Okay, it is actually MISSISSIPPI SIN DIP , and I am making this recipe! The ingredient list with amounts is waaay down at the bottom of the article.
Only 22 people seemed to have read yesterday's post. So, something is wrong. I know more people at least came by. If you can send me an email, telling me what is happening on your end, please do!
Today was a productive day in my opinion. Maybe you could have gotten more done.
I actually made appointments I had to cancel last week or the week before. The podiatrist is rescheduled as is the gastro doctor. Of course, the appointment for gastro is in November.
Plus, I got the name of a doctor about a mile from here to replace the doctor who only seems to want to deal with minor ailments. Then, I had to take an appointment with a nurse practitioner which is fine with me. Maybe she will do something. This doctor actually has an office on the far side of town and works for a hospital. So, it is not so bad as Tommy thought.
Tommy is agreeing to get the second booster tomorrow. So, we will see how it goes getting him to get it. For some reason he was reluctant last week. Of course, I was ill and could not take it. Tomorrow, I will have been through with the antibiotic, so will be the most well I have been in a while.
Tomorrow, I will tackle appointments with two other doctors. One doctor is with a call center and I had to push buttons, choosing what I wanted and then I had to wait for a return call. I looked at the phone and had to make 11 choices, 11 pushing of buttons to get where I needed to be just to be told I would receive a call. This is so frustrating!
Today, the yard was mowed. It had gotten so tall with all the rain. Plus, there is a patch of weeds that is even taller. But, it looks great now.
The scales were in the kitchen because there was no room in the bathroom. Plus, the scales cannot sit on carpet. Since the missionaries never returned to finish the job in the kitchen, the floor is full of cabinet contents and there is no room to walk or move. Stuff had been stacked on the scales and I was afraid the continual weight would damage the scales. I moved them to the other end of the kitchen and Tommy could not roll about.
He moved the scales too far onto the carpet for me to get them. Sooo, I managed to get them out and moved into my bedroom. He has a floor pad for rolling around a desk chair. I thought I might put the scales on that. But, I put them in the closet where there is no carpet.
When I decided to weigh, I just stepped into the closet and got on the scales. Outside of the closet that seemed like a really good idea. Once I was inside the closet, facing the closet rod and in between clothes, I felt rather foolish. Weighing every day is the only way I can lose weight, so I suppose every morning I will be in the closet weighing.
Tommy laughed when I told him he would have to get into the closet if he wanted to weigh. Maybe I will move it to the chair pad thing. However, the closet is better since I need to hold onto something to get onto the scales safely.
Tonight, for dinner we had bacon-cheddar-cheeseburgers and sweet potato. Plus, from the vegetables we also had, Tommy chose carrots.
I am supposed to eat every two or three hours. That is not hard since I am famished. But, eating seems to make me hungrier. It is called reactive hypoglycemia. I read or heard that eating protein every two or three or was it four hours, kept blood sugar under control. Before I came here, I would pull off a piece of chicken breast and eat it as a snack. So, I will start doing what always worked for me.
So, am I to understand no one had an Artemis 1 doughnut?
Do you have good luck with nurse practitioners? I do! Do you have anything unorthodox or personalized habits that help you to lose weight?
Last night, I read until 5 am and got up to go to the bathroom. Tommy had the light on, but I went to the bathroom first. Afterwards, since I had heard a very loud noise, I went to the living room to see what the noise was. He was lying, sprawled full length on the floor. My throat tightened. "What are you doing?" I could barely talk.
As it turns out, he had gotten up to go to the bathroom and heard something fall from his table making the loud noise I heard. When he came back, he lay down to find what fell. After he retrieved the bottle of Vicks Vaporub that fell off the table, he had to drag himself back to his chair. Think Christina's World. Only, he cannot sit up as well as she could. He was mostly on his stomach.
I went back to bed, read the final half page to the end of the chapter and went to sleep.
On Sunday night, Tommy had me find the time the Artemis 1 would launch--7:30. He set the clock and I told him to wake me, too. A little after 7 am, I awoke and came into the living room. He said the launch was delayed, so I told him to wake me if it were to be launched. I slept until 10 am. So, we were up.
I had mentioned getting a Krispy Kreme Artemis Moon Doughnut. We drove about ten miles to get two apiece for a little over $10. We ate one each under the shade of a tree. They were so delicious.
I went into a big box and bought three items I may take back. Many shelves were bare, getting ready for Halloween items.
The sky was even more beautiful than yesterday. It makes me happy.
Of course, I had a nap. And, we ate our second Artemis 1 Moon treat. I talked to Lynda instead of making slaw and baked vegetables.
Dinner was easy--microwaved baked chicken, carrots, squash, and mashed potatoes. After dinner, I had another peach. The others need to be sliced as they are starting to go off. Maybe I will make a cobbler.
And, we end the day with several episodes of Gunsmoke. We have such an exciting life!
Did you get an Artemis I doughnut today?
Have you made a peach cobbler this summer? Do you like ice cream on peach cobbler? Or, a glass of milk?
The thumping that is called music is so loud my chest hurt and my heart beat funny all night. After three hours sleep on Friday night, I finally got to sleep about 5 am Sunday morning and slept until 3:30 in the afternoon. This is not a car or house speaker. It comes from the community center in the park. So, it is a pretty big deal. They are supposed to shut down the music at 10 pm, but this did not happen.
Around 8 pm on Saturday night, I told Tommy I wanted to drive and see where they noise was. Well, we can get to the park through a gate in the fence. The affair going on was young adults, not teens as usual.
This evening, as I started to cook, I was horrified to find we had neither turkey bags nor regular cooking bags ( 8 lb. size), so in two minutes were on the way to Publix. After we came back, I went online, and he wrote prices as I called them out. We found we can get cheaper bags by buying a dozen boxes, only 60 bags. So, we will on Amazon. Price is cheaper per bag, no driving to get them, less taxes, free shipping, so this is all a benefit.
This is the third time I have run out of bags and gone out specially to buy them. We both want this to end, hence the huge order.
In the bag I put enough food for at least three meals for both of us, so six meals, and some in the freezer. There are not enough squash for three meals, but we have other vegetables.
In the bag--Five chicken legs, three huge bscb, five squash I bought Saturday, two pounds of carrots. I put two of the legs into a freezer bag for later. I had a small piece of one bscb, the smallest squash, and about a whole carrot. I seasoned it and forgot once again to add onion to the bag.
The five squash were on the small side, like I like them. I knew that cutting in chunks or slicing them would cause them to disintegrate, so I cooked them whole. If we want less than a whole squash, it can be cut and will hold together once it is cold.
Before we left for Publix, I was heating some sort of precooked, sliced beef for Tommy. It was supposed to be in thin slices, but I let it sit until it was cooked into a mass. No big deal. When we got back, I turned it back on and heated it for Tommy. He had salad with all his fixings and some of the meat that was now solid meat. There are two more meat portions there, so whenever he decides he can eat it.
My friend, Lynda, was stung many times by yellowjackets this evening. She was in her nightgown and went out to check on her strawberries. She went on to the fence to talk to a neighbor and stopped right over a nest of yellowjackets in the ground. They flew up her nightgown and stung her above her waist on her chest. Yikes! They chased her to her car and were in the car. She was trying to kill them and drive at dusk and cannot drive in the dark! She downed Benadryl in Walgreens and opened the alcohol and put it on her stings. She refuses to take my Epipen or ointment for itches and pain. So, I am worried. Yes, there are better things to put on the stings to reduce itching and pain, but this is her choice.
Beware of yellow jacket nests, especially later in the day and this time of the year. Now, I am afraid to walk in the backyard if I ever decide to walk there.
One day, in 1980, I called a friend who was crying. She had gotten into yellow jackets while mowing. At the same moment, my son came in loudly and started crying. He was mowing and got into a nest, too.
I know they are not supposed to leave a stinger, but my son had one on his knee toward the edge of his kneecap. For quite a few months he had a divot in his skin. I spent a lot of time consoling him and treating his stings. I felt so sorry for him and my friend.
The next day, I killed the nest by pouring gasoline into the hole, taking a shovel and lifting the dirt, pouring in more gasoline and lighting a match and dropping it in from arm's length. I understand gasoline. All the kids in the neighborhood learned from my son what I was going to do, so we had an audience. I strictly enforced their not coming near. It was quite a spectacle, and many children had a tale to tell that night.
