Halloween

 

This was on my Halloween treat table outdoors one year. I took this picture and won third place in the fair competition.

We did nothing all day except laundry. Tommy did two loads for himself and one for me. So, now I have panties to hang and towels to fold. He washes all his together, no separate loads. But, he had a sheet to wash. 

I only had cereal for a very late breakfast. However, I was not hungry the rest of the day. Sometimes, I just don't get hungry and sometimes I am famished. 

We went about 5:15 to the grocery for Tommy to get bread and bananas. It is fun to sit outside Publix and watch the children in their costumes, proud-looking, perky, looking very happy. I took a picture of my favorite employee in his very fancy kilt and jacket and knee socks. I had him go back in and show Tommy, telling him he was Scottish, too, and has a kilt. Then, Tommy took my camera back in and got a picture. 

So, that is our Halloween! Boo!

We retrieved a pink bag with ads and barely got home before dark. I don't like to be out with children about. I certainly don't want Tommy driving around children going from door to door. 

Tommy was supposed to get Brach's Candy Corn for me, but he said there w as no Brach's and no candy corn. So, he brought me Lindt Lindor Chocolate Truffles. Of course, I love chocolate and did not object. But, I wanted candy corn. Maybe tomorrow, I might catch some on sale. Maybe I should stay out of the stores. But, I have two returns I want to get rid of right now. 

I suppose if I complain enough, Amazon drivers will put packages where we can reach them. There was a package at the left of the door, like I have requested many times. Occasionally, I purchase a Oui yogurt. Now, I have lids to make them reusable for leftovers or whatever. 

Tonight, dinner will be leftovers--sweet potatoes, pork loin, potatoes, and carrots. No, we are not really having two potatoes and two orange vegetables. Tommy will choose what he wants. 

The weather is great--66F and dry at 7 pm. However, we saw no children out earlier or at almost dark. So, I wonder if all children are going to church or school sponsored carnivals or trunk or treat events. 

My children were wild about school carnivals. Daughter and I loved Bingo. Son hated Bingo because he said he never won. However, he won 7 cakes in the cakewalk. We gave most of them away before we left the building. I think we kept two. Littlest, a daughter, just stayed close to Mama. 

This is the second post I have posted today. Tonight, we are watching Bride of Frankenstein, Son of Frankenstein, and Frankenstein. 

Sunday, The Day Before

 We did nothing except watch TV, some of it news. Meet the Press is my favorite Sunday show, but I missed half of it because I was sleeping. I only had four hours sleep, so I took a nap in the afternoon. 

We went nowhere, did nothing, not even dishes that needed to be washed or put in the dishwasher.  Tonight, I will gather my laundry so Tommy can wash that on Monday. The kitchen items need to go in another load. 

We used the last paper plate today. So, Tommy had to use a real plate for dinner. I suppose I can be really slow in buying more paper plates. Maybe he will become accustomed to not reaching for paper. If I just buy the little paper saucers, we can have convenience but use plates for meals. However, he has lots of saucers we could use. 

The eating and serving of dinner took about two hours or more tonight. I had put in a teriyaki seasoned pork loin about 7:30. Around 7:45, I finished cleaning, trimming and oiling sweet potatoes and asked Tommy to put them in the oven. I was sitting in the living room. At 8:30 he said isn't about time to put the sweet potatoes in the oven. I was aghast and we argued. He said I told him to put them on the counter, that I would put them in later. No, I asked him to put the sweet potatoes, already on a baking sheet in the oven and to put the tiny bowl of oil sitting on the sheet by the sink and I would put it in the sink later. 

At 8:45, he put the sweet potatoes in the oven. I got up, sliced the pork loin and drained green beans that were soaking in water to remove sodium. So, we had a delicious first course of pork loin and green beans and an equally delicious second course of sweet potatoes. 

Even though I had just taken the sweet potatoes from the oven, Tommy had to microwave his so the butter would melt. I could barely get the skin from the sweet potato without burning myself. I slit the skin and sort of roll the sweet potato out of the skin. 

The man has a thing about hot food and the microwave. He must have everything freshly microwaved so everything on the plate is the same piping-hot temperature. I am not sure how he manages to eat in restaurants and especially church dinners or potlucks anywhere. He even microwaved the pork loin that was hot from the oven! 

The leftover pork loin and two sweet potatoes will be dinner for Monday along with another vegetable or two. 

It is good that it will not rain here on Halloween night. Kids don't need to deal with the rain. They need to show off their costumes...lol. Plus, it will be safer and lighter. Around here, kids start making the rounds about 4 pm. 

Lynda wants to hand out candy, but she said the boys were big and rough looking. She said she knows one could knock her over easily. She is frail looking. 

So far, we have not bought any Halloween candy. I would have liked some Brach's Candy Corn, but there is too much candy in each bag. Maybe I will buy some on sale, get a little out and give away the rest. A bag of fun size or smaller of candy bars would have been delicious. Oh well.

Will the weather be pretty for Trick or Treating at your place? 

Do you know anyone who uses the microwave excessively? Is sort of warm good enough for you to eat? It is for me. 

Overwintering, Cut Rite, Saturday

 Most of Saturday was spent watching videos about overwintering geraniums. Really, it was just during the Auburn game. I learned lots, mainly I need to take them out of their pots. UGH I really hate to buy things again in the spring when I can save them. At my house, I had flowers in the ground, so did not have to try to overwinter. The hosta and tulips I had in pots came back the next year. So, this is all new to me. Tommy watched Auburn lose while I watched videos.

The videos I watched were people removing plants from the ground and from pots too large to move. I wonder if I could carry these gallon pots into the laundry room for the winter. What do you do?  

We went out for a McDonald's adult happy meal and the McD did not have them. Bummer. We did sit in the park for a bit and watched crows pecking around the baseball field. 

Even though I slept well Friday night, I still took a nap. Tommy had part of the rest of the chicken I cooked, the leg, I think, and had that and carrots and potatoes for his dinner. I had sourdough bread and butter. I am going to have tuna and celery later, plus half an apple. 

I found a drawer in the kitchen that has not been emptied. It is on the right of the oven and perfect for storing the potholders since it is only about six inches wide. So, I am slowly emptying it and finding things. He has a huge package of batteries with odd, old batteries in it. Hopefully, there will not be an argument about getting rid of used batteries. 

In the freezer I had a chunk of butter that was about 8 inches by four inches and thicker than a regular stick of butter, maybe 1 1/4 inch. Usually, I have sticks or one huge block of butter. I put a stick or equivalent of a stick in a glass container with a click lock closure, the kind that closes on all four sides. Well, this was a puzzle as to how to divide it into equivalents to a stick. I think I ended up with five "sticks."

Finally, I just cut off one end for the counter storage. Then, I took waxed paper and stored four more portions on the door of the refrigerator since the remaining uncut chunk would not fit. Of course, the butter stuck well to the waxed paper. And, tonight when I unwrapped a new piece, it did come off easily.

Handling the Cut-Rite waxed paper roll, cutting it, and wrapping the butter took me back to my childhood. That is what we used. Mama used it to wrap our sandwiches for lunch each day. We had no Glad Wrap. Was it even a thing back in 1950? Okay, it was invented in 1933, but we had none. At any rate, it was a nostalgic moment with my mother being the focus. When I unwrapped it tonight, I had more memories that comforted me. 

If my sandwich bread was a little less than fresh, I suppose I thought that is the way a packed sandwich was and did not fret about the lack of soft bread.  Who knew that a sandwich could be kept as fresh as my sandwiches are today? (rhetorical) We used waxed paper for many things in the kitchen. Now, I mostly use it to line a cake pan for baking.

The new Tupperware design of cannisters is hateful. I struggled to open the two larger ones. Finally, I asked Tommy to open the smallest one. He was wrestling it for a bit, and he is strong. Flour is now in the largest one. The middle one will hold sugar. I suppose I will put something in the smallest one that I never want to access. The new design of the place to open the cannisters is a big fail!

Another thing--the T woman said this was the left over from Easter line. Now, who changes cannisters with the holidays? That is just crazy. I am not one bit impressed with a lavender, teal, and pink cannister set! I looked for the old yellow Tupperware cannisters at SA. I did not like the yellow or brown, but for ease of use and a good seal, I would buy those second hand. Okay, maybe not. I keep cannisters in the cabinet but would much prefer yellow on the counter to these pastels. 

How do you overwinter geraniums or other plants in small pots? Do you use waxed paper? Did your mother use it? Have you tried the new styles of Tupperware?

Friday This and That

 When a person buys anything on Amazon, other customers have a chance to ask questions about the purchase you made. Well, I bought nail polish. A person wrote me, asking me--I have a three-year-old transgender child who is resistant to wearing nail polish. Okay, that was a statement. The question was about how to get this child to wear nail polish. !!! How bizarre!

I answered something to the effect that a person should not try to force wearing nail polish on any child and especially not a child that young. That is the way I remember my response, but I was not about to help someone convince a child of any age to wear nail polish.

If you buy from Amazon, have you had bizarre questions asked about products you bought? Can a person determine a child is definitely transgender at three, an age where children play at different things with no respect as to whether the play is a "girl" or a "boy" activity? I don't believe so. Besides, the only two gender specific activities are breast feeding and sperm donor. 

Friday morning

Thursday night, I could not sleep, so here I am awake at 5:30 am, Friday morning, typing. I went to the kitchen and washed my new plates quietly about 4 am. Then, I tried to finish unloading the dishwasher quietly, but did not succeed in being very quiet. Hopefully, Tommy was not disturbed. 

