Trees That Will Grow in Pots

 

You can grow Trees in Pots. Although I have the Meyer Lemon tree, I would love to have an apple tree, and maybe a fig tree. This article gives the names of dwarf varieties that are best for growing in pots and the year-round care they need. Of course, you can plant in the ground. Right now, I am working on Lemons, blackberries, and blueberries, so I won't be purchasing these dwarf varieties this year.

My sinus problems are lessening each day, but not gone. Still puny.

I cooked pork roast with carrots and potatoes in the crockpot. It is delicious and will provide leftovers. I also baked about 20 thighs in the oven. Tommy will take the meat off the bone and I can freeze a portion of the thigh meat. 

Tommy put all the pots on the porch onto the ramp last night, so they have had a proper watering. He was going to put MiracleGro on today, but maybe tomorrow. The Stella d' Oro are blooming. The wind was blowing so hard that the supertunia was swaying so it was threatening to blow down the shepherd's hook, so I bought zip ties to connect the hooks to the rail of the ramp. The pots where we sowed seeds have something coming up. Like Tommy said, they could be weeds. Maybe in a few days we can tell. 

We took a short ride and went to the park. I put out a bit of the cereal we have that is gross. One bird came. We are going the wrong time of day for birds to be about. 

I am continuing my walks down the hall. It is not much, but it can't hurt and can only help. 

How I ran out of Miracle Whip is a mystery to me. Usually, I have a reserve jar or four but not this time. So, we went to store for that. I do remember buying it at a sale price, one quart, hoping to find a better sale. Well, now the regular price is the sale price. So, the price of MW is dropping. Well, it appears that way.

The cleaner did not come again today. We have heard nothing. Tommy said he wondered if she ever came back from California. 

The weather was beautiful today. There will be no rain until a chance next Friday. I like this. 

What kind of trees do you grow in pots? 

Have you found a few foods are coming down in price?

Do you have one food that is always in reserve in your pantry, something you can always count on?

Dinner: pork roast, carrots, potatoes, strawberries

Eggsciting Price

 This week The Pig has eggs very cheap--$1.76/doz. When I got there I found a better price--$3.06/18 eggs or 1.5 dozen. PLUS, the carton of one dozen on sale was medium eggs, while the carton with 1.5 dozen was EXTRA LARGE. Since I always, well almost always, buy extra-large, I decided to get two cartons of 18 that were extra-large. 

At home we figured the price per egg that we paid. Well, I did pay more for each egg. Cost per egg for medium eggs was 0.15 cents and cost per egg for extra-large was 0.17 cents. So, each egg was $0.02 more.  Okay, a bit more? I doubt it. Medium eggs weigh 55-60 grams. Extra-large eggs weigh 65-70 grams. Since there is a range within each designation, I would have to weigh each egg which I will not do. However, I do believe that the extra-large were actually a smidgen cheaper based on weight which I have not determined. The actual cost per egg, regardless of the size of egg is 15 cents for the sale-priced egg and 17 cents for the ones I bought which are larger. 

I told Tommy I was going to buy 4 dozen, and he did not react well. He said there was no room. Well, I looked and it is crowded in the refrigerator. We need to eat the produce stacked on the one large shelf at the bottom above the crispers which will not easily move in and out, so not used at all. I may go in there and see what is wrong. And, I might go buy more eggs as they will be this price through Tuesday. 

Oh, we still have a carton of 18 still left from a few weeks ago. When I can stand to stand, I will scramble nine, at least, and eat for three mornings. Right now, we have three cartons of eighteen. 

I sprayed the bluebird and hung it up. Maybe the cool and damp will not be good for it. I can sand and respray. We moved all the plants on the porch to the table or corner of the ramp. Tommy won't have to do it. I believe rain is better for plants than tap water. 

Tommy washed clothes and I hung them. Now, the bathroom rugs are in the washing machine and it's getting dark. He put them in when I turned on the dishwasher, so he stopped it. I suppose he will go out after dark restart the machine and then go back to bring in the rugs. 

Last night, I decided I would put in the pork roast early, but I forgot, so that is for Sunday. Plus, we still need to cook the three packages of thighs that are thawed.     

Dinner: Again Tommy had thigh meat and I had chicken breast. He had zucchini noodles, like a salad. Plus, baked carrots and potatoes. I had carrots and mustard greens. We will both have strawberries and blueberries. 

Edit: free item at the Pig was 20 count pack of quart freezer bags, Ziploc, I think.

Amazed

 I was very ill with a sinus infection that was also causing a sore throat and chest congestion. However, for the first time in a long time, I have managed to turn this around. I am amazed! Usually, it gets so bad I resort to going to the doctor. My answer--claritin, hall's mentholyptus cough drops, chicken broth, guaifenesin, two allergy nose drops, singulair. I managed to sleep 7 and 8 hours a few nights, mainly because of being ill. But, I do believe the sound sleep helped me to recover. As you know, I get very little sleep most nights. Even with 8 hours sleep, I have still needed a nap. 

Now that I am better, I need to do a few things with plants. First, I will mix MiracleGro All Purpose Plant Food for all the flowers and berry plants. Tommy will apply. I need to decide the soil best for the blueberry bushes and for the blackberry bushes. Both will go into pots, huge pots. That is enough thinking for the present...lol. 

For the last two weeks, I have been worrying about where my bluebird and cardinal I made have been. Well, I found the bluebird given to me and decided to give it another coat of blue spray paint. I could not find that either after I found the bird! Now, I have bird and paint ready for Saturday. 

The pansies in my concrete bunny died this winter. I am not sure why. But, they came back. There are no blooms at this point, but I hope I get blooms. I might put strawberry lemonade million bells in the bunny.

I have my binoculars out to view the baby robins in the nest, but I keep forgetting to watch them! So, I must do that tomorrow and regularly every day. 

My exercise program starts today, Friday. For the last week, Tommy has mostly waited on me. But, for last three days, I have been up waiting on myself. So, I decided I will take a random walk down the hall for no reason except to move my body. My knee is cooperating and moving without pain once again, so we put my walker back in the car. I still have the regular walker in the bedroom, so I can use it in an emergency. I put my cane in the closet, so I have things other than the wheeled walker with a seat. 

Today has been pleasant, hot, sunny mostly. I am still decluttering a bit, but stuff is disappearing. I am taking the free books I acquired back to the free place so someone else can have them. That won't happen this week, but I did make a decision. 

Dinner: Tommy had chicken thigh, mustard greens, and baked potato. I had pimiento cheese sandwich, and bowl of blueberries and half an apple. I will eat mustard greens later. 

Saturday, I have a pork loin and vegetables for the crock pot. I will make chopped slaw. 

What gardening chores do you have planned for the weekend? Decluttering? 

Best Ever

 

I bought the first reacher/grabber at Harbor Freight for $1. It was worth about that much. I gave one to Tommy and kept one. This was probably six or seven years ago. Tommy broke his right off the bat trying to pick up a can. So, I gave him mine. He broke it, too. 

In his defense, the part that actually touches the item being picked up was just a thin piece of plastic. Tommy declared the Harbor Freight grabber was only useful for picking up a piece of paper. It was the first ever reacher I had seen and only a dollar. So, lesson learned. 

Then, I bought a two-pack that folded in the middle. That one broke in the middle, both of them. Actually, they were used for items too heavy. I did try to catch the handle on my purse and pull it toward me. I ruined one, Tommy about four, but he does use it more and for things on the floor as he stands. 

Then, I found the two above from RMS--Royal Medical Solutions, Inc. I ordered it from Amazon at about $45. We have only had it for a month or so. We have had no chance to ruin it, break it with overuse. But, neither has a way to fold it, hence no weak spot where it folds.

The shorter one is great for when I just want to get something off the floor while I sit in my chair. When I used the longer one, I had my hand hiked up above my head and was holding it with my hand that high--very inconvenient. 

I get nothing for this recommendation. I bought it on Amazon, but cannot use Amazon unless I make a new password each time I log in. So, tomorrow, I will find out why when I call Amazon. 

