An Hour on the Asphalt Was Too Much for Me

Today was too hot. I can attest to the fact it was too hot for an old lady to be out on the asphalt of Lowe's for an hour! Tommy sat in the car with all the ac vents blasting on him. He said he was sweating on his back and backs of his legs, just anywhere there was not ac blasting him. It was hot. I think it was about 98F and "feels like 106F." 

I bought a gas grill, a cheap one. Tommy said, "I hope you enjoy using it, because I am not!" He grew up with a father who grilled, not sure why he won't. I don't plan to grill out a lot. However, when I do, I can grill enough to eat later and even freeze. 

This was a little $149 grill. It is tiny and has a tiny area for cooking, but two burners. I was trying to upload a picture and now the text is wonky. Oh well! 

At my house, I never asked him to grill because he always did stuff for me. So, I was not going to burden him with that. 

When Fred's first came to our town, we all went to the grand-opening. Only adults could enter the drawing for a gas grill. Well, son was nine and had a mind of his own. He did not sneak or disobey me, but I suppose he saw his chance and filled out an entry. Husband and I had, too, but kept the girls close. Everyone stood back a respectable distance, maybe 15 feet from the service desk. The guy was drawing an entry, and I looked and there was son, standing directly in front of the man behind the counter with his chin resting on his hand, elbow on the counter, anticipating his name being called. It was actually quite heartwarming, really cute. I hated he might be disappointed because drawings are that way. 

The man called out my son's first name, sort of a common name. Then, the guy stammered and messed up our last name. I did not catch that, but my son promptly said our last name correctly and loudly. I thought maybe the guy might say my son was not qualified. But, people clapped for my son. 

We had to get a neighbor to get it home. It was quite large. It was night, so we had to get him out to fetch it home. It would not have done to leave it until the next day. My son could not have slept. 

When I grilled burgers, I would grill one for the two older to take for their lunch. As soon as they were done, I immediately dressed their burger and put it in the refrigerator. My children were so happy thinking about lunch at school the next day. All their friends were envious. The thought of lunch the next day cause my children to go to bed eagerly. 

Some days, when husband came home and asked children where I was and what I was doing, they would say, "Oh, she is burning chicken again." Finally, I learned to turn on one burner and put the chicken on the other. I have no idea if that was correct, but it worked for me. It was tender inside and not burned. 

Today, the grill would not fit in Tommy's Rogue, so the employee said he would bring it to us. We WILL pay him, though, just not $79. This guy will check and make sure all the connections are correct, something delivery people won't do. 

So, grilling will be fun but hot. I probably won't grill while it is so torrid.

Do you have a gas grill? Or, charcoal grill? Electric grill? 

Who in your family grills? Do you? 

What is your favorite food/meat to grill? 

Did you ever send grilled burgers to school for your child? 

Babies with Grandpa

 I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and another today. Both were stressful. But, I thought this was funny from the waiting room yesterday. 

As we sat in the waiting room, there was a couple and a child about six chairs down and across from us. The little girl, three, started whimpering then crying softly putting her head against the father. The mother came back and the child continued crying very quietly. 

Soon, the mother and father pushed their stroller across from where they sat. The little girl left with the parents as they went to their appointment. About three minutes later, I heard a tiny baby crying. I told Tommy that baby is not very old. Well, the child was starting to get louder. A black woman who sat between us and the guy got up and went to him. I was wondering if he would rebuff her. He had a baby in his arms and one in an infant carrier. The woman said something to him and then picked up a little, bitty baby. She tried to quiet him. The grandfather gave her a bottle. 

The child in his arms would not quit crying. She was not loud, but inconsolable. The baby, of course, was working on the bottle. As he walked near us, I told him--when my children about that age were upset, I told them to look for a puppy, or kitty, or cow, depending on what would interest the child. Well, he once asked her if she wanted to look for a puppy. He was not too encouraging and quit. 