Since I received my new dishes, I have been eating off the same plate and washing it afterwards for the next meal. Tommy refuses to use anything except a paper plate that is sagging in the middle with food about to bend it in half. sigh I suppose I could survive with one plate. While I am washing the plate, I wash the utensils I used, too. I suppose I could survive with lots less than I think I need.  Of course, this life is about more than just surviving. But, as I wash my plate I just used, I do think about things like this. 

Friday afternoon and evening~~

Today, we went out once, and then went to give Lynda food from the food giveaway. While we were out, we cruised the subdivision looking at Halloween decorations. Some we recognize from last year. I still have not gotten our ghosts to hang in the tree from their hiding place. 

We saw people in the parking lot at the park and something was happening. We went to talk with them. It was games for Halloween and a Trunk or Treat event for 7 pm. They gave us candy and we left. I would have like to have seen the games, but I was too tired. 

This afternoon, I put 24 ounces of carrots sticks and baby carrots into the crock pot with a pint of chicken broth from the last chicken. Later, I added the last few potatoes, diced. Tommy wanted to know how long the potatoes would take to be done. This was 15 minutes after I put them into the crockpot. So, I had him take out potatoes and microwave them. He had carrots, too. 

This is the beginning of carrot-heavy soup.... lol. I need to put onions and celery in the pot, not sure what else. Maybe I will add a couple of cans of tomatoes and herbs.

For dinner tonight, I had diced chicken breast, diced tomato, diced cheese, all with a bit of Miracle Whip stirred in. Tommy had chicken breast, potatoes, carrots, and a slice of pita bread. He just ate the bread because he likes it and put nothing in it. I had lots of Romaine and feta in the huge salad I ate before I took my afternoon nap. 

For fruit, I had a tiny Halo, 2 figs, 1/2 banana, and 1/2 apple. I would have eaten the whole banana and whole apple, but I cannot eat much fiber. I think I am going to have a cookie. 

Friday has been uneventful. I hesitate to say boring. 

What are your thoughts on the person trying to convince a transgender 3-yr-old to wear nail polish? 

More Salvation Army

 On Wednesday night, I slept a whole 8.5 hours. As usual, though, I felt groggy and miserable for an hour or so. This is just how I feel every morning, no matter how much sleep I get. 

About ten-thirty when Tommy was emptying the garbage, I realized I have not stuck my nose outdoors all day. I did take a two-hour nap. That would have been when we go out for our ride and dose of outdoors. 

I looked at the Salvation Army receipt and realized the basket was only $1.99. It really was a good deal. 

When we were checking out, I noticed the little screen on the card reader on the counter. There was an amount on the "round up" line. I never round up and neither does Tommy. So, I commented to Tommy, "Why did you authorize the round up amount? He said he did not. I asked the already grumpy old man if this was automatic. He got very defensive and said he would give me two pennies. In a few minutes, he dropped two pennies on the counter. His whole attitude before this was really mean. He added a bit of condescension and insult in the way he took two cents out of his pocket and tossed them onto the counter. 

Now, this was well into the complaints against us about being at the wrong register and line. So, I did not cause his bad mood as a reaction. 

I resent businesses asking me aloud at the register if I want to donate. Dollar General supports GED heavily and always ask for a donation.  When I went in there more often, I was asked this. I tutored people needing to study for their Ged for free and advertised it that way. So, I am not against donating, just not trying to extort money at the register! I am supposed to capitulate to extortion to keep from being embarrassed? 

Tonight, we had hamburger sans bun. I had cheese on mine. Plus, we ate tomato and green beans. I think these are some of the best tomatoes I have ever eaten. I suppose no one at the market will have any next time we go. 

We shared a really large tomato that I slice stem to blossom end. I notice seeds and asked Tommy if he wanted me to remove them since he scrapes them out and leaves them on his plate. He said to just throw them out. Well, I took a small bowl and a spoon, scraping all the seeds and the slimy stuff into the bowl. Tommy watched. I took the bowl of goodness and slurped it out right at the sink. Yes, I know it is barbaric to slurp so, but it was delicious.

How do you feel about the "round up" at the register? Do you ever slurp up tasty bits of food?

Salvation Army

 I have not completely resolved the issue from Friday, but things are going our way! 

Wednesday, I had to get up at 7:45 am, wash my hair, eat, bathe, and leave by 8:30 am. I did it. Well, I carried a piece of sourdough bread, half a banana, and a glass of milk in the car and ate as we drove. I waited in the car while Tommy had an ultrasound. By then, my hair had dried and I had consumed a pack of peanut butter crackers. 

We were so far from home that it took an hour to get there. All the places I might want to go were on the way home. I returned the second pair of shoes to SAS. My left foot is so swollen that even a double wide shoe would not go on my foot. The right shoe was too loose! 

The Salvation Army Store was the next stop. I found nothing in dinnerware, nothing in Tupperware lids, nothing in coats to fit me. Well, I asked Tommy to find coats in my size. He came back and told me where the coats to fit me were located. No, not the right size. I was so exhausted and had two items, so we left. 

The prettiest white basket with a plastic liner caught my eye. At $4.99, it was a deal. Then, I spotted a Reed and Barton small round dish, not sterling. It was $1.99. On the internet the same thing sold for $15.99 to $65. It only cost $1.99. I have silver polish. 

The trip to the thrift store was very pleasant except for the grumpy old man at the register. I kept saying I was sorry and I did not know. But, he would not let up. If I ever go there, I will avoid him. He kept getting louder and louder. The more I apologized, the meaner he got. We finally just looked at him and let him go on. He was going on break and was grumpy to other people leaving the store, so I suppose it was not just us.

The Salvation Army Store in Cullman priced itself out of business when The Foundry opened. One day at SA, I told them the item sold for $1 at the DT and the woman said in a haughty manner that they had trained professionals who had been taught how to price. Well, okay! The DT sticker was on the bottom! That store was too crowded. Two-thirds of the store was oppressive in the summer and freezing in the winter. When I asked why, I was told there was no heat or ac in the back. 

Finally, they closed. I was sorry to hear that because bread makers were always $3 to $5. and I resold them all the time. Every one of the bread makers worked. 

We found the SA in Hoover to be very nice. I had been there once before but had forgotten how like a department store it was. The clothing I saw was very stylish, clean, and in good repair. Of course, it was small sizes. 

On Tuesday night, I went to bed at midnight and slept 7.5 hours, went to bathroom three times and fell right back to sleep, thankfully. I felt really well all Wednesday until about 7 pm when I wanted a nap. I did not go to bed. 

We took the tablet to have it set up. Well, I felt silly since it took less than two minutes. 

This afternoon, I convinced Tommy to let me read to him "Young Goodman Brown" since he had never heard of it or read it. The short story is by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I could not believe it took me almost 40 minutes to read it to him. Have you ever read it? October Farm's post today made me think of the story. 

Tonight, I plan to go to bed at midnight. It's almost midnight. 

Have you ever read "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne? I highly recommend it. 

Slow Monday

 Today, we resolved the problem causing me such trauma. I will have to relate that tomorrow. But, money was returned to Tommy's credit card and we have washed our hands of the business. I think!

We found someone to get the tablet ready to use. But, then we did not have the tablet, nor could we find it. Finally, I found it, but that will be done Wednesday and at no cost to us, thankfully. 

Verizon helped us with some phone issues. 

My cell phone costs are being cut in half by changing companies. 

Really, nothing much has happened today. I did not get to sleep until 8 am and awoke at 11:30 and have not taken a nap. That makes me dizzy.

At 7 pm, Lynda called, and we went down to see her witch. She found a witch hat, so I\it no longer looked like a nun. She had bought lights at Dollar Tree and was very disappointed that three sets did not work. So, her Halloween display is not ready yet. 

I need to start wearing my spider ring! It is almost Halloween. Instead of buying any jewelry for holidays before the holiday, I wait until after when there is a sale. Then I might wait for the prices to drop again. "Clearance" is my favorite way of buying.

Since Antiques Roadshow is on, I am late eating dinner, leftover, frozen taco soup. 

We are expecting stormy weather on Tuesday, so we will absolutely stay in during the afternoon. There is one thing to do in the morning, but that will still allow us to be back by noon or so. 

The kitchen counter is getting clearer. At one point, I had a wedge that was less than one foot at the front of the counter, extending to about two inches at the back of the counter along the edge of the sink to work! Now, the triangle along the edge of the sink it about 18 inches at the front of the counter to about one foot at the back of the counter. It is hard to work with no room! 

How is your decluttering coming along? 

The weather overall is quite nice. We have to use the ac in house and car. Occasionally, we need the heat on in house and car to chase the damp or chill away. Is your ac off for good? 

Bugs on My Plates, More Chores Out, Witch Burning

I washed one small plate from my new set and ate off it several times. Each time I was a little horrified at the bug that had gotten onto my plate. I have had ladybugs in my freezer, food, skillets of food, and everywhere else in some years in my other house. But, there have been no ladybugs in this house. Everytime I startle, I realize it is a ladybug in the pattern! Finally, I check all the plates. The salad plates ALL have a ladybug in the pattern. None of the dinner plates have a ladybug. 

We headed out for a few local and short chores.

Yes, Dollar Tree items are higher! I went there looking for two things, did not find them, but found other items to buy. I was looking for a witch hat for Lynda, a bunch of fall leaves, and something else. Everything I did purchase was $1.25--construction paper, cupcake papers, three small notebooks, package of two potholders. 