If you see a stinging insect close to the ground around dawn or dusk, watch and see if it settles and disappears. Several circling low to the ground and settling probably means they are going underground and into a nest. Stay away and eliminate the nest safely, probably not with gasoline.
Have you or do you know anyone who has gotten into yellowjackets?
Today was a really good, happy day. I awoke feeling 100%, but still have meds to take. The sky was blue but a bit hazy. When the mist dried off, the sky was a clear blue. But, when we reached the Warrior River, there was a great fog. This was all around 8 am. Around noon fluffy clouds appeared and added to the beauty of the sky. The further south we came, the more clouds we encountered. Despite predictions, it never did rain. We heard one clap of thunder and had about ten drops of rain on the windshield.
Surprisingly, my mailbox at the PO was not stuffed to overflowing. There was lots of mail but orderly and not a lot of junk mail. I was glad there was nothing there that was dated and perilously overdue, lacking my attention.
When we went to the Festhalle, and the Farmer's Market was in full swing. I could not find Elberta peaches, but did find freestone peaches--$14 for a bucket of 13 peaches. When we got home, I ate the ripest one that was still hard yet was so tasty. A tiny basket of five squash was $4. I like tiny squash because I just do, plus I am supposed to avoid all seeds and skin which leaves little of squash to eat...lol. I forgot to buy a gallon bag of shelled peas!
I saw my favorite farmer and bought from him. I have bought from him for 30 years, bought from his farm and the market. But, today I met his wife for the first time.
At the Publix in my town I found original Special K bogo. So, got one. Once in a while I want Special K with sliced bananas and milk. When I finish this box, I probably won't buy again for six months. Snaplock brand was bogo, so I bought two bowls. While I was at it, I bought two more jars of Miracle Whip bogo because the date was January 23. Since we have been so successful at not using plasticware, I bought another 6 salad forks and 6 spoons.
We ate a burger in the shade of my magnificent oak. Like Tommy said, it is the only place we can be sure of shade since it was high noon. Our other eating places would not have shade! I had a pleasant visit with my yard. There is a lavender Rose of Sharon/Althea volunteer in my yard. My neighbor agreed she wanted it.
Halos are back in stores. I won't buy any right away. We have bananas, apples, cherries, and peaches.
Friday night, Tommy opened a can of green beans and I discovered green beans that are so awful I refused to finish mine. The first bite was a mass of strings and several bites thereafter. I was not eating a stem or anything that should have been stringy. Freshlike is the worst brand of green beans ever.
Today, I decided about 4 pm to take a nap, but that was not to be. I tried 3 times but the thumping that some call music made my chest hurt and disturbed me. So, it is 9:30 pm and I feel miserable. Tommy had leftover meatloaf, mashed potatoes and salad with tomato. So, there was none left for me. I told him to eat it, so no complaints. I had Special K, banana, and milk for dinner. Then, I had part of an apple.
Friday night, I cut my bangs, too short, of course. Saturday morning, I washed my hair before 7 am and it was dry before we got to Cullman. My hair feels so good--clean. fluffy, and shiny. I have never gone four weeks without washing my hair before. Now, I feel like I can go into a store without scaring people.
That was my exciting Saturday. How was your Saturday? Did you get to a market today?
Feeling well is a gift!
Friday, I felt better, so much better. I get limp with any exertion but will take this stage of recovery. Tommy never catches anything. He just sits and moans about his sinuses for a morning and then he is completely recovered. I am glad for him when this happens.
The sun shone brightly, and the skies were blue, so it was a lovely and pleasant day. We took a ride to where Tommy was born and grew up. At one point when he was emancipated, he and his younger brother owned the house and lived there alone. He showed me the homes of relatives--grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
Of course, I took a nap that was interrupted by dogs, motorcycles, and a souped-up car that revved its motor as it raced away and back. UGH
We are watching Gone With The Wind. Of course, I love it. But, thirty years ago, I began to focus on the architecture and furnishings of the rooms. Then, there is Clark Gable!
Inspired by Scarlett, I once made an unstructured jacket from a silk curtain I found wadded up in an attic. When I wore the outfit, everyone greeted me with "Miss Scarlet." The palazzo pants and tunic were made from $1/yd sheer fabric. It was a great sale the day I bought that fabric. My three-piece outfit cost all of $3. I made this on Christmas Day because I had a party to go to that night.
Don't feel sorry for my sewing on Christmas Day. I love to sew and was happy as I sewed. The party was fun.
Finally, we wasted food. Even though I love mushrooms, I wasted three boxes given to me because I was so ill for so long. I even wasted the cooked ones, well some of them. I wasted the wonderful chicken broth. If it is cooked or raw and Tommy will eat it. He finished up lots of food with no problem. Because I was not up for salad or much of it and Tommy ate all he could or wanted, salad was wasted. But, I did the best I could! I hate it.
Thursday morning, I could mostly walk without staggering when I arose from a chair. My sinuses don't hurt. Glands in my neck are not swollen, so I am on my way to being well.
I dislike Publix brand bacon because it is like fatback. If you have never had fatback, you probably don't know what I mean. I have not had fatback in over fifty years, but certainly remembered when I tasted this bacon. Even then, we rarely had it. It was sort of tasty but not bacon. I managed to fold four dishtowels and was exhausted. Tommy kept coming in here to get a dishtowel when he needed it. There is a lot of catching up to do around here. sigh
When we went to the grocery to get apples and a few other things I forgot yesterday, I leaned my head back and went to sleep. When Tommy called to ask a question, I was dreaming and confused. But, I leaned back and was somewhere between sleep and wake and wondered why Tommy was driving at such a steady speed and never stopped or turned. He had left the car on for ac for me, like he always does. No, I am only a little better. He called a second time, and I realized he was not driving. Then, he called a third time, and I was still confused as to what was happening.
A substantial nap happened when we returned home. Since the nap, I have been wobblier while walking. However, my speech is just about back to normal. It seemed loud enough to me, but no one else could hear me.
I did survive all the chopping of onions and bell pepper. I was getting weak! Stirring was so hard. But, we are having meatloaf for dinner. Tommy will have a salad with tomato, onion, and bell pepper, and I will eat green beans and tomatoes. I used my cheaply bought from Amazon tomato paste. All the onion and bell pepper along with the paste should eliminate the need for much salt.
Tomorrow, I might make mashed potatoes to go with the meatloaf.
I have made a decision--I will not be sewing to earn money even though one person has contacted me. I regret that I have not gotten my machine set up. Plus, this illness has shown me I cannot actually be dependable. Or, at least that is the way I feel right now.
In reading The Fitzgeralds and The Kennedys, I have learned so much. For instance, insider trading was once the way it was done, not illegal at all.
I sent Tommy to the house with the dogs that bark to give them six bananas since we have too many. He said the woman was happy to receive them, but looked confused at first. I suppose she thought we were there to complain. She said the children would love them.
Do you need rain? I will send you some. Or, come and get it.
Do you ever have lucid dreams that confuse you?
Yesterday, we went to pharmacy yesterday. But, the car would not start. So, Tommy got out our handy, dandy charger and started the car. Well, I started it when he told me. Today, we were going to get gas and go to Publix. We needed the charger again. He accidentally turned off the car at Publix and had to start it again with charger. Pumping gas, he had to turning off the car, so charged it again. Then, we went to Auto Zone to have battery and alternator checked. It was the battery.
So, we stopped by Pep Boys. They could work on the car, but I wanted to go home. He was going to return and they would bring him home and get him when it was done. But, he called me and said they were getting the starter and he could wait for just a bit.
This battery charger has saved us trouble. Tommy said he used it five times in two days, once yesterday and four times today. On August 12, 2022, we used the little air compressor. So, these two portable items have really saved us a lot of trouble. I highly recommend both.
Okay, this has taken me about three hours and three tries to write this post. So, I am going to post and collapse.
It has been cloudy and gray today and not much rain where we are. Dreary!
One of us will cook burgers. I will eat a whole can of green beans and a Roma tomato. He will eat hamburger and tomato and whatever green he wants. Yes, I can eat a whole can of green beans by myself. Now, if he wants green beans he can have some, too.
I have not looked at all the ads yet, just Publix, so there may be items I do want. I had been waiting on Miracle Whip deal. How about your ads? Anything good or that you need or want?
