New Year's Eve

 We went out briefly Saturday midday and came right back to a nap...lol. Well, he watched football. One item needs more documentation, so no return there. I will fix it. I managed to get the cups we desperately need so that we don't have to wash a million glasses. I also bought a red bin, large one, for Christmas decorations. I found a box of nasty butter cookies in a pretty tin. After paying for the cookies, I dumped them all but six into a bag and gave them to the two children behind me. The tin had Santa on it and was cheaper than a tin at a yard sale. We replaced the lamp with another floor lamp. Done! 

At Publix, I returned the stemless wine glasses. They had huge bottoms, no roundness at all. They are ugly and hard to hold. The three coupons I needed to use on last night's purchase gave me cash back. Altogether, I was ahead $10 and used all but $1.11 on purchases. 

I found a Moscow Mule mug and got it, beautiful red with a painted-on white tree. I had a Santa mug for 50 years that I put candy canes in at Christmas. So, the red or green mug will work. Plus, I got cookie cutters. I had to buy three to get the star cookie cutter I wanted.

We dropped off red rice and two packages of Hamburger Helper to Lynda. I hate HH. 

NYE fare is decided--leftover taco soup, sausage balls, Ruffles and dip, regular grape juice in our 7-Up. Tommy says he does not like Ruffles, but I know he will have some. I asked what kind he wanted and he would not say, so it is done.  

At one place, I saw a Party in a Box but did not stop to examine. Great idea. Of course, decorating for NYE has never been a thing I do. 

Oh, I forgot to tell you. At the last doctor's appointment, I had lost five pounds. I don't know if it was different scales or what, but I had been cutting back a bit since the previous appointment since I was horrified at my weight.

A memory: One NYE, I went to a party where the doors were open, we wandered in the garden in party clothes. The host had built a fire that was driving us all outdoors! It was so warm that I wore a sleeveless, sheer outfit and needed not even a sweater. It was wonderful. The host was a musician. One room had a piano in the corner and about 30 instruments on the wall that anyone was welcome to use at the party. One man in the garden had a flute. I commented that he had gotten attached and must be planning to play again that evening. He said it was his own instrument, that many of the people at the party were members of some orchestra from NYC that was playing somewhere in Birmingham. It was a memorable evening. I even drove people to another party because I did not drink. 

What is on the agenda for NYE at your house? Of course, I will have no problem staying up until midnight. The day was pretty, clear and warm, in mid 60Fs, so I am sure people will be out tonight. I just hope no shooting is involved in celebrating. A child was killed in her bed in her home last week. The tragic, random shootings must stop. I digress.

Are you going out? Staying in? Having company? Treats? Staying up late? Having fireworks? Found any more markdowns? 

Do you have any special traditions for NYE?

When do you take down Christmas tree and decorations? Mine will come down Jan 1st. 

Happy New Year! 

Cleaning Out My Purse

My small purse is about 9"x5" and is worn crossbody. It is a front sewn to a back, no sides. So, it is small. I stuff it full. The purpose is so I won't have to try to hold a purse and still have cc, dl, and other pertinent necessities--one tube of lipstick, an emery board, cuticle nippers, insurance cards. Other stuff just gathers. So, tonight I decided it needed cleaning out just to find one 50 cent coupon. 

Well, the effort was more profitable than fifty cents. I found two 75 cent coupons for Jimmy Dean sausage that I just bought today. I did find the 50 cent coupon for Daisy Cottage Cheese that I was looking for and that I bought today. I have the stemless wine glasses that I bought and hate. Plus, I found the coupon for a spice rack that is worthless and a cosmetic case that is not working out. I found a coupon or signing up at Club Publix that will me $5 off my next $20 purchase. 

Cleaning out my purse before the end of the year is going to net me about $50. Some of the coupons expired Dec 31, 2022. Whew, by the skin of my teeth. 

I had gone to Publix today to redeem 3 coupons for 3 free bread products, $11.49 value. Now, I need to find room in the freezer. I bought one loaf of bread and two packages of hamburger buns. 

Four books of stamps surfaced, too. And, I found the number of the woman who cleaned and said she is coming on Sunday. I just need to check, and the number had aged out on my call list or something.

This was a profitable couple of hours of digging in my purse. Plus, my purse is skinnier and lighter. I found a dime and penny. I already knew the $5 bill was wandering around amongst the coupons and receipts. 

Now, I need to clean out my pink purse, the larger of the two. I doubt I will have the same luck with coupons, but it needs to be done.

My a2milk is on sale, but the sale price has gone up. Previously, I paid $10/3; now the price is $12/3. Bummer! 

Today, I had an appointment with a new cardiologist, a nice man, unlike the one who interrupted each sentence or question. We were 30 minutes late and had to wait another two hours to see him. So, we rode back in the rain, dark, and Tommy with low blood sugar. It was a harrowing drive. If I were ever going to have a heart attack from extreme fright, this would be the drive to do it. Besides not being a good driver, in my opinion, and not good at dark or in the rain, everything that happened was someone else's fault. The cardiologist has lots of tests scheduled for me. Lovely! 

Going to the doctor and Publix and cleaning out my purse is all I have done today. But, I slept late and slept ten hours. I went to bed at 9:30, slept until 1:30, took meds and went back to bed at 4 am and woke 10 am. See? I went to bed early and still only slept four hours. 

Do you ever clean out your purse and find things that you had been looking for or thought were lost or that you had forgotten you had? What was it? Do you find money?

Cullman Trip and Pain

 Thursday, we went to Cullman to get my mail. Since I had only had 1.5 hours sleep, I was ready to come home quickly. 

I wrapped a box of Reynolds Cooking Bags and gave them to my 92-yr-old friends. She is tired of cooking. They often go out and get a sandwich for lunch and family brings meals to them. They are not so feeble they cannot cook. The just plain don't want to cook! I can relate. That is why we use cooking bags. Well, actually, standing at the stove to cook is no longer possible. 

We also took soup/tuna cans for a mutual friend who collects them from many people and redeems them. We use few cans, so it takes about two months to even get a Publix bagful. This is her casino money, so I am not much invested in this enterprise. But, we do it because the elderly couple want to help her. 

When I told her I was coming in town and could we drop by to leave the cans. She said a nurse was with her. So, we did other things for an hour or so. When I told her we were ten minutes away, she said she wanted me to see her, how well she looked. 

OMG! She looked like she had been beat up with a huge purple knot about her eyebrow and deep purple bruises all along her face, collarbone, and chest. She had fallen off her bed ten days ago or five, forgot which. She had no idea how it happened. She made sure we knew she had never fallen off the bed before in her life. Her injuries were brutal. She said she looked so much better now. Of course, she went to the ER, not sure what they did but I can imagine test on her brain/head and stopped the bleeding.

She has also survived her second round of covid! Thankfully, she was negative today. It scared me to think I was even standing in the yard with a positive person. She said it was so sad and lonely spending Christmas Day alone in her house with her husband. I am quite sure her family brought food. I felt sorry for her the way she said it. 

Just as we were getting ready to go out the door today, something fell on my foot. The pain was so intense! And, I was bleeding. A lot! I wrapped a tissue around it and left. I put antibiotic on it. Keep your fingers crossed it does not get infected. I will probably lose a toe or worse! I am not kidding. I have wooden birds and wings to attach. These are made of 2x6 and are about a foot long. Well, one landed beak-down on my toe, just behind the nail. It was a bare wood cardinal that got me. You can imagine how heavy it was. I worry about wood being the agent that gouged into me. 

At Publix, I found more turkey breasts for $1.49/lb. and bought two, cheaper than bscb. They are in the refrigerator thawing right now. I need a thing to seal this food after it is cooked. Kraft Cheddar Cheese was $3 this week, so I got two. 

This state is a hotbed of covid, flu, and RSV. Today, I noticed more people were wearing masks, mostly older people. And, they were all wearing the kind with a valve--N95, I believe. 

As soon as we came home, I went to bed, but I could not sleep. So, I am up again, hoping to get sleepy enough to get a nap.

I am sitting amidst a bit of clutter I just put down around my chair, on table, on ottoman. Tommy has a similar clutter he has assembled. I told him we had to get this cleaned up and soon. I will not let this happen again. He agreed we should get it out of here. We just came home, so exhausted, not just lazy.

When we had Lynda over, I needed something to hold frilly toothpicks. I asked Tommy and he had nothing. Of course, he finds things he has forgotten he has. I told him something on the order of a shot glass would work. I did have pretty cut glass and pressed glass to use. But that is gone. Well, he came in with a tiny pimiento jar. It looked wonderful to me. I put a red, lacy, Christmas ribbon around it. It was perfect. The pretty ribbon came from an ugly wreath I ripped apart. So, saving a jar and ribbon worked for me. By next year, I will have a new cut or pressed glass tiny container. 

Today the temperature rose to 72F. I think they need it in Buffalo to melt some of the ice and snow. It is amazing to me that the temperature rose from 7F to 70s. 

Dinner: leftover turkey, pan of baked vegetables--carrots, broccoli, onions, potatoes, celery. I am cooking enough for two nights. Saturday will be sausage balls and something else.

It is late now, and some of the clutter is still here with me. I always take away stuff I have put in here instead of putting where it belongs. 

Do you ever use a common item for a really nice item? E.g., jar instead of cut glass...lol. 

Tuesday and Wednesday Favorite Meat

Decorating-- Somehow, all the tree ornaments in two tiny bins just disappeared. So, only lights. And, it was actually very pretty. Things happen. I did not get out the large Rubbermaid type bin. That left candles and the red Kiss with lights. But, I had tins! One square Moon Pie tin with a cute, Christmassy scene, a father and son in front of a red barn on a snowy hill, making a snowman. I stood it on its side next to the Christmas tree. Another cheery tin with Santa is on the bottom shelf of a table where light shows through the glass top. 

I brought out the fake poinsettia I bought for $5 at a yard sale. The basil plant in a nice white pot seemed like a touch of Christmas. These green touches were not much but cheered up the scene a bit. They made me happy. Then, there was a short, green, round Christmas tin that found a spot to beautify. 

Tuesday, Tommy went to plants stored in the utility room and trimmed them. The temps were in 40s, so a little chilly. I asked him to trim them when the weather was warmer, but he finally did it. I was shocked he had covered them in plastic. But, at least they are free of plastic now. It will be a great mystery how many of them survive this spring. There are no shrubs, not one, in front of his house, so the place looks barer than since before I started bringing plants. 