Dinner: baked chicken, thigh for Tommy, breast for me; baked carrots, potatoes, onions; mustard greens. 

Do you use a reacher/grabber or know someone who does? Has anyone ever used this brand of reacher? Have you broken a reacher? Or four? Have you had good or bad luck with a particular reacher? Ever tried this one? 

Flowers

 

                                                                          fuschia

                                                                    lemon slice calibrachoa

                                             superbells pink lemonade calibrachoa hybrid

The strange little flower at the top, the fuschia is in a 10" hanging basket. It is a strange plant that I am hoping the hummingbirds like. There are many of these flowers, but from distance it's not very showy. You sort of have to be up close.

The second two, the calibrachoa, are supposed to tolerate heat well. That is what we need out front. Both of those are in very small pots, maybe four inches.

Tommy would not even look at plants I drove to the car, and he yelled at me to buy what I want. I was so tempted to fill up cart with flowers! 

The best of all is something Tommy found. He came in and told me one of the plants overwintered and never watered had blooms all over. "The tall stems" he said. There was one stored plant that turned a translucent white, tall, round stems. Well, my plant never died, even without water! In one day, it started turning a pale green, getting darker each day. Now, I have about 30 blossoms on my Stella D' Oro! I am beyond thrilled.

My favorite color for flowers is pink, but pink needs some yellow to show it off to its best advantage. Well, that is my opinion. And, white brightens the pink. 

" 'Stella d'Oro' has all the traditional merits of other hybrid daylilies, plus a few more. It has the classic colorful trumpet-shaped flowers that individually last only one day; but rather than the normal one- to three- week bloom period typical to other daylily varieties, Stella d'Oro can potentially bloom from early May into September and October. This, combined with an unusually vigorous growth habit and very little maintenance makes Stella d'Oro the most popular cultivar in the most popular genus of all perennial garden flowers.

Stella d'Oro produces golden-yellow flowers with arching strap-like foliage that you often see planted en masse around office buildings and retail businesses, which is one reason it has now developed a reputation for being somewhat tired and overused. But when used selectively, Stella d'Oro still has a role in almost any garden design."

Today, I went to the oncologist ob/gyn. We went to Lowe's afterwards. I had lots of plans and ambitions on the way home. Then, I sat down in my soft chair. 

I wish I had more of the pink lemonade and lemon slice calibrachoa because these are small and not showy enough. But, they were $6 each, so that would have been too much to spend. They are also small, so it would take two or three more to put into a pot. 

Since we watched the news, we did not cook. I had meatloaf planned. But, he had turkey, a bit of green beans and a salad. I had Hormel's Roast Beef and Gravy, Romaine, and a whole can of green beans, minus two tiny spoonsful that Tommy ate. I picked up the Romaine leaf and bit off it. I was in a hurry to watch the Carol Burnett special--Carol Burnett: Laughter and Love. I actually remember many of those skits and costumes. 

Now, I need to fold the kitchen linens. Did you watch the special? What have you done today? What do you plan for tomorrow? What is your favorite color flower? Favorite flower?

Out of Gas

 Monday a bit before 7 pm, we went to Walgreen's to pick up a prescription which did not happen. We left going along the little dark road behind the drugstore that leads to the road we need one block away. We could have gone the other way, but it is just as dark. 

At almost the top of the hill, the car stopped. I asked what happened. Tommy said he did not know and tried to start the car so many times until the battery was dead. I glanced at the gas gauge and the needle was flat on empty. But, he kept trying to start it until I finally made him stop.  I was furious because we have had this argument before. He likes to let the needle get into the red zone before filling up. No, I did not yell at him. He said he forgot. 

I tried calling my insurance company which is the same as his. No, they would not help us even though he has same insurance. Yes, I do know this was not even kosher. I have roadside service on my But, I was willing to ask out of desperation. He knows I keep the police department of Cullman and Hueytown programmed into my phone. So, I called and told them neither of us could walk for help and it was getting dark and I was afraid. A car came to stay with us. The very nice, young policewoman came and talked to us, then sat in her car. 

They gave me a tow truck company to call and get them to bring gas. So, I called and got an answering machine. I called again and a woman hung up on me. I called the police back, and they had the tow truck call me. They said it was $98 for a cc and $95 for cash plus the cost of the gasoline. 

The tow people were very nice and efficient. They jumped off the car since Tommy tried to start it until the battery was dead. I knew Tommy would want to go down the road to the cheapest station, so I asked them how far this would take us. They guy said to go to the station catty corner to where we were. We did. 

Well, we did get gas and Tommy got out and used our portable charger to start the car again since the across the street gas station was not far enough to build up a charge. 

While we were waiting for the gas, I tried to convince Tommy to get roadside service on his policy. He was adamant that he would not. I tried to point out that he bought some very expensive gasoline. He said that he had saved on the service for 50 years and had never had to buy gas brought to him by a tow truck. I tried to convince him that he could not walk far, he was vulnerable in his condition, all to no avail. 

My walker was still in my room since I am afraid my knee will give out again. He left his sitting in the yard as he often does when we only go to Walgreen's. We know my walker is in the car. Well, no walkers Monday night. He can use two canes to walk, but downhill would be treacherous. When we are out, I use his walker if mine is home, and he has used mine when he leaves his in the car. 

As we left the gas station, I said I wanted a Whopper. He said, okay. So, that was dinner when we finally got home at 8:30. I was exhausted from 1.5-hour ordeal. We did not yell at each other at all during this ordeal. He was stubborn in his money-saving technique. I told him he was lucky before, but older now and forgot to get gas! It is hopeless trying to convince him of some things! He will not take this $20/year extra precaution. 

There is no advice that I need, just bitching here. No advice, please. He is so smart and competent. But, he has these blocks.

Today, the cardiologist told me he thought that one leg was so swollen because of my weight. I was shocked. But, he did give me good news.

I Could Have Been Shot

 About thirty years ago, I drove from my house in Alabama to my sister's house in Memphis. I was exhausted from the long drive. I was on autopilot, navigating the last portion of my journey through Memphis. I went to her door and gave two little taps before opening the door and stepping inside. I looked about and wondered about all the new furniture, not at all my sister's style. And, there were no birds, no cat, no dog. Then, as I moved further into the living room (ten feet), I could see a strange woman bent over a bed, making it. 

At that moment I remembered my sister had moved. I was in a stranger's house and very afraid. I backed away toward the door, hands up, apologizing and saying my sister used to live here. She advanced slowly and I hurried backward and got out of her home. 

I was shaken. Who knows if she had a gun at hand as my sister did back then. Who knows if there was a husband behind her or hearing all this in another room. I counted myself lucky not to have been shot.   35 years ago.

Many times, I have approached a white Malibu like I drove. I have tried to use my keys and one time actually did unlock the door. Some cars were open and I have opened the passenger door and driver door before noticing the car had different things inside. I have quickly sat in the car, confused. 

One time, I was standing by the driver door, fumbling in my purse for keys. A woman stood about ten feet and away and asked me what I was doing to her car. She seemed scary. I backed away mumbling I thought it was my car. She actually got into her car and followed me to see where I went--to a white Malibu just like hers. I could have been shot. 

These 2000 white Malibu were rental cars. I forget which company. They were all over the road, parking lots and very dependable vehicles. They lasted a long time. So, I was always confused. 2002 to 2018

It was late, not quite dark, when I turned into a driveway thinking it was the next road off the highway. Of course, when I drove a bit off the road, about twenty feet, I realized there was a long driveway and house, not a road. Immediately, a man came onto the porch, followed by another and then another. The first man demanded to know what I wanted. I told him I made a wrong turn and just needed to turn around to back out onto the highway. The way the men stood and the grim looks on their faces frightened me. They demanded to know my name and what street I was trying to find. Thankfully, I knew the name of the street. I was rattled after their aggressive behavior. I could have been shot.           10 years ago

With all that has been in the news this last week or so, I have been reminded of how frightened I was in the past doing similar things, all innocent. I think the world has become more threatening, scary, and violent.

