is roasted and I will add bbq sauce to it and call it delicious. In a few moments, I will make slaw. Tommy can take the silk off the corn. You can see the day will be easy for us. I forgot, one egg made into two deviled eggs for me. 

Seriously, if the food is ready, isn't it a good day already?

Sunday, I made Cherry Crush. a delicious recipe from Cheryl's Frugal Corner. It is a Jello and fruit concoction. After making it and eating some, I realize that cottage cheese might work rather than the cream cheese. I used pineapple tidbits because I did not have crushed pineapple like I thought I did. I think the difference made it softer than I thought the Cherry Crush would be. But, it was definitely worth making. 

Cherry Crush ingredients:

6 oz package of cherry jello

3/4 cup boiling water

8 oz. cream cheese

can of cherry pie filling

can of crushed pineapple

Check her blog for directions. But, you can probably guess those. 

Since Tommy did not water yesterday, he watered at 7:30 this morning. The little bird nest was on the porch, so the two dead baby birds were the only two. That's sad since I enjoyed the birds. Very slowly we are moving all the plants to the corner of the ramp where the ramp turns. Nothing is on the ground but on the ramp so the mowing can be easier. This is the same place where three shepherd's hooks are located with the bird feeders. 

This is quite pretty, but the petunias are hanging where I can see them from my chair and so are three of the four hummingbird feeders. I had some flowers on the porch, but now I put them all together so Tommy won't have to drag the hose so far. He appreciates it. Imagine pulling a heavy hose and using a walker in grass! 

Friday night, as I said before, I sort of twisted my knee in the kitchen trying not to fall. Well, I could barely put weight on my knee all day Saturday and Sunday. Monday morning I woke and could bend my knee for the first time since Friday. I stood at the sink and he handed me everything I needed to stir or whatever. 

Memorial Day travel is not in our plans, not even out of the driveway. People were driving crazy on Saturday and Sunday, on the interstate and in town. We took a drive on Sunday, so that will do for us. People are very impatient! 

We do remember all who died so we can sit here and feel free from fear. We have been talking about relatives who fought in wars and came back home and some who did not. 

A nap is dragging me to bed. When I get up, I will cut Tommy's hair and we will eat. 

How is your Memorial Day? 

Saturday--Grilled Cheese Festival

 We love grilled cheese. So, imagine how excited we were to go to a whole festival dedicated to this ultra-greasy, carb-filled, sodium-soaked deliciousness. We pulled into the festival area, blocking traffic to parking lot area for the festival. Tommy has to get out to remove either of our walkers. I got out and held onto the car as I walked around it, and he got out holding onto the car to walk.  When the walker was ready to ride, he holds onto the car to get inside, and I head out to booths.

The first person I came to was in front of his booth. He asked me if I would like a sample of sourdough. After sitting down, I asked him about where I could get a grilled cheese sandwich. He told me it was only a grilled cheese making contest. WHAT? That is just not right. 

He said everyone was asking where to get a grilled cheese. He thought maybe they ought to sell them, too. So, I took my bread sample and ate it. I bought a loaf of sourdough bread and heard someone say something about brownies. Their brownies were dear--2 brownies for $3. But, the brownies were not skimpy and were delicious. 

Tommy was waiting for me. He had turned around in the parking lot and was waiting for me as close as he could get. I decided that I would not walk again on Saturday.

I don't remember if I said, but I injured my knee on Friday night. I sort of lurched about, trying not to fall and twisted my knee a bit. So, the knee is on bed rest. Just kidding. I am staying off my knee as much as possible for a couple of days. I walk little anyway; now for a bit I will walk less. 

Bulbs and plants I bought needed to be returned. I went to the garden center and found an employee outdoors watering plants. I finally got her attention with the help of another customer. She came toward us, looking very somber, with lines in her face, and worry written all over her, hunched a bit. I told her I needed her help, that I needed her to get customer service or a manager for me to return something. She pointed to the entrance and directed me there. 

I explained again that I could not walk. So, she asked me where were the plants, got them and came to the window where I gave her Tommy's store credit card, another store card for same store, my debit card, and my Belk's credit card, five cards in total. She took it all in and came back and wanted my driver's license. She came back and said none of the cards were used. 

She needed a driver's license. That is difficult. I have the plastic expired card and the paper new card. However, the new plastic card has been sent to me twice and I still don't have a new plastic card! I explained it all. Well, she came back with a refund on a store card. So, I am happy. The same store here refused to help me at all. I have an address in a town that has a reputation for being racist. My address works against me. Maybe you have never experienced such treatment. 

I witnessed a transformation. The employee looked worn and tired with lines in her face and a downtrodden demeanor. When she came out each time and with the refund, she had no lines in her face, a smile and a look of confidence. I just imagine she has not had many successes or a chore that involved the skills she used. Of course, I was explaining it all and was very nice to her. I feel for this 50-ish woman, working for probably minimum wage. In my heart I hope she has more successes! 

A good cheerleader is what most people need. I have always been a cheerleader for people who obviously need it or even for those whose need is not so obvious. She needed a success in the middle of dragging a water hose! 

No one would help me while sitting in the car at Auto Zone here because they did not come to cars. So, I went to Cullman about two months ago, and a guy came out to give me a refund for the battery charger that did not work. Armed with a $92 store credit, Saturday we stopped at Auto Zone and bought battery charger that is about the size of a phone and an inch thick. Plus, we purchased a device to plug into the power inside the car to air up the tires. 

A dead battery and tires that need air are a problem when a person has mobility issues. It may take the two of us, but at least we can get things done ourselves. Even if we need help, a neighbor can help us without needed another battery to jump the car. One guy on this street wheeled about a tank to houses just to help air up tires. We are not sure if he does that. We will just do it ourselves or have the tools for someone to help us easily. 

Because of a request for the products I bought, I am adding this. No urls since I have these boxes in my lap. Remember, I have not used these, but my friend has the same type in Schumacher brand. 

Duralast 800 Peak Amp Jump Starter + Power Pack. upc 26666 30176

slime Tire Inflator upc 16281 50916  No, this does not put slime in the tire. I was shocked at the name once I purchased it. I bought both of these in Auto Zone.

Of course, we bought a burger and went to the lake for a bit. It was so full of parties that I did not hold out much hope for a spot for our single car. Thankfully, we found our regular spot and it was less crowded. We can park anywhere, but this is the first place we ever parked, so we gravitate to it. 

The traffic on the interstate was horrendous with cars breaking laws, zipping in and out, nearly causing accidents. I felt fortunate to arrive home safely.

We came home tired with two devices to help us, sourdough bread, and a trip to the lake. I had the satisfaction of seeing the woman's burden's lift for a moment, anyway. I saw hope for her. I will commend her to the store and to corporate. 

I thought it was a Grilled Cheese Sandwich Festival. So did Tommy! Have you ever gone to a festival and been so mistaken?

Books and Vegetables and Birds

 A thirteen-pound box of books arrived on my porch from a friend. Wow, what a gift to me. There was only one title I recognized, the one I will read first from this box. I was thinking about rereading it, so this works. If you want a really good laugh, read The Sweet Potato Queen's Book of Love, or something like that. I have read several of this woman's Sweet Potato Queen books, and they are all easy reads and humorous. Southern women will see the humor and recognize the women in the books. 

I finished Hillbilly Elegy. It was wonderful. I still am ready Salt Wars, Beowulf, and two other books I have started. So, I will finish four books and start on the Sweet Potato Queens book. 

Thanks, Janet!

Today, we went to a food giveaway. It was all vegetables. Sometimes, it is more balanced. Often it has lots of meat. Other days it has breads, chips, and sweets. This week's haul is superior--all beautiful vegetables. I will give half to my friend who is working her last day today, minimum wage and part-time. She will use all this. I gave her approximately half.

4 largish squash, dozen sweet potatoes, two messes of green beans, 4 English cucumbers, 1 eggplant, 6 apricots, 1 regular cucumber, head of cabbage. One bag had one eggplant and one bag had apricots. She gets the eggplant and 3 apricots. I hate eggplant and love apricots. Plus, there are two messes of greens. One mess is almost 2 feet long and huge. She can have that one. I will take the smaller bunch. I have no idea what kinds of greens these are. But, I like greens. I will probably cut the cabbage in half and share that. I did.

Just before we went there, we got a bag of red potatoes and a bag of Vidalia onions at Publix. We have more than enough vegetables. 

I think I have enough fresh vegetables to last a week and freeze lots, too. I am so tired today. Besides taking care of all the vegetables that were free, I need to wash the hummingbird feeders, fill them and get them back outside. Flowers need deadheading! And, the pork butt needs to be taken off the bone. I also need to freeze the ground beef. 

Friday night we still had the pork in the crockpot plus cabbage and greens on the stove and sweet potatoes, potatoes and squash on two very small pans in the oven. The house smelled nice. 

Friday night, we are having a bit of the pork butt along with a couple of potatoes and squash that are cooking in a bag with a bit of the pork juice and garlic powder.  I managed to scorch the greens. I am so furious at me. I told Tommy to see if he could get any greens off the top of the scorched ones. 

His plate was full--pork, potatoes, squash, cabbage, greens. I had pork, cabbage, potatoes, and squash. There is enough for several more days. 