I want my pots of squash again! They were huge and lush and fed some critter well. The porch was pretty with the green. 

Tuesday Dinner: ham, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce--all leftovers. 

Wednesday:

I had an appointment I did not make due to only two hours sleep and having head and chest congestion, and coughing. So, I slept until 2 pm. The oncologist gynecologist is probably wondering why I am not coming in since I called him. 

The rest of the day was spent reading blogs, watching baby videos, and maintaining the lack of clutter, and only decluttering a bit more. But, every bit counts. Right? So, the day was not a complete loss. The movies at night have been fantastic. We saw Rear Window tonight--fantastic. I had not seen it in years. 

Tommy cut the ham from the bone while I was sleeping and has four bags of ham, not a full bag in any of them, but two to freeze, he said. 

Before I went to bed on Wednesday night, I took out a bag of turkey, one of the four bags from the two turkey breasts. Wednesday morning, it was thawed. And, tonight, we finished off the turkey breast from Christmas, and have more meat for Thursday. If I had 24 turkey breasts and roasted them all and froze them, I would have meat ready for a year. Half a turkey breast won't last a week, but mostly it will. I can dream, can't I?

Dinner: We had turkey and salad. I had an apple and half a banana later. I will never tire of turkey breast and salad.

The temperature was 61 today. I feel for those who live in such cold climates as the north of the country is now. 

You know I love turkey breast or chicken breast. What is your favorite meat to eat that you do not tire of eating? I do love beef and pork, but right now, I realize how much I love turkey and chicken breast. 

Death in the Life of Another Blogger

 I just read on Sluggy's Post that Kim's husband had a massive heart attack on Christmas morning. It was such a shock to read this. Go to the link to see pictures of the gang on a cruise.

This will be my post for the day as there was not much to say. And, somehow it seems not right to talk about trivia when such a treasure is gone.

Monday Christmas Talk, Sales & Next Year

 Christmas Day went well! I knew it would. However, due to sleep issues and dogs barking for a long time well before 6 am and right outside my window, I did not go to sleep until 8 am. So, it was about 2 pm or later when I got up, finally. 

I ate a hearty and late meal. Can brunch come after breakfast and lunch? Chicken sandwich on keto bread with MW, lettuce and cheese, chocolates and halo. 

I gave Tommy a tiny flashlight that he seemed to really like and a headlamp and one for me...lol. I still cannot find the other flashlight I want for him. It will sit up and point to the side, so he can see when he puts it down. I had already gotten the first light for me, too, tiny and strong light. 

He gave me a $50 Belk gift card, just what I wanted and a bag of Lindt Lindor Dark Truffles. He knows I love these. 

Christmas Day, we watched The Santa Clause, Santa Clause 2, and Santa Clause 3. I really loved these and had not seen either of them, before. The little boy in the original looked just like my son--his hair facial features, and the fact he had a pretty cry. My son was a pretty crier. Even in the second one, Charlie still looked like my son in that his hair was coarse, shiny, and thick, full lips, heavy brows. It was amazing. All three movies were great! Now, both the Home Alone movies are coming on.  But, since we have seen those, we don't worry about missing a word. We say the lines with the characters often! 

Dinner is almost done. The only thing not done is the gravy, but the hard-boiled eggs are ready for the gravy which will be tomorrow with the leftovers. Dinner: turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potato. Tomorrow, I will make the green bean casserole that I forgot and gravy for the rest of the leftovers.

When I made the cranberry sauce, I used Ocean Spray cranberries, 1c water, and 1/2 cup of sugar. The recipe called for a whole cup, but half a cup was fine. Next time, I might use less than the bag said. 

Christmas Eve, Lynda woke to water in her kitchen, coming from the direction of the refrigerator. After some mopping and many calls to plumbers, she finally found a plumber who insisted on coming out right then, late afternoon, and seeing what was happening. 

He decided he would have to come back Monday, but then took a look at the refrigerator. It was a broken line to the icemaker. She will do without that. But, the problem is solved except for the soaked carpet! It is still wet on Christmas Day, but she used the suction function of the carpet cleaner and got some water from the rug. She has a space heater in there to help dry the carpet. She had to spend $200 on Christmas Eve. 

The wreath never made it to the door because somehow the big red bell fell off and Tommy did not see where it fell when he brought it in. So, it is hanging on the inside of the front door.  Just now, I see the Home Alone house has a wreath on the inside of the door as well as outside. So, maybe that is a thing?  We never found the ornaments for the tree, so it still has only lights. However, that is not a problem. There is lots of light and decoration in the living room. 

Sunday night, once again I could not sleep. I had told Tommy to wake me at 11 am to go out. I normally would have wanted to get out shopping earlier on Christmas day after sales, but we did not want to leave the house before the temperature was at least 32F or above. 

Consequently, the stores were packed and all I might have found was gone. I wanted a few things specifically, like curling ribbon. I did make a few purchases, nothing related to Christmas. A box of 12 wrapped Cella chocolate covered cherries was $1.64--got two boxes. 

Silly me had Tommy return something. I forgot that there would be a long line. But, he said there were only 10 people ahead of him. That was only because it was late in the afternoon. When I went to see what took so long, there were about 15 people behind him. 

Hopefully, I will be able to sleep better tonight. Tomorrow should be warmer, Tommy can take the light out of the washing machine and wash my clothing! I finally have two loads ready. One  "load"is my two red blouses. 

We may have broken out of something, some attitude. I want to invite Tommy's cousin here for lunch and Tommy said, "Yes." So, every day we are improving on the condition of the living room and keeping it uncluttered. There was still a bit of clutter when Lynda came over. His cousin takes us to Bright Star where he loves to eat, but I am not going out to dinner until some of my health problems are resolved. 

I have been thinking about next year. I am not trying to rush 2022 out the door. Mostly, my plans revolve around health. But, I have two larger items I want to buy, so I need a way to fund those. I am working it all out in my head. I will discuss next year later this week.

Dinner: turkey breast, plain baked sweet potato, green bean casserole, halo. Later, I will eat half an apple. 

What did you get at the post-Christmas sales today? Did you look for something and fail to find it? 

Christmas Morning Snow

No, not this year! This was Christmas 2010. It is so rare to have snow on Christmas. This is during the snow and this picture was taken out my open kitchen window. The window is high, so I am looking down on it. See the blue umbrella on the table? Just to the left of the umbrella is my swing that I absolutely loved. 

My chickens were not fans of snow! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Eve

 I did not get to sleep Friday night until 7 am on Christmas Eve morning, so slept until 2:30. I had chicken sandwich on keto bread with lots of lettuce and MW and cheese, plus half an apple and half a banana. He ate something similar. 

Around 5:30 pm we thought about sausage balls. I put them together this time, doing it in right order not the order I told him. They turned out perfectly after 30 minutes at 350F in oven. 

We ate them all and watched three movies--It's a Wonderful Life, Home Alone 2, and something else. We stayed home and in the house except for Tommy walking to the mailbox. On Saturday the temperature only rose to 27F. 

Nothing spectacular happened but nothing sad. It was a good, restful day. 

How was your Christmas Eve?

The Day Before Christmas Eve

 We stayed in all day. I only slept only four hours, so I napped from noon to 3 pm. The only time Tommy went out of the house was to get the mail. I asked him to wait until I got up so I could sleep without worrying about him out in the cold and maybe a slippery place. There was no snow, no wind to be alarmed about and no slippery places here at our house. 

When I got up after my nap, I just happened to look at presents under the tree, and there was another, one for me. I asked him how long it had been there, he said he put it there while I was asleep. Okay!

I found my Christmas stamps after all. The stamps I used for the Christmas cards were winter flowers, cactus, maybe. 

There are no signs of our company or celebration here and all the party dishes are washed. Wednesday night, we put the dishes in the dishwasher after she left. There were so many I could not get them all in the dishwasher. Today, I had to wash about a dozen more plates. 

All the candy is in one place. We eat a bit each day. All the refrigerated leftovers are waiting for us to have cheese and crackers again...lol. 

Today, I ventured to ask Tommy if he thought we might keep the living room clean like this from now on. He said maybe we can. 

A Christmas last year funny--I found a decorated Moscow Mule mug for a quarter on sale after Christmas. Tommy picked it up and was so happy. He took it and washed it out and made hot chocolate in it, almost burning his hands. Well, he made the hot chocolate and poured it into the metal cup. I have no idea why he likes it so much! But, it is cute how he is like a little kid. He has kept it near him on a short bookcase all year! The cup is hunter green with a white snowflake on it. 

He really likes these candles with a flickering flame, too. He will plug in the Christmas tree and tell me to turn on the candles and Christmas Kiss with the remotes. The candles would be handy for emergency candles, too. I always keep plenty of batteries. Of course, if the electricity goes off, we will leave this place in these temps. I do keep three of the candles packed away, but near the top of decorations. Of course, I remove the batteries. 

The bedroom where we store things like boxes or the huge box of huge filters had gotten packed and messy. He went in there and really cleared things and straightened the room. Some boxes I keep because I may want to return the item. But, the boxes never get thrown out when I have made a decision to keep something. Plus, some boxes are small and book-sized. There are many boxes that are just there. Well, he stacked the up. As I looked at them, I decided most can be cut up and recycled. So, that will be a job for next week. The place will certainly be changed.

I noticed he is tossing things of his, too. Remember, for two years, nothing could go. He sees the cleaner has helped to make a difference. He sees I am not trying to get rid of his things. Or, something like that. We both gave things to the cleaner to donate. She offered when we were saying she could have it.  

It also helped she cleaned the cobwebs hanging all along the walls from the ceilings. For two years he has ranted when I mentioned it. That makes the place look less dreary and un-loved. 

We have plans revolving around what we are eating for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! I may cook/thaw our dinner I was planning for Thanksgiving and have it Christmas Day. 

I just heard--11F degrees right now. brrr. However, I only have a nightgown on and am barefoot. So, not feeling it in here. Of course, he has carpets for my foot comfort. 

So, it is turning out to be a good, happy Christmas.  I think I have the date correct, but on December 22, 1963 when I lived in Memphis, we went to bed with the report that snow flurries might happen during the night. Well, the next morning there was about two feet of snow flurries in our front yard with a line of cars that spent the night in front of our house on 78. It was a memorable Christmas, but no such event here, just colder than it was that night. Only 14.3 inches of snow was recorded, but drifts or a different amount fell at our place. 