Can you relate to similar actions you have taken, innocent as these people did? Have you gone to (or into like I did) the wrong place? Have you gotten into the wrong car? Have you turned into the wrong driveway or private drive? Did any of these things frighten you? Or, have you done anything similar and been threatened or felt threatened?

Supertunia Another Nursery

 Once again, two days in a row, we got up early and left early to go to Cullman. We got the one chore done. 

Then, we tried Walgreen's there to see if I could get the pictures from my flip phone. The phone company told us to try ourselves. So, now, I am fit to be tied. There is an error message on my laptop. 

While I was in Publix, I finally found nine-volt batteries. I know they are more expensive than elsewhere, but it's done. We both put two batteries in each chair's battery compartment. Now, I won't be upset when there is storming. These batteries will only work for one lowering of the chair. Then we need a new set at $12 for two batteries. I will find these at a cheaper price. Oh, I also won't need to be hauled out of my chair by fireman each time we lose electricity. 

There is a huge nursery we visited, complete with lots of wagons to pull plants and a golf cart to take people around the immense grounds. The guy walked and got one plant I wanted, a supertunia. When I asked him to get the other I wanted, he said it all the way to the end. "Do you want me to walk all the way over there?" He was just a worker. I asked for someone to drive me to the other end, "over there." A guy came out, older, probably the owner and said it was too busy, to come back next weekend. I was furious, but just bought the one hanging basket. No, neither man knew I was unhappy. But, I wanted to give them both "what for."

So, I will call with my complaint. There are other nurseries in Birmingham. 

We saw a sign that said--FREE LUNCH

                                         PRAYER

Why not? So, we got lunch. Tommy had a hotdog. I had a hamburger. We had water. And, could think of nothing that needed prayer. I figured the guy would grab us and start a rant of a prayer. But, he said, "Just know Jesus loves you." Oh, he said there were cookies, but he did not bring us any. We did not need cookies, anyway. 

A soon as we arrived home, I went straight to my bedroom with a detour to the bathroom, put on my nightgown and got into bed. I slept three hours and feel better. 

The birds under the gutter are robins. Tommy could never see the bird that went to the nest, only a bit of the head. Now, we can see little baby beaks stretching upward for food. They are hungry little fledglings. I hope we can see them learning to fly. 

I am not cooking tonight. We are having a salad with meat in it. Good enough! Tommy made his salad, and now it is my turn. I do have chicken thighs I need to cook tomorrow. I know it may be silly, but I want some vegetable soup with beef in it. I would put chicken in the soup, but Tommy thinks that sounds gross, so beef it is. 

Saturday was hard but productive. The sun was so bright that it hurt my eyes on the interstate as it was shining on my side of the car driving north, then south.

Was your Saturday productive or pleasant with sun and flowers? What plants did you tend? Did you bake something delicious?

Plant Sale

 We arose early and went to Cullman as the Master Gardener's were having a plant sale at the Ag Center. It started at noon. We had time to get to the PO and grab a Big Mac. Then, we went to the Ag Center and sat in front of the pavilion and lawn where the event was being set up. As soon as we ate, we got out of the car since they were allowing people to shop. 

I took my walker so I could help transport the plants. However, it was rough going across lawn, a bit of gravel. Sitting was all I accomplished. Tommy got what I wanted and one of the MGs also helped me and answered questions I had. 

Eventually, I made my way into the pavilion and sat again. My back hurt so! 

For three years, I had saved coins in Tootsie Roll coin banks. Finally, I took the pennies, nickels and dimes to the coin machine. That was a little over $12. Then, I had $18.75 in quarters that we carried. This was my plant money. 

My goal was flowers without going to Lowe's. I got flower plants that had few flowers yet. The total came to $41. So, Tommy paid the rest--$10. 

What we got for $41:

2 blueberry bushes

2 Blackberry--Navajo

1 calendula

1 aster, big and bushy

1 lemon balm

1 impatien 

1 daylily, Strawberry Candy

1 Flowering Quince, pink

Then, I bought two more that are on the list--$4 and the first $10, Tommy spent $14 cash. The rest was saved coins. 

Tommy put them all on a table and announced it was going to rain tonight, so he was not watering. That is why I had him put them on the table instead of the porch. I thought I bought blackeyed susan and did not know I bought the quince. I wanted a bluebird house, but Tommy did not want to worry with it. I was planning on doing nothing past putting on the trunk of a tree. But, I left it. 

Just after we arrived home, the guy came to mow, the one who was coming on Wednesday. He had truck trouble then. So, the yard is mowed, $70. We might find it cheaper, but We like the guy. When I mentioned to do something next time, he did not look at me, but looked at Tommy and said, "I will do whatever he tells me to do." And, he gestured at Tommy. !!!

I took a nap before dinner. I was exhausted, still am. 

We went to Publix where I gave away the other two Civil War books to a woman and a guy who wanted them.

I still want two hanging pots for the shepherd's crooks by the ramp. So, I suppose I will still need to spend money. There were food plants, of course tomatoes. But, I left those. I will go the Festhalle Farmer's Market where all food has to be grown by farmers in the county. I know most of these plants are not meant for pots, but that is where they will live, except for the quince. 

Tommy wanted a Big Mac since it had been a long time since he had one. I don't oppose fast food all the time because he wants it. However, I stopped the Hardee's sausage and biscuit, so I will figure out a way to curb the burger impulse, too. Don't get me wrong, I love a Whopper or a Big Mac. I am just trying to eat more healthful foods when out. He says he wants warm food. Maybe I will buy one of the lunch boxes that heats food using the cigarette lighter in the car. Or, maybe I will bring me a sandwich and let him buy his food. I think he might relent after a bit and have me fix him a lunch, too. 

Dinner was leftovers. Tommy had chicken drumstick meat and I had a tiny bit of ham. We had the leftover potato, carrots, and broccoli. He had grapes. I had blueberries. 

When I had him stick the pan in the oven that had 10 drumsticks in it and told him to take it out and eat, he did even more. He took all the meat off all the drumsticks and is pleased to have it ready to eat instead of having to deal with skin and bones. Sometimes, he puts bbq sauce on the meat. 

Do you ever go to plant sales? What do you buy, vegetables, trees, flowers? How was your Friday?

I Received Four Extra Hours on Thursday

 It felt like we were given four extra hours today. We were both ecstatic. Well, I was. We had one of those appointments today where the repair person would be here between 1 pm and 5 pm. Well, I just knew he would get here about a quarter to five. No. He was her at 1 pm. This is the guy who will repair my lift recliner. 

The whole undercarriage will have to be replaced. This will be pricey. He helped us beyond the chair carriage. I asked him what he knew about the battery to get my feet down when we lost electricity. He pulled out a box sitting on the floor and showed me where an nine-volt battery. It is just that easy. He does think the battery is good for only one use. Plus, he told me about the big battery case that must be charged and can be used without plugging it into the wall. I feel fortunate that he was so knowledgeable. 

About 12:30 pm we were out of here to do things we needed to do today. 

The thing we went to SAM's on Wednesday to buy was wrong. So, that had to go back on Thursday, and they did not have what we needed. The return was easy. Tommy got us a hot dog and diet drink for $1.38. These are the foods that will cause hardening of the arteries. So, neither of us need them. Thankfully, we live far from Homewood! 

At Publix, Tommy tried to return something and get another, different flavor. He had to bring it home because this was something not on the shelf. There were no nine-volt batteries. But, I did use the coin machine instead of rolling coins. Well, Tommy kept putting the job off, so I ended up just paying the coin machine to count pennies, nickels, and dimes. 

I had 75 quarters and thought I would just spend them a few at a time. I only saved about 20 cents by holding them back. These coins were what I had saved over three years. Some were picked up, some were from the bottom of my purse or pocket. All told, I have $30.28. This is my plant fund. 

Tonight for dinner, I will bake some chicken slices and vegetables--carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and sugar snap peas. Maybe this will offset the huge hotdog we had along with a huge bun and a huge diet drink. For breakfast I had blueberries, strawberries, cheese, and milk. So, the Sam's treat was the only bad thing today. 