Friday, when Tommy was watering flowers, the woman across the street told him how beautiful our flowers were. I was gratified when he told me! 

When he came in, he told me two birds were dead on the porch, guessed they fell or were pushed from their nest. They were freshly dead from the condition of one burst open body, he said. ( I don't think baby birds burst open on impact. Maybe a big bird pecked them.)I wonder if there are more babies. These had no feathers, just some fuzz on part of their bodies. I wonder if the mockingbirds killed these babies. Mockingbirds have been hanging around here for a few days. 

Aloha Kona Pineapple and Grocery Deals

 

I believe I have Calibrachoa Aloha Kona Pineapple. I could be wrong.  Susie and Sue identified it last post as a Calibrachoa  without seeing it, just from my description. I looked it up and found this picture above. I like them. So pretty and bright. 

Wednesday, I went shopping but was still exhausted from the "event" so just shopped at Publix. Thursday, I went to Piggly Wiggly and needed a stop at Publix. 

The Pig:

Pepsi --Tommy b2g2, bought 4

zucchini--forgot what I paid but not on sale

Graham Crackers--Nabisco Originals, one box

Breyer's Chocolate--one-half gallon or what passes for a former half-gallon

Stuffed Marshmallow--Had to try them. Never again.

Piggly Wiggly:

Daisy Sour Cream

2 lbs carrots--$1.78

Celery--$1.78

Kraft Medium Cheese--$3.53, big mistake

2 bags Kraft Cole Slaw--$1.12 each

The pork butt roast had more fat than I had ever seen on a piece of meat, so I left them at The Pig. On the way home, we stopped at Publix and I got two pork roasts there, much less fatty. Kraft cheese was bogo there, so two for $4.49, making each $2.25. 

When we got home, I put one pork roast in the crock pot and it will probably stay there until Friday morning, maybe not. The other is in the refrigerator until I can slice it in half and freeze. Or, maybe I will cook it and freeze. I have not decided. I bought 5 beautiful ears of corn 5/$2. I have called this Peaches and Cream, so I don't know if their name of bi-color is the same corn. Do you know?

I have been dizzy since about 3 pm. I think I forgot to take shot for diabetes. I was dizzy in the kitchen, lurched about and my left knee moved wrong, gave out and hurt. So, Tommy got to put the roast in the crockpot and bring me a glass of milk. Well, it was in the pot but I had him cut off the huge layer from the bottom. Do you cut that off? At The Pig there was two inches on each roast. The marbling was horrendous. 

Thursday evening, my mentor in the gardening program called and apologized for not coming over to speak to me. I had been embarrassed I had not gone speak to her. I think we were hurrying off to get the goodies. She won a hanging flowerpot, too. And, she managed to snag other plants and bags of soil, amongst other items. 

Okay, I think Peaches and Cream Corn is a bi-color variety. 

After the "event," I found a 13 lb box of books from a friend. Tomorrow, I will tell you about that.

I asked Tommy if he wanted our Memorial Day meal then or just eat it until then. He said to wait. I mentioned the pork roast and bbq the meat, cole slaw, and corn on the cob. He was so happy and said that sounds like enough. It is settled. If I can find the can of pork and beans, I may surprise him with baked means. I make really good baked beans. I only keep one can of pork and beans on the shelf as it is not something I make for myself. 

The "Event"

 Today, I went to the first event I have been to since early 2020. It was exciting. lol...listen to me. Remember when I was a gardener in the Harvest for Health program? The gave me boxes in which to grow vegetables, hose, seeds, plants, fertilizer, bug killer (soap spray), gloves, spray bottle, soil mix, mulch, and many other gardening supplies. Well, my two years ended last year, so I tried gardening on the porch. It worked. I had many squash, zucchini, and tomatoes. The critters were faster than me and enjoyed it all. One squash and one grape tomato was all I gathered. 

This was sort a celebration of the whole program. Everyone who was in the program had to be a cancer survivor. There were six door prizes, hanging pots of flowers. AND, I won one of the door prizes. It is yellow and I don't know what it is, sort of a petunia looking flower. 

There must have been 50 ft of tables and a tarp on the floor with items we could have. Across the room was another 20 ft. of tables. Everything was in flower pots. Two flower pots had ice with bottle of water. Another had cookies sealed in plastic in the shape of vegetables. You get the idea. Tommy got a clipboard! Three five gallon pots were full of seed packets. I only got about ten packets of seeds. Some people must have gotten a hundred seed packets. 

Because we were both using a walker, someone brought us a gardening tool--claw tool and a trowel. We did not know to go and get things like everyone else was doing. So, when the program started, the first woman told everyone to make a second trip because they did not want to carry anything home! When she said this, I looked at the table. 

I saw a white ceramic pot and told Tommy to get it for me. He did. There were only two white pots and two blue. While he was there, he got a package of handmade cards. Watercolor birds each had a colored feather attached. Cute. He said it looked like something I might like. 

There were little balls with seeds inside to put out for wildflowers for butterflies and bees. I only got six and wish I had gotten more. Believe me, we only got two tiny bags to put our things in. Some people used huge cardboard boxes. Several people used a huge cart from the church to carry their haul. There were bamboo and metal poles for the garden, too. 

Next to the cookies were pots of little snack, commercially package. I got one of each kind. Tommy got more. One lady must have had twenty packs and squealed that the grandkids would love these. 

There were people helping themselves all over the auditorium. It was a very polite, civilized free-for-all. Yet we handed people things who asked for them. One woman wanted what was in front of me. There were little "mud balls" with seeds inside. They were full of wildflower seeds. I may make some of these next year. Have you ever seen or heard of these? 

There were brochures for another program that was for weight loss. Of course, nutrition is a part of this program, too. 

So, that was our first event. I wore my clothes I bought before I came here, dressier things. Well, I wore the floral blouse and black pants. 

I came home and found a 13 lb. box of books on the front porch. Good titles. This makes me happy. It seems that reading is as good as I remember and still helps me sleep. I never get sleepy when I read! I can stay up all night reading and have done so before. Reading is relaxing. But, I never get to sleepy to read. I hear people say they read until they get sleepy or can fall asleep and I don't understand. I cannot read in the bed, so read sitting in recliner long before I go to bed. Do you like to read?

Tonight, I am too tired to cook, too tired to take pictures of all we got, and too tired to give an accounting in writing. I was going to freeze the other half of the taco soup, but we ate it!

It was a good day after a good night sleeping a full 7.5 hours. 

Sunday, Monday and Sale Items

 Sunday night, I baked turkey wings. Tommy had smoked, marinated, baked turkey wing, peas, one small potato peeled, one thick slice of kohlrabi. Of course, I had to peel his potato before I baked it...lol. He took the meat from the other two wings and I froze them. He said there was enough for two meals. 

Tonight, Monday, he will cook the ground pork and I will make the taco casserole that is more like taco soup. Probably half of that will be frozen for another meal. 

Since the refrigerator is not loaded so with my milk and Tommy's milk, we are going to clear a space to thaw a turkey so it can be baked and stored in small portions. I am hoping this will help to make room in the freezer. 

These kinds of projects come to me and seem possible to do when I feel well. I do feel well. I think this is three nights in a row I have slept 7 or 8 hours each night. I hate to rejoice too soon since tonight could be the night I could only get two hours sleep. Either I slept through the dogs barking or they did not bark. Not sure. Since they bark every day, I cannot imagine them not barking. Of course, Saturday, I suppose the dogs and people slept late. 

Today, I even cleaned a little from two tables in the living room, tossed trash that was stacked up like expired coupons, I am a dynamo...lol, not really. 

We are slowly, very slowly, washing, discarding items, and putting the kitchen back together. I am opening the last 5 lb. bag of sugar. I suppose I will buy another bag soon. In almost three years, I have only used one 5 lb. bag. And, I spilled half a cup of sugar in the sink two days ago. I am just grateful it was in the sink and not on the counter or on the floor.

Sunday night, I almost spilled a glass of milk sitting beside me. I almost pushed it off the table. Then, I got a finger inside the top and almost toppled it. Finally, I picked it up and spilled it all over me as I sat in my chair. Thankfully, I had the quilt on the chair. But, the milk went through. I did clean underneath side of quilt and put fresh towels over the chair. There was really a lot of milk, almost a cup full of milk! My clothing was soaked. Grrrr! 

Our birds, a pair of Eastern Phoebe, have made a nest and continue to stay close to home, sitting on the closet shepherd's hook, the one nearest their nest and the door. I was going to destroy a nest before eggs were laid, but I suppose we have eggs, a family now. We also have a poopy railing! 

Tommy voted. Thankfully, the traffic, car and foot, was light. There were only five people ahead of him. I took Hillbilly Elegy and read. 

Right now, I need to get out stored summer clothes to wear to an "event" this week. I suppose it will be the floral outfit I got when I lost my house. 

I love Kay Ivey, our governor. She has the best campaign ads on TV. I won't vote for her, but love the ads. She is fully embracing the "memaw governor" moniker that people gave her in derision. Love it! 

Monday night, we drove the neighborhood and found a pink bag with coupons and ads. We get it from a house that looks abandoned. The grass is mowed and someone finally pulled the vines off the house. But, there is a tree across the deck that has been there for months. So, we get the pink bag. 