I went to bed. Then, a friend called and woke me. I called Tommy and had him get chocolate ice cream and two Miracle Whip, both bogo. He brought home frozen chocolate yogurt which was fine. This was the first week in August that there have been things we want. I forgot what else I want, so we have to go back again. Oh, he bought four 12-packs of Dr. Pepper, b2g2. He now has a $1 coupon to take back and apply with the receipt.
Green grapes are $1.29/lb., so I want some of those. Red Delicious Apples on sale. I meant to have Tommy get apples for me.
Sinus pressure is less. Not quite so dizzy. Otherwise, I still feel miserable. Tommy waits on me, thankfully.
I am in shock--the starter was $650 for r and r on Rogue.
Doctor gave me an antibiotic. First, he wanted me to take a Covid home test. I was so shaky and confused while taking it, I took another. Both were negative, thankfully. He advised me to take otc meds I am taking.
Since I could sleep little on Monday night, and the doctor did not call until 8:30, and I got up at 7:30 in order not to miss 8:00 call, I was beat and took a nap. Not only did both dogs bark incessantly, the kids were noisier than ever. I rarely hear them. Today, I did. However, the dogs were the problem. Maybe I slept an hour then slept fitfully if at all.
We have been eating the ham, lettuces, tomatoes. Thankfully, Tommy is okay with this. I suppose I will cook more vegetables and meats on Wednesday. I soak a slice of ham and then heat it in a skillet. Hopefully, this somewhat alleviates the salt problem.
When I told the doctor it had been over three weeks since I had washed my hair, he said, "Oh, you have been sick!" The dizziness keeps me from even trying to stand and bend my head and wash my hair. I do wash the rest of me.
When I run a fever, my lips get blisters on them. They are so tender and hurt. Just sitting and typing this little makes me tired, exhausted.
I really hate this cool weather and humidity and rain! Where are the high 90s?
Sunday, whatever affliction I had came back with a vengeance, double what I had been feeling. I could barely get out of bed on Sunday. While I did not nap, I rested lots in my chair, reclined. Once I went to my room to look for the phone. Instead of looking for my phone, I just crawled in bed and covered up. Tommy came to see if I needed help finding the phone, and I told him to come get me up in thirty minutes.
My hands shook all day, I had a fever, and could barely keep my balance to walk--not a good day.
Thankfully, we had salad mix, tomatoes, and ham. There was also bacon, but we chose ham to eat. I don't know how they get this ham into one shape that fits so all the hams look the same. This is not a chopped product mashed into a shape, just whole ham without bone. I soak my piece to get out some of the salt. We are eating the tomatoes two apiece at a meal.
Sunday and today, my glands in my neck below my ears are so swollen and painful. My hands are shaking. Yesterday was worse than today. Last year, I was ill the whole week of my birthday. I am shooting for feeling well this year! To that end, I need to call the doctor! In the meantime, I am using two inhalers, two eardrops, Hall's Mentholyptus, Claritin, guaifenesin, Vicks Vaporub, etc., you name it. My goals is to feel better with all this, reduce allergic response, breathe better, reduce symptoms. Sometimes, with this regimen, I actually can get completely better and beat the infection.
I am quite sure the 75F and damp weather are part of my problem. I think we are going to end the month with rain!
In a bit, I will scramble eggs for lunch since it is almost noon, and I have only had half a banana. Standing so long will be harder today, but I want scrambled eggs! Tommy is going to cook/break up ground beef, so I need to chop onions, some to use today, some to freeze, and some for the refrigerator for him to use on salads. I think I have six Vidalia and don't want them to spoil.
Do you ever take generic meds to get rid of an infection? What are you having for dinner today? Inspire me.
Sleep was different last night. I went to bed, read an hour, and then slept two hours and could not go back to sleep, got up and computer was acting up. So, I went back to bed about 7 am and slept until 1:30. I felt better than I have in ages. Tommy says he can tell I felt better.
Of course, my ears don't hurt. My throat was not sore anymore, chest felt clear, eye lids were not sore, and best of all, I was clear-headed. Sooo, of course, I wanted to get things done that I had wanted to do. I felt really good! Tommy got to hear the list of things "we" needed to do. First on the list was removing old roach baits and put down new ones. He did that while I heated ham to eat for my lunch and put all the utensils in the dishwasher. Next, he handed me the plates and other items for dishwasher and we got that running.
See? These are not major chores, just things that need to be done to live. We are now eating off an assortment of plates, not paper plates. The other chores were to heat through the thawed ham and freeze most of it. I forgot one thing--Tommy needs to put shelf paper in one shelf!
I really would like to have a set of dishes instead of a hodge podge of plates and such. I suppose when I do get dishes, we can still use the hodge podge when dishes are not clean. It is time for a thrift store trip or to a affluent area of town for a good yard sale.
Then, we went for a drive and to Publix. We both needed our separate milks, bananas, bread, and a pill splitter. My favorite bread was bogo, so that is something. My pill splitter started cutting off a third of a pill, not good. He got that done while I waited in the car. We had to wait a bit to go out since we got a short soaking rain, but there was no thunder or lightning.
On the drive to Bessemer, we stopped at a guy's produce stand. He had pulled his pickup into his very short driveway with the bed over the sidewalk. His pickup had produce, probably from the big produce market on Finley. However, he had cups of muscadine. So, we got a $5 cup, about 12 ounces. These will make good eating out of hand until I decide to make jam. Of course, it will have seeds and skins in it just like at my Aunt Willie's (Wilhelmina) in Mississippi. She was a great aunt, mama's aunt; and we loved her and her cooking. Her house is the only place I have ever had muscadine jam. The tomatoes were big and beautiful, but we have plenty of tomatoes....maybe another day.
Altogether, Saturday was a very pleasant day, only about 80 at 5 pm, but so humid, 93%, not pleasant at all. I would rather it be in the 90s and low humidity.
Dinner tonight will be ham, slaw and tomatoes. Tommy said he might have salad instead of slaw.
If I feel this good tomorrow, I might make the cupcakes for the children next door. Enough sleep goes a long way to getting things done. It's after 8 pm and I see lightning, but hear no thunder. Tommy did not have to water today and won't tomorrow.
How was your Saturday? Have you ever had muscadines? Muscadine jam?
Friday, we cooked two pounds of bacon in the oven and had BLTs. Yum! A bag of salad and Roma tomatoes were used. This was lunch and will be lunch tomorrow. Tommy sat on his walker and looked in the oven every three minutes. He did not enjoy throwing away bacon when we burned it a couple of weeks ago. So, he guarded it with the promise of a BLT.
The best part was that I now have a cup of bacon grease. Maybe in the morning I will have scrambled eggs cooked in a tbsp of bacon grease. The skillet is non-stick, but a taste of oil or bacon grease or butter is good.
Using one little vial of the eyedrops has kept my eyelashes from being sticky. However, my eyelashes hurt, not the lashes, but the base. It feels like they are bruised and swollen. I imagine this is from incessant rubbing of my eyes. If they are not better after a few more days of not rubbing, I will ask my eye doctor what is happening when I get a new eyeglass prescription.
It was overcast and a pleasant temperature all day until about 3 pm when we were out. After heavy sprinkles, the sun came out and the air was palpable, muggy. However, even with the mugginess, we sat in the park and ate Drumsticks, enjoying the freshly washed scenery and the sky.
We made a trip to shop from the bedroom, removing a box of Wheat Thins, tomato paste, unsweetened Jello, and Ziploc quart storage bags. All this was bought on sale. The storage bags were Christmas clearance. I wonder what the price is now. I like shopping from the bedroom. I did get the 48 can of tuna moved into the room. I will get it in place another day as my back was hurting and it was late.
Tonight, I realized I have not been bitten by one mosquito, and I only saw one in February. Have you seen mosquitoes or have been bitten? Do they sing about, threatening to bite you?
For dinner, I sliced the kind of ham that is in a roll and cooked those slices even though they are fully cooked. We had ham, coleslaw and sliced tomatoes.
Are you shopping from your pantry stash? Mosquitoes about?
The doctor visits were cancelled. I had no sleep until about 10:30 am. It appears I had a slight fever last night. And, my congestion and cough were worse for about two hours this morning, So, I will have to try again.