In about one minute, the woman one seat down from us, jumped up with a phone and offered it to the child. Grandfather took it and the toddler was quiet. So, we all helped out. We could hear "The Wheels on the Bus." Then, there were other videos according to the owner of the phone. The woman with the baby, talked to the baby, wiped mouth and did all the things a mother would do for the baby. As she talked to him, he was very good. 

Finally, he was talking to a woman in an office right in front of him. She came out. He asked about a patient by name. Then, I heard him say to get her husband to come back. The father did and stood and talked to the older man. He smiled upon the baby. He left again, presumably to go to his wife. I asked him how old the two little ones and older child was--almost two months, almost two years, and the one with mother was almost three. He added that they had two more at home--ten-year-old and fourteen-year-old. Then, the father, grandfather, and both little children left. Hours later, Tommy saw them as he was getting the car for us to leave. Neither man had a child. 

When I saw what was happening with both children crying that were left with the grandfather, I couldn't  believe that someone had left such little children with the grandfather. He did not appear as though he was accustomed to being a caregiver. He might have been the most fun and playful grandfather ever, but he appeared to be in over his head.

My endoscopy yesterday left me with a sore throat and down into my esophagus! Today, the weather was at least 93F with large hail a bit north and west of here. 

But, I will say this, those three children were the quietest cryers ever. It is nice to have something interesting to watch while in a waiting room. One couple nearer the scene and across from us were very clearly enjoying watching them. 

Popsicles

 

                                                                          I love popsicles

It is popsicle weather!

I am not sure how I centered this text, but maybe I will later. Too tired now. 

Today, I went for an endoscopy. Later on that. Fixed now.

The first time I ever remember having a popsicle may not be a memory. My mother may have told me. We lived in downtown Memphis. She would take my brother and I to the park and get us a banana popsicle. 

Maybe that is my favorite flavor. I figured out later when I had children that banana popsicle does not stain. At any rate, no popsicle tastes quite as delicious as popsicle. 

Tommy and I were reminiscing about popsicles and the two sticks. I remarked that Mama always broke them on the side of the counter until I was able to do so. Then I got to be the one who had siblings standing and waiting, looking at me like a god. After all, only big people could be the dispensers of popsicles.

I asked him when he and his brother were allowed to break the popsicles apart themselves so they could share. He was absolutely indignant--He never had to share because he got two sticks and so did his brother. 

Now, I had never seen or heard of anyone eating two sticks while still attached. Now, you must understand no one ate sticks. But having one or two sticks describes what was your portion. No one I ever knew said they got two sticks. And, we certainly never did. Four kids had to eat, so we had two to share.

Even at this point, if I had a popsicle, I would break it in half and eat one now and one afterwards. I cannot fathom holding a popsicle with two sticks. 

Tommy said he only bought from the ice cream man that drove around the neighborhood. He never saw them in the grocery store. However, I only lived one place for a short few months that had an ice cream truck. As a matter of fact, this is the only time in my childhood that we even had sidewalks. I saw popsicles in the store. 

Last year, I looked one time for popsicles in the store. All I found were the round ones with one stick. And, even then they were not the Popsicle brand. This year, I will search again. By this time in history, there are probably sugar-free popsicles. But, I want banana with two sticks. I will break the two apart on the corner of the cabinet and put one in the freezer while I eat the other. I won't be storing this for later, well, just after I finish the first half. 

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, we will have (feels-like) temps over 100F. It seems like this might be the ideal time to have my first popsicle in probably 30 years.

We bought slaw and a salad for $.88 each, both Dole and both from The Pig today. My a2milk is $4.11 and $4.52 after the 10% while it is $4.99 at Publix. To get the free freezer bags and just because we were there getting the ads, we bought three half-gallons and the two Dole items. Tommy went inside Publix just to get the ad. Shopping there, if we do, will happen tomorrow.

Today was too tiring to shop in two stores. We left here at 9 am and got to the first store about 4 pm and arrived home about 5 pm. I think spending from 10 am until after  3 pm in a hospital is too long for a 45 min procedure!

Back to popsicles~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you like popsicles?

Maybe you had "popsicles" under another brand? 

What is your favorite flavor of popsicles?