Do you remember that snowfall in December 1963? I was a senior in high school. 

Do you have or have seen the battery powered candles that have a flickering "flame?"

Our Tiny Little One-Guest "Party"

 The trip to the store on Wednesday hurt the wallet since I had Christmas napkins that could not be found. I didn't look hard and Tommy overlooks things. So, probably right here under our noses. I will save them until next Christmas! 

We had to go to Publix and to Walgreen's to get a med I had requested from several doctores for a week. New family doctor was gone for two weeks I found out after much frustration. Why doesn't the office staff say he is not in instead of letting me think he is getting a message?

We sat in line at the pharmacy for an hour. Okay, it was only 55 minutes. Still! When we got to the window, the pharmacy had the same wrong prescription I was offered two days before. Then, they had to get it out and read directions to finally believe me that it was in the wrong form. The pharmacist, not a tech, said I would have to "walk in." I yelled through the window I could not. He then told me drive around and he would have the right med for me when I got back around. I refused and told him there were only four cars ahead of us and no one drove around. They just waited, and I was waiting, too. 

The man had a phone to his ear, but he could not hear us and we could not hear him except through the window glass since something was wrong with their phone to the outside. So, we yelled back and forth-so annoying. We finally left without the med.

So, we got home around 5 pm and company is coming at 6 pm! I had to shred cheese and Tommy had to mix cheese, sausage, and Bisquick. It was touch and go. I never got dressed in my finery, had not gotten ready at all. The plan was to wear full makeup for the first time in three years. He did, changed into a green shirt. 

I told Tommy we would have to work one at a time in the kitchen and the other sit to entertain. I cut a piece of fabric that had sequins on it and put it on the two small table in the living room. I put food on these. It was quite a festive look. I did not make rows of tidbits on the glass tree plate, just put tomatoes, cherries, red grapes and cheese squares. On the other table, I put two goat cheeses--sundried tomato and herbs/garlic. Wheat Thins were nearby. A dish had kisses and Hershey's Miniatures. The dozen or so sausage balls burned to a crisp, but I did not put in a second batch. 

It took Tommy 30 minutes to slice enough ham for three sandwiches on rye. I made the sandwiches right on my lap in the living room. It worked and no one wanted another. I had another dish of chocolate covered cherries-Cella and the whole box of Russell Stover chocolate candies, forgot what. My thrift store silver dish had pecans. 

At the thrift store three years ago, I had bought three little tree dishes, about 6-7 inches long. They worked for the candy. 

S Rosen rye bread is tiny, perfect for party-sized sandwiches. As it turned out, Lynda loves rye bread. Oh, I bought leaf lettuce since I love the ruffly leaves and was going to use them on the party Christmas plate of foods. Didn't happen.

I bought a 24 ounce bottle of Welch's Sparkling Sangria, non-alcoholic, and Seven Up. We drank it straight or with Seven UP. Lynda was glad I did not buy wine. Since neither Tommy nor I wanted wine and she did not, this worked. It was festive, not just another day with a Coke.

The spreaders, cocktail forks, tongs and spoons worked fine. So did the frilly toothpicks. I am prepared for occasions from now to eternity! Lynda stayed from 6-8:45 pm. 

We gave her a red Hershey's Kiss with fairy lights and silver kisses inside. She was thrilled. She gave each of us handwarmer muffs. I had seen these lots of places and thought it was a good idea. She complains about her feet being cold, so I told her to get one of these for each foot. I had two dog toys for her dog but could only find one. She said the dog loves to toss them and try to catch them. Good. 

We laughed lots. I finally put on lipstick and my necklace and bracelets and just wore the red blouse I had on all day. Lynda was very festively dressed. The lengthy Walgreen's stay took up the time we had to finish getting things ready. 

The dip did not get made, but there was little to dip. I just did not put dippable veggies out. Lynda loved the goat cheese with sundried tomatoes, so she focused on that. None of the bathroom hand towels were used as no one even went in...TMI. 

I had ornaments for the tree, sitting in tiny bins next to the tree, but they disappeared. We just had lights on the pre-lit 4 foot tree. I have two sets of three battery powered candles, the red Kiss light, so the room was nicely lit. I turned on the uplight on the floor lamp and the light was just right in here. I put out my fake poinsettia in a colorful container--$5 for the whole thing.

We were both pleased with our tiny one-guest "party." I baked nothing and things turned out fine. I am accustomed to baking for things at my house. 

I was exhausted, so true to my propensities, I left everything until morning except food that needed a refrigerator. Unfortunately, I did leave the rest of the sausage ball mixture out of the refrigerator, so that was tossed Thursday afternoon after Tommy found it. I was planning on eating sausage balls for Saturday. On Thursday, I bought another chunk of cheese and a pound of sausage. 

We loaded the dishwasher this afternoon. Tommy washed the larger things that would not go in the dishwasher, and I washed the smaller party dishes. 

The rest of the party is still out, some, just a bit. I am in no hurry to put things away as long as it drains me! 

Today, I remembered I did not put out my Santa and reindeer. When I get through typing, that will be put out since Tommy just brought me their boxes. 

Meals

Friday: ham, mac and cheese, and salad...we have lots of salad to eat, leftovers we find.

Saturday: sausage balls, cheese/crackers, fruit in jello, more salad, candy

Sunday, I think I will have our Thanksgiving Turkey dinner: turkey breast from the freezer, sweet potatoes, Stovetop Stuffing jazzed up with lots of celery and onions chopped from freezer, green bean casserole

I know people are missing whole family gatherings, so not too upset at the Walgreen's glitch. Are you missing family gatherings because of this weather? Have you ever had a major glitch and  plans not being executed that was really a bummer? 

I may change pharmacies. 

Finish Off Tuesday and Part of Wednesday

 Tuesday night:

The cheapest gas this weekend was $2.59. I hope it keeps coming down. 

Turkey or chicken breast is my favorite meat. I like it because it is dry. I ate a bit from one of the two turkey breasts I just baked. The chunk of meat was dry as dust, even chewing it. It was incredibly tender, but incredibly dry, just like I prefer it. 

Tommy got out the spices, put them in a bowl and mixed them. I usually do this, but I could not stand upright to do it. I was hanging onto the sink with my elbows! Salt, pepper, and ground sage is all I use, just like my mother did. Usually, I just sprinkle each on the turkey or breast one spice at a time. I rubbed the breast very well, put them into a turkey bag and baked for almost three hours. The skin turns out beautifully and incredibly tasty. 

After both were baked, I left them to cool a bit. I told Tommy to get some to eat if he wished. He just got skin and said it was good. Yes, he liked the spices. 

I got four quart bags and divided the two breasts into the freezer bags. No, not evenly, just a portion in each. I was tired! 

I had two tiny bins sitting next to the tree with decorations in them. Well, they disappeared, so the tree will only have lights! 

We hauled things out of the living room until 2 am. I was so wired I could not sleep until 7 am. I had told Tommy to wake me at 11 am, but wrote him a note telling him to wake me at 1 pm. I did sleep until noon and we started again getting the place presentable. 

This blog will continue with the rest of Wednesday and our "party." 

Wednesday, I went to the store and bought more Christmas napkins because I had no idea where they went. I ended up spending a small fortune at the store, probably enough we will not need for for the next week and a half when we need to buy milk and bananas! 

Accounting and Cutting Back

 One of my Christmas cards arrived ripped and in a plastic bag from the PO. It was a beautiful card, covered in gold glitter. One corner of envelope and card was missing. Jan, it is a beautiful card. This is only the second piece of mail I have ever received packaged after it was mangled. Thanks, Jan and PO. Have you gotten mangled mail saved by PO and in a package with an apology? 

When Tommy opened one of his cc bills, he told me how much we put on the card the month before, November. He was not complaining, but his tone was one of surprise, complaint and consternation. 

I suggested he write down the categories and amounts to see what was driving the increase this last month so we could see what was happening, and where we need to cut back. He said that was too much trouble, so I said to give it to me and I would do it for him. The first thing I know he is writing like mad. He said he was writing it all down in categories--Amazon, gas, eating out, Publix, other grocery stores in one category, etc. He pointed out the excesses in eating out--1xWhataburger, 2x Chicken Salad Chick, and 1vSlim Chicken. He went over the other categories, too. I never want to give up CSC! I forgot the other categories he called out to me. He uses this card for points and convenience and pays it off each month with no penalties. 

Next step: I will get one of those books with green pages to record it all instead of his writing on every envelope and searching for the last month record. I have no idea how these books work, but maybe I can find someone to show me.

We will not be cutting back on gas, but we can rein in food shopping just a bit. However, buying fresh fruit and vegetables, a2milk, and loss leaders probably will never be cut down. If he could eat a sandwich from home when out, we could cut out more eating out.  Actually, we have not been inside a restaurant since early 2019! 

This is the first time he has ever told me what he has spent on his cc. I never ask. It is his bill, but we both share what we have spent and really have no secrets about anything financial. 

All the gifts are wrapped, not that there were many. The sausage balls will be made today. Decluttering continues. Dishwasher needs to be loaded. Acessories need to be hand-washed. Decluttering continues. Life goes on. We listen to Christmas music. Tree needs to be fluffed and decorated. I have not had breakfast and it is noon. Decluttering continues. Ham needs to be sliced and portions frozen. Bathroom rugs--wash. Then, kitchen linens--wash. 

Tommy is amazing! Since the cleaner came and we are having company, he is going about and doing things he declared for three years did not need to be done. Once, I remarked I would scrub out the Harvest Gold wastepaper basket in the bathroom. 

He blew up and said it did not need to be cleaned, that he had never washed out a wastepaper basket, ever! And, he said I was not allowed to clean it either. So, he had had that plastic, ugly, broken container since before he moved her in 1980 and has never washed it. ewww! I bought a new, white one last month, and he scrubbed it before we are having company! And, he put a plastic bag in it. I am still trying to recover from this development. There are other equally startling things happening with him...lol. It's a Christmas Miracle!

So, we are plugging along with decluttering.

Almost 7 pm now, and I just put the two turkey breasts in the oven. That is not dinner, but it's meat for the freezer, plus some for eating now. He is washing the sink after turkey breast and juices in the sink. 

He fluffed the tree while I took a nap today. But, the two tiny bins with the ornaments are nowhere to be seen. Maybe we will only have lights this year. 

I called our one and only guest just now. It's on! Tomorrow night, she will be here with bells on. 