From the Piggly Wiggly ad, I thought I had really found a deal. But, it is something I won't eat. Bryan and Castleberry Hot Dog Chili Sauce are $0.70. But, I will not get any because it is mashed beans, beef fat, and no meat. I cannot stand beans in chili, but maybe someone else can benefit. 

 Boston Butt Pork Roast is $1.78.lb. So, I will get that at The Pig. There are other deals I will get, but these two are the best. I will get corn at Publix $2/5 ears, bogo bread I like, cheaper than at bread store. 

There are other items I want to get but definitely don't really need. At least I won't have to pay full price for goodies. 

It's late and I need to take my medicine and put the taco casserole/soup in the refrigerator and freeze it tomorrow. 

What deals are in your ads this week? 

Monkey Pox, Canker Sores, Small Pox Connection

 When I was twenty-one, I had dozens of canker sore in my mouth for months. They were so painful. Nothing helped. The "cure" left black that got all over my front teeth. Other ways to be rid of them failed, too. I mentioned the pain to my son's pediatrician. She told me to go down the hall to her physician husband and tell him to give me a small pox vaccine, 8 or 12 in a row, once a week or some such number. If I missed one vaccine, I would have to start over. Twice, I missed a vaccine. That meant I received about a dozen vaccines. 

She told me he would not be happy because he didn't believe it worked. He was not! Well, it did work. The first vaccine was given next to my original one in childhood. It was less that 1/4 inch diameter. The second was a red pinpoint, a lesser pinpoint for the third. I always had the tiniest red mark. It worked. I had no more canker sores. 

I have started having canker sores again. So, my plan was to get another series of smallpox vaccinations. I have not called the doctor yet. 

Now, I read small pox vaccines will help to avoid monkey pox. So, I suppose I can kill two birds with one stone. READ HERE

"Eradication" of smallpox contributed to the rise of monkey pox. By the way, If SMALLPOX HAS BEEN ERADICATED, WHY ARE THERE 100 MILLION DOSES OF SMALLPOX STORED RIGHT NOW?     <<<Click on the blue words for a link.

I am old enough to have gotten a routine smallpox vaccination as a child. Did you get one? 

By the way, I do not believe that smallpox has been eradicated! 

I was told that smallpox had been eradicated about 1974 when I took my daughter to the doctor for her vaccination. I was sorely disappointed and worried for my daughter. I feared that smallpox would rear its ugly head when my daughter was an adult with children. Maybe only children were eligible for a limited number of vaccines available. Even though I might not be alive when she was an adult, I worried about my daughter.

When my younger daughter was about 4 and the older daughter was around 9, I approached the doctor again. No, he had no vaccines.

However, He told me I could get one at the Health Department. When I told them what I wanted, I was treated rudely by the workers/nurses. They told me it was more dangerous to vaccinate my girls than to take a chance on smallpox, that the vaccine could kill. I was undeterred. So, they told me I would have to go to the pay for the vaccine. Okay, I can do that. The cost? $2.00. Every word they said to me was accusatory or demeaning.

I don't regret the decision. My daughter says that people ask about her scar since people her age did not have to have the smallpox vaccination. 

Did you receive a smallpox vaccination? Have you found a cure for canker sores? Since Covid was downplayed for so long, I wonder about monkey pox!

Homemade Baby Formula

 I am appalled at some of the suggestions for feeding babies. I am not going to recommend a substitute formula. However, the fresh, unpasteurized milk some recommend is horrifying. There is a reason we pasteurize milk..

When I was born, the oldest of five, Mama tried to breastfeed me, but could not. So, she had to use formula. At some point ( a year) she gave me formula from Pet Milk. I do know she tried Similac at birth and I could not tolerate it, so she switched me to SMA and all my brothers and sisters started on SMA, too. The Pet Milk formula we fed my brother was fed only after he was a year old, so that was probably what she gave all of us after SMA or a year. 

I do know that Karo Syrup was added to the Pet Milk formula to counteract constipation. And, we had iron supplements. There could have been other supplements. I read the recipe for Pet Milk formula and it said to add the can to 20ozs of sterilized water. I could have sworn I mixed it half and half with water. I was almost 14 when he was born, so I mixed lots of formula from Pet once he was switched.

The people who make these pronouncements have stated the Pet Milk formula is harmful for babies. Maybe they mean for newborns. I don't know. But, we all grew with no health problems and most had high IQs. I don't know. 

What I do know is that I believe Pet Milk is better for us than Carnation or other condensed milks. Pet has only milk and is fortified with Vitamin D. Check the Carnation label. Carnation has milk, disodium phosphate, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Carrageenan. Disodium Phosphate is generally regarded as safe (GRAS). 

Carrageenan is an extract from a pink seaweed generally known as Irish Moss. … Some scientists have introduced proof that carrageenan is extremely inflammatory and poisonous to the digestive tract, and declare that it could be responsible for colitis, IBS, rheumatoid arthritis, and even colon most cancers.

My babies took SMA until they were a year old and then drank regular milk. I know the babies who need formula now are often newborn or have problems and need a special formula. 

I am not recommending Pet formula, but I would give it to one of mine if I could not find SMA. I only use Pet Milk when I cook with condensed milk. 

I know the problems some babies have with any but a specifically formulated feeding. 

What is your history with feeding an infant? What substitute would be comforting? What would you not use? 

Be nice and don't blame anyone for anything. If you are blaming, I will not post your comment.

Syrup Shortage? Outing Cancelled and Dogs

 My friend said she went to Walmart, needing syrup among other things. She said there was not one bottle. A whole section was empty. I still have half a bottle of maple syrup. It should last me a year because I eat little syrup. Have you discovered a shortage of syrup? 

The plan for Saturday was to go to a Poke Salet Festival on Saturday. Well, I did not sleep much, so it was iffy. There was a 40% chance of rain and the event was 2 hours away, a 4-hour trip. In spite of everything, we decided to go. Well, my digestive system thwarted the plans. I felt I needed to stay near a bathroom. THEN, I felt like I was going to throw up. We stayed home. Really, I could have gone since all symptoms vanished later and it never rained when we would have been on the road and not even around our route. 

We took a ride close by and looked for yard sales. The few we found did not look like I would find anything. There I go, being judge-y again. 

This morning, Saturday, the neighbors obviously did not let the dogs out. I have not heard one little bark all day long! Obviously, these dogs only bark when everyone leaves home. 

Have you found a syrup shortage? Any other shortage?

Kohlrabi?

 This morning the dermatologist removed more of the keratosis from my back. Fun times. It is so hard for me to get onto the table and turn on my stomach that he works on my face while I sit in a chair. I lean over the table for him to work on my back. I wear a loose blouse so I won't be entirely naked when he works at pulling up my blouse and blasting my back. The shirt I wore was a dressy tshirt. So, I carried a voluminous blouse and changed into it while he turned his back. It worked. 

We went to return something and that failed. The rules keep changing for returns. I can call corporate. Yes, I will! 

Of course, the dogs were up at 8 am. Thankfully, I had to get up at that time to wash my hair and get ready. I managed to wash my hair, bathe, scramble eggs, eat and spend time on the internet before leaving. Even though I don't blow dry my hair, it dries just fine.  I was efficient because I got enough sleep. It was not 8 hours, but it worked. 

We are going to get the birdhouse-looking thing that stops dogs barking. I don't know if the neighbors will object to this. I wonder. There is nothing over near the fence to hang it, so it will be very evident. Although it is birdhouse shaped, there is no way anyone would think it was a birdhouse. 

We dropped by a food giveaway. We received a gallon of milk, a dozen eggs, ground pork, 3 roasted turkey legs, and package of two burgers with bacon and cheese, 9 red potatoes, two Annies macaroni and cheese, loaf of bread, bagels, asparagus, leeks, 8 cans of Hunts tomato sauce, and 8 kohlrabi. I certainly don't know how to cook kohlrabi, but I looked it up. I think I will roast them first to see if I like them. I don't want to cook them in a dish and waste the other items. Do you like kohlrabi? 

I took a nice nap since I had not gotten enough sleep Thursday night. Plus, the burning of the things on my back is very stressful. I feel like I need a recovery room after all the pain. Plus, driving/riding tires me. 

We took 4 cans of the tomato sauce and one kohlrabi to my friend Lynda. If she like the kohlrabi, I will give her more. 

Tonight, I will freeze the bscb, the ground beef, and the rest of the pork roast I cooked last night. We ate part of the pork roast, potatoes for dinner. I had salad and Tommy had peas. 

So, that was our day and nothing noteworthy or spectacular or profound. Well, I will save the profound for another post.

If the weather is okay on Saturday, we are going to a Poke Salet Festival. Poke Salet with scrambled eggs in them is delicious. I know it sounds gross, but it quite yummy.

Do you like kohlrabi? How do you like it cooked or seasoned? Do you like poke salet? 

Missionary Interrupted

 I was awakened about 6:15 am by the dogs next door. Missionaries were coming at 10 am. In the meantime, I got dressed, Tommy ate breakfast and we were out by 8 am to buy more shelf paper. They came a little after 10 am, and one guy barely got started. The other one had a call and they had an LDS emergency and had to be back at headquarters in 40 minutes. ???

So, they are gone, and I am so tired. Tommy is going to talk to the people next door about the dogs barking. 