I needed green and red construction paper. The package had one green sheet. The three small notebooks are for the Pink Purse Project to put in three purses. The potholders were pretty and very cheap. Even expensive potholders may be ugly or not sturdy. We are rough on potholders. When I went in DT that has no electric carts, I stayed right up front where Christmas is quickly replacing Halloween, and one trip halfway down one aisle to get the construction paper! There were some pretty and cheap Thanksgiving dinner plates up front and other accessories, but not for me now. The plates were autumn leaves, so okay for all of fall. 

We wanted to see the yard in another neighborhood decorated with a 10 or 12-foot skeleton. It was not out. None of the yard was decorated. Are they going to do it before Halloween? 

I used the last cooking bag so got three more boxes. If they are cheaper on Amazon, I will buy there. 

The tablet needs to be set up. Could find no one to do that. I looked at the directions and feel inadequate. 

We sat in the park and ate a small cup of ice cream and watched the world...lol. 

Right now, Tommy is setting up two squashes given us. He drew a face on a butternut squash and is take in little decorative squash Lynda gave me to put in another flowerpot. 

There is a little ratty iron wire table in front of the house where we placed the one we bought yesterday. The new one is putty with glass top. The wire one will be sprayed white and put on the porch in place of the one there now, that I paid $3 and think it is ugly and falling down. Spray paint is the most I do now so it has gotten no attention. I cannot make anything better like I could before. The one on the porch will go on the curb! 

The Tupperware sits unwashed, so I need to get on that. 

My crow needs to replace the bluebird on the porch or rather, on the shepherd's hook in front of the porch. 

There are so many little piddly things to do today. Nothing is large, heavy or earthshattering, just little things. 

Along with those, I want to make meatloaf and chopped burger meat. Tommy really likes it on salads or just with his vegetables. Plus, he does not eat as much as he would eating a hamburger. 

Hummingbird feeders need to come in. 

On Saturday Lynda was outdoors when I called. She was making a witch to look like it was burning at the stake. She said she had witch legs, black cloth, and a milk jug for a head. She has looked everywhere for a witch hat with no luck. She said she put black cloth over the milk jug head and now it looks like she is burning a nun! I almost choked I laughed so hard. Today, we drove by. Yes, it does look like a nun! I need to go look in my Halloween stuff and find a witch hat before the priests come and march in front of her house. 

We are drawing on gourds and she is burning a nun. I have to go now! 

Any hilarity happening at your house? More decorating? Cooking?

Busy Saturday + Edit of More Things

This morning, we went to Cullman for a few reasons, and in the process, 

I received a free chicken, dressed of course. 

Met with an artist friend. He has the paint by number and will stretch it. I have no idea how, but he mentioned a hammer, a saw, and staples. Tommy will be able to paint the Christmas picture with cardinals in the snow. 

We stopped and got the mail. I got Tommy a sheet of forever stamps. They did not have any I like, so I will get mine next month. I got "Pony Cars" for him. Next month I will get mine--flower stamps and Christmas stamps. 

We hurried back down to meet with the Tupperware lady from Mississippi. She is set up in a parking lot in front of a store. I had gotten something totally wrong when we first saw her. She took it back and let me get cannisters. Then, she cut the price on a pie container. I had one but it is gone. So, I can bake a pie or cupcakes and keep them all fresh and pest free. 

Then, I saw an estate sale with everything 1/2 price today. I managed to get in the house and sat down every chance I had in the house. There were lots of pretty things, but I decided I did not really want them. Outside, there was a patio table for $35 that they offered me for $15. It folds flat, so it went into the car. It is set up and I love it! 

On the way home, I saw a tent in a parking lot and got a Lifeline tablet for $20/ I hope these are not hot and are legit. 

Last night, I went to bed at midnight and awoke at 4 am. I am beat so I am going to bed right now at 4:30 in the afternoon. 

I don't know how to set up the tablet, but I may not know how to get to the bed. I am that tired. But, it is a pretty day. 

Tommy suggested I call Geek Squad. If I do that, I have lots of things for them to help me do and learn. Have you ever used GS? 

Let's see--hen, stretching canvas, Tupperware cannisters and pie taker, table for yard and tablet, plus 32 lbs of sweet potatoes, 5 red tomatoes, 1 green tomato.

We did everything we set out to do and more. Things went off smoothly.

Did things go smoothly this Saturday? What did you do?

I may sleep all evening, so this post goes out now.

Edit: add another 32 lbs. of sweet potatoes, 5 tomatoes, and 1 green tomato to the day's haul. I forgot.

Friday This and That

 We drove about 50 miles up the interstate today. We have been looking for changing leaves. One tree had brilliant red leaves. A couple of other trees were sort of reddish. Most trees were still fully green and a few had sort of faded to a lighter shade of green. Maybe later leaves will turn more.

Today, I was still feeling the effects of the trauma Thursday evening. I was up most of the night with a distressed colon. However, one must carry on. We went out to fix the problem. But, that went South. So, I will relate it later.

A few days ago, I lost my debit card somewhere on the premises. Well, it might be in the trash. If I order a new one, my number will change and auto payments will fail. The other choice was driving to the bank where they would print me a new card. 

We left a food giveaway and drove straight to my bank in Cullman. We arrived, sat in drive-through, and got the card and left, driving straight home. It was a long grueling drive and I just rode! When we got home, we shared it with a friend who was not well enough to go. 

On Thursday, an ebay package was delivered. As Tommy went to the mailbox, the postman got out with a package. I knew I had not ordered anything from ebay! It turns out it was ice trays, three of them with a piece of plastic to put between to keep them from falling into the one below. Well, I washed them and put one in the big freezer. I did not fill them all the way, but still the cubes will be larger than those made in regular trays. In a few minutes, I will have a glass of unsweetened, decaffeinated, iced tea. I am so happy. Thanks, Janet. This made my day and life better. 

I was desperate for ice and tea, so I may or may not have put the partially filled ice tray in the freezer on a slant--just doing the best I can at the moment. If it happened to slip and spill a bit, it is just water! This is an attempt to go zero Coke. 

It is 8 pm, and I have not had dinner, so I need to go and microwave chicken tenders, potatoes, and carrots. I had a bowl of cereal about 6 pm and I may have the energy to run the microwave now. Then, I will freeze some of the 12 drumsticks I baked last night. 

The weather is forecast for 50s, so the freezing weather is gone. The geraniums look dead. I am not sure how long they will last in cold weather, but these looked done for until a new green leaf came out today. 

Tonight, Tommy said, "I notice the counter is getting clearer." That was gratifying. Every time I go into the kitchen or at least a few times a day, I put something up or throw it out. 

Do you have to have iced tea, no sugar? How do you take your tea? Are the trees turning in your area? 

After the Smoke

 After the smoky lunch, I was so smoky smelling. My hair still is! I may throw a sheet over the railing outside the door and spread my sweater on it. To make matters worse, one of my major prescriptions for asthma is out. We forgot to pick it up yesterday on the way home. 

We went to bed shortly after midnight on Wednesday. I slept soundly for about seven hours, only getting up for the bathroom once. Miraculously, I am feeling better than usual. There are no lung problems, no allergy problems so far this morning, just smoky hair and sweater. 

Wednesday night, I reminded Tommy I had a doctor's appointment today. We both checked our daybooks and he had nothing for me for today. Between both of us, we had recorded four appointment days for this one doctor for me. This has never happened before. When he finally reached the doctor's office, the appointment is not until the end of November! 

I loaded the dishwasher with the new dishes and there was not enough room for the dirty dishes in the sink! So, I decided it would be easier to hand wash them. They are out and now the stuck-on, really dirty dishes can go into the place that handles those well. 

Since I have been calling one hairdresser off and on for a year, and her husband, the plumber, does not return calls, I found someone else, I thought. I could not reach the shop or personal number, so I was becoming very discouraged. So, this morning she called back. She is just my kind of operator. 

She has a separate price for a dry cut, no shampoo. She always leaves customers facing the mirror. I have been turned where I cannot see and had hair cut too much in the wrong places! She cuts with scissors, so no sliding a razor or scissor blade down my hair! That makes my fine and thin hair too thin and damages hair. I like my bangs longer on the sides and not straight across like my bangs are cut in the picture when I was about eight-years-old. I just hope she does not insist on styling my hair or using product! It has been over three years since I had my hair cut. It has been that long since I used product-- hairspray when I went to my 55th hs reunion. 

On SAM's blog, I mentioned a woman friend I just had to let go. I literally scraped her off my plate 15 years ago.  She lived in a very old, small trailer with an old dog. She removed the cabinet doors in the kitchen to place over the holes in her floor so she could walk. She used her food stamps to feed chicken and other goodies to her dog. I offered her help, she took it and then called me screaming. She embarrassed me in public numerous times. I did not tell her to leave me alone, but eventually I just did not speak to her when we happened to be in the same place. She was pathetic but refused help unless it was on her terms, not always a bad thing. 

Well, yesterday I found out she developed dementia, and died. Once she was diagnosed, she went quickly into memory care. She was almost 75 when she died. Before dementia, she managed to build a very nice home. HOW! She received money from one of her many dead husbands, something she had been due for years. I have no idea of the cause of the delay, but she finally found a home without rats running over her in the night. 

While I don't feel sorry for the demise of our friendship, I am sorry for her. I knew she was bipolar and had schizophrenia, and I did know what to do except escape from her abuse. I could work on her behalf for days, getting her the help she needed, always with her permission and she would rail at me for finding a source of help, all without revealing her name to others. Okay, I have to stop! 

Thursday, I awoke having slept seven hours with plans. We set off and ticked off everything and added another stop. Then, the good day turned hellish. There is no way I can relate it and keep my sanity. Right now, I have to get dinner in the oven. Tomorrow, maybe.