If I seem to disappear, my computer has been making a horrible noise, like a death rattle.

Have you ever gotten a letter or package from the PO that is mangled, partially missing and repackaged with an apology from the PO?

Cleaner's Background

 Today was busy. We both had an appointment with the podiatrist. She hurt me. The first and last time, she did not. Boy, was it cold (38) today with a bit of wind that made it seem colder. We grabbed a hamburger and then went shopping for fruits and vegetables. I forgot to get bread, but we may have two more slices and we can get bread ends from the freezer. 

Tommy ordered a meal with fries! I was on the phone and did not realize what he ordered!  I always tell him "no" that we don't need it. He was sneaky today, plus I told him to get whatever. He knows what I like and don't like, so I did not need to tell him. However, he knew I did not mean fries. Well, we both tossed most of the fries. 

When I got up this morning, I washed my hair. It was mostly dry by the time I got to my appointment. Wet hair made me feel a bit chillier, too. No, wet hair/head will not make me sick. 

Back at home, we barely got anymore decluttering done. I did wrap Lynda's gift. Now, I have two things to wrap for Tommy. I know I have ribbon but must find it. 

It is 9:30 pm, and we will do more tonight. He just does not know it yet. I have some party dishes to wash. Plus, I need to empty the dishwasher, handwash party dishes, other little chores I do not want to leave until Wednesday.  

The young woman who cleaned has a Russian name, so I asked her about the origin, how she came by her name. It turned out she was adopted from Russia when she was five, she and her half-brother. We talked about her experiences in Russia, in US, and about her take on her adoption, and the Russian orphanage. She was forthcoming with information and cheerfully answered my questions. No, I did not pry; she had a lot to say without any questions. 

It is 9:30 now. We will move more boxes from the living room. 

Dinner: I cooked in a cooking bag the beef that is thinly sliced for sandwiches, carrots, broccoli, and celery from a snack box that had a dip. We tossed the dip. Plus, we had a frozen, deli-type mac n cheese. It was a delicious and free dinner. Plus, there are leftovers for tomorrow.

Are you getting frigid weather this weekend? Have you finished shopping? Wrapping? Is anyone making a handmade gift? Toys for children? In the past, I baked, crocheted, did needlepoint, and sewed for my siblings, mother, children, niece. 

Dust Be Gone

 The volunteer cleaner showed up. And, she is marvelous! We both were leery of the other. She stayed from 10 am until 2:30, the last 45 minutes with me objecting she had been here long enough. In that length of time, she did not even finish, that is how bad the place was. 

In discussing paying her, she said that her husband makes about $200K and they do not need the money at all, so no. I still had Tommy write her a check, but she put it down and said it was a Christmas gift for us. So, we tried, and she is coming back in two weeks. 

Now, the nasty outside of the commode is clean, the light bulb in the hall is changed. Now, I can see! Things that have been here for years are now gone. Tables are dusted, finally. My poinsettia in a planter is out and looks so cute next to the big fat bird chick. 

As she was dusting my red Kiss with the fairy lights, I took the remote and turned it on while she was trying to figure out what she did to turn it on. I gave her books that I got over 2 years ago from the free stacks. Many boxes are on the porch for Tommy to break down for trash or recycling. 

The place smells better with much of the dust gone. I did not realize how dusty it smelled in here. It is also bright with dust gone from wooden furniture. Maybe I will have less allergies, and Tommy will have lest sneezing and head congestion. 

We watched A Christmas Carol, 1938 version. Now, The Sound of Music is on. So, we have had two great movies. Plus, I took a nap. The day has gone quickly. 

Dinner: beef stroganoff and noodles, finished off leftovers of green beans, potato and slaw. 

Saturday and Hor D'oeuvres/appetizers

 Saturday, we went to Cullman. We made the long trip further away to get sandwiches at the Dutch Oven Bakery, ate there, and drove back to Publix and the PO. Back at home I took a long nap. We had Chicken fettuccini with alfredo sauce. When I got up from the nap--3-6 pm--he had decluttered his stuff, his "side" of the living room. Good job! Really, it is just stuff around his chair and spread out. 

I called the woman who said she would come on Sunday, and she is still coming. Great! 

The dog carcass was gone when we got home. The person/agency I called asked me to whom the dog belonged. I wonder if they were going to have the owners remove it. ???

 HOR D'OUVRES<<<<click the blue words. Yes, I misspelled it, but I am not going back to redo the link. It is "oeuvres."

No, I am not making any of these, but these are great ideas. And, no, I don't know where are the recipes. Apparently no one else does! 

Do you have a good hor d'oeuvre or appetizer recipe to share?

Nothing to Report, Just a Dog Hit

Friday, we did nothing exciting. We did a little decluttering, a little washing dishes not in the dishwasher, a little thinking about having company. 

I gave away beans, about ten pounds. I am putting more into quart jars. They will go in the freezer for three days to kill any eggs. When I cook blackeyed peas, some will be frozen for New Years. 

Saturday maybes--maybe I will cook the two turkey breasts. Maybe I will take more books from this room. Maybe I will give Lynda a few more. 

We have something to do in the morning. Maybe I will be able to sleep tonight since I have to get up at 7 am! 

Did I tell you? Someone hit a dog in front of the next-door neighbor's house Thursday night. Tommy said in the hour and a half we were gone today, someone had hit it again. Poor dog! He called someone in the city, not the right person in my opinion, but was told it would be taken care of. That was early Friday morning. We think the neighbor who races his mustang up and down the road hit the dog. 

I saved about $10 this week. I took my car to get it washed. The line was so long I came home. Since I left my car out of the carport, the rain washed it several times. Of course, it is not clean, just cleaner, mainly not so dusty looking. 

Dinner: steak we shared and still had some left over, leftover potatoes, green beans and slaw. 

The weather is turning cold here, colder and colder each day until we have a low of 16F next Friday. Brrr. But, no rain or snow is predicted. And, it seems it will be more sunny than cloudy. Good deal!

Are you getting things finished up for Christmas? I need something from a store, but I really hate to even think about going into a store right now.  

Wednesday Night and Thursday

 Wednesday night, we had a different dinner. I had two pounds of fresh green beans that needed to be eaten. Plus, I had a few potatoes left and a dish of the juices of the applewood pork loin. Then, I had a meat that felt all frozen from the freezer. It was pork rib tips. I could not figure that out. But, when we were eating, I figured that is was the end pieces of a rack of ribs, little strips of meat with 1/2 inch tiny, round bones. 

So, frozen pork rib tips, green beans, potatoes went into a cooking bag along with the juices of the seasoned pork loin. It was one of the best dinners we have had in a long time. The skinny strips of meat with rib bones were the strangest cut of meat I ever saw. Have you bought or eaten this? 

I finally calmed down after finding a stranger had given my telephone number to another stranger to me and to her. And, she had posted my number on fb.

Wednesday night, Tommy started digging around in one of the spare bedrooms in order to put his crap he keeps in the floor in the living room into that room and out of the living room floor. Well, that will jumble things I know the locations. Plus, he took boxes out to throw away. Nope, those are for books. He found the box for the air fryer and got the fryer from the kitchen to put in the box. I give up! It will go on the curb for free. I spent a lot of money on it, and he broke the latch after the second use, so the door won't close. 

I tried the keto bread twice today. It is awful with pbj as the bread seems gummy and hard to chew. With cheese the bread was great. I will go back to using Smucker's  Natural pb and use half as much jelly, just a smear. I eat my potatoes almost cold in order to accommodate diabetes. 

Tommy is destroying the vac I bought for him. He will not empty the HEPA filter. He said it does not matter. Now, the huge wads of dust sit outside the filter cup. The HEPA filter serves a purpose--to keep the air exiting the vac from having particles that will bother me. I have no idea how long it will take the extra wads of dirt to kill the motor. He uses his reacher to pick up particles from the carpet, says the carpet is clean so no need to run the vacuum. Heaven help me! He did not change the furnace filter for over a year to save on filters. 

The only thing I need to buy for the tiny party is grapes and cherries. I will make the dip, put out goat cheese and crackers, make sausage balls. The rest is just arranging food. 

As I explained how he will mix sausage balls, Tommy looked appalled. He will have gloves on to squeeze sausage...lol. He did not realize how this was done. And, I would put gloves on, too. I never had rubber gloves to wear when I made these years ago.

I bought another basil plant. The leaves from the other were not as fragrant as they were when I bought it. I need to breathe the fragrance as ears and sinuses are becoming congested. 

Wednesday night, I ordered a tiny vacuum, about the size of a curling iron to get up bits, tiny particles. I hope it does what I need it to do. Surprisingly, it has a HEPA filter if I read correctly. It is very lightweight.

Wednesday night, at 7:30, the temperature was 59F, nice. 

The Christmas Party for seniors is coming up, but I think I am too tired! Last year, there were 800 seniors in attendance. 

You know I love bologna. I do and eat little. The last time I bought it, last week, the texture was off, and this was my favorite brand. I called and complained, inquiring as to the problem. As I tried to describe the texture, the guy said, "I know exactly what you mean." I asked if others had complained. "A few."  I took that terse, flat answer to mean quite a few. He said that the problem has been solved at the plant and he would give me a refund check. Okay. Good deal. 

Then, I called my favorite bakery about my favorite bread being scorched tasting. The young woman was rude, like I was lying, raising her voice. So, I raised my voice, too which hurt her feelings. I asked for her supervisor, and she had her call me back. I explained I did get loud but only after she insinuated I was lying, got loud with me, and continued her accusation over and over. Gee! Now, I will get a coupon for two loaves of bread. No, I did not go off into a lengthy maniacal rant. But, I do not suffer fools lightly! Her tone, phrasing, and voice insulted me and implied she did not believe me. The first thing I said was that I bought two loaves of bread. She then said repeatedly I only said one in the beginning. They have the conversation taped, so the supervisor can hear it all. 

That three-minute phone call turned sour quickly. I am getting coupons for bread! It was not so much getting another loaf of bread, just her yelling at me, calling me a liar, and being so obnoxious. Have you ever seen anyone argue by repeating the same phrase over and over like--I told you so, I told you so, I told you so! ??? Their intent is to drown out anything you say so that you give up and give in. ???

Tommy put the air fryer in its original box on the lawn and we left for about an hour and fifteen minutes. It was gone when we returned. I hated to give it away. I really wanted an airfryer, and it worked well but the door would not stay closed. But, it was on the counter, using real estate and not working! Plus, it was a constant disappointment and longing for me. I really want an Emeril Lagasse air fryer, but I want him too, to put food in there. 