I had bought a marble print shelf paper, so I was going to get the same print. I did, but the wrong color. I have a light brown. I bought gray! Well, it will have to work together. We rarely have more than one door open at a time. 

One cleaning service will do only a bathroom. But, the soonest appointment is 3 weeks out. $125. Tommy did not bat an eye at the price. He has been very vocal about getting it done, so this is a 180 from former position. That price is the highest price and might be lower. From the shape of this bathroom, I doubt it. Oh, they won't clean walls or ceiling or inside the bathroom under sink area. 

Since I got a new cell phone ring tone, I am now that person who just sits there and lets the cell phone keep ringing. I feel like an idiot!

At one point, the dogs woke me about 8 something every day. Now, they wake me shortly after 6 am. I asked Tommy to talk to the people. He said, "Okay." He did not act like I was being a problem. So, he did. The woman said the only thing she could do is to put them out when they leave after 8 am. We will see. So, at least I got that. He said she was nice. But, I know he was nice to her. I was, too, no ire from either of us. 

She took our garbage to the road as she usually does, so I suppose they are trying their best. It's only a couple of the dogs, mostly. But, they bark so much that all the neighborhood dogs bark. I am talking about 8 blocks away. 

The plan today was to go to a liquidator I found. However, a nap was in order since I was rudely awakened by the dogs next door. It will wait. 

It's almost 9 pm, and I still have to cook the three meats. UGH We ate other food...lol. Tommy will chop the ground beef while I bag and put the other meats in the oven. And, I should have washed my hair today. Okay, 11 pm and meat is done and stored. 

We have done lots today, and Friday is a full day. We never have hard chores, just time-consuming things to do, like returns. 

Added: Meat I cooked tonigh--2.66 lbs of grass-fed beed, chopped and cooked, 3 huge bscb, 1.33 lbs. marinated pork roast. It is all in the refrigerator. Some will go into the freezer on Friday.

The deals are not forthcoming this week. Did you find deals at all?

New Recipe for Zucchini

 After I posted this morning, I decided we would go to Cullman. I needed my mail and the pickup lunch was at 11 am. We picked up lunches for our 90- and 91-year-old friends. We had Chicken Parmesan, vegetable casserole, Hawaiian rolls and brownies. I love Chicken Parm even though I use mozarella because it is what I have. 

Our friends are getting rid of stuff so their children don't have to some day. Tommy and I are of the mind that someone else can get rid of stuff when we are gone. Just kidding, Tommy feels that way. I don't.

Before we left we were watching the Today Show, the segment with Hoda Kotb. The cooking segment was about cooking eggplant, a segment that did not interest me. They were making baba ghanoush, a dip. At one point someone asked if zucchini could be used or yellow squash. That interested me. It seems that the recipes are the same except the skins of the squashes do not have to be cooked and peeled off. 

This is a recipe for baba ganoush. Okay, there is more than one recipe. Since I don't make or eat baba ganoush, I cannot recommend a recipe. This dip would be a great way to use up zucchini and would be healthful. By using carrots or celery to dip into it, the vegetable count would be out of sight. When I buy some tahini, I will make this dip. 

US Soccer reaches equal pay deal. It is about time women made the same as men! Now, to get all pay where it should be. But, they still make more than nurses or firemen! 

Plans: Hopefully, the meat cooking marathon will happen on Thursday. It is not all thawed yet. We need to empty the dishwasher and fill it again with more contents of the cabinets. 

I just had a second Chicken Parm lunch for my dinner because I am too beat to cook anything. 

There were no deals at stores in Cullman. Poo! My yard is three-feet high because the guy who was going to mow it did not! grrr

How did your Wednesday go? What's for dinner? 

Too Early and Changed Plans

 The telephone appointment at 7:40 am was just too early. However, I had a list of questions/subjects for discussion. I certainly didn't want to be up that time of morning trying to figure out what I wanted to ask. He called at 8:01 am, so I had to be up for a half hour. ugh

We went to Verizon to get the charging cord I should have received when I purchased my phone. I think I will go back to AT&T. "Do it yourself" and "look it up online" are not good answers to my questions. No, I did not get a manual with my phone. The woman was shocked I was just handed a phone with no box or anything. 

When I went to Publix, I needed only heavy stuff--water, Pepsi. 3 half-gallons of a2milk. A guy had to go with me and load up the electric cart. I felt sorry Tommy had to bring it all inside the house. 

Later, I took a two-hour nap and was more tired when I awoke. Tommy watered the flowers. With a bit of rain, sun, and his watering, the dying Wave Petunias have seven blossoms instead of the one blossom of a week ago. 

I had plans to cook a chunk of pork, two packages of ground round, and a huge pack of bscb. But, I have been inordinately tired today. So, I thawed a chicken thigh for him and he got some cauliflower rice and salad for his dinner. I had chicken salad. 

We have been washing and discarding things from the kitchen. Tommy was in charge of his coffee and tea supplies. When I looked, he had discarded a whole trash can of items. One was a huge plastic container for coffee. We need to load the dishwasher one more time in anticipation of the guys coming by. We can put everything back and start to put things up that never had a home. This is pleasant to anticipate. 

As usual Dillon was shot in his left arm. However, he did not have on the purplish pinky shirt. He had a light brown shirt on. When he is shot, he usually just holds his arm. This time, he stuck a finger in the bullet hole and ripped open his shirt sleeve. Usually, he heals and so does his shirt, never a hole or rip. 

Lynda has the prettiest roses. She gave me a rose with four buds. I stuck it in water, hoping all the buds do make beautiful pink roses. I have heard the rose stem can be placed in a bucket of sand to get a rose bush to plant. 

The plan for Wednesday was to go to Cullman for several things, including getting my mail. That won't happen as I am so tired. 

Wednesday

The dogs had me awake at 6:30. I don't know how long I can stand this. Plus, there are two more cars, several adults and several more children. ??? I have not counted, but there are probably more dogs. There is not three feet between all the things left in the yard. Plus, the garbage on the carport continues. I thought some of it was gone, but Tommy said they just moved it. 

Monday--Rough Day and Bird Watching

 This is why I drink a2milk. I had a bit of ice cream Monday morning and spent the day in agony. When I was not screaming in agony from cramps, I was so weak from loss of electrolytes. 

We left three times to go to Publix about a mile from here. The first time, we made it to the parking lot. The next time, not as far. The third time, we only got a bit down the main road and came home to stay. After that, I gave up and had to take a nap. Tommy took it all in stride, not complaining. 

Even after I awoke, I was weak and still am. This is slowing down the kitchen shelf project. Tonight, we will put a few more items on the shelves, mainly refilling Tommy's coffee and tea shelf. 

I now have another appointment with the missionaries. We cannot put shelf paper on any but the bottom shelves. And, I do a crummy job because of my shoulders and hands! 

The view from my chair out the front door is beautiful. I have four shepherd's crooks with double hooks and something on every hook. Still no hummingbirds after the first. 

Since all the fuss about Downton Abbey, we watched the movie  Monday night. It was so boring.  There were hints of so many assignations, more boring events. 

Monday was a beautiful warm day and I loved it. Since I put flowers in front of the door on the hooks, birds come daily and sit around. Before this year, birds did not come. One couple is intriguing, Eastern Phoebe. It looks up continually at the porch ceiling, looking for a nest sight. The only trim is a ledge about 3/4 inch wide, not enough for a nest. But, who knows what it will attempt. We are watching the porch light to make sure a family does not end up there. 

As I was watching the little bird, it shook its head wildly with its mouth open and appeared to "cough" out a bug. It was a huge bug, at least compared to the size of the bird. I now wonder why the bird got rid of the bug. 

Tuesday, I have a 7:40 am phone appointment with my allergist. The doctor starts even earlier than that. Then, at 11 am, I have to go see about my phone purchase. We must go to Publix as the milk price rises after Tuesday. We have another chore after that. At least it will be hot and dry. I really hate it that some people do suffer without ac! A rain shower for my pots of flowers would be lovely. 

So, it's Monday now, and I am up way too early. Who ever heard of a doctor's appointment at 7:40? Not me.

Twitching in the Kitchen

 But, first.....

Saturday night, I decided to finish loading the dishwasher. I had loaded all the dirty dishes before the guys came, but it was only half full. I wanted to wash a load Saturday night so we could start another load Sunday morning. I don't know why I told Tommy to come help. I had loaded a very nasty cup into the dishwasher and he saw me do it. It had a measuring spoon in it. I could tell it was coffee and figured he used the spoon to measure coffee. The underside and outside of the cup was nastier than the inside. 

Well, he threw a fit, snatched it out and said he did not want it washed, that no one had drunk out of it and no one would. I told him the bottom was filthy. He said it did not matter--"It don't matter." I tried to explain that we had the shelves clean and should only put clean things on them. The bottom of the cup, the part that touches the shelf was absolutely filthy with great gobs of dirt of some sort on it. He was talking about the inside of the cup!

He grabbed the cup and told me to smash it into his face and come on and do it. Do it. Well, I told him I was not going to do any such thing. He just turned around and rolled off. ??? I finished emptying one box and took the box to him to throw outside after I started the dishwasher. I asked him why he had the tsp measure in the cup. He said he used it to measure coffee, that it took six teaspoons of coffee for the coffeemaker. That is bizarre. No wonder there is so much coffee all over the counter around the coffeemaker. I bought a coffee measure for my own use, so I will put that in his cup to measure. 