We got into the car at 7pm after three hours in one business to get the transaction cancelled. No luck. Have you ever just wanted to get out of a bad situation instead of facing it in the morning. Well, we have to go back. AAACK!

I am too ill with feeling bad, not a sickness, I hope. So, dinner cooking is cancelled, and I turned to the freezer for protein and Tommy will have salad with broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, and cucumber. He will probably put the ground beef on top. I am having a bowl of oatmeal. He could have had taco salad but preferred I thaw cooked, chopped, ground beef. 

Oops! I posted this too soon and it is has been up for a bit. So, I will leave it. Tommy ate and I am going to microwave oats and call it dinner. 

A Long, Tiring Day Full of Smoke

Early Tuesday, Tommy uncovered the plants he kept safe with plastic bags. The front of the house is in shade until noon, so there was no chance of the sun and plastic bags ruining the plants. Wednesday evening, he recovered them as we are expecting below freezing weather once again.

I washed my hair and ate the scrambled eggs I had cooked the night before. After I bathed and threw on clothes, we left. A spectacular vehicle fire slowed traffic and we arrived just in time to get lunch. 

Wednesday, we went to the pickup lunch in Cullman and picked up a lunch...lol. We had spaghetti, bread, and salad. We ate all the spaghetti, a bit of the salad, and a bit of the bread. Since he had called and found out the menu, I took parmesan cheese for mine. 

The next program was under a pavilion about 80' x 40 '. The floor was concrete with an open space about 6 feet wide running down the middle. It was full of rocks and covered with plywood. A portion of the plywood was uncovered. In the opening were large logs burning. Where we sat, the smoke and ash made it almost impossible to breathe. The ash covered the new sweater I wore. My eyes and others' eyes were stinging. After about 45 minutes, the wind died down and changed direction. I was miserable. 

I had worn my mask the whole time since nice fall days with falling leaves are almost lethal to me with asthma. Finally, I held my sweater over my face. 

The director of the center is a great niece of a friend of mine in Cullman. She and several other people helped me with food, well, putting my pouch of food in the fire and then retrieving it. 

The program at the agriplex was cooking over an open fire. I had repeated to Tommy the purpose was building an open fire. The showed us how to make a pouch from foil, heavy duty foil. It was pretty easy, but lots of people had trouble. When we had the pouch made, we went to fill it with vegetables. I took carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, mushroom, one piece of onion, clove of garlic. There were also diced red peppers, Conecuh sausage. I passed on those. Tommy took sausage and Worcestershire. There were multiple seasonings--soy, Worcestershire, pepper, salt, other ground seasonings. I just used water.

Tommy's pouch did not make it. His burned and everything spilled. Of course, I shared mine. We could have flavored water of some sort from a dispenser or bottles of water. We chose water. 

At the beginning, water was boiling on the fire. Boxes of elbow macaroni were dumped in and cooked. Later, a bag of shredded cheese was added. 

For dessert we had banana boats. A banana and foil were used. The banana had a small strip of the skin removed but left connected. A portion, a little strip of the banana was removed. In the little trench there were goodies to put in for the boat. I chose chocolate chips. I think there were peanuts, other nuts, marshmallows, and various other items that I don't remember. Wrapped in foil, too, the boat was place amongst the coals. 

It was all delicious. I had shared some of my vegetables with Tommy and still brought some home. I brought most of the banana boat home. I ate most of it on the way home. The leftovers of mac and cheese and the vegetables made it home. 

When we first arrived, I told the director we had three butternut squash to share. She called the person in charge of gleaning who retrieved them from the car. I did not even know there was a person in charge of gleaning. So, those were not wasted. 

I went to the store with Double Luck greens beans for $0.69/can and bought ten with date of October 2023 and two 48 oz cans of Argo peaches with a date of Nov. 2025. 

Getting my mail was at top of the list of things to do. Well, we forgot it! I need to go back Friday, so I suppose it will last until then. There was nothing appealing in the ads from this small store. 

We did nothing else at all. I did not even have to go to bathroom. We arrived home by 3:30 pm and I took a nap from 5-7 pm. When I awoke, Tommy had had the second plate of spaghetti and a salad we got, and I had mine and the salad I started at lunch. The bread I bought home is still here. 

The highest temperature was almost 60F, but we were hot in the car and hot at the event outdoors. Our seats were in the sun and the fire was in front of us. With sun it was a warm and pleasant day. 

There was one question and a prize of a thermos for the answer to one question--when is the first evidence of fire being used to cook food. Answer--1.9 million years ago. Neither of us guessed right. 

The smoke smell is still in my hair. It is going to be rough sleeping with it all night. I hope all my meds, pills, nose sprays, and inhalers for allergies work tonight so I will not wake ill tomorrow! 

When was the last time you cooked over a open wood fire? When was the last time you cooked on an open wood fire with a foil pouch? When was the last time you were exposed to wood fire smoke?! Does smoke affect your health? 

Susie, how is Fritzi?

Amazon Delivery

Amazon certainly is making it more difficult to shop, especially to return items. I ordered the Lenox Butterfly Meadow dinnerware above with rewards from the last three years. I love this pattern. This will be our new dinnerware. I had a dozen of the salad/accent plates I used for anything less than a full meal, mostly when I had company or for a sandwich for me. Of course, as you may have guessed, they are gone. I would rather have bowls than mugs. I only use a mug or cup when I drink hot chocolate, about once a week for three months of the year. 

Each piece has a different flower and butterfly, and the name of the butterfly is on the bottom of the dish. There are several iterations of Butterfly Meadow--blue, hydrangea, and a Christmas set. This also comes in melamine and paper goods. 

A second thrift store had turned up nothing in the dinnerware area. 

As I pulled out the last box from the larger box, I heard tinkling. All six salad plates and all six mugs were fine. So were the first five dinner plates! The last dinner plate was in several pieces plus shards and almost microscopic pieces. I spent time picking tiny shards from my blouse, pants, arms, the quilt on my chair. I felt where I could not see. 

One piece was exactly between my legs on the quilt. Tommy helped by guiding/telling me where there were tiny white specks on my blouse. The sun was shining on me. I could see sparkles where I could not see a piece of white or color. I tried to pick the sparkles from me. 

Finally, I took the quilt to shake in the yard. I could see lots of tiny pieces, smaller than a flea. Then, I had to open the plate box completely and shake more tiny shards into the trash. Tommy took the quilt to the washing machine. He will have to go out after dark to dry it. 

THEN, I managed to call Amazon and talked to a woman in India. When I got her to slow down, I could understand her just fine. I am getting an Amazon promo. Now, to find a place to buy one piece. The Monarch Butterly plate was the one that broke. I know about replacements.com, but that site is not cheap or even reasonable some of the time. 

Tommy found a card and asked me if it were important. Yes, that is the warranty. So, I have that if I break another piece. It is 50% off to replace anything broken.

I had ordered four pair of leggings from Amazon that were advertised as "long" but were still six inches above my ankles. I got those returned without a great deal of hassle today with the same person. The Amazon return policy is getting stiffer. 

Online, where delivery instructions are located, I requested the deliveries be placed on the left side of the door. The box was there! Good job. 

Today was cold and windy, so when we left the house to make returns and buy more milk, I put on the lightest jacket I have. It was too warm. So, about 11 am when we went out, I was the only person in the parking lot with short sleeves. It is going down to freezing tomorrow, so I will dig out a sweater when we go out. The wind blew the car door closed on Tommy's hand and left a huge blood blister, so it still hurts! The wind was brisk!

Today, I got none of my calls made. So, I am rolling that to tomorrow. And, I did not nap at all, not that no nap is a loss since I was not sleepy. 

All my plants have plastic bags covering them. Tommy will be up early enough to remove them tomorrow. Only the succulent is not covered. 

Tonight, I put two large burgers in a skillet and turned it on. Tommy went in the kitchen to make his salad, so I asked him to turn it down a tad. Well, he turned it up, left the kitchen and the burgers burned to a crisp! Ack! Not good and not healthy. We each had a hearty salad--romaine, tomato, pickled beets, onions, carrots, broccoli, cucumbers. Well, I did not have all that. I had feta, tomato and pecans on my romaine. If there are cut up vegetables in the refrigerator, he loads them onto his salad. 

This was a good day with pretty weather, not too cold, and I felt well. The new dishes are in the dishwasher, so I need to finish loading it and get the butterflies on the shelf. Bits and pieces are decluttered every day. I hope to see more clear floors, drawers, and tables soon.

Besides baking chicken and vegetables, I am going to make taco soup, and cook a pot of beans. 

Is it freezing at your house? Had a frost? Did you have anything to cover to protect from a frost or freeze? 

Have you noticed Amazon is tightening its belt and rules? 

Do you have a good winter meal planned?

Boring Day in Retelling and Dreamworld Coke

Good news! My friend received her $3,000 bonus she was depending on. This is the main reason she has not made waves at her daycare job. Yes, she is afraid she is the troublemaker here. 

We tackled the list again today. There was still no a2milk 2%, so I bought four half-gallons of my milk and a gallon jug of his. 

Several days ago I saw a cryptogram book and decided we should try those for brain exercise. Well, no way was I going to exhaust my brain trying to figure these. Tommy took it willingly and decided he did not want to try those either! So, I took that back to Publix. 

While in Publix, I bought the toothpaste I needed. When I got home, I had bought a tube of Colgate. I am fit to be tied. 

The SAS shoes went back. If the wider pair are not okay, I will just get another pair of sandals. That was an arduous trip. 