It seems that when I have to stay home for a repairman, that everything I want to drive and do is urgent. I am antsy the whole time. Do you hate to stay home for someone who will come eventually? Once I waited all day and got a call that the repairmen had run late and I could wait another four hours the next week, not even the next day. I was fit to be tied. 

Today, was a good day even though we did not get everything done. And, Tommy was not so sweet today, but not as horrid as some days. 

We drove to Piggly Wiggly and Giant to get ads. 

He returned something at Big Box and the money was put back on the cc. 

We arrived home about 5 pm, having spent our free four hours doing things that needed to be done. So, essentially it frees up other days and hours. 

How was your Thursday? Did things go smoothly? Do you hate waiting in the four-hour window for a repairman to come? 

Wednesday and a New Project

 This day was a perfect day. The skies were pretty and the temperature was in 80s. We had two things to do. We picked up my book that was lost in the house. My friend wrote it--To Live and Die in Alabama, by Stephen Edmondson. Unfortunately, they gave the paperback instead of the hardcover I ordered. 

Then, we went to Sam's Club, bought a few things and returned home. The bulkiest, heaviest item we bought was the wrong size. So, that will be another trip. I am bummed about that. Tommy needed milk and checked the price which was cheaper than stores we frequent. 

We had a slice of Sam's pizza and diet drink in the car. It was not much of a car picnic since we ate in Sam's parking lot. I just did not want to drive to a shady place. It worked. We ate. Tommy wanted to half a piece which was okay with me. But, he wants the meat pizza, four kinds in this case. That really grosses me out. Plus, I am allergic to something in pepperoni. 

He took the scenic route home from Homewood, whatever the scenic route is. 

We are really good at shopping together, with neither of us causing a problem driving around the store. We load the huge cart efficiently with both of us moving things about with no disputes about what goes where. He was in a peaceful mood today. It was fun. 

He got his taxes done, getting a refund of $1K from fed and almost $100 from the state of AL. He was annoyed he had overpaid so much and said he needs to figure out what to do to pay less next year. 

Yesterday, I had Tommy bring me a baking pan for my lap, then a pot of dirt. I planted two packets of seeds in it. He watered it yesterday. Hopefully, something will come up. I planted Bachelor Buttons and Alyssum, both free packets from the Ag Center. Any flowers I get will please me. He watered it today, too, all the plants. I hope the birds don't decided to eat the seeds. I will put a fake snake near it. 

I heard on TV that seniors can get even more of a reduction on taxes even with the homestead exemption. He argued with me and then I heard it again. So, now I will enter the information online. He is always eager to save money. 

Today, I got out my hot pink sandals and felt happy wearing them. I am silly that way...lol.

My new project overshadows all plans I have. I know a college student who needs help. He failed last semester because he lost his ride to school. And, he is homeless. So, I have contacts that will help him figure it all out. He needs a car and a place to live permanently. However, he holds down a fulltime job. He is a non-traditional student. I have talked with someone who can get him through the process of regaining his grant. I have taken on the task of getting him in a car. I have contacts, old as they may be. My mind has been whirring. This kind of thing energizes and excites me. I can advocate for someone else much better than for myself. 

This was an excellent Wednesday, excellent day. For dinner I had a thin, tiny slice of ham and a huge plate of slaw from a mix. The cabbage is chopped in little squares, instead of being shredded. Tommy had rest of the ground beef, zucchini, and some of the same slaw. I had half a banana, strawberries, and blueberries today. A huge box of blueberries was fairly cheap at Sam's and they are huge. 

Tommy found my bluebird I made, so tomorrow I can repaint it and hang it along with the hummingbird feeders. 

How was your Wednesday or any other day? 

The mower did not come as scheduled. grrr. He will come when he can. I lay down for a nap thinking he would wake me with his work. But, instead, I had a nice nap. 

Do you ever garden in your lap?

 

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Short Cooking Video That I Love

 I love this VIDEO.

There is something about it that I love. It is nine minutes long, but wonderful.

The Video Below, not so much. Oh shoot. Just click on the words Video Below in the sentence before this sentence. 

Well, I discovered there are several other videos of this family cooking over a fire and eating with their hands.

How do you feel about these videos? Interesting? Makes you hungry? Relaxing? 

Discombobulated Sunday

 I would have taken notes as the day went on the explain it. I think it started when I tumbled over and into the walker. Of course the story would involve sleep or the lack thereof. 

I rarely know if the cleaner is coming on Sunday, so I get up anyway at 9 am. Saturday night, I did not sleep a wink. So, at 8 am, I got up, got ready, ate, and waited. Around 10 am, I went to bed. I slept for a few hours, got up for a while, laid back down and slept a bit. 

Before I staggered off and collapsed again, I put chicken drumsticks in a cooking bag. Tommy peeled four potatoes, and I trimmed them. He arranged them, added the onion I peeled and sliced,  and I put the drumsticks in and closed the bag. I had seasoned the chicken and put a bit of water into the bag. I think I was in the bed before he got the pan in the oven. 

I told him to get it out, have dinner and put it in the refrigerator. Well, I awoke just as he was taking it out. 

I never did get the day combobulated. I mainly lived through it. I could not sleep through Sunday night, so I was up and went back to bed a 8 am and slept until 11:30. 

Tuesday started off late but well. Maybe I have combobulated it all today. The other day, Tommy took my flip phone in to get pictures from my phone. It does not have a place to put an sd card like my last one did. So, I was to take it in to Walgreen's and they could put it on a disc. But, the pictures I wanted were not accessible. I was told to get the charging cord, plug the usb into laptop and other end into phone. We will see. 

I am not exhausted at all, barely tired. It is a miracle. And, knee is not hurting. So, we will go out and plant one flower and two packages of seeds. The oregano is coming back! 

Sunday, I was discommoded every way I turned. But, today has gone smoothly. But, Tommy is in the mood to argue loudly. 

Tommy finally got the mower on the phone. So, the yard will be mowed this week. About time. Our is the only shaggy yard on the street. 

Tommy will have chicken legs, carrots, potatoes, and zucchini--all leftovers. I will have frozen chicken breast, a bit of potato, carrots, and salad. 

Tommy needs to find more frozen meat to thaw so I can cook it. I need to bake some of the sweet potatoes we bought last September. 

Do you ever have a whole day that gets discombobulated? 

What do you give to a 93-year-old?

 My friend turned 93 years old and her husband soon turns 94. I give a Christmas gift and a birthday gift. It is hard to know what they want or will even appreciate. My friend who turned 94 before she died gave me hints even though that was 30 or more years ago. 

My friend loved gift certificates to her favorite restaurant. She did not want to eat out. She wanted enough to treat others. She loved to treat her family and friends and she was not able to cook for a crowd, or even herself. 

Gifts I have given my present friend--an azalea to plant since she loved her yard. It died. She has two bluebirds hanging in a dogwood tree. So, I made a cardinal and she hung that up, too. She gave up having a Christmas tree, so I gave her the red Hershey's Kiss with remote controlled lights. 

Now, it is her birthday, so we got her a gift card for Chicken Salad Chick. My knee has slowed me down plus recovering from covid. So, I am late. I called her the day before her birthday and mailed a birthday card the day after. Today, we went to Chicken Salad Chick and purchased her a gift card. She has never eaten there. Well, I was praising it, so she may have gone there lately. I will have to mail that. I will make it clear this is for both their birthdays. 

Of course, I had my quarterly CSC for myself. That was dinner. Tommy suggested going to the park. Sitting in a park, even in Homewood this late in the day would scare me. We ate in the parking lot outside CSC. I got my usual, Classic Carol and loaded baked potato soup. 

As we sat there, there was a steady stream of young people and a few middle aged who were eating in an outdoor eating area just beyond the CSC. There were apartments, probably pricey ones, nearby. It reminded me of a few years ago, okay 30 years ago, when I would have been all for this. When I was at UAB, friends and I often walked to places to eat or for entertainment. 