He said this was his stuff and if we were not going to be using it, we did not need to wash it. The plates felt like they had sat in the carport and gathered grime. He screams the most bizarre things at me and then sits down like he has done or said nothing mean or crazy. Then, he talks first and is so mild mannered that I am baffled. He bullies. I don't give in to his bullying. Then, he just ignores what he has said and done.

Okay, my twitching.

I have this great urge to close the cabinet doors when I see one open! They are all open to let the cabinets dry. I just end up walking along twitching when I remember not to close them when I am reaching for the doors. I laugh at myself. Most of the time, I never actually reach, just twitch as I think of closing a door and barely move and then don't. Tommy said the title of this post sounds weird.

Sunday night, I cooked the two bacon, onion and cheese burgers. I had one squash that I needed to cook. I ended up losing part of it by waiting one night! I sliced rounds about 3/4 inch and laying them down in the skillet with the burgers. The result was delicious. We drained the burgers and squash on paper towels and mashed them with the towel to removed some of the grease. Tommy put his in sourdough bread for a burger. I ate mine plain. He had Romaine salad and I had butter lettuce salad. We both had about a dozen grapes, but Tommy had more.  We forgot the tomato, but I ate it alone.

We cannot put the shelf paper on any but the bottom shelves, so hopefully, the guys can come back to do those. Monday, I will call them. Neither of us can get on a ladder. On Sunday, we got the dishes from the dishwasher. It has taken all day, with time off for other things, to get another load ready, stuff from the cabinets and our own dishes. 

Things are still pretty crowded and hectic, but getting more organized. It is like most decluttering, I suppose. But, the last time I took everything out of my kitchen cabinets was in 1977 when I moved to my house. Then, all was clean to put things up--shelves and dishes.

It is Sunday night. I asked Tommy to wipe of the counters from the stove to sink. I pointed out the roach poop and told him to clean out the bowls there and anything, including the crockpot. These are things I did not cover when the guys cleaned, all my fault. So, he has been in there for almost an hour. I thought it would take 15 minutes at the most. He is using Lysol Wipe on everything! 

What do you think of his bizarre behavior? His nastiness, lack of cleanliness? (You can see why this house is so nasty!) Do you ever take absolutely everything off all the kitchen shelves other than to move? How arduous is that task? 

Saturday Missionaries Visit & Linda Goes Yard Sale-ing

 It has been a busy morning here. I was going to get up at 9 am but since I awoke at 7:30, I could not sleep or rest knowing they were coming. 

One brought in the ladder from the carport at Tommy's request. We gave them masks to wear in our house. They emptied cabinets of all contents. Now, we have boxes of stuff stacked in the kitchen. Thankfully, all cabinets at the ceiling were empty. Easily, the most tedious task of all was peeling off the stick-on shelf paper. Strangely, only the three sets of cabinets to the left of the sink had shelf paper. The set of cabinets with glass doors had shelf paper on the sides of the cabinets. The paper from the first two cabinets peeled off easily. The shelf where I put spices, vinegar and general foods was hardest to remove and required a knife to peel it up to finally start it peeling. They used ample soapy water and a brush after the shelf paper was finally off. 

We had more than enough empty boxes to put the contents into for storing on the floor until we can empty them back into cabinets or the trash. ugh. Thankfully, Tommy stayed out of the kitchen since he could not get in there anyway. So, Sunday when the shelves dry, we can put down shelf paper. Now, we can throw out these boxes. There are still numerous boxes here, so these can go. 

Yes, they did find parts of dead roaches. At least, that is what they said they were finding. And, I assured them that the stuff they were wiping out was roach poop! They did not know what roach poop looked like. Now, they do!

There is shelf paper here that I bought for something else, sort of white and gray marble. I need light in these cabinets, so it will work. I really want to start today, so stuff will be available to use to cook. However, I have leftovers--pork loin, carrots, potatoes, and green beans. And, there is a pair of hamburgers thawed for tomorrow. 

The hummingbirds have not come back since the initial sighting. The sugar water was old that day, so I wonder if she told everyone not to come here. My friend has seen no hummers, either, other than the one Tommy saw at her house. I need to change the nectar again as soon as the new batch is cool. 

Since I put up the shepherd's crooks last year, I have seen a bird or two land on them. But, since I hung the baskets of flowers, birds are flocking here. I love it. Of course, there is now bird poop on the rail of the ramp. Thankfully, they don't land and poop on the side I use. 

One day, I saw a mockingbird pecking the inside of the Wave Petunias. I wonder what was he pecking? Eating a bug he saw? 

The dogs next door barked at 6:30 and had dozens of dogs all over the neighborhood barking for thirty minutes! Of course, I could not go to sleep again. 

One missionary was 18 and the other 20. One was from Colorado and the other from Wyoming. A car and an apartment is supplied. That is all I know...lol. 

I went to the yard sale and sat out front in the car, looking it over. I feel bad when I do this. It feels like I am judging and not giving them a chance. But, I cannot get out the spare her feeling. We left.

Then, we went to another part of town. It looked like a great sale. It was when I got out. But, there was no clue as to the price on anything at all. I glanced around and asked who knew the prices. Someone said the woman sitting down. Well, customers were surrounding her. Besides, I don't easily turn. She came over and could not hear me. No one complains I am not loud enough! Well, it turns out she has a hearing problem. Besides, she was a bit passive-aggressive. When I held something up and said, "What is the price?" she asked me what I said. I held the item up more and yelled. "PRICE?" She said, "Do you want to know the price?" I nodded and said, "YES, PRICE?" She finally deigned to give me the price. 

When I was looking at her books, she brought me a box to put them in. I told her I could not carry a box of books. She volunteered to carry the box for me when I filled it with books. Well, I carried 3 books to the table and decided I only wanted two. So, like an idiot, I gave her two quarters. The books were 50 c each! I was embarrassed and apologize and handed over another two quarters. I bought Conscious Classroom Management and Much Ado About Nothing. 

As I turned to leave, I saw a pretty blue and white striped, canvass tote/purse. So, I spent another $1 for a total of $2 at this yard sale.  

Before we left for the garage sale, I had to get together some money. Tommy gave me $7 and I came up with $2 and 10 quarters. So, I spent none of his money at yard sales, so I need to repay nothing, thankfully.

We went to Bessemer and looked at the homes. Some have burned, one to the ground, most partially gutted by fire, some historic homes are in seemingly perfect conditions. Some homes, ancient and others fairly new, are becoming shabby. 

We then stopped at a place that had something about "hope" in the title. It was a strange place. The signs all said "3 free with $5 donation." I bought a Mounds Bar to share with Tommy. As I left, I saw a supplement the doctor told me to take. It was in date. I wanted the last three boxes. Well, most things only had 6 or less boxes. 

Each bottle costs me $16.88 elsewhere. So, for $5, I bought $50.64 of merchandise. That is a savings of $45.64! I will go back there again! Someday, when I am fresher and less worn from the day or previous walking, I will visit this place again. Plus, this woman showed me where her sister has a liquidation store. YAY!

About two blocks from the entrance to our neighborhood, it started to rain, big fat drops. Finally, at the house, it was smaller drops. When I came in, I put the half dead wave petunias in the rain. The thing perked right up. It just wanted rain. The other two hanging baskets fluffed right up even after Tommy had watered it this morning. Plants like rain better than hard water with fluoride! 

At 5:45 pm, I saw a hummingbird, drinking long at one of the feeders. Now, I am quite sure they are back! The weather was beautiful all week long, as Anne noted. About 7:15, a hummer came back and spent a long time here. 

Saturday was excellent, happy all the way. 

What did you do that was interesting, fun, unusual, or frugal?

Friday--Not Much

 This day was a success, too. Things happened as planned. So, that is two our of five days that went as planned. 

The food giveaway was skimpy, but that is okay--a jar of peanut butter, a jar of chicken, and 7 small packages of cheese chips. Both Tommy and I received one. Sometimes, there are four nice packages of meat. Other days, six bags of salad greens. LOL...no guarantees. It is okay. 

We did not make the returns. I was just too tired. I have been tired every minute of Friday, even after a nap. However, I did go to Publix and get the pork loins that were two for $9.99. Both are in the oven with carrots, potatoes, Vidalia onions, and garlic. One bag is for us and the other is for the missionaries.  I was going to give it to them fresh from the oven. But, they have somewhere to be and must leave here at 11:30. So, their meal will be cooked and refrigerated tonight. I don't want these guys leaving it in the car and get sick from eating hot food left in the car. 

In a bit, I need to bake a pan of brownies or a cake for them. I figure a 9x9 pan of brownie or same size iced cake will work. And, I will offer them a  banana to eat here or later. We have plenty of drinks of different sorts and bottled water. 

I would feed them here, but there is no table to use and only one chair. So, there! I have been storing boxes for them to put items from the cabinets. Then, I can throw the boxes away! 

Tommy took his ladder from the utility room and hosed it off this morning. I thought he wanted to bring it in here like it was. The dirt would have bothered me, but the spiders more. 

I stopped reading The Salt Wars and started reading Hillbilly Elegy. Both are great reading but I may finish Elegy before I go back to Salt. Soon, I will need more books.  