We gave away a box of food we cannot use, won't eat, or whatever. I love dried beans, but we had too many. 

Gas is $2.62 here in Alabama. 

I took six D batteries to a battery store to recycle.

The Singer treadle machine is class model #66, quantity manufactured-- 35,000, Jan. 2, 1929. So, now we know. I wish I knew the story of the woman who bought it and all the women who sewed on it. 

Wednesday and Thursday, we watched A Christmal Carol with Jim Carrey and tonight with Patrick Stewart. I hope the one with Kelsey Grammer is shown soon. 

Thursday Dinner is leftovers--roast chicken, slaw, potatoes, green beans. 

There is not much happening here...lol. The house is rid of the clutter of six batteries, one air fryer, and 20lbs of beans. I count that a good declutter day. And, it was a sunny day in the 50s. 

How has your day gone? Do you enjoy watching different iterations of The Christmas Carol?

Help on the Way, Maybe? Maybe Murder Me?

 Our neighbors were the ones to give us the name of someone to mow. He has been great. So, while getting out of the car, the mother got out of her car. I had Tommy call to her since neither of us cou.d get to her yard fast enough. I told her i needed someone first to dust the living room and do other things a bit heavier. She said she knew someone who could help and would contact her.

Today, the phone rang. A woman heard I needed help from someone on FB and was calling to volunteer to help for free. My neighbor had posted this. Well, it was not this neighbor, but the woman I bought the sewing machine from the other day. I highly resent her giving out my phone number! She is a nutcase. She should have asked me. 

Well, the nutcase showed up at my door to give me the number of the facebook volunteer. And, she had another Hispanic woman who charges about $300. People expect to come in and work hard and clean the whole house and collect a bundle. NO, does not work that way. I could barely stand, door open, hurting and cold. So, she is going to text me. I never catch the text coming in. And, then I have to search for where texts are because I never text, don't want to, I don't care who you are. 

I am not sure if this woman volunteering and refusing money is on the up and up. She still has a Utah phone number and her husband is LDS, like that matters if it is all a lie or scam. Since I have no idea what the nutcase posted, this could be someone who has determined we are good victims since she know neither of us can walk well. 

Maybe I can call the police and check her out. Now, I am so stressed and reflux is making me ill. Have you ever had someone with the audacity to put your information of fb so strangers could come to your home??? I never want the nutcase here again. UGH! 

Even if she did not put my name and number on fb, she gave a stranger to her and to me my phone number. I can put my own phone number on Fb if I am interested! The nutcase is very closed about disclosing anything about herself. Ironic, huh?

Returns and Recycling

 Monday night, I was so tired  that I went to bed at midnight. I slept well, waking at least five times to go to the bathroom, but went sound asleep after coming back to bed each time. I awoke about 8:30 am feeling like I had been beat up. However, we were out the door for chores by 10 or so.  That means I did get my required 7.5 hours of sleep. 

A call from my gastroenterologist was comforting. My liver enzymes are right. I got no report about spleen, pancreas, or gall bladder even though they were studied. I suppose that is good news. The liver is not in the best shape but no worse than five years ago. I have all the symptoms of gall bladder disease. Over my objections, I have had all sorts of tests, and nothing shows up. I do not encourage these tests. 

We had one thing to do in the morning and one thing in the afternoon. I took back a jacket of sweatsuit fabric and got the right size.  When I bought it, a woman was standing in front of the rack. Instead of asking her to move as she had offered, I asked her to hand me a certain size. She did and I left. Well, I put it on at home and it was tight. She had handed me a jacket two sizes too small.  Today, I could not find my size and just one a size larger. It may or may not work. I bought smaller stemless wine glasses.

We took the recycling to Publix--paper, plastic bags, plastic bottles. We will give soup/tuna cans to someone else to recycle and recycle coke type cans ourselves. I returned the larger wine glasses. 

I mailed a few cards yesterday and have one to mail right now. I no longer hold cards until I get them all ready for the mail, now trying to beat the rush of cards and packages as I can at least for a few of them. It is after 5 pm and dark, yet we have to get my med that I need for my heart health. So, I suppose we will go out again. 

Today has been chilly, dry and very dreary! But, it has not dampened my spirit. IT'S CHRISTMAS! I am not in a buying frenzy, cleaning frenzy, or cooking frenzy, just have heightened feelings right now. 

Today, I bought low carb bread that might help with weight loss or at least weight gain. A comment from another blogger made me think twice--she loves a sandwich for lunch. I do too. I don't need so many carbs since I have diabetes. 

Okay, I took a bite of the keto bread. It is the best I have tasted. I tasted two other keto breads in the past. Miracle Whip will jazz it up. This is from Sprouts--Live Carb Smart, only 1 net carb per slice. Is that good? 

We drove the few blocks in the neighborhood to find a pink bag of ads and coupons. See, we did little today. We did offer a ride to a woman on a bike with too many, too heavy boxes and bags. A woman who knows her stopped and with a car more suited to her load and she went with her. We did try. 

Tommy's flashlight and headlamp are on the way. Lynda's Kiss has fairy lights and Hershey's kisses in it and needs to be wrapped. My grandchildren will get Amazon e-gift cards. Things are coming along. A cash donation to one very worth person needs to be delivered. I am set! 

Tonight's dinner--chicken, green beans, slaw, leftover sweet potatoes. I will bake the whole green beans in the tasty juice from the pork loin. The sweet potatoes had cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg in them, but NO sugar. Green beans were not cooked, so he ate chicken, sweet potatoes, and slaw. 

We have everything we need for any possibility, anything I might fancy to cook, bake. There may even be enough milk until after Christmas. The only thing I might hurry out to get is a loss leader that might disappear like the cheap turkey breasts did.

The Tabernacle Choir is wonderful tonight!

Tomorrow should be torrential rains, maybe flooding, and high winds. We will stay in! We do need to put a plastic over the sewing machine, but nothing else right now.

Are plans at your house better formulated? Is everything coming together for you? Do you have snow or rain?

Christmas Delivery, Shopping

 We set out at 9:30 to go to Cullman. I wanted to give the red Kiss to my friend who is 92. She loved it, full of fairy lights and Hershey kisses. I went in while Tommy sat in the car. 

We had things to do. I called CVS and Walgreen's as I sat in their respective parking lots and inquired about the glasses. Well, nothing. We both went into Belk's, a much smaller one than in Birmingham and were both exhausted! We found nothing, not even a clerk to help us. Someone sent over a nice child-clerk who did not know what she was doing. But, her job was to ring up items. This Belk will close if they do not get things up and running. The sold out of all their gloves! And, they had no houndstooth scarves. I suppose I won't get those. 

I went into Publix and found glasses. They are shaped like stemless wine glasses, and they might be. However, they are huge. I bought them with a return Publix card. So, I only had to pay $2.17. On Tuesday, I will go somewhere with really cheap stemless wine glasses and may return the ones from Publix. I am afraid I will drop the ones I bought. They are really huge, so when they sweat on the outside, I might drop them. Lynda might, too. Tommy said they are fine for his hand. 

We drove 36 miles out of our way to go to the Dutch Oven Bakery for lunch and to purchase little tongs and spoon. They were closed on Monday! I decided a place owned by friends would have what I wanted, high quality and expensive. I was desperate. They are also closed on Monday. Rats!

We ate at Slim Chickens and won't go there again. The meal we purchased--three chicken fingers, Texas toast and fries that were a little too spicy for me, and a drink, all for $8.99, almost $20 for two meals. The tenders were soooo tender. The breading was better than DQ, the honey mustard dip was not great. I did not need fries. The Texas Toast was great. We will go to Chicken Salad Chick next time we want to splurge.

I came home and put my car in the carport, called someone to dust and do light housekeeping for a good price, got one bedazzled card in the mail. Really, it was shiny confetti all over and cute, handmade, I do believe. All that exhausted me on top of the trip.

Tonight, I ordered Tommy a flashlight, a headlight for Christmas, and me a set of charcuterie accessories to get a tiny spoon for nuts and tiny tongs for Christmas tree foods. Still, I may find the glasses tomorrow. The flashlight is about 4" long but seems like it is bright. I will get a larger one from Lowe's where I can see it and touch it. 

We had chicken I roasted about midnight on Sunday for dinner Monday. Tommy had sweet potatoes and collards. I had salad with nasty dressing. But, we are fed. When I have chicken, I am happy. 

This morning I had a chicken and Miracle Whip sandwich for breakfast, that makes three meals of chicken breast today, and I could eat it again...lol. 

Tomorrow, he will slice the ham and we can have that for dinner. Some will be frozen. One of these chicken breast will go into the freezer, too. 

Gas was $2.67 today. Prices drop here within a few hours of buying gas. It is discouraging. 

Do you have one food, except for chocolate, that you never tire of eating? Surely, no one gets tired of chocolate! 

Does anyone shop at Belk? Have you been there lately? Opinion? 

Party Time

Once I awoke and waited for Tommy to wake up, we watched Meet the Press. Then, I put together the two Red Kiss candy dishes. It was a chore, batteries installed and the tension of wondering if the lights and remotes would work. Both worked. Once I had the fairy lights unrolled, I had to wad them up and stuff them into the kiss. I then put a handful of Hershey's kisses on top of the lights and battery. Of course, putting the glass candy dishes back in their packaging was another little chore. Finally, I finished. Now, I need to wrap them.

Since I don't want to use plastic for our little party, I need glasses. Tommy's smoke glasses are ugly. I bought two glasses for us to use with a Christmas dinner but he pouted all Christmas and would not even open his eyes or eat. So, I only have two, anyway. I can get another glass and use mismatched glasses, like that would even matter. 

But, I have another vision for glasses--stemless wine glasses. We don't need vessels for ice tea with a meal. Lynda loves sweetened iced tea. I have a $23 refund from Walgreen's, so maybe they have cheap stemless wine glasses there and I won't have to spend money. 

Of course, I can have ice with my huge-cube ice cube trays. I still haven't polished my silver dish I can use. 

No, I don't know when this will all happen. 

So, these are my plans and thoughts. 

Do you like planning special occasions, get-togethers?

Am I missing anything? 

There are disposable hand towels in the bathroom in a tray/dish with a candle. It is an electric votive and a pretty short dish/vase or something I found in his cabinet. I have two sets of three, pillar candles, battery operated. They flicker. 