Sunday night, I did not sleep one minute. When I awoke, I took my pill for my stomach and then immediately started eating. Well, my stomach hurt when I went to bed, so that caused me not to sleep.  We left for chores with my stomach and chest burning, feeling like throwing up. So, a trip to the drugstore for something to drink for my stomach pain was necessary. 

We drove around and purloined a pink bag of grocery ads. There is lots on sale but not much we need or want this next week. Some houses have multiple bags out, left there for weeks, so we try to go to those since they never pick them up to use or even to throw away. 

We spent from 1 pm until about 4 pm out of the house. I was exhausted and slept from 5 pm until 7:20. I only had chicken breast, one Lindt truffle, and applesauce. Tommy can get chicken and whatever for himself since he can decide. No, I will maybe eat a vegetable!

Unfortunately, on Tuesday, we will go out to finish the list. I have things from a store to return. Plus, I will probably get two more half-gallons of a2milk. I am quite sure the date on the milk will be sometime in December. The four I bought have a date of 11-27-22. 

After buying milk and making the one return, all our chores are in the house, thankfully. 

It is supposed to have a frost or freeze and I am not sure if geraniums and chrysanthemums will make it uncovered. I suppose the pansies will survive. Now that the weather is not so hot, the geraniums are putting out blooms. I certainly want to keep those around! 

A church member who was around helping with the youth when he was young, has died. She was in her 90s. I had a box of sympathy cards ready for him to choose one. These are made in the USA and cost around 50 cents each. He was astounded at the price of a box of cards when a neighbor died. After all, he only needed one card.  Now, he is happy to just pick a card out of a box and not have to go buy a card. 

We always try the new Coke flavor. The newest is Dreamworld. I gagged. Tommy said it tasted like Coke and Grapico and drank it. 

Tuesday, I will bake the chicken and vegetables. I do need to find the ghosts to hang in the tree. 

We like drama-free days! 

Tommy is watching Quantum Leam. I loved this show when Scott Bakula starred. Now, it is just boring. Do you like this drama? Did you prefer it with Bakula?

Have you tried Dreamworld Coke? Did you like it? 

Has first frost come early where you live?

Chainsaw Massacre in the Kitchen, Flu Shot

 Before we left to do a few chores, I called my friend to check on her. She did not answer. As soon as I got almost naked changing clothes, she called me. She said she did not answer when I called because she was in the kitchen busy using her chainsaw. I asked her if she finished cutting up that man. She said,"Yes, and now I have to drag him down to the creek." 

We both dissolved in gales of laughter. When we could breathe and talk again, she related her chore. When I was very ill, I was given a block of chicken pieces that must have weighed five pounds. I just did not feel like thawing that much chicken, handling it, and it was all too much to think about. So, I gave it to her and she put it in her freezer. 

She got it out today, and used her new chain saw to cut off one-third of it and put the larger portion back in the freezer. She had yard work that she could not pay for and went and bought a chain saw. She keeps saying it is smaller than a regular chain saw. I have to see what this tool actually is.  

She knows how to work the suspense and a good story. I like people like her. 

Then, Tommy and I went out for a few things. I got a prescription refilled and three pills from another prescription, They will call for a refill Monday. 

At The Pig, I found my supply of guaifenesin, generic for original Mucinex. It is an expectorant that keeps my chest clear. A nurse told me years ago when I was already a user that in the case of pneumonia that guaifenesin could save my life. I believe it. I also bought eggs for a small fortune--$3.98 for an extra-large dozen. 

Tommy went in Dollar Tree to look for the ice trays a commenter told me about. Yes, they are on the internet site, but not in the store. They had no ice trays of any kind. 

Our last stop, Publix, was the real reason we chose to go out today. We both received the quad valent flu vaccine. Only when I awoke from a nap could I tell I had a shot. So, that is done. We need to get pneumonia vaccine or another vaccine, forgot what. 

We bought candy that had less sugar, carbs, and calories than diet, sugar-free candy. It is individually wrapped--Lindor Truffles. If I only have one piece per day, this should last longer than the other sugar-free candy. So far, I have not touched it. Tommy will keep it by his chair, the only place in the house I cannot reach it. Plus, it has more pieces and was on sale. Maybe I will buy another bag for Halloween Trick or Treaters. It is $2.37 for 5.1 ounces, 12 pieces. We probably won't have half that many children. The Lindt is less than half price. 

Breakfast--raisin bran, milk   2nd breakfast-- 1/2  banana

Lunch--huge bowl of potato, carrot, kale, celery soup. That was the last of the soup.

Dinner was baked sweet potato with a bit of butter, cooked kale, and baked chicken. Delicious. Sweet potatoes are the stars around here. Later, I will have half an apple and graham cracker. 

Saturday Sleep

 It is almost midnight, and I have been awake since 5 am and feel miserable. I tried to nap and lay there for two hours! So, I feel grumpy and miserable. But, Tommy is not being abused...lol.

Both Alabama and Auburn, our two Alabama teams lost. Too bad.

I called my neighbor and told her a lie--that we were going to pharmacy where she needed to go and we would be glad to take her. She refused. Her voice is much stronger and she sounds so much better. It seems the doctor gave her pills to help with her blocked colon. She must take one each day for 30 days. She said she will have diarrhea 3 or 4 times each day for the thirty days per the med enclosure. She has to work, so she will not take them. I understand her dilemma.

My computer has been going crazy with popups. And, I am supposed to have an ad blocker. I called the tech support and was told I have no protection and no ad blocker, that I pay $$$ for only tech support. Well, that is not what I paid for this last spring! He did update my computer to Windows 11. The talk with tech is what spoiled my nap. Plus, I was on there for well over an hour. 

Tommy drew a jack 'o lantern face on the pumpkin and put him out. Drawing is easier than carving. Our bit of decoration is coming along slowly. When Halloween is over he will turn it around for Thanksgiving/Fall decor. 

Did you put out a jack o' lantern? Do you ever just draw the face instead of carving? 

This Post

 This post seems like I wrote it before, maybe in my sleep. The feeling of deja vu is so strong. I rarely have this feeling. 

This morning we got up earlier than I wanted, washed my hair, got ready and went to downtown Birmingham. We went to the drive-up lane for food from the Greek Festival. We were both eager. We were second in line. We would have been first but for a guy who was entering the wrong way. They rewarded his bad behavior by letting him in line in front of everyone. 

We ate at home because we had no desire to walk so far to the tables set up. I was disappointed because I did not get a breast. So, Tommy got my thigh and leg. 

Tommy had Souvlakia:

Marinated lamb skewered and grilled on an open fire served with rice pilaf, spanakopita, tiropita, Greek salad, and pita bread.  

I had Greek Chicken:

Greek-styled chicken at its finest baked and basted with a marinade of olive oil, lemon juice, and oregano. Served with rice pilaf, spanakopita, tiropita, Greek salad and pita bread.

(straight from the menu)

Tommy did not want a sweet, but I did--chocolate bakalava. I will never eat bakalava again without chocolate chips and chocolate drizzle. 

So, this is what we ate:

spanakopita--spinach, cheese, and phyllo

tiropita--egg, cheese, phyllo

bakalava--layered pastry dessert made with chopped nuts and honey and phyllo. 

I tried to call my friend in ER last night about 2 am, thinking she might be in a room and might answer. She did not. Friday morning her car was not at her house. Then, Friday afternoon it was there. We pulled up in the driveway. The dog was out, so we knew she was there. Later in the afternoon, she answered the phone. She was on morpine during the time in ER. She has a twisted intestine, a problem she has had before. There is a blockage in her intestine. We took her some food. I forgot that, like me, she will not eat anything but the chicken breast. I took her a cooked thigh that she will give to her dog. 

She was going to come to our car to get the food, but I told her to go back. She would not. Tommy yelled at her sort of mean to go back in. She did. He cannot get up her steps without a lot of pain and risking a fall. He did put the box into the house and push it so the door closed. He is surprisingly muscular in his upper body.

So, the ER doctor said she needed surgery. Oh, her car was gone this morning and back in the afternoon because a neighbor went to the hospital and got her last night. THEN, she went to work!  I am appalled. 

Then, we drove around the block and talked to a woman who was there at her house. 

Do you like Greek food? I do not like lamb but Tommy does. I need to use their spices more. Have you ever had chocolate bakalava? 

Soup, Icemaker, ER

 The potatoes Tommy peeled and covered with water on Tuesday night, finally went into a potato soup on Wednesday. Additionally, he peeled/scraped carrots while I sliced celery about 1/8 inch thick. Then, I sliced the carrots very thin. All this went into the crockpot with potatoes in chicken broth. Finally, I added kale. It was all quite tasty. I could not locate the bay leaves to add one. Oh well. I added bacon diced small. 

After it was done, I had a sample bowl...lol. I decided to take a nap and told Tommy to eat some before it was cold. I told him to get the new bowls so he could have lots without it slopping out. He sometimes lets things overflow when he pushes it to his chair on the walker. 

When I got up from my nap, I started cooking chicken in a bag. I had three packages of chicken. One had two huge breasts. The other had two boneless, skinless thighs and two skinless legs. The third had four skinless thighs. So, there is enough meat for a while, plus, as usual, I will freeze several thighs. If I die, Tommy can eat for a month or more without having to cook meat, which he won't do. He will thaw and microwave.

As I started the meat, I commented to him something about what we were having for dinner. He said he had dinner--a huge bowl of soup. I didn't care, just thought he would taste the soup. So, it was a success in his opinion. 

Wednesday dawned rainy. I needed to go to Publix for milk, carrots, and celery. Every time we decided to go, the rain started. Finally, we went in a dry spell and it rained cats and dogs about time I got out of the car. 