We went out for one thing--eyedrops. The retina specialist told me to get artificial tears with no preservatives for my eyes that get sticky along the lashes and make seeing difficult. Tommy went into Publix for them and could not find any without preservatives so decided we could go elsewhere. Since I could not imagine they had none, I told him to ask at pharmacy. Someone showed him. In his defense, he said these were separate from the other eyedrops. These drops sting and it takes about 30 minutes before I can see better.
On the way home, we cross a creek right near his house. People fish from the banks. It looks so polluted I cannot imagine eating anything caught there. Tommy exclaimed, asking did I see the big white bird. As we drove along nearer the creek, we saw a beautiful, tall, white bird, a Great Egret. It was exciting as I cannot remember having seen a Great Egret.
There were other pictures of the Great Egret, but the pose is like the one we saw. The all-white bird was majestic, about three-feet tall.
Tommy is watering. I think it rained everywhere else but here! I suppose with the forecast and recent past rain, it looks like this will be a three-week rainy period. I know some of you need rain, but I just don't like so much and especially when I need to go places. He is dead-heading flowers and will drag the garbage to the road. We do get an average of 58-60 inches of rain per year. But, I am ready for a little drought.
There are so many little, piddling chores to do around here. I just don't feel like doing anything. Sooo, I took another nap...lol. Maybe I can get a few chores done after the nightly news...lol.
On the news--Alabama is first in the nation in per capita deaths. Usually, we are dead last or next to last in measures.
What is happening at your house? Excess rain? Drought? Ever seen a Great Egret? Do you ever suffer from dry eyes?
We did our shopping for the week. Tommy went in and bought one bell pepper. The ads are not helpful at all. He also brought out a box of Klondike bars! Oh no! I will need bananas which are never on sale. I may buy eggs later and bread which is bogo, At this time I have plenty of eggs and plenty of bread. By Tuesday I might be able to handle more of each.
Not one person on the news I heard or online mention that Tuesday was the day Elvis died--August 16, 1977. So Trump and the Ukraine are more important? I am disappointed. I did my memory recall and told Tommy. Since I am from Memphis, he is near and dear to me. My daughter and I am the baby cried lots that day. I felt bad because the baby was crying and she did not know why. My son and husband were confused. Did you remember his death on Tuesday?
Since I had trouble sleeping Tuesday night, I did have a nap. But, afterwards I did have the gumption to do a few things I needed to do. Unfortunately, the nap so late may affect my ability to sleep tonight. I hate that since I have two doctors' appointments on Thursday.
I feel much better since I started taking otc guaifenesin. It clears up anything in my lungs and saves me from so much misery and antibiotics. Sometimes, when I do need an antibiotic, the doctor wholeheartedly agrees this otc med is necessary. This is the original Mucinex, not the later ones with all sorts of other medications included. Do you ever take generic guaifenesin or original Mucinex with only one active ingredient?
Why, oh why do doctors give an appointment time and then later, on paper or on a text or voice mail confirm and say to come 15 MINUTES EARLY? Why not just give a time to be there and have that include check-in time? It annoys me to have a time in mind and then find out I must be there earlier. I feel like they are trying to trick me into thinking I am not having to come in earlier. Do you wish doctors would just include that extra 15 or 30 minutes in the time of arrival?
Dinner was easy tonight. We heated last night's dinner--chicken, potatoes, carrots and snow peas. And, that is the dinner for Thursday night, too.
I finished Salt Wars and would highly recommend it. There is no plot, no heroes, no drama. Well, there is the drama of how salt affects our bodies. I loved it. Maybe you need a plot.
After Salt Wars, I read a bit of fluff from my box of books sent me by an internet friend, who, by the way, is a "laugher," too.
Now, the book I am reading is The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys, from a free spot last year. This book has a whole 950 pages of text and reference pages beyond--another 300 pages, I think. At page 55 I am in love with the writing style of Doris Kearns Goodwin. She brings alive the slums of the Irish and the Boston Commons. It is amazing how a child with a different temperament from most children can affect history 150 years later. This book certainly is holding my attention.
Today, I feel only a smidgen better, not enough to really feel it. I have a puny little cough that I only need to clear my throat.
The slaw last week was a bust. Day 1--bought it, Day 3--mixed it and ate some and loved it, Day 4--it was very vinegary, Day 5--it choked me and I coughed and choked through the meal. Tommy said he would not eat any more when I offered him the small helping left. He said it was too vinegary, too. So, that was thrown out. Too bad. It was well within the date until the end. I have no idea what happened.
Today, we went to the food giveaway. All was salad things--two bags of slaw, two packages of romaine for a total of 4 heads, two boxes of baby spinach, about 4 other bags of green stuff. Then--21 tomatoes total with two thrown away. Those were in what friend gave us since she does not like tomatoes all that much, and not raw. We got two 8 oz packages of snow/snap peas, five potatoes and two onions, one (1) croissant, two other things that are round like bagels but with no hole and some cinnamon and sugar on top, not sure what they are called.
There was no meat, one semi-sweet, and no cleaning products. But, that is okay. Next week, we may get 7 bread products or five sweets!
We took all her spinach and ours, plus other salads to a grocery store and gave them away to a woman and her daughter in the parking lot, asking her to share with others in family or neighbors. I think we gave away about 14 fresh salad and green things. So, it is shared and maybe will not go to waste. None of the salad items are out of date on the bag or box. We check to see how long they might last.
Today, I had to go pick up papers at my doctor in Homewood. Well, that is right near Cookie Fix, so of course, I had my fix--a chocolate cookie. What else would I choose? Tommy told me it was chocolate cookie with a chocolate kiss on the top. So, I leaned to him puckered up and gave him a kiss which he leaned to receive when he saw me being silly. He said it was a salty kiss. I have no idea why people put salt on chocolate since it adds nothing for me.
There is a new chocolate shop in Homewood, Chocolate America, two doors down from Cookie Fix, I think. I looked this shop up on the internet. It is the same guy who had an art gallery with chocolate. I have been there and would love some of his art, too. So, I am good. The chocolate is from chocolatiers all over the US and out of this world delicious.
I took about two pounds of carrots from last week, four potatoes, and two packages of snow peas, sprinkled them with olive oil and Concord powder for roasting potatoes, and three bscb in a bag in the oven bag. I meant to put an onion, but I forgot. This will last us at least 3 days and was all free.
Friend gave us her tomatoes and snow peas. I think I have so many tomatoes that I may blanch some and freeze them to use in cooking. Or I will blanch them and cook with them, maybe in Spanish rice.
Monday morning early, I called my doctor's nurse and asked for two refills, both for 90 days each. Sure enough, that afternoon, I was notified they were ready, so I picked them up. Later, I looked at both bottles. One only had two tablets, yes, 2 pills. I talked to the nurse, and she was puzzled, saying they would never write a prescription for two pills since that was only a one-day supply. So, I called the pharmacy and talked to pharmacist. She was equally puzzled, saying they would not even fill a prescription for two pills. I laughed when she asked me if I were sure. There were 2 pills in the bottle, 2 on the label, and 2 on the paper with the prescription, AND, they only charged me 4 cents.
There was no mention that they were short on the pill. They usually say so and just give you what they have on hand. I asked if I could get the other 178 pills today. They agreed and I picked it up. BUUUT, there were only 144 pills with a note on the bottle that this was a short amount. Once again, no one mentioned this, which they usually do. I will never leave a window until I have ripped open the paper bag and looked to see how many pills I received! I have gotten less pills, but I always am told that this is happening. I have never been surprised before!
What are you reading?
How do you feel about salt on your chocolate? I do not like this trend.
Today, I have mostly slept or just lay in bed or have just sat in my chair. I feel so horrible! I feel vaguely uncomfortable in my chest, throat, ears, and head.
I called my friend, Lynda, today to ask something. My intention was to talk for 3 minutes or so. We talked 45 minutes and laughed most of that time. So, now I am more exhausted than ever.
To show you how we joke and laugh, this happened. One day, she said she like something, maybe okra. I quit smiling and retorted, all over the phone, "Well, we cannot be friends anymore if you like okra" Or, whatever it was.
There was one beat of silence and she came back fighting mad and laughing at the same time and declared our friendship was over. Today, it was a lot of sarcasm about things happening at her work and laughter at our silliness. We laugh a lot. I always feel invigorated after our antics. But, today, it was just too much for me.