If Tommy would agree to a place to hang a hand towel, I could use a cloth towel. But, since there is not one towel bar in the bathroom except one in the shower, I cannot just use a cloth towel! Since there are diseases going around, I suppose the disposable towels are better. 

I have a Fitz and Floyd small, oval, serving piece for sandwiches. I am thinking little ham sandwiches on Party Rye, cucumber sandwiches, and sausage balls. The glass serving dish shaped like a Christmas tree will have fruits and vegetables lined up across it in rows. That will work. I will use another of the Christmas saucers to serve cookies/sweets. And, there is a Christmas bowl for halos.

Our drink will definitely be non-alcoholic. When in one store looking for a muscadine juice which Lynda loves, I happened to see a bottle of blackberry wine--Mogen David. I think that is a step above Ripple, but it looked and sounded great. I think I could smell blackberries, maybe not. 

While in Publix, I saw a tray of 12 Christmas petit fours. I loved them and wanted them. Then I saw the price and changed my mind--$17.94. Never mind! The boxes of Christmas cookies look and taste gross. 

I wish I had my blow mold Santa, about 4 feet high and very old. Also, after many years I scored a Coca Cola cardboard Santa, life-size, of course. Yes, I would put both in here, right in the living room. The blow mold has a light bulb in it, so there is no need for another light...lol...in the whole house! 

I have a Christmas cd. I don't have anything else and don't want to depend on the radio...lol. Oooh, forgot that I have set of Christmas silverware. 

I have finally gotten everything worked out. All I need is to get the tree up. That will be about 30 minutes since it is only 3 feet high. I only need the glasses or one more glass so we will all three have a glass instead of a plastic solo cup. 

Great parties are my thing. All my entertaining supplies are either piled in a box or in the dump. So, this is starting over! This has been lots of thinking! It is not like I can just reach into a drawer or cabinet and get things out that I need. 

Turkey Breasts and Yard Sale Treasure

 At 8 am Saturday morning, I called Publix. The meat guy went to check. He said he got two for me. Later, but really early, like 10 am, I went and collected my turkey breasts. Both were a bit over six pounds, $9.16 and $8.52. That is not bad for those huge hunks of meat. 

But, they were strange. Turkey breasts are rounded all over. The has twoprotuberances, one on each side. I asked the guy why those things were sticking out. He said they were bones. I was skeptical and told him a turkey breast won't have a bone there. He said it was probably wings. I am going to be fit to be tied if I bought wings. 

We decided to air up one of my tires. The car would not start. So, Tommy had to use our handy-dandy car charger and it started. Then, I backed it out of the carport and he aired them up, all to different numbers--32 pounds for this tire, 34 pounds for that tire. It just makes me crazy. But, he said it won't matter. It appears sitting for so long and one tire only with 12 pounds did not make any of the tires get a flat spot. I imagine driving Michelin is why they held up nicely. 

I drove a little to keep in practice...lol. and decided to take it to the car wash. Well, there were about 12 people in line and I was not doing that wait. We will go tomorrow. 

Tommy pointed out a yard sale close to the house. We passed it several times before we stopped. There was furniture 6 feet high and massive. Behind it they put all the small stuff. We pulled into the driveway, and I decided there was nothing there for me. Then, I saw a tiny edge of something like a table, only I knew it was a Singer treadle. Yep. I bought it for $15. Since it was so cheap and she would deliver it, I offered to pay her five dollars to drive a mile to my house and put it in the carport. 

When we left, Tommy said, I thought you had sewing machines. I DEAL in sewing machines. I really only want this one for the iron bottom. I can sell the head to someone who wants to cannibalize it or to refurbish it. The wooden part, especially the drawers are good sellers for people who use them on shelves to store something also collectible. I might even make money on the deal. Now Tommy has to go out and cover it as even under the carport rain blows in. 

I have always wanted the iron stand from a Singer treadle to put a marble or wooden top on it. This would be pretty on a porch but would get really wet on Tommy's porch. However, it would be great anywhere. This is one of my dreams come true! I do have a Singer treadle older than this one, but I won't take it apart for a table. At one point, I used it in the den for my TV. 

The table at the head of the post is using the tabletop of the machine. So, that is an idea for a table kept indoors. I love it. 

We have a Christmas party to go to next Saturday. The weather will be great, but covid is on the rise everywhere, so I may opt to miss all the fun.

Dinner will be leftovers from Tommy's birthday meal--pork loin, potatoes, carrots, squash, zucchini, onions. I am so glad I don't have to cook! 

Are you missing parties to be safe? 

Do you use a Singer iron base for a table base?

Have you ever wanted this type table? 

 

Tommy's Birthday/I am Determined

 I was awake from 4:30 to 7:30. Tommy got up to go to the bathroom as I was going to bed. We pass in the night! I had told him to wake me at 10 am since I was told that the $1.49 turkey breast would be out by then. Well, I got dressed when I woke at 10:30 a bit miffed he did not wake me. I dressed as fast as I could and combed my hair in the car. On the way to Publix I did sing Happy Birthday in a creaky voice. He thanks me and liked the song. 

At 11 am, there was no turkey breast no matter how many people dug in that case of turkeys. Finally, it seemed that the truck was delayed so I could check back tomorrow. UGH! I did get vanilla ice cream like Tommy requested for his birthday. 

Since I had nothing to eat, I told him I was buying his lunch. We went to Arby's and had a roast beef sandwich with cheese and no red sauce. Other places nicer were too far away. We were on a tight schedule. Of course, I had to squirt Horsey Sauce on each bite. I love horseradish. One time I got the burn up my nostrils and loved it. Usually, we would eat in the park. He suggested I eat while we drove to Big Box and he would eat in the car. He had had breakfast. 

I did some quick shopping and no browsing. We left finally and got to next chore. We witnessed and almost head-on collision. That was frightening. 

It took a while to recover and we watched some of the news. Then, Tommy started peeling potatoes and carrots. We both worked. While I was trimming everything, he washed the squash and zucchini which I then cut into three inch pieces. 

Carrots, potatoes, onion went into the bag with the pork loin on top. I tied up the bag, poked holes, and put it into the oven. Maybe he put it in. I turned around to wash my hands as he stood near me, using his walker. He asked, "What are you going to do with the squash and zucchini? Oh, my gosh. I left them out of the bag. So, I cut the tie, dumped them in and he put them back into the oven. At least the pan was not hot at all. 

I said it was birthday present time. He was eager. He opened the shredder and was happy. Now, for three years he has opposed a shredder being purchased. He opened the book I got him--A Dog's Purpose. He seems like he might finally read it. I gave the old one with pages curled to Lynda. 

Life is short; eat dessert first!

Then, since dinner was still not near done, I asked him if he wanted carrot cake--"Of course!" So, we had carrot cake. I am so glad a whole cake was too expensive--$19--and we only had a slice each. He did not want ice cream on it. He hates ice cream or whipped cream on desserts, even when I whip real cream. Oh, I bought him a pack of Juicy Fruit since he likes gum and never has any unless I buy it. He is an aggressive chewer and saves it until morning, stuck onto something, so I don't encourage him. But, it is his birthday. 

Dinner smells so delicious--Applewood Pork Loin, potatoes, carrots, onion, zucchini, squash, all in a cooking bag. There is enough for another meal even if we both eat lots tonight. Plus, there will be enough for sandwiches. I bought slaw mix to go with any of the above meal if there is enough for more meals.

Determined? I will get two more turkey breasts! It is getting hard, but I will persevere. Next time, I will be at the store early on the day ad starts instead of noon the next day. But, things happened on Wednesday. No more excuses for sales. Tommy exclaimed, "Where are we going to put two breasts?"

I am determined to get two more in the stuffed freezer! I can thaw and cook one, if push comes to shove. One time about 8 years ago, I put three turkey breasts in one turkey bag and sent Tommy's home with him. It can be done. 

I ordered a Christmas cd for when Lynda comes to visit. Later tonight, I will listen to it and see if it is good. This will be a "party" done right. We might have dancing! jk

At 8:30, I called Publix. The meat truck has not come in yet. So, someone must stay until it gets there. At least, at this point there will be turkey breasts in the morning. We would not have gone in tonight, anyway. 

I asked Tommy if he wanted any ice cream. "At about 10:30." So, he is enjoying his birthday. Cake, ice cream, shredder, gum, a good dinner, Auburn t-shirt, and a book made him happy. The flashlight and head lamp can wait until Christmas. 

Are specials and sales becoming hard to find because of low stock? 

Do you ever become determined to get the deal?

Good Day, Busy Day

 Friday morning, I had an appointment for an ultrasound. Since I could not eat or drink after midnight, I hope I could sleep. I would not have eaten in the night because I resist eating, just drink water. I slept really well on Thursday night. 

I got up at 8:45 and we left at 9:30 for my 10:30 appointment. The whole appointment went well, but the glitch when I arrived worried me. A woman with a very accusatory voice kept telling me that no one would come out with a wheelchair to get me, whoever drove me had to go get one and push me in. She was relentless. So, I told her I was following directions. Finally, she called back with a much softer attitude.

The woman who came to get me was really sweet. Little did I realize she was the tech who did the ultrasound. She was kind and patient about my difficulties and the need for two pillows under my legs. The doctor had ordered two ultrasounds, so it took about 45 minutes. Now, I have to wait for the results. I am nervous but hopeful.

The gel was mercifully heated! She helped me from the table. I have had techs say-Can't you get off the table BY YOURSELF? Unless you have had these people mistreat you, there is no way you can appreciate simple kindness in a moment of weakness. 

Across the street I saw Bama Fever and Tiger Pride. I had Tommy take me there. I bought him an Auburn t-shirt, since he is a fan and graduate. I showed it to him and said, "Happy Birthday" since I did not want to have to go back if it did not fit. I bought from the $14.95 rack. It fits, but he says the neck is too tight. 

I tried eating the Munchies peanut butter and crackers. NO WAY. They were cheese crackers, but I tried them. I have always hated cheese crackers. So, he got us both a plain burger. Now, he can have cheese crackers with peanut butter for a snack here. 

We came straight home and left immediately to shop from my list from the ads. At Publix there was one ham left on the shelf, a ham for $1.49. I got it as I just did not want to wait on another to be weighed and priced for me to choose. The $1.49/lb. turkey breasts were sold out! So, I have to go back again, tomorrow at 10 am. About once a year, I will eat corned beef which was on sale. Dasani was cheap. 