We did nothing on Wednesday to speak of, just piddling things around here that needed to be done. Nothing on the list was accomplished. He did call and get a replacement credit card so I would not have to go from the store to car in the rain again to get his. 

Thursday, we went to Publix for my milk that is three half-gallons/$10. They had none and none in the back. So, I got one half-gal. whole milk. My list was left at home. I spent over an hour in the store and only bought three things. I was so disgusted. Nothing went right. 

On the way home we saw a fire truck in front of my friend's house. We stopped and she was in the car holding her stomach and crying and shaking/trembling with pain. An ambulance was on the way. I told the ambulance personnel about her concussion. So, we saw her off in the ambulance. She had a serious hernia operation on the right side, but this was on the left side. So, I worry. 

Another long-time friend died, not close. It is like a part of my past dies and the world closes a bit. I am trying to stay out of the obituaries!

After I found a countertop icemaker on Amazon, I talked to Tommy. I have enough points/credit on Amazon to get it. He asked about just using one of the freezers. That is actually the best plan. But, I shared my desire to keep the ice clean, sitting upright, and water not spilling or his hands fouling it. Later, I told him there would have to be a dedicated space for it on the little shelf or underneath. 

I think he will be serious about the ice now. Before, he was not really concerned about my desire for clean ice. He would put a package of frozen meat on top of it if left to his own devices, claiming it was wrapped and frozen. He is not concerned about anything falling into the trays, frozen or not. 

I cannot get any information on my friend except she is still in ER, four hours later. 

Tommy got his own dinner--soup, salad, and hamburger. He only had one bowl, so I wondered. He had used a slotted spoon and only had vegetable on his plate with the burger. I might have a lot of broth for me. 

Have you ever had a countertop icemaker? Have any experience? I am reading the reviews. 

We had rain last night after over 30 days of dry weather. Now, it is just a bit cooler. Late next week, there may be frost just north of here. It is early for frost. Have you had frost in your area?

Yesterday vs Today and One Hilarious Comment

 Tuesday was one of my most miserable days in a long time. I was not ill at all. Well, I did have a bit of congestion that was the least part of my problem. 

My problem was I was failing naptime. Plain and Simple. I was begging for sleep. 

We went somewhere we planned and that was cancelled. Okay, love that I got up too early for disappointment. But, we were both rather philosophical about the problem. But, I would get a nap, so I was happy. Only, I did not go to sleep. That was a bummer. 

Then, I got up just miserable all over, forced myself to eat lunch. I decided not to go with Tommy to the doctor and go somewhere else or nap. He said to miss the other thing. So, I did. When we got to the doctor's office, he wanted me to go in. No, sitting in the car and listening to bird songs on tape was good. He does not want me to go into the exam room, so I did not disappoint him on that. And, he was not ill, so no need to be supportive by being with him. 

I kept trying to take a nap once back home. I carried a list and realized we did nothing on the list. Finally, I told him to eat burger, sweet potato, and salad. He did. 

Sleeping in my chair was not working nor in my bed. My chest was pounding and I could barely navigate around the house.

Hilarious thing. Before I went to bed for the before cooking dinner nap that did not happen, I asked Tommy to peel potatoes for the oven and chicken. When I did not get up to cook, I told him to put them on the counter and cover with water. He must have missed all the instructions, because he asked me if covering the potatoes with a paper plate would work. ??? I had to laugh.

Finally, at midnight or just beyond, I went to bed and read about five pages. I slept until 9 am this morning. I feel very good! today!

My Quest; My Hair

 Tuesday happened like I planned it. The day was well under way before we left the house. We picked up my shoes from SAS. I need a wider size because of my swollen feet. sigh Then, I looked for leggings and came home empty handed. 

However, I did find some long-sleeves tops that may or may not fit. I have yet to try them on. I tried on the two dresses and they both go back. sigh 

I did find the pants like the ones that dumped things. However, the pocket is a bit deeper and not sewn down. So, these may work. When I try them on, I will just put things in stacks, fit and return. 

Sunday night, I slept well and slept until about 9:30 Monday morning. Then, I fought a nap when we arrived home. Since we had meat cooked in the refrigerator, I still did not cook the chicken. We agreed to eat what we had: pork, sweet potato and salad. 

I like water, so this is not a problem with getting enough liquids. But, the three days I made and drank iced tea, I did not want a Coke or even milk. I did drink milk, but didn't seem to drink it many times in a day. Tommy does not have an ice maker and I don't see him ever paying anyone to hook one up even if he gets another refrigerator. 

Yes, it is a quest. I want two ice cube trays with lids. The Amazon search is still on, but nothing measures up. I want two trays, one for Tommy and one for me. I don't think, well, I know his hands aren't clean half the time! The freezer has limited space and things are always crooked. So, I need a tray that will hold the cubes until we crack them out, one at a time if necessary.

No, there is not room for a box on the door where we can use a scoop.

I remember Tupperware having a tray with a seal. Tupperware seals did hold well. I looked at Tupperware recently and the lids/seals come off very easily. So, Tupperware is out. All the other trays with lids do not hold. I read the reviews for each one. All the reviews so far have the complaint that the lid falls off or is not tight. I am not trying to keep air out, just cube in the tray. 

Does anyone know of a brand of ice cube tray with a lid that holds tight?

Two days ago or more, I cut the length of my hair where I could see it. When I would flip my hair forward where it hung over my shoulder, it was really long, so I cut about two inches. It is still long enough that it touches my shoulders. Then, I decided to cut a bit more of the length of the back since it looked silly with the longer area not blended. 

Today, I sat in the lawn chair and had Tommy cut the rest to a length that blended and was a U-shape. Then I pulled up all the crown straight up and had him cut off the length and straggly part. So, now it is done unless I decide it needs layers, especially around the front. That will be for another day. It looks so much better and feels better. It was getting overly shaggy and weird looking. Tommy said it looked like jack o lantern teeth in the back with some places two inches longer and other places just snaggled. 

My hair color with tax is $10.95 in the store. From Amazon I can get it for $6.63, so it will be delivered every month. 

The weather is so nice, free of rain, sunny, and just warm enough. I woke this morning needing my inhaler and running a fever. So, maybe October won't make me too miserable this year. I just heard on the weather that it has not rained for 35 days. So, with nothing to clean the air, the dust is making weather people miserable along with me. 

Right now, we are making a list of things that we need to do on Tuesday. It is long but easily done. If we don't get things done, we can carry it over to another day. 

Do you know of an ice cube tray with a lid that stays on? Do you have someone who is not a licensed professional who helps cut your hair? Or, do you have a licensed professional who does your hair at your home? Has this always been available to you or has covid led you to seek help at home? 

Success Times Three

 Have you ever had a day or days when you leave home with a purpose and things go awry. Well, today, I accomplished all three goals I set for our outing. 

1) Get the new Covid shot. It turns out the old boosters are no longer available. So, I got the latest. We would have done this two months ago, well, get the booster. However, since the vaccine works best when a person is not ill, I was waiting for a well spell and for Tommy to be in the mood. For some reason, he would just say, "Later." We have had four vaccines for Covid now.

There was no Pfizer vaccine available at our Publix. We only found the right vaccine across town at Vestavia Hills. It went off without a hitch. No one was waiting. The pharmacist was very nice. He listened to my problem with getting the last one too close to my shoulder with a torn rotator cuff. 

My allergist told me to get the Pfizer from the beginning, so I did what he said even though others told me to get any combination of vaccines. 

2) Return dishes to Belk. I ordered dishes on sale and they delivered them to the PO. ??? I took out one dish in the parking lot, put it back in the box. I hated them. They stayed in the car from Saturday to today when I got rid of them.

The woman who takes phone/pickup orders to the car was very nice and came and took them in. She took them to a register and got a return for me on the cc. I was so happy to see those gone. 

They were the style dishes that look distressed, ugly. 

3) Went to Publix near us to get Milk and Diet Pepsi for Tommy. While I was there, I got Publix hamburger buns, cheap and they are good. I have had no cheese in over a week, so got that on sale or bogo. 

Since I slept only a bit over 4 hours Saturday night, woke and could not go back to sleep, I was due a nap. No such luck. When I heard a crash, I jumped up from a near sleep state and rushed in. The 50-yr-old tv tray fell. Tommy insists putting cartons of Pepsi on it and it keep collapsing. I went back to bed, and the dogs were barking, four of them, furiously. I turned on Rod Stewart and tried to sleep. It was not to be as it sounded like someone hit the house with a broomstick, a loud crack. 

When I got up again, I was woozy, sick to my stomach, weak, and cranky. Tommy had kicked something trying to get out of his chair. For a quiet man, he made a lot of noise today. Wisely, he did not cross me by arguing with me. 

The TV tray will go in the trash can tomorrow. I have a new folding table, larger and sturdier, that can take its place. 

I sat here and recovered with a little caffeine! 

There was no way I could cook all the chicken and vegetables in my condition...lol. So, I put burgers in a pan in the oven. We ate those about 8:30. Then, I put in the hot oven three sweet potatoes, washed and oiled. Around 9:30 we ate sweet potatoes. Around 10:30, we will have a salad. Actually, this is the schedule I was told to follow--eat some now, a bit later, and more later. 

By the way, the Beauregard sweet potatoes were delicious without sugar. I did put about one teaspoon of butter mine and mash it. Tomorrow, I will bake a whole pan full and take some to neighbor down the street. Tomorrow, I will cook the chicken put in the refrigerator to thaw. 

Altogether, Sunday was great with blue skies and not a cloud to be seen. I do like white fluffy skies, though. Sleeveless blouses and sandals are still comfortable, not chilly a bit.