Trembling Enchantment of Green

 Trembling Enchantment of Green

"He who keeps a garden still his Eden keeps."

Don't get me wrong. I never wear green. Nothing in my house is green--no walls or furnishings. Green of nature enthralls me every year as though I had never seen it before. As I grow older (almost 63 now) (edit: almost 68 now) (now almost 76) (now almost 77), it seems I appreciate it more....not sure why. The life I see in green is something Thoreau would appreciate. Nothing else seems to hold the peace and promise of green trees, foliage of yard plants, and the grass. Maybe it's just me. My St. Augustine grass has a depth to its green that is lacking in other grasses that I have observed. By no means have I experienced all the greens and grasses of the earth.

As I drove the back way from Huntsville, south to my home, avoiding the interstate, about 6:30 pm last Saturday, I was struck by the majesty of the land around me. There were few houses, a little mountain foothills  range, and absolute quiet. People must be at home eating, tending the last bit of their garden, or getting ready to go out on Saturday night, I thought. This road normally has many cars. Not so when I drove the 30+ miles home this evening.

Since I had the radio off, the drive seemed especially serene. From now on the radio will be off so the noise won't interfere with the green experience. Ordinarily, I could not see green for the cacophony of my favorite music (60s and easy listening).

I passed the old barn right beside the road with the little stand for selling produce. No one has sold produce there for the last 25 years. The old man died. His widow insisted on raising and selling gourds. Maybe that is produce. Her son raised gourds just for her and filled a 6' x 6' x 4' high lattice bin, made just for her and her gourds. The bin has a nice roof and overhang for shoppers and gourds to stay dry and shaded.

One summer day, I saw her, bent and walking slowly. She wore a faded, printed cotton house dress, topped by a faded apron. She had a bonnet on her head and old knee socks scrunched around her legs. For years there was never anyone at the stand. The one sighting of her and a later conversation with a very young, respectful relative were the only means of communication except for the locked money box in which to deposit money to pay for gourds. Laughing gently, the relative said the old woman had the only key and checked it regularly.

Now, there are only very old gourds in the bin. It does not look like they raise gourds any longer. The young relative had pointed them out to me, up on the hill near the woods. Did she die? I wonder. Everything was too quiet and green to stop and inquire.

Even the dogs seemed to honor the peace of the green afternoon, soon to be dusk. All their masters must have mowed the lawns because every lawn was freshly cut. The scene was not marred by a jarring note. Mowers were gone. No cars were in sight in the yards and few were on the road. Nature, even subdued by a lawnmower, seemed to be in charge. For one moment, I wondered if it were this quiet a hundred years ago. Home awaits me.

Late Spring has given us over a week of rain which seems to have added another dimension to the green world. As I stood in the backyard today, hanging clothes on the line, I was struck by the fact that I could see only green as I gazed round me. Only the clothes, the chicks and part of the back of my house broke the green spell. The sky was blue with clouds. The 6 foot back fence was obscured by scuppernong vines and wisteria. Even the trunks of the trees were gone, hidden by privets that reached up toward the branches of the hickory nut trees and bowed to the ground, touching the grass. The low-growing limbs of the tree hid my car and the house next door.

The diffuse, trembling green of Nature seemed at her best. Green must be female, tantalizing us each day to play with her, to interact. Green has many agendas and roles--nurturing, playing, birthing, tending, feeding, burying, cleaning, listening, hiding. Green is there to discover as I increasingly have the last few days.

It all seemed too perfect, punctuated by two bright petunia plants, rescued from brown doom at Lowe's. I nurtured them back to their green and pink state. The old-fashioned roses on the back fence have faded, and I won't cut the vines until I see hips. Maybe I will have hips.

For a moment, I felt as if I were in a secret garden, seeing nothing and hearing only the birds and chicks. Sometimes, it is hard to tell them apart just by listening.

I had no horizon, only walls of green on four sides and a blue ceiling. The house is there, but from where I stood, I could not really see it. The blaze of the sun, though blinding, kept me focused on the green. Weeds grown up over my rock garden hid even the heat of the rocks so nothing emanated. It was all green, just green.