This place is too close to Cookie Fix and a chocolate place. I cannot have them all at once! It is all such a temptation but necessitates a long trip just for a treat.  I don't need treats like these, so it is just as well it is such a chore to drive there. 

Last night, we went to bed at 3 am. I had my four-hour sleep, got up at 8 am, sat here on laptop until almost 9 am and then slept until 2:30 pm. I felt wonderful by 3 pm. Once in a while, this happens with or without a nap. Sometimes, I do not nap and still have this type sleep. 

We have a few things to do just because they need doing. If the cleaner comes on Sunday, we do try to have a few things done. I suppose she will either come or not. She never gives me a warning either way. But, she is good and free, so I can handle it. I would really like to find someone to pay. But, I gladly accept her help. 

My elderly neighbor who loved the restaurant gift cards told me about the presents she received each year. When she died, her daughter showed me the dozens of nightgowns and sweaters in drawers, gifts she could never use when alive and certainly not after she died. Every year, she told all she got for Christmas, Mother's Day, and her birthday. She was never happy about the sweaters and nightgowns. 

Since the couple never cooks now, maybe gift cards for restaurants will be the best thing for them. The will be leaving their lovely yard to move into a new duplex with a bare yard. She said she sat on the porch and cried about leaving their yard. Maybe a Lowe's gift card would work from now on so they could get what they want or need for the yard. 

Neither my elderly friend or this couple needed/needs clothing or food or furniture. They are related to a car dealer, so meals out or yard stuff seems like the best option for them. They really enjoy both. 

Tommy says we can have Chicken Salad Chick every three months, so I am looking forward to July. 

Do you have a gift you give to someone elderly that is always appreciated? I know clothing, food, or maybe hair care might be their choice. But, otherwise what is a generic gift you give to elderly who have no pressing needs? Of course, the elderly friend loved her restaurant of choice. And, this couple have never expressed a favorite place. They even go out for lunch! Recently, she expressed surprise at how delicious Taco Bell was on their first ever visit. 

A gift for the elderly still living in their own home and driving?

Don't Mess With My Meds | He Won't Allow Me to Talk | Keto Brownies

 We went out to get my new med for nausea. Yes, I feel nauseated all day long. I could see through the window that the worker had two bubble-like packages. So, I wondered. They weren't the plastic bags that hang on a rod for meds. I was annoyed when I looked at the bottle for the two meds. The bottles are three and a quarter inch high and two inches in diameter, much too large for 90 tiny pills. 

Plus, I put all my meds in a very small train case style case. This includes cough drops, tubes in ointments, so not a lot of prescriptions. And, getting larger bottles means the case will eventually not be large enough. Mostly, this is a gross waste, too much plastic. The 3.25 inch bottle has about 90 pills that are in the bottom .5 inch of the bottle. These bottles could hold 1000 + tiny pills. 

On Gunsmoke, I noticed Doc gives patients pills in paper envelopes. I do collect these empty bottles and take to the local animal shelter.

Yesterday, Tommy started on his tax return. He won't let me talk when he is holding the papers and working. Fair enough. I am not talking him to death normally. But, I understand even a comment is disruptive. It's really tough trying to say nothing at all! 

A hamburger with onion and bacon is waiting, along with zucchini to cook. So, that is dinner with tomatoes or a salad. 

We are going out to eat for the first time since 2019. Tommy's relative has been wanting to take us to Bright Star. Since we did not die from covid or even suffer as much as we could have, I am willing to take a chance, just one time. I hear there is another booster in the works for Fall, which I will get. 

He is up and letting me talk and talking to me. YAY! We had a chore this afternoon. He looks so weary. Even though it is 6:30 pm, I will take a short nap. He never "takes a nap," just snoozes for an hour in his chair and refuses to recognize it as a nap. Or, he sleeps for 20 minutes here and there. I have to put on a gown and get into the bed. 

My knee seems to have healed itself. I have not needed the walker at all, and I plan to keep it that way. I don't have to hold both sides of the ramp. I don't have to hold onto the car. I have not asked Tommy to get me one thing. Everything is back to normal. And, the walker won't annoy me.

I went crazy after seeing Dolly Parton's Fabulously Fudgy Brownie Mix. So, I got it. Then, as I wandered along looking at other brownie mixes, I saw a Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix--Keto Friendly. After I had it at home, I read this statement--not a low-calorie food. It seems to have a lot of carbs. Maybe I don't understand "keto." 

THEN, I read this--"excessive consumption may cause a laxative effect in sensitive individuals." Well, that's just great. I have three choices 1) take both back, 2) give them away, 3) bake them and give most of each away. I don't know what to do.  

Today, I was in the Pig. I have been looking for a bottle brush, something to clean out jars and specially to clean the peanut jars when they are empty. I use them after they are empty for storing non-foods. But, It is impossible to get them clean with a dishcloth and with ease. Most stores in which I have looked don't have a bottle brush or a dish mop. But, in the Pig I found two dishmops in a cart of clearance items. Both were 25 cents each. So, I bought both. These are foam, not what I wanted, but I settled. Have you found bottle brushes in short supply?

He gets grumpy doing his taxes.

Have you noticed excessively large bottles for your prescriptions? 

Have you bought a Dolly Parton mix? How was it? 

Do you have a knee that comes and goes? 

He Makes Me Laugh and New Normal

 This morning I saw Tommy put a mustard and a catsup bottle on his walker seat. Then, he headed to the kitchen. Later, I saw the catsup bottle in the bag under his walker seat. I asked him why. He said, "It's my catsup." I asked again. He said he got it out and took it to the kitchen to put on a hotdog, and now he was putting it up. He pointed to an area beside his chair.  I was laughing on the inside, but I said, "Oh." 

He uses the cheapest mustard ever. Same with catsup. I don't, but I rarely ever use either. But, I store both in the refrigerator, not beside my chair. 

Since store ads are not delivered to the door, I have to use the internet. Looking at grocery ads should be done with a paper ad. Period. Sometimes, the pictures and words are too small to read. I know how to make it all larger and readable. But, I hate it. I hate all the clicking to see the next page. So, we have a new normal for ads. We drive to the store, pick them up on Wednesday. Then, we go home and read and mark and make a list. Oftentimes, I do carry the ad back with me as I shop. 

So, we did the ads pickup on Wednesday. The best sale was the Kraft Chunk Cheddar at the Pig. The list is made. Publix and the Pig are close. There is another store I do like, but I have to be able to walk into the store to get a cart, and I cannot drive it to the car. It is a pain, but I will go in there for a good cherry picking. 

Wednesday, Tommy went in and bought what we wanted, got the free item, Kraft Dressing. We arrived at the store where I told him he would have to use my phone for the ad to be valid. Well, I forgot my purse at home! He said we would just go home and get it. Usually, he would be annoyed, but he wanted to good price on Pepsi, so he went into the house and retrieved my purse. I turned it on and handed him the phone before he went inside, telling him to just hand it to the cashier, and if they insisted he find it, to tell them he did not know how. Well, that is the truth. 

He came out and it all worked for him. I felt too awful to go inside myself. For two days, I am always on the verge of throwing up, so will not take the chance of going inside. Besides, I am weak otherwise. Consequently, I eat little and can tell I am losing weight. Zofran is on the way. 

He not only chopped and cooked the ground beef, he drained it immediately like I told him I do. And, he disposed of the grease in a cereal liner bag with paper in it. He learns well, especially since he spent almost two thousand dollars getting the lines unclogged twice last year. We are having spaghetti and salad tonight. 

Do you store catsup/ketchup and mustard inside the refrigerator, on the shelf or beside your chair? lol

Do you prefer paper ads or digital?

My Tumble

 

I have never used my walker except as a portable sitting place. Until this Friday, that is all I needed. When my knee became so painful that even limping along holding onto things around here did not work, I had Tommy get it out of the back of the Rogue. 

Saturday night, I slept for about two hours and then needed the walker. Remember, it has four wheels and a seat and backrest sort of thing. I don't remember what I did, maybe a drink of water, maybe I used computer, maybe I went to bathroom. But, I came back into my bedroom and wanted to get something from a clothes basket where I had folded clothes and had not put them in drawers. 