Carrot cake was $3.49/slice. A whole cake on sale was $19.00. So, I bought two slices. I forgot the ice cream but can get it when I get the turkey breasts. 

At The Pig I bought cole slaw, cheddar cheese, squash, correct Munchies. Tommy loves squash and zucchini cooked together, so I am making that for him.

Food Giant--one deep dish Pet Ritz pie crust. another box of Munchies since Pig only had one, two cans of VanCamps pork and beans for $.88/each because I use them for baked beans and Tommy loves mine, I also found a deep, round plastic container with a lid that sealed as well as the Tupperware! And, it was only $1.25. I won't store food in it, though. 

By the time we got home it was around 3:30. We were both exhausted, but the day had gone well except for the first glitch. Since we had so little to eat, I suggested we have a pizza with cauliflower crust. It took me forever to get it in the oven, so that ended up being dinner. I feel like we did not eat well at all today! 

I had a heated argument with a friend who thinks we should not have closed borders because borders are a social construct. I agree with the social construct bit, but she made upset me. I think she is an anarchist. I reminded her of state boundaries, lot descriptions and our own rooms in a house. I doubt she is willing to give up and inch of her place because someone else wants it. 

After cheese, hot pizza, tiredness from the day, and being upset, I slept upright in my chair. I hate to sleep like that. We watched some sort of country music Christmas show. It was cheery. 

Just now, Tommy went to the car and found the delivery of my new sets of fairy lights. Good. They were right on the table by the door. 

Cheap gas--$2.84/gal. Temperature--mid 70s

Oh, yesterday as I sat in the car outside Belk's, I watched a USPS driver throw huge and small boxes into a very large truck. So, if you ordered anything from Belk's and it arrives damaged. I know why! Who throws boxes for delivery? I wonder how many more times these same boxes were thrown by USPS employees. 

Unfortunately, tomorrow we get up early and start all over again. I need to get the ice cream I forgot and get turkey breasts, among other things. This way, we do not need to go out on the weekend for anything. I am looking forward to a lazy day at home, at least a day at home doing things here. Medical things are never relaxing. At least I got all the ad items bought except for the turkey breasts. We had too much produce already except for the two squashes I bought for Tommy. 

Do you get out the ads in order to make a list of loss leaders? Items you need? 

Do you have a friend whose ideologies appall you and seem very radical?

Frustration

 Well, it is mostly Tommy's frustration. We went to the Galleria and he went inside to buy things for me using gift cards and my Belk cc if necessary. I wanted the red Godinger tea glasses, leather gloves, and a houndstooth scarf. 

He walked the second floor of Belk's that had nly two clerks. He never did find the glasses or someone who would help him. He looked bedraggled when he came out to report. His cell had died because he said he never checked the battery charge. The  poor guy looked so tired. He went back in to find gloves and scarves. They should have been close together. 

He found a tiny section of gloves, Isotoners, not what I want. I want leather gloves, cashmere lined. I don't want cheap leather the kind that is scraps glued together. He only found solid, knit scarves with pearls on them. Well, I know Belk's. They have gloves around this corner and that corner and all the way at the end of an aisle. It is annoying under the best of circumstances finding gloves or scarves. Hw swore he found no more. I believe that, but he does not know how to find items in Belk's. But, that is okay. 

He practically fell into the car and quickly ate the pb cracker I gave him. I had one swallow of the oj and he had the rest. We were famished, and frustrated and got a burger. 

Then, I got a few things from a different Publix than where we shop. I forgot what. 

The plan was to shop today for groceries in sale ads. But, we got home late and collapsed. Oh well. 

It was so warm that we needed the ac last night. Today, I heard the high was 73F and 75F. We did not carry a sweater or jacket "just in case." 

We both collapsed. Before we had left, I got some of the dishes in the dishwasher and will do the rest tonight. We ate almost all of the leftovers, so I will cook chicken tomorrow night. We have one tiny potato and two large, sweet potatoes left to eat. 

Tomorrow, I will bake chicken breasts and vegetables. Friday, for his birthday I will bake the pork loin and vegetables and make slaw. 

I talked to 92-yr-old friend and was telling her about the red Kiss and how I was putting fairy lights in it and the problem so far getting fairy lights that work. She was saying how she wanted a red Kiss, too and fairy lights. I have an extra red Kiss and an extra set of fairy lights, so I will give those to her for Christmas in addition to the cooking bags. 

When I talked to a friend here in Birmingham today, she wants us to have lunch at the Botanical Gardens. So, that may be in the works in a few weeks. 

And, I had a long talk with Lynda. When you sit in the car for two hours, talking on the phone and catching up helps the time to fly. Or, something like that. 

I decided I would order for delivery from Belk's. The ladies houndstooth scarf listed no content. So, I looked up the brand of scarf and found it is sold by WM as a man's scarf for $8 less. Don't the stores annoy you will branding, pricing and listings? The leather gloves from Belk's do not specify the kind of leather or the material for lining or if they gloves are even lined. I may just shop at Macy's, but I don't have gift cards for there. At the temperatures we are having, I may not need gloves or a scarf for a few months. 

Tommy said one employee told him there was lots of stock in the back but not enough employees to put it out. I do find it hard to believe that no one wants to work! 

One day after I have a stint put in, I will try the trek into Belk's. 

Really, don't you expect a nicer store to carry things not found in WM? I have worn WM scarves in the past and have been pleased. But, I hate finding it in WM and in Belk's for a higher price! 

I put things in the cart at Belk's online and cannot enter the gift cards, so I would have to pay money when I have plenty of means to get it with the egift card. 

I forgot to say but we found gas for 

Does pricing and quality irk you? 

Are you having trouble finding clerks in stores?

Tommy's Cake

 My head has been busy today, deciding what to serve for our tiny Christmas party and what to make for Tommy's birthday this Friday. 

I asked him if the pork loin with potatoes and carrots and onion would be fine after I asked him what he wanted. He shrugged at first, but said the pork loin would be fine. I suggested slaw and he said no, it would be too much. Exactly when is slaw too much. We will have it, but he does not have to eat it. I want it. 

Then, I went through the ads for the week, finding a few things but nothing major except for the ham for $1.49/lb at Publix. So, my grocery list is done. Eggs still are not on sale. 

I asked Tommy for a suggestion for cake for his birthday. He did not know. When I asked about carrot cake, he was eager, "get a couple pieces." So, he will get a carrot cake or just slices. He just now said to get a slice or two, not a whole cake. And, he wants vanilla ice cream. So, it is settled.  We don't need a whole cake around here. I do have candles. 

Today, I needed a nap at noon. I forgot we had someplace to go, so I could only sleep until 1:15. UGH Then, I needed the rest of the nap at 5:15 pm and awoke at 6:30 pm. Honestly, I am napping like a baby! 

Tomorrow, we have plans, so I hope I can sleep well. We will go to Belk's and to several stores to grocery shop. I have gift cards for Belk's. 

I received the Amazon fairy lights and went to the trouble to set them up for Lynda's gift. I was fit to be tied when the remote did not work. I had already set mine up! So, I was going to have to dismantle mine for the second time and order more and return the present set. The very nice woman said to just keep them, take a refund and order more, plus they were giving me a $10 credit at Amazon. Okay, then.

The lights will still work if they are in the same area with the first set in the box. The remote works on both. thankfully. 

The remote lives in a sandwich bag. It is so tiny and thin that it will disappear if it slides somewhere, it will disappear. If it disappears, I can find it by the sandwich bag. I have one hiding somewhere for my boombox! It could have been thrown away for all I know. 

Have you seen these tiny remotes (3.25 x 1.5 x 3/16 inch)? Have you lost one? 

Have you ever just bought one slice of cake for the birthday person?

How are the ads for this week at your stores?

Wet and Sleepless in Alabama, but It's Christmas

 It was rainy all day long. At 8 am I got up to cancel an appointment in Cullman. I am terrified of riding in the rain with Tommy since he fiddles with the wipers, turning them off until I am blind and trying to turn them back on and drive. He terrifies me! They understood. Then, I had to stay awake until 9 am to cancel a doctor down here. I was going to have to cancel him anyway since I got the Cullman appointment very late on Friday.

Luckily, she had another appointment for me this week. I had slept three hours, so I tried to sleep around noon. But, sleep would not come--bed too uncomfortable, shoulders still hurt from the fall, dogs were barking incessantly right next to my bedroom window. It was a nightmare. I got up grumpy, very ill with everything. 

At the last moment we got to the PO and Tommy went in with my stamped cards and the one international card, my cc, stamps and purchased an international stamp. I will mail cards as I get them done. So, three off today. It is a start. I emphasized that I wanted a pretty stamp, so I sent the Christmas flower stamps. He said the international stamp had a red carnation, so that made me happy.

I am planning a tiny Christmas "party" with Lynda. She cannot drive in the dark. So, this will be early and not a dinner like she served. Well, she bought fried chicken and potato salad, strawberries and grapes from Publix. It was festive and bought food was just fine. There was something chocolate, too. What we have left over will make easy lunches and snacks for later.

I won't be cooking dinner, I told her, just heavy hors d'oeuvres. It will be snacky and easy but filling--tiny ham sandwiches, round cucumber sandwiches, cherries, baby carrots, broccoli, grape tomatoes, dip, nuts, chocolate, Christmas-y cookies, bowl of halos. This menu will probably change. I planned this all in about five minutes. We have talked it over, and I will drive the block to get her and take her home. 

We cannot eat at the table, so that is why the fare does not require lots of serving bowls, and utensils, mostly finger foods. And, we have one chair in the living room so we can have one person over. My culinary skills will not be on display, just my presentation skills. I now have enough nice pieces for serving all this. 

I just retrieved the pink bag ads. At Publix ham is $1.49/lb. There were two coupons in the coupon sections for $.75 off Jimmy Dean Sausage, my favorite. Now, I have until Dec. 31 to find it on sale. There are other good prices, too. The ham is the first thing I saw. I was hurrying to heat the ham so we could watch TV.

The Great Christmas Light Fight in on TV, NBC. I love it. 

Are you planning anything for Christmas at your house? Well, other than Santa coming?

Dinner--half of tiny center cut ham slice, leftover butternut squash, collards. 