So, I am exhausted. Do you have friends that you laugh with?
Friday, my car was needed while the flat was repaired and tires rotated, I drove. I don't like him driving my car since I fear he will mess it up. He cannot see out the way he adjusts the seat for his needs. He has driven it, but I enjoy driving. So, we set out. As we left the driveway, I told him, "Now, I want to see if I know the way. So, don't tell me how to get there, okay?" He agreed. About three minutes later, he said, "Make sure you get into the left lane." I told him okay but not to help me. About four minutes later, he said, "When you can, get into the right lane." I was really upset, asking what he was doing since I wanted to see if I knew the way without him telling me. He argued that he was just trying to help!
"I was just trying to help to make sure you were in the proper lane." Well, I raised my voice more than a little bit. He said he just did not want me to turn wrong or miss a turn. He said this in the most condescending voice. I suppose he was trying to tamp down my anger and frustration. and cause, you know I just started driving yesterday. "I can turn around if I go wrong!"
Two things: I don't know my right from my left 99% of the time, so telling me either is not helpful, just frustrating. And, I have been driving for over 50 years!
About two years ago, I was going to drive my car or his, don't remember which, to Birmingham. It is so confusing because I have to go north to go south. At the place to get onto the interstate, there are two exits not 500 feet apart. Both look like I should take them. I asked, calling out the sign messages, asking which I should take. He kept screaming to follow the white car. I kept insisting he tell me the message/numbers on the sign. There were two white cars and a white truck. I was frantic. He kept refusing to tell me what it said on the exit to turn. I screamed at him to get him to tell me which sign I should follow.
When I was on the right entrance onto the interstate, he told me all I had to do was follow his instructions. I asked him, "What will I do the next time if there is no white car to follow?" Only then did he quit blaming me. This man could not teach anyone to drive!!!
I learn to drive by seeing, hearing, reading and doing. I was getting nothing from his directions.
For thirty years I drove to Birmingham on my own from 50 miles north of here, found my way around all sorts of places--UAB, shopping, theaters, antique shops, friends' homes, places to sell dog clothes, lots of exploring. But, I never had to get off I-65 before Birmingham and go west! I am not an idiot and am good with directions and finding places I need to go.
Okay, when my daughter took private tap lessons from Corky Bell, I did get onto the interstate going west, but I went to one place and home. It was easy and not something that stuck with me. And, I worked in inner city schools for about 5 years, but the way here was from the south!
I will admit he "helps" me in ways I need, like picking up heavy things and other ways. But, this drives me crazy.
How do men try to "help" when you don't need it. Or, does he "help" in an unhelpful manner? Or, does he help when you want to do it yourself or have it under control?
edit: Don't get me wrong, I don't mind help. But, when I am trying to learn and say "don't help." I don't think help is helpful.
Saturday night, 7 pm. It seems I have been in bed most of the day. Of course, I slept my 4.5 hours, got up and onto the laptop. Then, I was sleepy, so crept back to bed without waking Tommy. I still could not sleep, so got up around 9 am. I took an hour nap in my chair. Later, I was so sleepy and ill that I went back to bed and rested, got up and finally went back and napped. Either this is sinus and chest or uti. Who knows? Still, I have been miserable all day.
I suppose I only drove ten miles Friday, but last night and today, both hands feel like they have been beat up. What is this new development? Arthritis, I suppose. Yet, my hands don't look like the hands of friends with arthritis. Oh well.
Today was a rain-free day, yet I have not so much as looked out of the house. I did put a pan of breaded, precooked chicken filets in the oven. That was my cooking for the day. That was my work for the day. I had that and coleslaw for dinner. Tommy had hotdogs, coleslaw, and the last dab of mashed potatoes. I think coleslaw is the last cooked/prepared vegetable in the refrigerator. There is still salad and all the fixings. Later, I will have apple, banana, and cherries. He will have cherries.
All summer, I have been lucky to avoid the wasps that land on the ramp railing. It seems they land on the side of the round rail where I can barely see them. I will be so upset if I grab a wasp. I need someone to get down and see if there are wasp nests under the ramp. Plus, there is a wasp nest over the front of the carport.
It needs to be dusk to deal with wasp nests, and Tommy needs to move his car back before I have the nerve to go spray the nest. Squeezing in between our cars will not give me enough room to move quickly if one comes toward me. It is not like I can move very quickly, but I could try. He needs to examine the back and other side of the house so I can spray nests there. He cannot move fast enough to get away. Maybe I can move fast enough...lol. I was going to have the missionaries locate the nests, but since they are not here at dusk, I certainly would not expect the guys to spray.
Have you had many wasps this year? How do you deal with wasps? How about hornets?
Friday was an absolutely gorgeous day, sun and blue skies. low humidity, and a few fluffy white clouds. Plus, at one point in the middle of the day, it was 83F as opposed to somewhere in the 90s. Of course, the temps will go back up and that is perfectly okay.
Tommy went out to the washing machine and discovered his back driver side tire was flat. I don't mean low; I mean flat on the ground. I was ecstatic because it did not happen when we were gone, plus now was a good time to test the little gadget to see if it really would fill a tire from flat. We used it to fill a half-flat tire, but this was a true test. lol...okay in my opinion. I knew we would need this air compressor eventually. We did and I am happy it worked for us.
He went into the house to find his tire gauge. I have no idea why it must be kept in the house. But, when he disengaged the air compressor, and used the tire gauge, the compressor would not start again. I remember it can only used for so many minutes before it must cool down. I just hope it will start again in order to finish filling. It did.
I love this little air compressor. We would have to call for help and pay or get a neighbor down here. I think the guy across the street has an air compressor that has wheels and is huge. Well, he did 20 years ago. But, today, we did it ourselves, Tommy mostly.
He took the car in and had the tires rotated while he was there. It cost him nothing because he has some sort of hazard plan. Of course, I followed him in my car and we went back in my car so he could retrieve his car. Oh, there was a screw in the tire.
I HAVE A THEORY
Since I have developed this theory, I pick up fewer screws/nails/pieces of metal. Not all these small tire hazards on the road cause a problem. Some are thrown off the side of the pavement. Then, they rest here in the bit of gravel or between grass and pavement. They don't get thrown again and go into the grass. So, they accumulate making a hazardous place to turn around or drive across, especially if you just scooch off the road to turn around, running on a path of the grave. This is also true for old service station areas, abandoned with just the pavement left. That bit of pavement looks like a good place to turn around. It is. But, I believe it is a prime place to pick up tire hazards! Prove me wrong...lol.
I avoid these handy looking places and beg Tommy to do so, too. But, he ignores me. You know I don't know anything!
When he aired up this tire, it immediately started losing many pounds of air, visible when we looked at it. Thankfully, Pep Boys was less than two miles from here.
Does my theory hold water? Tell me what you think? Have you picked up an inordinate amount of tire hazards by driving in places between pavement and grass or on old, abandoned patches of asphalt or concrete?
My car was started and driven, something I needed to do, so two chores.
Dinner--chili and cheese, hotdog and bun, and coleslaw. Tommy did not have cheese. I took one bun, put it on the plate and placed two hotdogs on the one bun, topped with chili and grated cheese and ate it with a fork. Tommy picked his buns up with his hands. He had Bob Evan's Mashed Potatoes.
One chore and the car have been our day! Plus, he did two loads of laundry for me and I hung it inside.
Wednesday night, I finally went to sleep about 7 am on Thursday. So, a nap was in order. However, it seems nothing makes me feel better. The sinus problem is not so bothersome, just making me feel tired all over. So, nothing much done.
We did go to the store to get hot dogs for my Sonic meal--chili cheese dog. It won't be a footlong but will satisfy my wanting.
This past week, the dishwasher has been empty so I can put dirty dishes in as we go. Now, I can run it tonight. I much prefer dealing with dirty dishes this way. So, now I never have to wait on Tommy to help since it is emptied slowly and filled slowly.
For the past year, I have been finding tiny crickets, about a quarter of an inch long, maybe smaller. I find them one at a time on the front of the sink or in the sink or on sink in bathroom. The strange thing is I have never heard or seen an adult cricket. I suppose the tiny ones are crickets. In all my life, I have never seen a cricket so tiny. I have rarely seen adult crickets. One cricket and I am all over the situation. I certainly don't want them eating fabrics. The chirping of an adult cricket drives me nuts!