So, I pushed the walker up to the basket and bent over the seat part to retrieve the item I wanted. Well, that is where everything went sideways. I just cannot do justice to what happened next and all at once. I leaned too far as I was holding onto a rolly thing, started over, and barely touched the backrest. I screamed as I tried to get up and regain my balance. That never happened. I just kept going. I tumbled right over and rolling forward a bit. 

I landed with neck up against a chest of drawers, sort of on my side, sort of on my stomach and thoroughly tangled in the walker. It was just terrifying. I screamed on the way down. Once down, I yelled Tommy's name. He never alerts me that he has heard me no matter what. So, I panicked and kept screaming his name louder and louder and "help me." 

"What happened?" Just give me my phone. I called the police, told them I could not get up, to come help me. I could barely talk because of my position in the metal walker and head/neck against the furniture. 

I asked Tommy to help me get the walker off me. He just grabbed it and pulled, never allowing me to tell him what way to pull or allowing me to get out a leg, foot, or arm before he kept pulling. I was terrified I would get a scrape or cut that would be hard to heal. Wound care does not seem like somewhere I want to go, so I was screaming bloody murder at him. That was the most traumatic part of the whole ordeal.

He went to the front door and opened it to look out. He came back and said he could see lights at the park. The ambulance service moved into a building next to Senior Center building that is also in the park. 

I had landed on three or four clothes baskets, squashed them and undid any sorting or folding. Finally, after sort of throwing the baskets around after I pulled them from under me, I could sit up. But, I was up against a pink bin. Ugh!

Well, five guys piled into my room and asked what happened. I cannot get my feet under me enough to be pulled straight up. So, I directed them to take my boom box off the stool by my bed, put boom box on bed, and put stool beside me. Then, they pulled me up onto the stool. THEN, I could help lift myself to my feet. Once they saw me take a step or two, all five walked away. 

Tommy was talking to them as they went down the hall. Tommy told the guy he saw lights in the park and asked was that them. The guy told Tommy that they knew where the house was located because they saw him standing in the doorway. That made me laugh. How many people are standing in the doorway at 4:30 in the morning? 

By the way, Sluggy's tale of the stool traumatized me so that I will never get one of those. Mine is a homemade stool that I got at a yardsale for $1. The only thing wrong with this stool is that someone had gotten paint all over it and threw it in a trashpile by the road. I easily got the paint from the varnished stool. 

My neck tendons, both sides, hurt for several days. There were no scrapes on my legs or arms. My knee suffered no further injuries. Unlike my usual falling events, I did not hit my knees as the walker kept me off the floor. On Monday I noticed a lump on my midriff that was very painful. It got worse on Monday night, and I was concerned as to why I had developed a hard, painful lump. Today, I decided it must be from the handle of the walker.

Every day since, I have made a move to pick up things by bending over the walker. I never get to the bending part, just stop and think about what I am about to do. So far, I check myself and move the walker to one side. It only takes me once to realize I will hurt myself. Today, I am not using my walker at all. 

So, that is my tumble. I would not classify it as a fall, just like the time I fell off the bed, an incident brought on by the mattress sliding off the bed. And, I don't need advice on how to use a walker, thank you, or to be careful. I think it is dangerous to use as is my cane! 

I love the color. Someone at Tommy's church offered it up and I asked. So, it is mine.

Has one of the walkers with wheels and a seat ever seemed treacherous to use? 

Disgust and Excitement

 It is such a beautiful day with blue skies and white, fluffy clouds. At 6 pm is 73F. Perfect! The day did not start well. I could not sleep until 8 am and only slept until 11 am because I told Tommy to wake me if I slept until 11 am. UGH!

We were in the car, sitting for a bit. I was reading the newspaper. All of a sudden, I became dizzy. Then, the car started flying around when I closed my eyes. I sort of shrieked, grabbed the door and Tommy, begging him to hold me and not let me fly away. It was terrifying. So, that settled down and to my surprise, the car was still in the same place. 

Then, I started salivating uncontrollably. I regurgitated on the newspaper I was reading. Yuck. TMI. I continued this new activity for a while. Then, I laid my head back as we drove. When I finally got into the house, I continued for five minutes. 

Well, I don't accept this new state. I ate a small slice of a chocolate chip cookie cake. So far, so good. 

Two men were on their balcony, minding their own business when shots rang out and put the two men in the hospital. One is out and okay. The other is still in a wheelchair and home. But, he needs support since he cannot work. We provided food. We will provide cash I have that is only to help people who need it. I can use it for myself but won't. Tommy does not know this yet, lol. But, it is my windfall, so my decision. He will not object. 

Of course, my knee seems healed, but this happens all the time. I suppose since I am so hungry and woozy it would not do the be lame, too. 

Saturday, I started gasping in glee. My mouth was full, so I could not speak. Tommy did not see, but I did. He looked to see where I was looking. Hummingbird! It flew off and two minutes later, there were three hummingbirds. I was amused by the object of their inspection. I had a pink, hanging flowerpot. After months in the sun, only the hook is pink. Well, all three hummingbirds hovered and seemed to be wanting to taste the pink hook. Yes, they really do like pinks/reds. I made nectar early Sunday. On Sunday afternoon I put out one feeder. Tuesday, I put out a second. One hummingbird came back today. Well, I only saw one, but the door was not open, and I was gone part of the day. Happy Day, we have hummingbirds again. 

I am testing my stomach, tempting fate, having potato salad for dinner. 

I feel weak, so I will tell you about my Saturday tumble tomorrow. Promise. 

Do you become inordinately excited over hummingbirds or the first of a flower or vegetable? What excites you in the spring?

Relaxing Sunday

 Easter weekend was very low-key, just like I like it. It rained Friday and Saturday. As we had nowhere to go, we missed nothing. I spent Sunday making potato salad as I was determined to have some. Tommy says he hates potato salad, so I just never make it. As you may remember, I questioned him about why he hates potato salad--hates boiled eggs in it, hates cold potatoes. My solution was to give him potatoes boiled for the dish, but hot and with no eggs. 

I spent hours, dicing potatoes, dicing celery, dicing onions, dicing boiled eggs, dicing two kinds of pickles, getting eyes and bad spots out of potatoes that Tommy peeled. I had slaw from the day before and tomatoes to slice. 

As I was mixing all this together along with MW, mustard, and a bit of vinegar, I forgot not to put the boiled eggs into the potatoes. However, I did manage to dip where only the onion was present, mostly. He informed me he dipped out the one tiny bit of yolk I left. 

We had a slice of ham, the kind sealed in heavy plastic, just one huge center cut slice that we shared. It was delicious, very relaxing not to have cooked all day. I am still exhausted from covid, so even going out to eat would have been tiring. 

Monday, I was taking a nap while Tommy got his own dinner. He said he dipped potatoes from the potato salad and heated it up. He did dip one dice of potato out at a time in order to avoid egg yolk. When I got up from my nap today, I had cold baked chicken and potato salad. In a bit I will have a salad, and an apple. 

I have a new sinus infection, so I have an antibiotic again. It is not covid, just my usual. 

My left knee, the good one, started collapsing on Friday, I think. By the time I got up on Saturday, it had quit. Then, it started again. So, I am using the walker permanently now. It will be fine and then hurt like a 9/10. I have never had to have a cortisone shot in this knee, but now may be the time. 

I had a tumble Saturday night that had nothing to do with the knee or disability, just a stupid move on my part. But, I don't feel like typing or thinking anymore tonight. Plus, I am still a bit traumatized. 

Happy Easter!

 

                                                                   My precious baby! 

She will be 48 this September, almost 50 years old! 

We Are Back

 It seems we are over the worst of covid. However, I tire easily. Tommy said he does, too. I can tell by looking at him as he does things like bringing in the groceries. 

Late Thursday night, my left knee quit hurting as quickly as it started. That meant the trip to the grocery store was not painful. However, after I came home from the grocery, it started hurting a bit again. I have to use the walker around the house, but the pain is less. 