I am planning to attend at least one yard sale. Well, I drive by and see if I can get in the yard or is it not level. Does it look like all children's clothing? Is a dog running loose? Can we park safely? Is it too far to walk? I remember the day when I would pop out of the car, hurry around or stroll, walking down in ditches if that's what it took...lol. Now, it is an ordeal.

What are your plans for this weekend.

Success Thursday and Found Money and Favorite Furniture

At last, a day was not sabotaged by me or anyone else. I went to my doctor for a dozen items...lol. I had them written down, so we went over them, one at a time. Some questions took 30 seconds or less, some took more time. He looked at the knot in my calf and sent me right up for an ultrasound. It is "benign, not a blood clot." Whew! He told me to watch it. It is a knot on the muscle in my calf. 

None of my meds are implicated in causing dementia. The severe blow to my head Monday won't cause a brain bleed at this late date. 

I really like my family doctor. When I go with a list, we work through it. 

We picked up refills at two pharmacies. One pharmacy had no one else in the drive-up line. We waited behind 4 cars and for almost 30 minutes at the other pharmacy. Waiting in line is sooo tiring. Went to Publix for bogo catsup. Went to a furniture store to ask a question. I found a baby chick about a foot high. Someone gave me money as a birthday gift on Paypal, and I had forgotten to spend it. So, I did, and this huge chick came home with me. It is not my style or colors, and I don't know what kind of fat chick it is, but I love Maggie May.

Right now, a nap is after me, so I am surrendering. When Tommy wants to eat, he can heat up leftovers. Thank goodness for leftovers. Nope, changed my mind! Not napping even though I only slept three hours Wednesday night.

Someone is lined up to make a coat/hat rack for Tommy. I don't know what kind of wood to use but definitely not plywood. This one will be a box with a door. 

Then, I will surprise Tommy with a new bookcase to replace his rickety one that is about 5 inches too wide and made of some sort of wood covered with paper with a grain. There are three of these monstrosities in this house. He bought this one 40 years ago for this house. 

I have a nice bookcase about 60" tall that my parents paid $11 for in 1957 at the Goodwill. It has a waterfall front, so you can imagine it is 50 years or more older than the shabby one here. Mine is not rickety at all, 90 years old. I found an identical one for $40 a few years ago, so I have two! Besides being sturdy, the finish is in good shape. Yep, I like "brown furniture."

At the bread store, I put the bread on the counter to pay for it. Right there on the edge nearest me was a quarter ready for me to pick up. I could barely believe my good luck. 

I picked up a wand for watering to make it easier for Tommy. He is out there, watering, and holding the wand about six inches from the nozzle. He does not believe me when I tell him to hold it out to spray the plants! I cannot even watch. No, I am not just watching, but I can see from my chair where I sit. 

Friday, there are plans for three chores. Let's see if we can pull this off.

Do you like old "brown furniture?"  What is your favorite piece of furniture in your house, not the prettiest, not the most stylish, not the piece in best shape, just a piece you love, cherish or would never get rid of now or ever? The piece could be the prettiest!

Blame it On Me | Allergies

 Wednesday, I was supposed to get my teeth cleaned. Well, since my asthma is bothering me and I cough, I figured I would not be able to keep my mouth open. The coughs come on suddenly and it feels like my throat is closing. Plus, the tech probably does not want to sit that close to someone coughing in her face. So, I canceled.

I rescheduled and made a few other appointments I need elsewhere. A really cute hummingbird feeder allowed large insects into the reservoir. So, I took it back and found another I like and cheaper, so I got two. Thankfully, I found an electric cart and could shop--fertilizer, two brackets, watering wand to help Tommy, the two feeders, Miracle Gro, and plastic to put under coir baskets. 

At 5 pm Wednesday, it is 88F. I was afraid Tommy was going to die in the car, waiting for me. He had to leave the car on for the ac. So, that is added cost for gas. The price of gas is going up, so not good. 

Today, at Publix I bought one jar of dill chips $1.65 bogo, 3 half-gallons of a2milk @ 3/$10, carrots for the whopping price of $2.19 for 2 lbs., smattering of organic blackberries for $3 bogo, "premium" tomato $0.67/lb ($1.13 for a tomato?), ice cream bogo $3.  Vidalia onions were expensive--$4.99 for 5 lbs. I am going to ready them for dehydrating, freeze them, and then get them out to dehydrate them when I get the dehydrator set up. 

I did not realize I was buying organic blackberries! Carrots have been on my mind for weeks, but I never find them on sale. The pickles were to make better potato salad. Now, I need to find gherkins on sale. 

My allergies this year have been worse than usual. However, I have had no symptoms--itching, coughing, sneezing, feeling miserable. This year, I have to become ill before I know I am suffering from my allergies.

Tommy has been peeling, coring, and chopping apples given to me, all different kinds. I am going to bake them in a pan with streusel on top. He should like that. This is 6 apples going south that I am saving. Okay, one was rotten, and nothing could be salvaged. So, we had 5 salvaged apples. Tonight, he is having one or two drumsticks and I am having chicken tenders. There is about two bites of potato left, green beans and cabbage. 

The apple streusel was delicious. 

I want to buy catsup that is lower in sugar and sodium. I have not looked online yet. I suppose that kind of catsup is called tomato sauce! Heinz was bogo today at Publix, but I left it there. 

One thing is planned for Thursday. Another, a return, is planned if I manage to get out and do my first chore. I am absolutely certain that Friday plans will be accomplished! 

My mouth itches from my lips to past my tonsils in the Spring. This did not happen this year. Finally, last Saturday, the itching just attacked me. Have you ever had your whole inside of your mouth itch? The next day, I noticed the privets were blooming. About four blocks from here there are two whole blocks of privet next to a business. So, I suppose there is now a new reason for me not to leave the house. I hate it. Are you allergic to privet? 

We moved one of the shepherd's crooks. I was not able to see my favorite, the pink Wave Petunia, so it was relocated with the hook to the side of the ramp where I can see it sitting in my chair. It makes me happy every time I look at it.

Are you allergic to privet? Keep your fingers crossed for tomorrow for me.

Can I Get a Win Here?

 I had four things to do on Tuesday. We left at an ungodly hour again and got there on time. Well, we called when no one seemed to be there, and the event was cancelled. WHAT? No notice? 

We stopped by Verizon since the woman was trying to figure out why I did not get a phone charger and still paid full price. She told us she would be working Tuesday and we said we would come by on Tuesday. Okay, I struggled inside and she is sick, did not come to work! Okay! Two fails.

There was a slight overlap on three and four, so we decided not to stress ourselves and just go to chore four. It worked. Success for the first time today. 

I am exhausted! If I had not gotten up at the crack of dawn or had gotten to sleep before 6 am, I would feel much better. Of course, tomorrow is a repeat of new plans. Let's see how that goes. 

It's almost 6 pm, so I have to decide what to eat. Do, I want to get out frozen meat and eat cabbage and green beans that is already cooked and in refrigerator? What kind of meat is frozen? Does Tommy want to peel potatoes and I will cook chicken drumsticks? Well, yes, he does. Since I don't eat drumsticks, that leaves me trying to find meat. I am just too tired! 

I know Kim is working herself hard. I am just waiting myself hard. 

Okay, dinner is ready, and I am not hungry and that is okay. My flowers are still so pretty! 

Do you ever set out with plans that are thwarted by others?...all day long? 

Monday Mistake, Recovery, Dogs, Alabama Drama

 All weekend, I have been remembering I had a doctor's appointment on Monday at 11 am. We got up early, bathed, ate ate and were ready to go and arrived at the appointment ahead of time. I called and asked for a wheelchair and someone to wheel me up. The woman called back in five minutes, telling me that my appointment was on Thursday. OH NO! 

So, here we are, up earlier than I wanted to be awake, and nothing to do. I have been wanting to go to B&N, the bookstore. We went and I found a book. I sent a cup of Starbuck's coffee out to Tommy. As I left, I bought a piece of chocolate cheesecake, planning to share with Tommy. He did not want any. I left a bit and he ate it at home. 

I really wanted Beowulf. I cannot choose a copy from the internet. I have to read part, at least of the intro and about the translator and whose copy of Beowulf is being translated. I also wanted a translation on the left page and the new translation on the right. At least I can see the old text. It makes a difference.  Then, I purchased a book Tommy might like. I don't have it right in front of me, so I will give you that title later. It was only $10. 

Tommy went into Dollar General and bought his Pepsi. He also took my phone and debit card into Verizon to figure out why I cannot pay my bill. By the time we got home, we felt satisfied we had not wasted our day running all the way to UAB for nothing. 

We managed to accomplish lots here later. We emptied the dishwasher last night and loaded it tonight. He hand-washed some of the dishes that we hand-wash.  We used the four hamburgers for dinner along with cabbage, green beans, and Romaine. I ate a whole apple. 

Tommy watered the flowers twice today. The hummingbird feeders were washed and are ready to be filled come morning. Tommy will hang them. 

The dogs started barking at Tommy when he went out just after 8 am to water the hanging baskets. They have a new dog, too. I think that makes seven dogs. The neighbors put a trampoline up against our fence and an above ground pool along the fence behind the trampoline. In front of their fence around the back yard is a basketball goal. The kids play quietly in the pool instead of shrieking, so pool time does not bother me. They are rather quiet doing everything, but still children laughing and playing. The dogs are driving me mad. 