This feeling comes over me every year. Today pulled all the green I feel from the depths of me. I never told anyone before.

"He who loves a garden still his Eden keeps."  (sign in my yard)
A. Bronson Alcott

(Written on June 22, 2009, ten days after I had no TV)


(Note: June 22, 2011: I still have no TV. I can tell the chicks (now hens) from the birds chirping in the trees. Neighbors cut lots of green privets and put up a fence which the wisteria is starting to cover again. I will be 65 (edit: will be 68) in two months. Today is the same green month and day as when I wrote this.)

Okay, this is June 30, 2022. I use this post often and I am fast approaching 76.
Your turn
Does the green of nature touch you deeply? Does green, lush foilage renew you as it does me?

Written earlier and now shared again.

Stress Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

 Last Thursday, the day started with me getting up at 9 am to get ready for the chair repair guy to replace the undercarriage of my chair. He was to come between 10 am and 2 pm. We were ready for him at 10 am. So, he came at after noon. He took over my chair and I sat in the only other chair in the house except for Tommy's. $300 for the repair.

We left about 3:30 to return the Rubaiyat to Barnes and Nobles. Well, the car would not start after we stopped to get gas. We had not gone far, so we went back to Auto Zone. The guy said he was alone in the store, so he could not come out to the car. I did not believe that for a second. I told him I would call corporate and ask why they did not have more people in the store. A bit later, I called and he said he would be right out. I had not called corporate. He tested the battery and said it just needed charging. That was strange. A battery that just needs charging does not refuse to start after going about two miles and stopping for gas. 

We went to Pep Boys. They could do nothing, so we left and went home. PB was too busy. Come back in an hour. So, we came home, ate, rested and he was ready to go back. I told him after so little sleep, I felt incapable of driving safely and could he take a cab back. He left and came home via Lyft. Pep Boys called the guy and gave them the address for the house. 

We spent some time in the yard and heat starting my car. Then, I backed it down out of the carport and scraped Tommy's metal ramp, making a huge scrape on my car. I was so tired! He then started putting air in the tire with our little air compressor. You can only run it for ten minutes and then let it rest for 25 minutes. After ten minutes, I went to bed. 

Friday morning, Tommy kept running the air  pump for ten minutes and off for 25 minutes while I was asleep. I had slept well on Thursday and for about 10 hours. He alternated between filling tires and watering. My car was so dirty from sitting with dust and pollen all over it. So, I insisted we wash it before our chore of the day. Well, the carwash was temporarily closed but with people all over on ladders inside. So, we left and came back after a chore or two. It was open again, so I made the terrifying trip through and it was washed, sort of. I could still see soap running down the windshield and dirt still at the bottom of the windshield. 

After two blocks, Tommy said the windows were dirty, too. So, we turned around and the manager happened to be out there. He said he would give us a $25 wash instead of the $16 wash I chose the first time. I have never chosen an option with wheel washing but earlier had done so. Of course, the wash was closed while they repaired it again. So, we said we could come back Saturday. 

Then, I took him to pick up his car and ran out of gas running the car to keep cool. My insurance company could only help me via text. I spent over 30 minutes sweating and calling. When Tommy came out of Pep Boys, I sat in his car. Finally, I got back in my car to wait on gas delivery while he went across the street to get his meds. $230 for a new battery and other stuff he needed done. So, AZ said it just needed charging. Poor service there. 

When the woman with gas came, she called and said she was behind Walgreen's and where was I? I had said behind Pep Boys and she assured me she was behind Pep Boys and I was not. Things were tense for a moment. Finally, she said she said Pep Boys. She did not, but she finally found me right where I said I was. It cost me $10, just the price of the gasoline because roadside service took care of the delivery. Gas is not $5/gallon, but what can you do? 

Friday evening, I froze about 5 lbs of chopped turkey in quart bags. Tommy put an inch of water into my huge stock pot and dumped a huge bag of chopped kale into it. I almost let it simmer all night! We have been eating off that for three days now. It is delicious. 