There is a huge knot in my left calf. I had Tommy feel both calves and he says the left is very hot. Just great. I don't need a blood clot complicating my life. I took another baby aspirin.
Looking through my purse or some stack of odds and ends, I found a coupon. It is for Daisy Sour Cream and has a date of 12-30-22. Great! I like long dates like that.
Thinking about my upcoming birthday, I realize how close to being 80 I am. Yikes. How did this happen? I remember being utterly shocked on the morning I turned 70. Every October since 1992, I have been ill, allergy-induced, I suppose. Well, last year, I started becoming ill a month earlier in September. So, I was ill the week of my birthday. Not fun! It appears I am going to be puny even earlier this year. I need to call for a telephone call with my allergist.
Finally, I got the glass from the floor. I was going to take the lid and ring off, I didn't. I told Tommy that it was not worth it, being ill and slipping and cutting myself for one ring and lid. So, it is gone. I managed to pick up the shards and beans without cutting myself. He pulled off long pieces of clear packing tape while I taped the carpet and then pulled up the tape, collecting many small shards.
He brought me the stick vac. I used that for longer than I really thought I needed to vacuum. But, I am satisfied that all the broken glass particles are gone. Whew! I will still be wearing shoes when I step there. It is right in front of the freezer door, so I will need to be there often.
I had three things on my list. The other two might get done tonight, not sure. But, it feels good to accomplish one thing that had to be done. It makes me happy...lol. Maybe I will get ambitious and do the other two chores with Tommy's help. He will use his walker to move items to the bedroom where I keep some food.
Since it rained, Tommy did not have to water. Thunder rumbled all about today. Elsewhere, there was flooding, rain, and storms.
Do you ever get crickets? I have had about 6 crickets in my house in 20 years. Here, although I never have adults, I get these babies. Do you get the baby crickets?
It's amazing. There is absolutely nothing in the grocery ads from five stores that is anything I want or need. NOTHING! Usually, there is at least one item I can stock up or something for immediate consumption. It astounds me. However, I still collect the pink bag with coupons and ads. Only, Publix ad has been absent for two weeks. That puts a kink in my armchair browsing.
Monday night, I perused the ads with a marker in hand. Finally, I put the ads and coupons back in the pink bag and tossed to Tommy. He cuts the coupons for the food bank friend and circles items in the ads we need to buy or something he wants. He did not circle anything but is usually good for a few circles.
We did go out for soft drinks today. We will just sit on our money until a loss leader, price reduction, or a bogo comes along.
The food giveaway was not so great for us. We gave away lots of it.
2 boxes of fresh spinach
turkey necks
fake sausage patties
2 lbs chicken livers
9 bananas (we kept four)
8 huge bags of too hot or too salty chips
All the above went away.
We kept:
Land o' Lakes sliced Muenster cheese
Dole chopped salad kit bacon and bleu cheese
2 Vidalia onions
4 of the bananas
pork meat for stew???
2 bottles Bleu Cheese salad dressing yum
box of Bob Evans mashed potatoes
Also, from past giveaways we gave things we were not going to use:
three cucumbers still fresh
two bags, boxes of salad
12 cans of Hunts tomato products
large bottle of hand wash liquid
gallon of sweet tea
There seems to have been more
When we gave all the meat products away, we knew the resident dog would get those. In the past we have kept all salads in hopes of eating them. Now, we give them away immediately. It is sad to see food waste.
All the Hunt's tomato sauce and bits have a "use by" date of May 5, 22. So, we don't keep too many of those. I think we have about eight or a dozen. But, all need to be eaten, not saved until next year. So, we give them away and tell people to eat them now. No one seems fazed.
The woman in the parking lot was very gracious. She wanted to know exactly where food was given away so she can go. So, maybe she can get it herself from now on. Most people say thank you and leave. These women, three generations, stayed and talked.
Tonight starts the new season, I think, of Resident Alien. On Sunday, there was a rerun. Great fun. Believe it or not, I am choosing Password over Gunsmoke. Heretofore, I have absolutely despised KeKe Palmer, but she is good hosting Password, one of my favorite shows. Formerly, she was on a show with Michael Strahan, taking over for Sarah Haines who left. She was so nuts. Now, she is just personality plus.
It is after 7 pm, and I have only eaten milk and banana about noon, some chicken breast, tiny 1 oz bag of cheetos around 4 pm. Before 8 pm, I will eat a salad with lots of fresh mushrooms. Remember, I have two boxes. These are square boxes whereas the ones from the last two weeks were rectangular ones. Dinner was the American Salad topped with mushrooms, parmesan cheese, and Ranch dressing. Tommy had the chicken breast on skewer with onions and peppers, salad, and mashed potatoes.
This afternoon, it rained for about 30 minutes, enough to keep the grass lush and growing. It seems it is not so dry as usual when the grass does not grow so fast. I could be wrong. So, Tommy is relieved not to water.
My sinuses are still hurting, and it all makes me feel so awful. My ear does not hurt, so I will take it. Still, it took a night of okay sleep along with a long nap to keep me going today. I was so ill this morning; I cancelled my appointment with the gynecological oncologist. I feel a bit better tonight, but the day has been me sitting.
How are the ads in your area? The only good part is there is nothing I am waiting on to go on sale. So, there is nothing spent except for the slaw yesterday and drinks today. I think the slaw was 29 cents less today, but that is okay.
One day, Tommy and I had a sliced tomato on our plates or we had a salad. At any rate, we had fresh tomatoes. I noticed something on his plate that he was not eating. It was about a half inch high. I asked him what he was not eating. He said it was tomato seeds. He told me he hated tomato seeds. That membrane is probably the best part of a tomato and where all the flavor is for me.
In the past I have read about canning tomatoes where the instructions include de-seeding tomatoes before canning. I thought this was plain weird, so I canned tomatoes with seeds. I won a blue ribbon for canned tomatoes at the fair and the tomatoes in the jar had seeds. So, it appears it is proper enough.
Since that day, I have noticed he leaves the clear, juicy, and seedy part of the tomato on his plate. Of course, I have not mentioned it since he told me hates the seeds and the soft membrane surrounding them.
Do you dislike tomato seed and membranes? Do you avoid them or discard when you eat tomatoes or can them? Is it the taste or texture? I may start getting the seeds and membranes from his tomatoes before I serve them to him.
One month, I received a copy of Ladies Home Journal. I have no idea why. But, I enjoyed the freebie. The next month I received a copy of Cosmopolitan. I did not enjoy it as much as I did years ago. It was nice having reading material in my hands that I did not have to pay to get. I cannot stand to throw out magazines, so I always give them to someone I know who always passes on magazines to others. I am waiting on my third month of a free magazine. Have you gotten free magazines in the mail for no apparent reason?
The glass remained on the carpet because I was dizzy when I walked on Monday. The dizziness sort of came and went. I was afraid it would come while I was bending and into the glass. Besides, I was too busy taking a nap and then it was dark. There is no light in that area of the room! Okay, that is my excuse. It is Tuesday night and I actually feel like I might die. No cleaning up glass for me. I only slept one hour last night, and then could not take a nap today.
We have not gotten one robo call from a car warranty company since carriers were ordered to stop allowing the calls through. Or, something like that. Now, the phone rarely rings which is okay with us. We both have a cell phone and he has a home phone, so we were hit hard. No more. Have you noticed fewer calls?
How do you feel about tomato seeds?
Any free magazines coming to your mailbox?
Life is easy when I don't have to cook. Tommy has eaten well for lunch and dinner. Since I have so many vegetables cooked or just cut for him, he uses a wrap for lunch, filled with goodness. For dinner, his plate was full of cooked meat and vegetables plus a salad.
The two cups of chicken broth is in the freezer. Amazingly, there was little fat to skim. This tasty broth will be good in something later this year.
We awoke early with the alarm since we both had a doctor's appointment with my doctor. This is the last of this doctor. I came home, took a nap, and didn't do much. Tommy offered to take me to some of the places I have said I wanted to go. No, I just wanted a nap. We ate dinner and watched to first two Tarzan movies with Johnny Weismuller and Maureen O'Sullivan.
Before we left, I had washed my hair and made a chicken sandwich to eat on the way. Tommy had to fast for a blood test. But, then he had to get a sandwich on the way home. We are cutting back on fast food. It may never disappear.