Okay, I must go to bed since I am about to go to sleep typing. 

I suppose the nation has heard that our escaped convict and the prison guard who helped him escaped have been caught. She killed herself. My one question has been--Why did they only manage to travel less than 300 miles in eleven days? I could have been to Mexico, Canada, or California! Could it be that they were occupied with her purchases from the adult store? 

Scooter's and Sunday

 When a building was torn down, we wondered what might be coming. Soon, construction started. They did finally put up a "coming soon" sign. We had never heard of Scooter's, so I googled it. 

After it was open, I begged Tommy to go there. It is only a drive-up window. I just wanted to see if he liked the coffee. We went by a month ago. The coffee was very good, but at over $4/cup, not that good according to Tommy. They do sell other items, forgot what, like sandwiches and cold drinks. This all old news, if news...lol. I just wanted to know if anyone had heard of this place or had been there.

Okay, but to the present or the immediate past.

I neither planned nor wanted to do anything on Mother's Day. NOTHING! I could have planned, and Tommy would have done it. But, planning and doing involves wearing me to a nub. I wanted none of that. I did go to bed early Saturday night and slept a full eight hours. Of course, I awoke Sunday morning in severe pain, as always. 

For breakfast Saturday I made enough scrambled eggs for another meal. So, about 11 am Sunday, I microwaved the scrambled eggs and had milk. Around 1 pm, I wanted a Blizzard. Tommy always orders a Medium for me when I tell not to not get me a big blizzard. One day, I said get a small, and it was still too big. Finally, I figured out there is a mini, so that is what he got me.  It was a chocolate brownie something blizzard. We only get a blizzard about three times a year. That is why it took me so long to figure out this detail. He always gets a strawberry Sundae. 

About 3 pm, I had Wheat Thins and cheese. At 4 pm, I took a nap until 7 pm. I colored my hair about 9:30 and had oats around 11 pm. My diet today was not healthful at all. I planned fruits and vegetables, honest. 

This is about the most low-key Mother's Day I have ever had...lol. I had planned to put my hanging baskets of flowers into the wire and coir hanging baskets. But, since Lana said they dry out, I rethought that plan. That is when I decided a nap was in order. Tommy only had one thing to do, and I found out about 10:30 pm that he had not. He was going to get the hose, and in the pitch dark water the plants. I suggested he take two water bottles of water and hold up the foliage and very slowly pour one bottle of water into each hanging flower. He took three bottle and watered the lettuce, too. 

Plastic will go into the wire basket and the coir basket will go on top. Hopefully, that will help me keep them watered enough so they will live in the afternoon/evening sun and in front of a fully brick house. 

So, with no plans, nothing happened. Tommy is not a planner, and that is okay. I was going to suggest picking up Zaxby's or something else. I know he would have done whatever I wanted. But, I just did not want anything. I just did not want to be exhausted at the end of the day. I had flowers I could enjoy the rest of the summer. 

Tommy did not starve. He went to the big freezer and brought back a bag of two patties at 9:30 pm. I had cooked and frozen them. The patties were awful. I did not like them when I froze them. He also had cabbage and green beans or some vegetables. 

I was not tired, depressed or apathetic. I was content. That was my understated day. But, I am feeling very well and rested well after midnight. How was your Mother's Day? Have you ever heard of Scooter's? Have you been there?

Coir and Missionaries

 Saturday was a great day. I had to wait for Tommy to wake up to go shopping. But, I would never make noise to wake him. Finally, he awoke and ate breakfast of cereal and then something for lunch. I scrambled 6 eggs, ate three and will have three for Sunday breakfast. Finally, we left.

It took two stores to find one with a cart. The first had only one working cart. At the second store in Hoover, I found a cart in the parking lot. I had Tommy come in with me and it wore him out because I wanted him right with me. 

I was having heart palpitations, was coughing from asthma and throat was constricting, and there is a huge knot on the back of my calf, maybe a blood clot. When he asked me why he had to go in and stay with me, I told him I wanted someone to call 911 immediately when I fell off the cart instead of having people try figure out what to do!

A Wave Petunia and a geranium were the two flowers I wanted. There are shepherd's hooks that need hanging baskets. I found the coir baskets I wanted. Actually, they are wire baskets with coir liners. So, pretty and perfect. The three shepherd's hooks each have a double hook. I have three hummingbird feeders, two hanging plants, and two birds to hang. The whole thing needs more, but this is a start.

We need two more plant hangers that screw to the posts on his porch. I will get the plants for those later. But, those decisions will be for next week. It will be pretty when I get it all up and IF we can keep it alive. 

My concrete bunny and my wire chicken need plants, plus I need the two more for the posts. So, that is at least 4 more plants. Maybe they both need coir. At some point, I want knockout roses and the azalea that bloom for three seasons. 

We could go out to eat tomorrow, but I would rather get my two hanging plants into the black wire and coir baskets. In the meantime, I have to shorten the metal chains so the plants don't sit cockeyed from the ramp railings hitting them. I hope the coir holds water like everyone claims.

Friday, we were driving along, a bit early for the food giveaway, when I caught site of young men in white shirts and black pants halfway from a restaurant to their cars.  "Mormons! I need to talk to them!" Well, Tommy barely got the car slowed in time to turn in. We pulled up and I asked them if they were Mormons. "We are missionaries with the Church of Jesus Christ--Latter Day Saints." I was horrified I had offended and asked if "Mormon" were a pejorative. 

They explained that they are Christians and do not worship Mormon like some people think. They told us other things we both knew. I had no idea people think they are not Christians or worship Mormon!

I was babbling on and explained I needed help and said friend had missionaries help her and she fed them. Well, they were quite taken with the food part. They said, teasingly, that they would always work for food. Then, they told me they are to do two hours of service each week. 

The first time, I will have them take everything out of all the cabinets in the kitchen, pull off all the stick-on shelf paper, scrub out the cabinets. Same thing on lower cabinets. I made sure they knew I only wanted the contents put into boxes and we could wash or discard the items. Sooooo, that is the plan and they agreed they could do that. I am so excited. 

When all this is done, we can put food and dishes we use in there. We can do that slowly. If we cannot reach to put something in the cabinets, we cannot reach those things to use. Of course, up higher can go things Tommy wants to keep but that we will not use. Tommy has cabinets that go to the ceiling! 

So, they gave me their number and told me to call. I have started planning what to feed them. I will put in chicken pieces and vegetables in a pan, roast it all. I will bake a cake and frost. I might instead bake a pork loin with the vegetables. I will probably make a banana pudding and buy Hawaiian rolls or some bread. This will all have to go with them as I have no place to seat them. They told me I did not have to feed them. I laughed and said men work well for food. They laughed. Actually, I would be willing to pay them!

Okay, do you use coir in pots for your plants? Does it really help to hold moisture? 

Friday This and That/Thanks Kim!

Tommy, at my request, rinsed the black items of clothing with vinegar. So, now I can hang them. At the suggestion of a commenter, I will only buy Kleenex that don't shred. (I can barely get to the laundry room on the carport and certainly not carrying laundry, so he does it for me.) 

The hummingbird feeder is full of live insects that look like tiny, skinny yellow jackets! This is the new feeder, so I hope these cannot get into the ones I still have from last year. I was going to wait until hummingbirds came to put all the feeders. I saw a fly-by last week. 

At almost 8 pm last night, I wandered off to bed and told Tommy to put the food away. He did. I had no idea if I would sleep an hour or eight hours. I slept until 11:30 pm, got up and watched tv with him until 2 am. THEN, I could not sleep, got up at 3 am and used my laptop maybe an hour, went back to bed and slept until 10:30 am. Every morning, no matter how much I sleep, I feel like I have been beat all over. The feeling takes hours to go away. A hot bath would help. A hot shower would be like torture but would help. I cannot get out of the tub. The shower is too nasty and I hate showers. And, I don't have a heating pad! So, I just endure. A heating pad/vibrator would be heaven for my back.

Today, we were given 9 sweet potatoes, 2 zucchini, one yellow squash, one eggplant, dozen apples, cucumbers, croissants, cookies with lots of marshmallow on top, flatbread, collards. I kept little, giving most away, including the bread and cookies. I kept some of the apples for apple something, one yellow squash, 6 sweet potatoes. The lion's share went to a friend. 

Friday night, Tommy wants to have leftovers--green beans, zucchini, potatoes, pork loin. Well, now he said meatloaf, green beans and cabbage!  So, we will eat something. 

Early Mother's Day candy was dessert. Happy! Happy! Happy!

We found someone to help us. Thanks, Kim.

Laundry Fail, Pork Loin, Flowers

 Tommy wanted to go and have his oil changed Thursday and asked me what time I wanted to get up--"11 am." Well, that was a mistake since I could not sleep until 8 am. I was too keyed up, I suppose, from cooking and being busy so late. Or, whatever. 

I felt awful. But, I ate breakfast and dressed and was like a zombie going to the car. I had to hold on with both hands to get down the ramp. 

The oil change was quick because there was no one ahead of us. That was a relief. Tommy wanted to get Big Macs, so we did. 