Tommy went into Publix when I did and bought pepsi and Coke. He is drinking about five cans a day. I drink maybe a whole or half. Today, I bought zucchini, milk again, cookies, tomatoes, bag of onions, and something else. 

Tonight, we cooked. YAY! Carrots, potatoes, zucchini, onions, celery. We had the frozen, baked chicken we thawed last night. Tommy put bbq sauce on his. We forgot about the slaw.

When Tommy had a fever, he had the reddest face I have seen. It looked like he had a suntan and red feverish face on top of that. No matter how high my fever, I just have pale pink cheeks. When I was making slaw, he said it would hurt his throat because of the vinegar. So, I made the slaw with only a tsp of vinegar. It was sweet. However, he refused to try it, afraid it would hurt his throat which, apparently, hurt much worse than my throat. Today, when he got out of the shower, he said, "It sure feels good to get wet and clean all over." 

It is going to rain all night until early tomorrow. I hate that the grass will be wet, or that it might be raining for Easter Egg Hunts. We may go watch the one in the park like we did other years. 

Yes, we survived covid, but we both tire very easily, me more than Tommy. 

Bent Every Which Way But Straight

 

                                                                         (not him)

Tuesday night, I lowered my chair and was met with resistance and a weird sound.  The chair raising mechanism was toast, it appeared. Well, finally, it worked. Something had slipped under the chair and in the lift mechanism. The whole chair is now whomperjawed. The left side of the footrest is lower than the right. The seat lists to the left. The left arm is lower. This throws off my whole body. 

When I awoke this morning, my left knee would not hold me up. I slept like a log for about seven hours. I must have slept wrong on my knee. Or, the chair not sitting right could be the problem, maybe both.

After I got up from a nap, just now, the pain in my left knee is worse. I managed to get to my chair. Then, I had Tommy bring in my walker. Hopefully, using it to get to the sink to wash my hair will work. The pain is so bad, my knee just collapses. 

Now, Tommy is back to getting things for me. Usually, my knee stops hurting just as quickly as it starts. Not this time. I may have to resort to an aspirin along with the cream I am using. NOW, I cannot walk without knee collapsing and extraordinary pain. 

Thursday

Well, I just figured out Sunday is Easter. Walking is no better. 

Today, Tommy drove me to Publix--slaw mix, lettuce, carrots, milk, bread, apples, bananas, strawberries, Halls Mentholyptus cough drops, eggs, two chocolate Lindt Easter Bunnies for Easter. When I got in the car, I told Tommy I bought a slice of carrot cake to share tonight. He was very effusive with "Oh GOOD!" We enjoyed it. 

We picked up eight more covid tests. I am still negative. These tests were so hard and confusing. Okay, the directions left out things. So, I wasted the first test. There are six more. 

Tonight, I gave Tommy instructions to put eggs on to boil. Well, he put the lid on the pot. Why? I was timing them with lid off, but at least I managed to get in the kitchen to see it. He left frozen meat on the counter to thaw. Why?

Tommy's voice is suffering as he sounds like a very old man whose voice is soft but still low. I hope it comes back. He told me my voice is not back yet, either. He said it sounds hollow. I have no idea what that is. 

We planned nothing for this weekend as neither of us have much energy or ambition other than to eat well and stay well. 

He is having ham and I am having chicken breast. I think he is opening green beans. I made cole slaw in my recliner. So, we are back in the groove. Since I boiled 6 eggs, I had one with a sliver of butter on the hot egg. I will make one into two deviled eggs for me and the other four will go into potato salad. 

The eggs peeled perfectly since I used really old eggs. I need to color some just because it is Easter. We do have our chocolate bunnies, but I think we need colored eggs of some sort. I am not sure where my molds for Jello eggs are hiding. 

I forgot to call about getting the chair repaired. Since tomorrow is Good Friday, I doubt I will get much of a response.

On Friday, we need to go to the grocery store again since I did not get everything we need. Tommy is going in with an electric cart, too. Today, I hit a table with Easter cookies and pastries on it and was so embarrassed! They added a table in the aisle, so it was easy to hit. I did the same thing to the extra table with Christmas cookies. ugh! 

The Sedum Joy is regrowing after the winter. It always does. I think the Gerbera Daisy is the plant with all the green growth. 

What are your Easter plans? 

Have you ever broken a recliner or lift chair? How did you break it?

I Have Enough Now

 Remember when I could not get fluticasone with insurance? My friend in the military gave me three bottles. Then, I got 6 at Sam's for something like $20. I kept getting a notice from CVS that I had a prescription to pick up. Well, my insurance now supposedly does not cover my insurance. But, finally, after notices several days for a week, I went to pick up whatever it was. 

Oh! Fluticasone/Flonase! So, I went and picked it up for $1.45. Two days later, I opened the bag to put it away. There were three bottles of fluticasone. I can handle $.50 per bottle. And none of them will expire before I can use them. I don't need to think about this until the end of 2024. The three free bottles will more than cover what Tommy uses in a year. 

I was thinking about wanting chocolate. I told Tommy, musing about what I should have. I keep the little hot chocolate mixes, Swiss Miss, I think. I may have three all winter long. Plus, I keep chocolate chips and count out just a few, maybe 8, to soothe my chocolate craving. Tommy said the thought of chocolate made him feel yuck. Throughout this whole ordeal, I have not lost my craving for chocolate. 

Today, as we left the driveway to go on two errands, I discovered that everyone who lives around here has the suv type that has a pickup front. All this time, I have been clueless. I am just not in tune with cars. 

Now that Tommy has "recovered" and refuses to do anything I say he should do, he is not doing the things that helped him to get better. His OA was 94 and two days later, it is 93. He refuses to take a deep breath and cough. He just pants out a little cough and is happy getting out a bit of phlegm. He gurgles all night and all day and never makes a concerted effort to expel anything from his lungs and clear up the gurgling and low roar than emanates from his chest. He swears there is nothing in his lungs. This is not voodoo, witchy herbs, just breathing I am suggesting.

I wonder if his 50-year smoking habit is hurting him now. 

I am still very weak. Of course, my insomnia is not helping recovery. But, I do nap as usual. I was going to wash my hair yesterday and today. But, thinking about the energy I would expend makes me rethink. It is filthy and needs color. Oh well. There is always tomorrow or next week.

I had to throw out meat I thawed to cook. Now, I found more meat that Tommy swore was not in the refrigerator! The salad is bad. And, cooked chicken is going in the trash. Last night, I finally got a load of dishes in to wash. We have not used many dishes. But, they are all clean. 

Have you ever lost your taste or desire for chocolate? 

Puzzled

 Tommy is getting better. Sunday night, thanks to my ministrations, he was well enough to curse me, liberally using the F word toward me. Today, he is refusing my back pounding, saying it does not help at all. His chest is sstill gurgling! He is so smart that, you know, I just have to defer to his superiority. He refuses to breathe deeply or try to cough up anything. I guess he wants to stew in phlegm. He is lucky I don't have a violent bone in my body or violent thought in my head. 

I drove to get his antiviral this afternoon and he refuses to take it. He said the pharmacist said to wait until tonight, so ten hours after med acquisition, he will take it. There is no reasoning with him. The pharmacist told him this at noon. So, Tommy will wait until 10 pm or later. It makes no sense. It really is hard to feel sorry for him with all the abuse he is putting me through. 

Without his asking, I bring water and take away empties. But, Sunday, he was so ill, he asked me to bring him water. He also asked for cheese. That was just before his recovery and cursing me. I carried away five pepsi cans. He never asks me for a pepsi, so I am surprised he has three more empty cans.

Yesterday, when we went to pharmacy, I asked him if he wanted something to eat. No. Then, on the way back, I asked him again. He wanted fries. At home, he was gobbling fries. I have never seen him eat so fast. The day before when he ate the chicken noodle soup, he was eating it so fast that I was astounded. He just needs to get food in front of him. That is why I tempted him with fries since he loves them and rarely gets them. 