A gentle rain for a few minutes eliminated Tommy's having to water once again. The flowers are also looking a little more lively since the sun is not so intense and temps are several degrees lower. Of course, when the sun comes out and the temps rise, the flowers don't look so perky, but still beautiful.
Oh, I did empty the dishwasher so it can be loaded again. It works best for me to spend two days putting things on the counter for him to put away, rather than waiting a week for the two of us to be in the mood at the same time. Since I put the dishes above the dishwasher, right in front of the microwave where he heats food and coffee, he is motivated to put them away.
As I was emptying the beans into the Ball jars, I made a mistake. Lima beans were emptied into a partially filled jar of navy beans. I am not so sure I want to cook them together, so I need to sort them into jars of their own kind. Inattention is costing me time!
There was one huge blemish to the day, very depressing, but it is something ongoing that I cannot discuss. The disappointment did not define the day. Other than that, Monday was serene, okay, maybe boring. But, it was not unpleasant. There was no longing for something else to happen.
Is a low-key day, even boring, a problem for you? Really, is a big win necessary for a day to be satisfying?
What makes a good day for you? How did today turn out for you?
Did you have any wins today, large or small? Any disappointments?
Sunday afternoon, I mentioned to Tommy that maybe we could go for a ride. He said okay and we both dawdled, thankfully. Soon, the rains came, a real frog-strangler. I would hate to have been on the road or trying to get back into the house during that rain.
The flowers did not have to be watered. The day cooled off and it was an amazing 69F degrees toward evening. Everything looks so fresh after a rain.
I discovered an amazing thing on my blog. I accidentally clicked on something and found a cache of comments that never showed up in the comments. Many of them belonged to Kim. If I did not comment or answer your comment, they may be up in the comments part of each post. I have never seen that spot before and cannot find it now.
Last evening, Tommy did something and knocked a box off another box. I ran to see what happened because of the horrific sound. The box he knocked off had this stuff from a junk drawer in the kitchen. I had told him to sort out what he did and did not want from two weeks ago emptying the drawer. In the meantime, I had just put down a quart of dried lima beans into the box.
Well, the whole top of the jar broke off, one of the new jars. He was going to go through the box but I insisted I do so. He is not afraid of glass and would have cut himself or strewn it all over. He kept grabbing tools like I would throw them out. One tool he told me to throw away was very rusty needle-nose pliers, so I said I wanted them. Then, he said no, he would keep the tool. arrrggh!
He wanted to toss the box with no top into the garbage can. We would have had glass all over the street and the machine that picks up the cans does not contain loose items. I watch things falling and floating away in the wind. He does not believe it. I finally convinced him to put the box into a bag and tie it up. Neither of us needs glass in a foot.
Now, the broken top to the glass jar is still lying upside down on the carpet. We never walk there and I put something in front of it so we won't. Sunday, I was going to carefully pick up shards I can see. Then, I was going to use packing tape to pick up the tiny pieces as small as glitter. THEN, I was going to have him vacuum it with his new stick vacuum. So, that may or may not get done before bedtime.
He now has a Publix bag for his tools. We both need tool boxes. The hammer in the box probably hit the canning jar as the box fell and broke it. I will save the lid from the broken top of the jar without slicing my hand open.
Saturday and Sunday were low-key days, nothing much done, nothing new cooked. We both went to the kitchen and chose what we wanted for all three meals. I eat the chicken breast and he wants the beef or pork.
If you have your druthers, which meat would you prefer?
A friend/neighbor down the street has unusual greenery growing on her fence. It looks like a vine that is a fern with tiny red flowers. For a year, I have told Tommy I was going to look it up. I did. This is only one vine in the picture. Her chain link fence is covered thickly in these vines. She says her hummingbirds love them.
I don't think I have ever seen this vine/flower. When we see the flowers on the nearest end of the fence, they are trumpet-shaped. The other end of the fence always has flowers open more. I am not sure what the difference is. Location? Sun?
This blogger features it in a post. Click Here
Have you ever seen Cypress Vine? Have you grown it?
Thursday night after midnight, we loaded the dishwasher. I remembered to put the wash cycle on normal instead of heavy. I highly doubt it saves water, but it does save time and electricity. I managed to put a week's dishes in and a dozen new quart jars. I need to store beans in the jars. Update: I put the dishwasher setting on normal instead of heavy and that did not shorten the time!
The jars are some I have had, just still were in the package. I found three pantry moths, and do not want to encourage them. I put beans in quart jars with the canning lid and freeze them for at least three days.
Even after yelling about not using real spoons but wanting to use plastic, Tommy has adapted and uses the new flatware. We no longer buy plastic. I think we have a box of each for emergencies but do not use them. He yelled that he did not want to use anything but paper plates. Wednesday, I lamented that neither of us remember them when we go to the store. He said, "Well, we have those two divided plates you bought and there are the plates from my parents, so we can use those." Amazing! It appears we are paper- and plastic-free. It is hard to believe after all the fuss he has made. I told him we could resort to the Christmas plates.
When I put the chopped mushrooms on to cook on the stove, I turned it on simmer and left the kitchen just as Tommy was going into the kitchen. In about three minutes he came and told me the mushrooms were popping and making sounds. "Is this right?" Well, NO! So, I rushed in to find the mushrooms about to be scorched. Well, there was liquid, but with the heat so high, in one minute they would have scorched. I did get them turned down in time. Why, oh why have I put things on "high" instead of the lowest possible heat? rhetorical question.
Today, I ate some of the leftover spaghetti pasta with mushrooms, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. It was wonderful! We can personalize a spaghetti meal, too. Tommy wants salsa on his spaghetti, and I want mushrooms. Neither can stand the other's choice. So, this works.
Friday is a beautiful day, blue skies and few great big, fluffy clouds. The view out the front door from my chair makes me very happy.
Tommy and I have been considering, pondering what we can do to make money. For me, sewing was always a path. My sewing machines are not set up and there is no room for them in the chaos. That was one thing the cleaner could help me with in one bedroom. He has no woodworking skills, no skills. I have woodworking skills but would need a table saw and a death wish. I do not want to resale online.
My choice would be to make American Girl doll clothes or maybe Barbie clothes. But, I am not out and about and have no idea if there is a market. My items are well-made, sturdy, and stand up to washing like regular clothing. Remember, I sold Cabbage Patch clothes for years.
My doll clothing is not cheap! They are not shoddy, either. The fabric and construction are of high quality. They would sell.
We have mulled this over and considered a few things. Tutoring always paid well, and I had no problem finding people. I doubt we would live through one day of a craft show. I have other ideas. Years ago, I wanted to make aprons and egg aprons and tote bags.
Tonight, I put lots of chicken in the oven along with four large potatoes cut in wedges and a pound of carrots. I put in: 5 huge chicken breasts, four gigantic chicken thighs, and two skewers with breast, onions, and green peppers. The package labeled turkey tenders was turkey necks! Everything was seasoned with garlic powder. Each chicken breast is three helpings since they are huge. The skewers carrots and potatoes are dinner tonight. There should be enough leftovers for us both to eat five more meals and for me to have chicken for lunches. We will have salad tonight, also.
I may boil the turkey necks for meat to put in chicken and dumplings. Necks are delicious in chicken and dumplings. Okay, they are in the pot seasoned with only salt.
Do you put the turkey or chicken neck meat into chicken and dumplings? Mama did, and it was delicious.
Do you have a sideline to make money?
I had things to say, but I don't remember what it was. Last night, I got 7.5 hours sleep, exactly what I require to feel rested. However, I did not make up deficits from the week. At 5:45 pm, I decided an hour nap would work. I put on the marinated pork loin with carrots Tommy had scraped for me and went to bed.
He woke me at 7 pm and I ignored him. Finally, about 9 pm, I did get up. It was really nice to have a meal ready when I awoke. It was even more nice to have a meal ready to go into the oven.
We ate pork loin, carrots, salad. He had cherries; I had apple.
At the Big Box we found a cart at the farthest point of the parking lot. Thankfully, it was full of juice so that I did not have to creep along in the blazing heat of the asphalt. It really was hot staying out that long. If I were on foot, it would have been a very warm hike. As I left the store, I was told not to take the cart out of the store. Another woman was trying to leave, too.