On Monday, the plan is to shop until I find leggings for me. Then, we will pick up my shoes from SAS. Well, that is the plan.

How was your Sunday? Quiet? Busy? What is on the schedule for Monday?

Sweet Potatoes and a Yard Sale

 Saturday, we went to Cullman to the Festhalle Farmer's Market. There were few vendors left when we got there about 11 am. But, my sweet potato farmer was there. His 40 lb boxes of sweet potatoes were not there, just 32 lb boxes. I got the last one. Maybe I will go out to his farm for another box. This won't be enough. 

He also had a $5 container of really tiny squash, bred for their thin skins and smaller seeds. Good. The squash I bought at the grocery store were tough as leather and had huge seeds. 

The whole day was warm and downright bright! The blue skies were so bright! I must get prescription sunglasses. I was blinded all day. The day was very warm, so I decided I should get out something summery and wore my striped outfit, the one with a floral print, too. The red t-shirt I was going to wear will be appropriate all winter long, but the summery one won't. 

We drove another 15 miles out in the country for a sandwich from the Mennonite store, Dutch Oven Bakery. We shared a sandwich that had turkey breast slices 1/2 inch thick. The slices were thin but stacked high. It was delicious and plenty. We both had a peach fried pie, hand-pie. It was awful. First of all, there was dribbled over it an icing of powdered sugar. Plus, the pastry was flaky like store bought goods. The filling was thickened, very thick, lacked peaches but had too much sugar. I never did find peaches, so quit eating. 

They sell wrapped candy by the piece. I had pecan in caramel dipped in chocolate. I chose peanut butter filling dripped in chocolate for Tommy. These went up from 3/$1 to 60 cents/each. We sat under a tree and ate in the car. We could get out and eat at a picnic table, but the wind was very rough. 

The store where I bought Double Luck green beans for $0.69 still had plenty. Five cans came home with me. I should have bought another 10 cans. 

At the PO I had a huge package, dishes I ordered from Belks at a great sale price. I hate them, so they are still in the car to return them. They are they type dishes that have the scuff marks on the pieces like they are old and scuffed. Nasty looking. 

On the way back from the bakery, I wanted to go to the orchard to get apples. But, Tommy passed it. Usually, I would have him turn around and go back. But, today, I told him we could go there next time. I had assured him he should stop at a yard sale we passed on the way out and told him not to stop. But, at the first yard sale I spotted on the way in, on the way out we did stop. 

I found books for a quarter apiece. I purchased a workbook, the kind with pages to copy for children. The activities were all early childhood lessons and the first part was reading readiness. If my back had not been hurting so, I would have shopped more. As I was digging around in my purse and came up with only three fivers, she said to just forget it. Okay. 

This is just the type book I would have bought to use at the daycare. Many of the pages were ripped out, but still stuffed into the book. Okay, I am ready to go. Oh, this table also had about a dozen tiny, blunt scissors. This sale would be great for a mother, home-school teacher, or a teacher. I didn't ask the woman what the setting of the teaching was. Now, I wish I had looked for manipulatives.

The best part of the day was getting home to a nap. Well, having a meal ready for after the nap sure helped my happiness. 

Decluttering--I found the top to one of Tommy's Tupperware canisters. He says he bought these at a five and dime. No! I also salvaged and put into the dishwasher another one of my Tupperware bowls and lid, something I sent home with food. One lid from a cheap container is in the trash. I will probably work on this box intermittently for the rest of the evening and tomorrow. Hopefully, the box is empty by Sunday night. We will have even more walking room in the kitchen when I finish. Yay for decluttering! 

We had leftovers: pork roast with bbq sauce, rest of squash and zucchini for Tommy, salad with grape tomatoes for me. 

After dinner the microwaved peach fried pie was better, sort of. At least there were peaches in this half but not many. Still, the pastry part was like a fresh glazed doughnut, not what I was hoping. It was still too sweet. And, strangely, the gelled part did not get softer when heated. 

How did your Saturday play out? What is on the agenda for Sunday? Do you like fried pies?

Target Visit

 My friend went to have the stitches out of her forehead, about 15 stitches. The doctor said she most definitely has a concussion. She is driving, working, and going back around the children with a splitting headache. 

She also had Medicare pay for a workplace injury, contrary to instructions in the 2023 Medicare guide. I certainly hope she does not get into trouble for that. I have no idea what Medicare can do to her. 

We did practically nothing today. Tommy picked up meds. They keep forgetting to fill them. We sat there so long I think they had forgotten them again. I have been working on loading the dishwasher by myself. But, at the rate I am going, it would take a week. I did declutter a bit, throwing out three things.

Today, I made my third trip ever to Target, and I am not impressed. The store was nice looking, aisles were wide. Well, except for in the grocery aisle where the aisles were barely wide enough for two carts to pass. There were no clothes in a style I like and in my size. I was told I could order online. I have no idea how the sizes run. 

Inside the front door were racks and racks of $5 items. Even Tommy slowed down, admiring them. I dared not slow down near the Halloween aisles or the cute things for infants and little children. I did slow down for the pretty, flower-shaped basket, all wire covered in cloth or something all wrapped around the wire. 

If a person needs storage items or organizational items like bins, baskets, cute shelves, Target is the place to pick up what is needed. I was impressed with this section. 

I was searching for a CVS branded product because there was an announcement that CVS pharmacy was located in Target. But, the items on the shelves in that area are not CVS, So, I wasted ten minutes looking for something that was not there. 

The first time I ever visited Target was forty-years ago. I went in looking for something, got it and came right back out. The other time I did not find what I was looking for and came out and went home. I probably won't go back a fourth time. 

We had a big thrill today when a wild bunny appeared to be trapped in a yard behind a chain link fence next door. He ran like the wind to another part of the yard and disappeared. Between dozens of huge yellow butterflies, birds and the bunnies, we find things to amuse us. We wonder the name of the yellow butterflies. 

Dinner tonight was a mushroom Swiss burger. Tommy had leftover potatoes, squash and zucchini. I had salad with my burger. Neither of us had a bun. 

Update: I heard Target carried Tupperware, so I checked that display. There was only one set of Tupperware bowls, the ones with the rays radiating from the center, the style where resting the elbow in the center and pushing down was the way to seal it, like cannisters. 

Do you shop at Target? What is your opinion of the store? 

Following the Drama, 424 % Increase

 About 4 pm yesterday, a couple missed their dog. Finally, they found it was in a storm drain in a pipe.  Tiger Lily is 14-yrs-old. Finally, at 11 pm the dog was freed from the 18-inch pipe. I was so stressed and shed a few tears. The news today covered the rescue and recovery. I was really afraid the dog might be so stressed physically that she would die. Another blogger was much closer to the action.

Another blogger had a comment that all the cough drops in Walmart in another city were sold out. There were no cough drops in the whole store. Well, I depend on Halls Mentholyptus to keep me well and get me well. I use them to keep sinuses clear when suffering from allergies. On Wednesday night, I told Tommy that we would not come home today until I found them and bought them. 

Publix was out of the kind I wanted but had plenty of everything else. Next, we went to CVS in the same parking lot. There, I bought two packages just to be sure I had plenty. The price has gone up and the number of drops has drastically dropped! 

Before--$0.98 Now--$3.19

Before--40 in bag Now--30 in bag

Before--2.5 cents each Now--10.6 cents each

Increase in price from Before to Now-- 424% !!!

Read that last again. It is astounding. 

Now, I wonder if the size/weight of the cough drop is less. 

Maybe the exorbitant price jump is because I bought the Halls at CVS. I have no idea. 

Maybe the problem is that I bought the bags of Halls Mentholyptus cough drops. Maybe another store would be not so expensive. 

The person who commented said she had to throw away her stash because the drops had become sticky. Sticky is not a real problem other than the fact the paper wrapper will not come off. Bummer when that happens. 

I got sick of the last five cough drops in a bag being ruined the next fall when I needed them. Sometimes it was 20 cough drops I had to toss. No, it is impossible to get the paper off. Once, I was desperate and put the sticky drop with residue of paper in my mouth and kept taking it out to pick bits of paper out of my mouth and off the drop! Early the next day, I did go out and buy more. 

Now, I take the whole unopened bag and stuff it into a quart Ball canning jar with a used canning lid and ring. The plastic lids are not air-tight or waterproof. Dropping in an oxygen absorber might work, too. No, that would dry them out too much. Two bags will fit into a quart jar. Now that there are fewer drops, three bags might fit.

Tommy worked so much today; I was worrying about wearing him out. He watered, carried in three cases of 24-pack water, repotted my yellow pansy into the bunny planter, peeled the last two carrots and the rest of the potatoes, moved all the dishes from left hand side of sink so I could wash color from my hair, put all dirty utensils on a pan for me over the dishwasher, emptied garbage twice into outdoor can, dragged the outdoor can to the road, and other stuff I cannot remember. It seemed he was up and busy all day. Some of these chores I had told him days ago I wanted him to do them, but he decided to do them all today. 

Planting the pansies was something I planned to do until I have been so ill. I do not need the air, pollen, the dust, anything to make me sick again. I told him why I needed him to do the gardening...lol. 

I sort of slept well last night and slept for almost 7 hours. I awoke in dire need of the inhaler and other meds and have overcome the desire for a nap all day. 

Wednesday was a day of deep blue skies and fluffy clouds. Thursday was very pleasant, around 80 and low humidity. I could handle many days like this. Trees are starting to shed a few leaves. Some are turning a paler shade of green, almost imperceptible. 