Lowe's was in my sights. The only thing I found that I wanted to buy was two hanging brackets and a six-pack of Wave Petunias. I got outside and realized I bought the wrong color, sort of peachy when I wanted pink! They will go in my big wire chicken. 

At home, I needed to nap but was too tired. I watched the news, folded my towels and washcloths. Then I cut six zucchini in large pieces, peeled four red potatoes, put all in a cooking bag and plopped an Apple Bourbon pork loin on top. It is in the oven cooking right now. That's dinner for two days. The pork loin was small, but maybe there will be some of it left for one of us to eat for a dinner. It might go in the freezer. 

The potatoes I just peeled are beautiful, not a rotten spot or little black spot in the four for dinners. I just bought red potatoes for $4.99 for five pounds. That price will be cheap considering how many rotten potatoes I threw away. At last.

Tommy watched me put the vegetables and loin into the cooking bag. He also saw I put no seasoning on the vegetables. I know the meat seasoning will be all we need. He is seeing things my way on less sodium on our food. I keep reading him excerpts from Salt Wars by Jacobson. 

A jacket in a load of black laundry had a tissue that shredded all over everything. UGH! Tommy took it all out and picked off the residue and shook the pieces. I was very aware of needing to check the pants pockets and did. Why not the jacket? Because I am exhausted.

I quit using the inhalers because I was afraid they were adversely affecting me. I was a bit better when I stopped and have not regressed. So, hopefully, I will continue to improve...well, if I can get some sleep.

Nothing, seeds or bedding plants or flowers have been planted. I am afraid to get out the little greenhouse and use it because of the dirt I would subject myself to breathing. I may look out through the door and tell Tommy how and where to put dirt and how to plant and transplant. When I guide him, somehow he does not feel he is gardening. Same with the cooking. 

Rats! I forgot to put a red onion in the cooking bag. And, the potatoes are cooking unpeeled. Tommy hates them unpeeled. But, he can peel it on his plate.

What are you going to plant this weekend or planted last weekend? Do you like potatoes with the peels on? 

Cooking All Night

 Well, at some point after midnight Tuesday, it seemed that way. I finally finished about 3:30, then had to hang up clothes. Ugh!

I was given two large messes of green beans and a cabbage that needed to be taken care of on Tuesday. There was no room in the refrigerator for either, so I was obligated to take care of at least the green beans that had already started to sweat. THEN, I had to make room in the refrigerator for a small pot and a huge pot of green beans. I was not in a freezing mood.

Since I was exhausted, I needed a nap Tuesday afternoon. When I finally started, the green beans took forever to get ready for the pot!  It was such a huge pot! I had plenty of time, but I am still ill. 

Wednesday, we ate frozen, prepared food given to me--meatloaf and green bean casserole, plus cabbage I cooked on Tuesday. The meatloaf was tolerable, and the green beans were tough. I have never eaten a tough green bean until today. 

I also was given--pig tails, a pork loin, tiny package of thin turkey slices, sandwich rounds, loaf of bread, sweet potatoes, oranges, salad greens, and zucchini. My friend's dog gets the pig tails. 

Speaking of dogs, the dogs next door bark, but are so far away and have not barked at a time to wake me or cause me to lose sleep. 

Dillon still wears the purplish shirt. AND, John Wayne wore the same color shirt in Rio Bravo. What is this with men in the West wearing these pinkish purplish shirts?

Wednesday night, we spent time with me washing all these plastic snap lock seals for the glass storage and baking dishes. How did we get 30 seals dirty???  I wash, he dries. I froze 4 one-pint bags with ground beef. There was enough leftovers for dinner tomorrow night. 

I thought Tommy might moan or balk at more cabbage cooked. But, he suggested it to eat with the prepared dinner tonight. That man loves cabbage. For the first time, I put no salt on it. Neither did he. I am slowly moving him away from sodium! When I first moved here, he would have salted the cabbage so much it would be all white and grainy. 

When we took a drive around the neighborhood, we saw a Border Collie, one of our favorite dogs in the neighborhood out near the fence in his yard. There was a Styrofoam cup outside the chain link fence. The dog had a leg through the fence pawing towards the cup, trying to get the cup. I have never seen any dog put its leg through a chain link fence, trying to grab something. Cute! 

We keep up with the dogs. Who has a new dog friend. Who has a new dog house. Who is looking old. Who has fleas. Who is lying in the sun. Do you ever see and note changes in the lives of dogs on a drive?

Thursday, we are set to have our first 90F day. I love it. 

Bamboo

 Two Links:

Truth or Trend: Is Bamboo Sustainable?

Bamboo Destroying Deciduous Forests

I read somewhere that villagers who had forest gardens and those who had small plots to feed themselves were forced to give up their food sources. Foraging was eliminated. I cannot find that source. 

When hardwood and softwood forests are gone, we will have more deserts. We need rainforests! 

I refuse to buy bamboo.

Gutted, Angry, Shaking, Sad

Okay, maybe I am being overly dramatic. I don't care! I am having a spell with asthma and feel rotten. Now, I can barely move. 

We had gone to get my inhalers at Walgreen's and sat there forever. But, on the way home I remembered Monday was the day to get the pink bag with ads and coupons. So, we did that back in the neighborhood. I slid out of the car and took two steps to the bag, picked it up and turned and got in the car. 

About thirty minutes later at home I decided to make a phone call. I did a cursory search of my body and the chair in which I was sitting.

NO PHONE!

Tommy went to the car and checked by my seat and under it. No phone. I was in a panic since I told him I knew it fell out of my pocket when I got out of the car to get the bag. 

We went straight to Verizon. The guy was so nice and told me the phone was off anyway because I had not paid my bill. No, I was using it. So, who knows. We discussed what was happening, could happen, and the fact it could not be traced, that I would need a new phone. 

My heart was racing with irregular heartbeats. I was gutted, angry, shaking inside, and sad. I could not even sit up straight. Tommy pulled out his wallet and told me to use his credit card. Since he was on the phone trying to figure out why his Tracfone did not work, he just let me do it. 

I have the identical phone minus my contacts. Loss of contacts is a big deal! 

My asthma is worse now. My heart is still not beating correctly. I still feel gutted. 

Remember the camera that slipped out of my pocket? Same pants! I have had cell phones since 2003 and have never lost one. Since I have had the AT&T Rugby flip phone, I have never broken a phone. The only other flip phone I "broke," just lost part of its functions. But, I did not replace it until it was obsolete. I have owned cameras since I was ten-years-old and have never lost or broken a camera. The only camera and the only phone I have lost were in the pocket of these pants! 

I have a gray pair and a black pair, identical design. I could add onto and lengthen the pockets, but the design won't allow that. The pockets are sewn down. I never noticed this when I bought them and Tommy says it does not show when I wear them. I like pockets inserted in the side seam. This pair has slant pocket openings. 

This is a great financial blow since I will repay Tommy. It affects my confidence and sense of safety. Thankfully, I had food cooked so we could eat without any effort on my part. He heated the taco soup and zucchini. 

Tomorrow or maybe tonight, I will call the police. I don't know why. Plus, I will put up a "lost phone" sign on the telephone pole nearest to where I lost the phone, plus other poles. And, I will offer a reward. 

Have you even been so upset with a loss and how it happened? 

It's That Time of the Year

 I awoke hot this morning. Not only did I have a quilt and wool blanket on me, the room was hot and I had the quilt pulled tight under my neck! So, I started getting sick again, sort of a relapse. I need the ac on for my lungs. I need the quilt and wool blanket so the ac won't be too cold. I know--it is complicated but works for me. I did not need a nap today and felt mostly fine. 

When I got to my chair, the ac was cooling the air, so my lungs quickly recovered, almost. The bedroom is so hot when the weather is nice. In the winter it is cold, but I can bundle up. I get up now and Tommy has on a jacket with a hood, and the hood is up and tightened. His chair is right next to an air vent. I wish my chair was there. The bedroom is the coldest bedroom or any room in the house and the hottest. Gaaa

Tonight, we watched The Weakest Link. I hate that show and the woman, but Tommy loves both. Tonight, we watched a woman win who said that a yard has 20 inches. She helped vote off a man who had not missed a question at all, a perfect record. I hope the people she voted off beat her up afterwards. The dumb contestants always gang up and vote off the smarter people. Skill has little to do with winning!

I cooked four pre-made burgers. I had buns but the rest are molded. Two burgers go into the freezer. There was a pork loin thawed to cook, too. We had salad and steamed zucchini with garlic and olive oil. 

Plans were for me to cook the six sweet potatoes in the oven along with the pork loin. I almost made cupcakes today and frosted them...lol. We went for a drive instead. The sky was blue and the huge fluffy white clouds were beautiful. 

Today, Tommy collected the old roach baits and put down new ones. I am bound and determined to never have roaches again! As much as he was okay with roaches, he is now wanting to help keep them away. 

The six boxes of Wheat Thins arrived yesterday evening. I had planned to open one each month which would have made these last until November. Then, I wondered about the use-by date since I did not want them to be rancid. Wouldn't you know, the best-by date was the end of November. Lucky me. 

We saw the one hummingbird one time and no more. I wonder why. Tomorrow, I will wash it refill it and put out all the feeders filled. 

I want a plant for a hanging basket that can endure the heat and full sun after noon. What can you recommend? 

Do you have hanging flowers? Where do they hang?