The guard in uniform pointed out the sign that said for store use only. We told him that had been on the carts for years. I conceded but told him I could not walk to the car. She pointed out she found hers outside, too. I kept asking how I could get to the car. Finally, he let us both leave. Tommy had already come to the curb to pick me up.
I could walk that far, but after being on the hard cart, there was no way I could walk. Hopefully, this was a glitch. Maybe the uniform had gone to his head and he had been reading the signage on the cart.
When I checked out, the checker started ringing up the purchases of the woman behind me. We both objected. The checker told me she had taken off one item, so I paid. When I got home, I had paid for an item I did not intend to buy and did not get the item. I know, I know. I should have checked the receipt before leaving the store!
Speaking of mistakes, did I tell you? I was going to buy a bag of panties. I got one package home and washed and discovered I had bought an unbelievably small size. So, there is no way I might ever wear those. I will have to sell or give away! Then, I went right back two weeks later and bought the same size, different style! Thankfully, I had not opened them and still had the receipt! Tommy is the "designated returner," so he got that done.
Now, I remember. My a2milk is now $4.99 per half-gallon from $4.49. Tommy always drinks store brand milk. His milk is now $4 instead of something like $2.39 like it was last year. Last week, it was $3-something. Today, at the grocery store, bread was $4 a loaf. We went to the bread store to buy it for $1.75.
Do you ever buy the wrong things, get it opened and figure it out so late it is not able to be returned? Is there flooding in your area?
Today, I went to the retina doctor. There is no change. So, that was good, a relief.
We went to a place to buy a battery charger for the recliners. No luck. So, I suppose I will buy one from Amazon. And, I don't even know what I need. But, I do need something that gives me more than just the opportunity to use it once to get out of the chair.
Last night, I put one bag of the salad into a huge pot, put in more water than it needed since I was planning for more bags of salad being added. I put it as low as it would go. Then, a few minutes later, I smelled the salad burning and heard sputtering. Well, I did not put it on the absolute lowest hear; I put the eye on the absolute highest heat! So, I waited until it cooled and put in vinegar. Tommy will clean it.
In my defense, if there is any...lol, I did put it next to the "off" mark, just on the wrong side of "off." I was exhausted and still am.
The other fail--eggs. I won the six eggs and brought them home secure in the knowledge that since they were just laid and not washed, they would last a couple of weeks in the cooler-than-normal kitchen. Then, I found them on the microwave where they had been for at least a week. The microwave gets warm on top, so I figure I have rotten eggs now. We use the microwave about ten times a day.
We bought eggs today so I can make the meatloaf tonight. When Tommy gets all the burned salad out and the stuck-on salad off, I will try it one more time. Keep your fingers crossed.
The other thing I will do is chop and sauté the mushrooms for use another day. I found I had two boxes this week like I received last week. Tommy put them in the refrigerator, and I did not realize I had two. I will have to keep them away from Tommy's food, but I can do that. Now to get chopping!
Yesterday we paid $1 for a Bell pepper. I have never seen such a juicy pepper. The juice was running between my fingers which were very clean...lol. Otherwise, I would have had my hands washed in the juice. Maybe so much juice means it is really fresh. I chopped it all, some for the meatloaf and some for freezing. I cut about six half-inch slivers for Tommy to use on a salad. He decided how wide strips should be.
Have you ever burned your salad by boiling it dry?
A woman told her husband to notice when the beans started to boil dry since she was going out to buy groceries. She came home to find the beans burned to a crisp. She was upset, asking why he did not notice the beans boiling dry. He said he did, they started boiling dry at 3:15 pm.
Tonight, my dinner will be salad fixings with a Roma tomato and chicken, maybe on top of the salad, maybe not. Maybe we will have the chicken/onion/pepper on a skewer.
We bought two Fresh Express American Salads this past week because it was on sale for $3 each. Of course, we went to the food giveaway and received another four bags. And, a friend gave me her salad. So, I have more salad than we can eat without it going bad. I told Tommy that we were going to have salad soup! He said, "Well, I hope you can put some beans or meat or something in it to make it a little more." I laughed.
The American Salad Blend has iceberg, Romaine, carrots, red cabbage, and radishes. We also got two carrots that I think will go into the pot along with a couple of potatoes we received. We also were given 4 carrots and 4 potatoes last week. Of course, that was the week I bought 4 pounds of carrots! And, I have potatoes left from two weeks ago.
I received another box of huge stuffing mushrooms. I am going to cook the mushrooms and maybe freeze them or just stop the deterioration and store them in the refrigerator. I certainly don't want them to go to waste. We received two Roma tomatoes and four bananas.
I received a package of huge turkey tenders, two packages of ground beef, and a pork loin, and chicken/onion/pepper on skewers. This is more than enough meat for two people for a week.
Tommy went into Publix to get the last day of sales. Everything but apples were reduced. Wednesday starts a new sale week. He took a list. Even though my apples were not on the list, he remembered, called me and got apples. He bought--toilet paper, Kleenex, cherries, 2 Chunk Medium Cheddar Kraft cheese, a bell pepper, two apples, 3 Dasani water.
I never buy Kleenex, but my nose is running like a faucet. Cherries finally came down where I felt like they were affordable, but still expensive. I needed the bell pepper for the meat loaf I want to make.
About the list, after the cleaner picked up clothing, I cannot find the black and navy-blue dress I wear to color my hair. I actually thought it was hanging in the closet! So, I suppose I will find a tank top or the rattiest of my nightgown and wear that for color and trimming of bangs.
So, those are the plans today--salad soup, meatloaf, hair color, bangs trim. Leftovers are for dinner. It is 6:30 pm, so I need to get busy. I have not been lazy today, just did other things.
Tommy took out 3 packages of chicken--two chicken breast packages and one package of thighs--from the freezer. I will cook these and the packages of poultry from today so that I can freeze it. A little pepper and garlic powder leave these capable of being seasoned with other spices when we use it later.
Have you ever had salad soup? Of course, I am being silly by calling it "salad soup." What would you put in with five bags of salad?
So, five bags of salad go into a pot for salad soup.
This was the list yesterday and it is mostly done. Tommy left the zucchini and squash in the oven for two hours when I napped. I told him 30 minutes and he swears I did not. Except for about half being scorched and most done to mush, they are salvaged.
List:
bake and freeze a meatloaf out of the 96% lean/4% fat ground beef
DONE Tommy cook two one-pound chubs of ground meat
DONE Me chop onions for meatloaf and the chopped ground beef
both of us load dishwasher
DONE Tommy wash clothes for me
DONE Me hang wet clothes in house
DONE Wonder if cleaner is ever coming back
DONE Mower scheduled to come so be here to pay him
Tommy needs to find four or five packages of chicken, any pieces
color my hair
DONE Tommy wash mushrooms
Done me stuff mushrooms
We forgot to go out and get the pink bag of coupons and ads, so even though it is well after dark, we will do that tonight. Plus, I have a list of what goes off the ads on Tuesday, so we need to get all the sale things we need tomorrow when the ad ends. After we left the house after 9 pm, there was only one pink bag in the whole neighborhood. We have to go snag one from a driveway. We get one from the empty house. The Publix ad was not in the bag and it usually is there. As usual, there was no ad for Piggly Wiggly.
My head is stuffy! But, my nose runs like a faucet. I suppose all this is allergies.
Okay, that is it for today. The stuffed mushrooms are in the oven. I had no sausage thawed, so I just used ground beef with pepper and onions. I had lots of cheeses but used cream cheese. I will top with cheddar cheese. Herbed breadcrumbs because someone said to use breadcrumbs. Hopefully, the next time I can do better on ingredients. I had a hard time getting the stems out, so not sure how strong I am obviously, not very strong. The mushrooms needed to be used before they went bad so I used what I had. I think I could have cooked them and stuffed later when I had ingredients I wanted.
Tommy, when he heard the recipe called for sausage said I should have crumbled the patties precooked. They are so expensive and keep him from going to Hardee's, so I thought I would use what I had. I will critique the stuffed mushrooms tomorrow.
I think I did well on my list. The rest is my hair, dishes and the meatloaf. I can do that!
This malaise is either another uti or the sinus issues.
There are only 20 pages left in SALT WARS, but I am staying up too late to watch Titanic, so reading tonight will not happen. What are you reading?