Thursday night, I baked two bscb, two carrots, and a puny bit of potatoes. The reason I baked only two bscb is because that is what was in the package I thawed. Tommy had zucchini with his meal. We have as leftovers--1 bscb, two tiny pieces of potato, squash, and zucchini. 

Does the Autumn air affect your breathing, asthma, or allergies? 

Have you had a hard time finding cough drops? Have you ever had cough drops get sticky? 

Decluttering, Feeling Puny, Spaghetti

 There has been no rain in three weeks. Last week, we had 0.003 of an inch of rain. Or, was it 0.03 of an inch. Either way, that is not a lot of rain. Combined with the leaves falling and something growing to which I am allergic, I am fighting a battle to the end of the month! Humidity is 29%, just the way I like it whether hot or cold. 

The first time I was ever ill the whole month of October, I had just gone back to school, taking a heavy load. I failed one class and dropped another. The class I failed was a humanities participation class, 1 hour! Other students asked me how I failed that class. Easy! You don't ever show up. These were lecture, dance, theatre, and always on Friday night. I went to class on Tuesday and Thursday that semester, plus one class on one Saturday, and a Sunday class. Going on Friday was just something I could not handle. So, I failed. I was beyond annoyed at my state of health. Every year since then, 30 years ago, I have been ill every October. 

Ground beef is now $3.99/lb. and boneless skinless chicken breast is $2.99, prices I have not seen so low in almost a year. Hopefully, this will be a trend, lower meat prices. 

I had a coupon for a free loaf of bread. There was a bogo sale for the same bread. So, I should have been able to use the free coupon to "purchase" one loaf and get another free. I explained all this to Tommy when he went in to get it. But, did he get that deal. No, he gave up a coupon AND paid for a loaf of bread. If the coupon could not be used that way, I could have saved it until bread was not bogo. Did he do that? No! So, I have to go back and get some sort of satisfaction. He wasted a coupon. 

We took four little plastic grocery bags with things in them to the Thrift store and put them in the donations. Tommy insists that t-shirts should go in the trash here at the house. Finally, he said they had to go for donations even though these are old and will bring money. He wants to drop all old electronics into the garbage in front of the house. I really don't understand his thinking. But, three small bags are gone from the house. 

I have had a 42 ounce can of pimiento waiting to open and share with my neighbor for over a year. I finally did that, so one can and clutter off the counter in the kitchen. We took it to her on the trip to grocery and thrift store. There were seven people/cars waiting at the pharmacy drive-through, so we will do that another day. 

I am struggling to stay well. But, in a few minutes, I will wander into the kitchen where he is cooking ground beef for spaghetti. I will add caramelized onion, garlic, and olive oil to the jar of pasta. We can have a salad. 

On Monday, when I awoke feeling on top of the world, I looked for otc meds I keep in a bin in my bedroom. I try to never let my otc meds run out. Since I struggled to find dental floss in the store about 18 months ago, I had bought a box of six from Amazon. And, where was it now? So, I uncovered my favorite dental floss, Glide Pro-Health Original. I have no idea if the shelves are stocked with what I need, but my bin is stocked. If there is any on the shelf, it is probably higher than the price I paid last year.

Still Here

 About 9 pm Saturday night, I started getting very ill, very quickly. This was not gradual, but so sudden it was sort of frightening. During Saturday night I had chills all night long it seemed. My temperature rose 5 degrees! All day Sunday, I was lethargic, only moving from my chair to go to the bathroom and for a short nap and two rests when sitting was too much. 

Tommy said he could not hear me, that I was very weak. I felt just as week. My whole body hurt--bones, joints, muscles, even my hair. He brought me everything I drank and maybe what I ate. I have no memory of eating anything, but I suppose I did. I do know dinner was just a bunch of stuff that did not make a meal and was not eaten at the same time.

Monday, I awoke feeling great! I did not ask Tommy for one thing all day...lol. I don't remember where we went, but I was fine. Going out tired me out. 

Today, Tuesday, I am feeling droopy but not really ill. Maybe whatever it is is coming back. Since Saturday, I have been concentrating on allergy meds for everything, asthma inhalers, pills, ear and sinus meds. All of this is otc except for the inhalers. All my problems are upper respiratory related.

I wear my mask to go outdoors when I think of it! These beautiful days are deadly for me. When my older daughter was in elementary school, she had the same reaction. 

Monday, I accomplished lots but did not overwork. Mainly, as I said, I did for myself instead of asking Tommy for everything I needed. Today, I have done for myself, too. I think I may have commented on some blogs, but not many, if any. 

I don't understand how I could become so ill so quickly and recover so quickly! Right now, almost midnight, I do not feel well, but it could be I did not sleep much Monday night, then only took an hour nap so I could watch Legally Blonde since I had never seen it and wanted to for a long time.

This has not been proofed at all, so good luck reading it. I may have spelled everything correctly and punctuated correctly. Don't know.

Saturday Football, Amazon Problem

 

See the package? See the narrow porch? See the ramp? Picture compliments of Amazon.

By noon on Saturday, I have gotten rid of another box. I put the two thermoses back into the bottom cabinet since they can easily be removed for applying contact paper. Another box will go to the curb with two nasty, pitted aluminum pots and a flashlight that may or may not be any good. The other free box will go to the thrift store since no one wanted it. 

Okay, later in the afternoon and I have emptied two boxes and cleared up precious floor space! One box is at the road with free stuff. He will cut up the other box. Two boxes of instant flavored oatmeal packs are in the trash along with old pepper. There was a plastic piece that was broken and appeared to come from a coffeemaker. One covered dish will go into the dishwasher. I did find a sticky JC Penney bag with Christmas items--about half dozen paper plates with maybe a dozen cocktail napkins to match, and very large luxurious feeling plaid Christmas napkins, two dozen or more. So, we will use those. His gas heat makes things sticky when kept and not used and washed for years. 

This afternoon will be devoted to planting spring bulbs in pots. I will be wearing a mask. There are pink tulips and purple that I will plant in the same pot. Alliums will be on their own. Of course, this won't take all afternoon since Tommy is planning on watching the Alabama game about 2:30 and Auburn around 6 pm. He will likely go to the thrift store to drop off a load without balking or wanting to watch TV. 

Yesterday, as we sat in the car in the shade for thirty minutes in another neighborhood, five little boys at a house were playing outdoors. Suddenly, two of the little boys very unselfconsciously faced a bushed at the front corner of the house and relieved themselves. They continued their conversation and playing. This must be their normal bathroom. The five boys were between the ages of 4- and 6-years-old. They ran, jumped off the porch, climbed, rolled, and all in good spirits. There seemed not to be an ill thought for the whole thirty minutes. You could see they were laughing and talking, but it was not loud at all. It was fun to see their antics. 

Every day, I learn something new about the family next door. I thought there was a man, woman, and four children. It turns out there are two women and four children. Tommy today said the guys we saw moving do not live there. The person he thought was a man is not! We really don't care who they are, but it sort of shakes the foundation of who the neighbors are since Tommy told me there was a husband and wife! Four dogs still continually bark and bark at us when we are in the yard. That bothers me. Their personal lives do not!

Well, I managed to let Tommy become interested in Alabama game instead of going to the yard. I took a short nap and certainly don't care, but the plan for bulbs is shot. He will be rooted to his chair when Auburn comes on, so I am letting it go. I will be cooking a pan of vegetables--zucchini, yellow squash, and onion. If he peels potatoes, I may cook a pan of potatoes. Both can go in the oven at the same time. I would cook them together, but potatoes take longer to cook. A preformed, very thin burger will round off this meal with plenty of vegetables for another day. I have chicken breast. 

Friday night, I did some mending that has been here while I was ill for the last month or so. It seems I start to get things under control and then I start getting sick again. Tommy notices how I do things like carrying my plate back to the kitchen, throw away Kleenex, toss water bottles, and generally move from my chair. 

I just now had the most infuriating encounter with a delivery person. I saw a plain van pull up in front of the house. Then, a delivery person loped to the house carrying a package. THEN, instead of using the ramp, he ran and put it on the porch beyond the ramp where Tommy would have to drive his walker past a flowerpot to retrieve the package. He is not that stable. If I got the package, I might tumble off the very narrow porch, too. 

After I scrambled out of my chair, I rushed as best I could to the door, opened the door and bellowed at the driver who was on the other side of the van starting to get in. I suppose all the neighbors heard, too. I yelled, "Can you see the ramp? Does that not tell you we have trouble walking and you put the package down where we cannot reach it? Bring it to the door!" 

Delivery guy: "I didn't want to put it in front of the door." 

Me: "There is plenty of room next to the door! Put it there." 

He disappeared, climbed onto the porch, brought it to the left of the door. I told him to hand it to me since he was there and I was holding the door open. I don't understand what is the problem with using the ramp. Another ten seconds? 

I would have had to close the door, get my shoes, and struggle to get out the door, pick up the package, throw or place in the house and struggle to get back in, and pick it up again, so did not feel bad about the extra five seconds he spent picking it up and handing it to me. 

I went straight to the delivery notification to report this, did so. The guy gave me five months rebate on the monthly Prime delivery charge. Okay, let's see if the delivery changes. I have complained about tossed packages, all beyond our reach about a dozen times. Does the ramp say to you that people here might have mobility problems? 

So, we are between football games. I only catch the replays. Tommy has gone to get the potatoes and I will  be washing and slicing the rest of the vegetables. At least, we can now get to the refrigerator and open it. I may piddle at decluttering as the night goes on. 

The flowers and herbs are done on the porch. Nothing will happen out there until allergy season slacks for me. We will do a bit for Halloween.

Do you have problems with deliveries? USPS is just as bad.