Since I plan to go to the grocery store tomorrow, I will push myself to wash my hair tonight. I need apples and bananas. Neither of us will run out of milk at the rate we are drinking milk. I may have to toss meat I did not cook. Too bad. My hands still shake at times. We may just get cooked meat from the freezer instead of thawing meat to cook. That is what the cooked meat is for. We will finish the taco soup tonight. Tommy said he can eat some of that. Okay, I checked and had to toss two meats I did not get cooked this last week. Too bad. 

Overnight Sunday night into Monday morning, there was some kind of weather that Tommy said shook the house. I sleep through stuff like that. 

It is difficult to keep things picked up around here. One day last week, I got up from my chair and Kleenex and cough drop papers and all sorts of stuff fell off me. When, I came back to my chair, I was shocked at the litter. 

Okay, off to heat up the taco soup and open a can of peaches. In a nasty tone, he said the soup should have more water because he wants liquid. He only wants water added and is getting mean about it. I will add cheese to the top of mine and water to his. 

Have you ever experienced anyone who gets nasty toward caregiver/helper upon recovery?

Ambulance

 Around ten last night, I got out the oximeter to put on Tommy's finger. I thought he might object. I told him to give me his index finger. He gave me his middle finger. No, not that way. Finally, I got the oximeter on his finger. Then, I struggled upright and to my chair. In about a minute after putting it on his finger, I asked him about the numbers on it. He said he would see and reached toward his table! He said I told him to take it off when I left him. I said, "Don't take it off." As usual he said that "take it off" was the last thing he heard me say. 

He tried to put it back on and could not. I kept saying "squeeze it" as he tried to pry if open sideways. He refused to quit breaking it until I raised my voice. I got it back by having him toss it to me. I held it up and showed him how to look at the notch and squeeze there. Well, this is not going well. Finally, he did get it on his finger but sideways.  I went over and put it on before he broke it. I can only stand so long, plus, I am still weak.

He cannot hear well along with his selective hearing. Now this. My voice has not recovered and is not strong. Communication is iffy. 

His OA was 89. I know that below 90 is not good. So, I called 911 and firemen in a huge firetruck and an ambulance came. They would not come in but had him come out. One of them got the lawn chair and put it in front of the door. So, his OA was 94, still not good but not critical. They said the ER would send him home with that level. So, I kept him...lol. 

He used the oximeter after struggling from the bathroom and his breathing was shallow. I was told to let him sit a bit before using it for a better reading. 

It is Sunday about 3 am and I am sitting in the dark listening to him breathe, shallow, raspy breaths. He swears all the gurgling in his throat is from his head not his lungs. Anyway, I did something for him the best I could, something I did for asthmatic daughter and anyone who was coughing and gurgling around me. 

He should have been lying on his stomach, but I had to settle for his sitting up. I had him cough out without taking another breath while I beat lightly or not on his back/lungs. He got lots of mucus up. I don't know what this maneuver is called. I did this for my daughter with asthma when her lips turned blue as she struggled to breathe. She, however, lay across the ottoman with head and arms hanging off. After she struggled and ran to the bathroom to get rid of the mucus/phlegm, her lips lost the bluish tinge. I fussed at my doctor for not teaching me this. 

I learned this from a special ed teacher. I saw her doing the pounding bit to a 12-year-old child's back who had cp and mental capacity of infant. I questioned her. She said it was because he could not cough, so she did this to compensate. When I asked her about my child with asthma, she told me how to have her flat on the edge of the bed with arms up and hanging over near her head. So, she helped me with the ottoman idea. 

Don't get bent out of shape at the word "pound." I am not hurting him, nor did I hurt my child. If you want, think "pat hard." Not one medical professional has ever been alarmed or corrected my concept. 

When I told him that tomorrow (Sunday) I am taking him to urgent care, he said okay. I know he is ill when he is so compliant. 

I need to get one of those devices where the person sucks on a tube and makes balls rise. I will get that for him, spirometer. 

Sunday afternoon

I sat up most of the night, listening to him breathe. I turned on the light, woke him and pounded on his back and he coughed and spit for so long it was scary. Finally, I slept from 8 am until 1:30 pm. Last night, he finally quit objecting to my saying it was in his lungs. 

When I tried to sleep around 4 am, I could hear something. I ran as well as I could and turned on the light, asking him what I heard from him. He was trying to cough and was getting stuff out of his lungs. I had lectured him on how he needs to stop letting it all rattle, how he needs to breathe more deeply. It is scary what I hear. I am trying to keep him off a ventilator.

One comment mentioned my thermometer might be off. I have taken it to three doctors and taken my temp as soon as the nurse did. Mine was the same temp, so I had thought of that. 

I suppose I ought to get in the kitchen and find our Campbell's selection for the day. 

Men are so difficult to take care of when ill. When Tommy does not fight me, I worry because he is very ill. Right? 

Trading Places

 My temperature is mostly normal. But, I am still dizzy and shaky on my feet. However, Tommy is not doing well at all. Finally, his temp is up to over 103F. He does not want to eat, might want some broth but will not say. So, I fixed the last of the can of broth I had drunk. 

On Friday night, I made sure he had enough Hall's Mentholyptus for the night. When I got up, he had used them all. So, I got my Ball jar with nice, tight metal lid and refilled his bag. He finally consented to an aspirin after he did not feel better after finding it was 103F. My bottle of 120 baby aspirins only had one left. He reminded me my pink bin for meds in the bedroom had two new bottles. I used the bottle of 120 aspirins to pour some in for him from the bottle of 120. I made sure to tell him to take four. I still have a bottle of 300 ready for us to use. The pharmacist told him to take Claritin, so I gave him a bottle of mine. 

He asked for something for throat pain. I finally figured out it was at CVS and went to get it myself. I did have him go with me even though he did not want to. I am still unsteady and needed someone to tell me if I were doing something dangerous.  He relented and went without a complaint. He refused a plain burger at BK but was very vocal about wanting a real coke. So, we did. I felt sooo shaky and was glad to have an extra pair of eyes, even if those eyes were sicker than I was/am. 

He has been refusing to use insulin because he has not eaten. I don't know if Hall's Mentholyptus has calories or carbs. What about chicken broth? The Coke certainly is sugary. Finally, I pressed him to eat because it would make him feel better to eat something. Men are so hard to take care of when they are puny or really ill. I offered to heat a can of chicken noodle soup without diluting it and that was okay. He wolfed it down, leaving a bit of the liquid. THEN, he consented to take the insulin. 

This is so hard for me. He had six diet pepsi cans on the bookcase near him, a bk cup and a plate and two saucers. He is always "saving" saucers to eat in later and usually yells at me when I try to put them in the dishwasher and then turn on the dw. Today, he said nothing. Several times, I have gotten the dirty dishes while he is in the bathroom, and he never misses them. 

I have had to get my own things since yesterday! I was doing a bit for me, but now do it all for both of us. Plus, I now do the med search in the pink bin. Life is rough when your carer needs your care and you still need a bit of care, too...lol. 

He said he did not sleep at all on Friday night, so, after the chicken noodle soup, he is snoring. At 5 pm, I had a peanut butter, MW, and banana sandwich. I suppose I will have the last bit of breast I cooked a few days ago. It is time. 

He is over here, sleeping, wheezing, and having trouble breathing, but he says no when he is awake. 

I may have to take over the remote...lol. He refused to allow me to touch it when I came here, like I even care! He has two remotes to figure out. I hate it. 

He only sees one doctor and is proud of that fact. I see a dozen at different points. He has no one from Thursday night until Monday morning. My allergist that I rarely see can take my call and help me out. I think this experience will let him see that visiting more than one doctor is prudent. My pharmacist will help. His at SAM's said he would talk to Tommy's doctor, so that leaves him with ONE person, still. His dentist does all teeth stuff. I use an oral surgeon, too. His dentist does everything. He has liver problems, but his MD treats that. I think at some point, he should see someone who specializes in liver problems. 

His MD has brochures for various prescription drugs all over his office. That bothers me. Tommy does take his meds religiously. But, he never questions. That bothers me, too. 

I have more broth for me and chicken noodle soup for him, so hopefully, we will not need anything.