Nothing Sunday

 Of course, my lack of sleep is front and center again. Three hours for Saturday and two naps on Sunday seems to have me back to my normal pain level...lol. And, we are rewatching Home Alone and Home Alone 2. We are so predictable and boring. I know. 

Saturday, Tommy took a small bin and emptied the table to my left. It was stacked with all sorts of detritus of my life. I took a wet tissue and cleaned part of the glass. Now, I need to get a toothbrush and try to clean the area between the glass top and the wood rim around that top. The glass is beveled and there is a metal piece between the glass and beveled wood. 

Tommy took items off the top because I could not stand and bend to do it. And, I could not twist my body around, either. I just hope I can complete the cleaning of the top, by which I mean the fiddly place between glass and wood. He refused to allow me to use anything as a coaster, so for three years I have had sweaty glasses, bottles, and cans on it daily. It is a miracle the surface is not ruined. Amazingly, there is no damage. 

The sorting of the bin will yield lots of fodder for his new shredder. He loves ripping up paper, so I hope he enjoys the shredder. 

When I finish cleaning this table, even before I sort the bin, I will start on the table to my right. It has larger items, not so much paper at all. Both tables are 25 inches square. Huge! The table with the glass top was given to him by his last girlfriend when she moved out of state. He has an identical glass topped table in the corner of the kitchen. The table to the right of me is one I found on the curb and asked him to bring it here for me about five years ago. He thinks it is his. Not so. Oh, the love seat he had was also hers. 

Both tables have a full shelf underneath. They are very handy, but dust catchers. Picture a half inch of dust. Yes, it was that bad when I moved here, but he would not allow me to remove it even for my health. Dusting either table shelf is beyond me! I will attach a towel to one of his canes to dust those as I sit since bending that far would be impossible. 

This is the second time we have watched both Home Alone movies. Tommy just informed me we are watching them Thursday, too. They will have little sections of commentary during the movie. I wish we could just see the commentary. But, it's okay. 

Dinner: leftovers--chicken, rice, broccoli, butternut squash. I froze the leftover taco soup and chicken cooked with carrots and potatoes. Tomorrow, I will cook the other package of bscb with carrots and zucchini. 

I have finished buying present for Lynda and have NOT opened the Kisses for her! I need to assemble it and wrap it. I don't think she reads this blog, but you never know. Now, I have to figure out what to get for Tommy. I will probably leave the flashlight as one of his Christmas gifts. The upcoming birthday is all set for gifts.

This week, temperatures will be in 70s for three days and 60s for two days--my kind of weather! 

How was your weekend? What are the plans for your week? Do you just hate dusting? I didn't when I was younger.

Saturday Recovery

 We went to bed at 12:30 after a hard day on Friday. I got up at 1:45 to get something from my table in the living room. Tommy was sound asleep, holding the remote and tv on. I spoke loudly twice and told him to turn off the tv. He acted confused, and rightly so. Then, he just closed his eyes. I hate to yell at him, so I just went back to the bedroom. Just now, he said he turned it off. 

I got up once more in the night to go to bathroom. The next time I woke was 11:15 am. I felt bruised all over. It is 8 pm and I still feel bruised all over. I had a sandwich for lunch and ate peanuts a few minutes ago. 

There are leftovers--baked chicken breast and vegetables to eat, but I made something else. Chicken in soup, rice, cheese, 12 ounce package of broccoli, and pimientos. There is still taco soup, so I will freeze the rest of that tonight. There is still the other package of chicken thawing. I will cook it and have many packages of frozen breasts for other meals. 

Tommy had to help me with this dinner, heavy help. It was also too heavy for me to try to put it in the oven. Dinner is late because I didn't realize how long it would take me. 

Today, I started decluttering by cleaning out a bin of paper. Tomorrow, Tommy will go through the paper and get my name and person information off. I usually just rip my name off and put it in something gooey and wet. He cuts it off and takes scissors and gives it a good shredding. He will do this for hours each time. I remembered the other thing I wanted to get him for his birthday--a shredder. His birthday is on Dec 9th. When I have mentioned this before, he has yelled mightily and objected. I see this paper as a detriment to decluttering paper. So, we need this. It will help with decluttering. 

Saturday, I went to visit the Tupperware lady who told me she would be there on this date. She has a tent in a parking lot and brought things to my car. 

I went into Publix to get one thing on bogo and they did not have it out. I bought $43 worth of stuff that looked good and they finally found the item in the back--$5 more. In my defense, the pork loins were a good price and delicious. I will only buy this one quart of eggnog. 

The Christmas cards for the exchange finally got stamps. I forgot where I put the Christmas stamps, so these got winter flowers in the snow. 

That's it. Nothing else was done. I am in my snuggly nightgown with pockets. Dinner will be done soon. A Christmas Story is on TV. I love this movie! I asked Tommy if he ever wanted a BB gun when he was a kid. No. However, his father did buy him a shotgun for Christmas when he was about twelve-years-old. !!! His eleven-year-old brother received a shotgun the same Christmas. They lived in the city of Birmingham! 

Dinner had an off taste, not sure why. 

When you were little did you want a BB gun or get a shotgun? 

How about your husband? 

Your brothers or sisters? 

Children? 

Do you love A Christmas Story, also? 

This Day Almost Killed Me!

I awoke at 7 am to get ready and be at the dr appointment at 9 am and accompany Tommy to his endoscopy. Finally, at 11:15 am he had not had the endoscopy, I asked him if he were going to stay and wait for the doctor. He said he was leaving. Another couple was there for their 8:30 appointment and had not been seen. 

Let's back up. Around 10:30, I called and told him I was faint. He told me to go get food. I asked if he wanted something, too. He did. I went to Arby's. As I was eating my sandwich, he called and said to pick him up. His sandwich was still warm as I had only eaten a third of mine. We sat and ate since we were famished and exhausted. 

We drove 86 miles for the round trip and got nothing done! We had to pick up meds for me from Walgreen's and one other small, quick chore. Finally, at 3:30 we arrived home. Needless to say, I am exhausted! I had told Tommy I would cook beef tips, carrots, potatoes and onions. He seemed disappointed when I suggested leftovers because I was tired. Right now, he is peeling carrots and potatoes. I might have chicken breast instead of beef. Okay, I put out boneless, skinless thighs to thaw, so no beef tips thawed, just thighs with the vegetables. 

I cannot find Yukon Gold potatoes. So, I just bought something labeled another kind of "gold." I have no idea what is the difference. Do you? 

I still feel like I am riding in the vibrating car. When waiting, I had the motor on, so the vibrations were endless. I am certainly glad I did not have to drive home as we were planning. 

The dogs next door are having their nightly bark session. I am so sick of this noise assault. And, their cat has decided our porch, carport, and the tops of our cars are hers. Well, I will see about that. It has fleas! 

Now is prep time for Tommy's birthday. I got him A Dog's Purpose. I will buy him chewing gum. I forgot what else I decided to give him. Now, I have to think what it was. Oh, a flashlight. We have these Vont lanterns that are a pain. The light comes out from all sides, which is good in a room with no light. But, holding the lantern in front of my face while I

 look in a closet or under the sink blinds me. And a headlamp!

While I was sitting in the car for two hours waiting for Tommy, I made calls I need to make. I found an animal shelter to take the prescription bottles. And, I discovered a close relative died from cancer. From another call, I found more relatives that died from cancer years ago. Lucky me to have this heritage!

There are three thighs leftover that I will freeze. There is a small potato, too. North to Alaska is on, but I may not be able to stay awake long enough to finish the movie. 

Bedtime here. What are all these "gold" potatoes? The tiny one I had tonight was delicious. But, I was hungry.

Busy Grocery Day

 Today, we left early (about noon) with a list in hand and did a quick shopping trip. First, Tommy went into Aldi's and they had no goat cheese with orange and cranberry. So, he bought two cranberry vanilla goat cheese. The man loves goat cheese. 

Food Giant had bscb for $2.19/lb. I bought about 6 lbs. of bscb. It is in the refrigerator thawing right now. Plus, since Tommy loves zucchini, I bought 3 for $2. The squash was not fit to bring home. I bought Ziegler hot dogs for the freezer since these have been absent in stores for most of the summer. 

At The Pig, I was looking for a telescoping backscratcher like I bought there before. They had none, so I left.

Publix had the most things on the list. I bought Beggin Strips bogo for giving to Lynda's dog when we go by with Lynda's permission. Her dog was as afraid of me as I was of her when I tried to give her a strip. Those things stink, not at all like bacon, but she loved it. My a2milk was 3 half gallons for $10, so I bought 6 half gallons, a 4 cup round bowl with snaplock lid bogo. Cella Chocolate Covered Cherries will be saved for Christmas. Yes, I will leave them alone. I don't want to have to go from store to store looking for them closer to Christmas. Herb goat cheese will be great and Tommy loves it. 

So, that was it for this week. They did not have the Kisses that were bogo. Publix has started giving rain checks, so I got one for the Kisses. I sort of looked for eggs, but did not get any even though I should have. Somehow, it is hard to pay $7.97 for 18 eggs. That is 44 cents per egg--still doable, but it hurts, not my wallet, just my feelings. I really feel for people who cannot afford to feed eggs to children. 

I did not find Pet Ritz Pie Crusts. The Pillsbury I bought last time were not as good as the Pet Ritz. I found some pecans in the freezer. There may not be enough for a pie, so the top will be skimpy, but that's okay. I do have two crusts, but I need two more, at least.

We came home and I put the bscb in the refrigerator to thaw. Then, I took a nap. I wanted to see Dolly Parton, so I took a nap. Tommy called me 15 minutes before the show began. Then, between the two of us, I got the whole chicken from four days ago into the oven with three minutes until Dolly came on. 

I really love Dolly Parton, so it was hard to turn her off. The first hour was not good. So, we are watching Home Alone in New York. 

An Amazon package came while I was asleep. It had hair color, fairy lights, a plate rack, and an otc. That is all unwrapped and sorted. The new fairy lights are in the red Kiss and look beautiful. I did not put them on "twinkle" since that is rather disruptive near the tv, just on slow fade. I love the remote and timer that comes with these. 

I finally have an appointment with a cardiologist, two as a matter of fact. And, I got a refill called in, something I needed to do for days. So, today was a good day on the health front.

It has been a productive day! It was also dry and sunny, not very warm, though.

The day has not ended. After the news goes off at 10:30, we will load the dishwasher. It must be done. We have procrastinated. 

Has your day been busy? Productive? Laid back? Procrastinating? Weary?