I think I slept another 7 hours on Friday night, so I felt well Saturday morning. We got to appointment in Cullman 15 minutes late. But, we finished and went to two grocery stores, finding what we could not find down here. Then, it was back here to get the free, super-duper carwash. It was still dirty afterwards. We came home exhausted. The stress of the frightening trip through the carwash on top of everything else that day just about did me in. 

We had to do no cooking, just thawing cooked meat or heat leftovers in the microwave on these three days. 

Sunday, I think I awoke at noon. At 1 pm, I went back to bed and slept until 5 pm. Altogether, I slept 16+ hours. 

Last night, I slept about 5 hours. Monday, I have managed to feel okay until I accidentally went to sleep watching a show about Nazca lines. I slept an hour, accidentally! 

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were so tiring. Sunday was just sleep. Today, Monday, we have not done things we should have all during the week. But, we are working on it, just things in the house. 

This week, three days of over 100F is projected. We have things to do out and about, so no staying indoors for us. I told Tommy we would take two bottles of water each day. Usually, he just drinks out of a bottle he keeps in the car all week. He might take a sip in 8 hours. The rest of the time, he drinks caffeine in coffee and diet Pepsi. The other day, I lectured him and he drank two inches of water.

Other things may have happened that were stressful, but I cannot remember those things. 

Are you having hot weather this week? 

Bad weather this weekend? 

Tomato Problems This Week

 On Tuesday, I bought one huge tomato from a grocery store. Eventually, I discovered it was mealy. Then, Wednesday I bought the pretty ones from the market five for $5. I ate a market tomato first and it was mealy. Next, I ate the grocery store tomato, and it was mealy. 

Since we were not planning to use the stove, I put the tomatoes on a plate and on the stove eye. Well, I went in tonight and the plate of tomatoes was sitting within a quarter of an inch from the coffeemaker which is always on. !!!

I suppose I need to use the tomatoes in a casserole since I won't know they are mealy that way. 

The plums were purchased at the market on Wednesday and hard as a rock. So, I let them sit. Then, they were so mushy inside there was no resistance to the flesh, just liquid-y. I suppose I need to make plum jelly. sigh

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were so rough that it took Sunday and 15+ hours sleep to feel normal. I did not write anything, maybe tomorrow. 

Today was so hot, around 90F something. And, then we had a thunderstorm and rain tonight. Tommy barely watered today, but tonight made up for it. This week will be in the high 90s...great weather. 

How has the weather been at your house?

Do you know why tomatoes get mealy? 

What happened to the plums? 

White Drupelet Disorder

 

This is how the two blackberries that have ripened look now. It is so sad. The article that speaks of this, says that all the things in nature that any plant I want to grow needs can cause this affliction. 

So, what do I do? 

HERE is the article. 

It has been a hard three days. I will go into that on Sunday.

Have you ever experienced this disorder?

Cole Slaw Recipe and Two Other Hot Weather Recipes

 This is how I make it. I can barely type because this has been such a horrible day. Here goes. Do not expect measurements. Kim, I did this today for you.

shredded cabbage and carrots

big glop of Miracle Whip, about the size of two extra-large eggs

some yellow mustard about two tsps or what pleases you, more or less

sugar, maybe two tsps? more or less, Tommy likes this amount and I like less

1/4 or less of salt

two dashes of pepper from McCormick can

vinegar, 1 tsp of whatever type you like

I never make a dressing, just drop it all on top of cabbage/carrots, starting with mayo and ending with vinegar.

This is delicious when it is just made, so it does not have to sit to blend flavors like I see in some recipes.

I love red cabbage, but the slaw turns pink after it sits overnight. It appears to be spoiled to me. So, I try to buy the mix without red cabbage. Dole has lots of carrots, so I prefer that. 

The only reason I quit grating cabbage was because I injured my hand in my 40s and bought the mix after that. 

Another thing I do that does not affect taste. I put salt in first and then pepper so I know that if I see pepper, I have also salted. And, the vinegar is the last thing I put in so it is poured over the salt, pepper, and sugar. I think it blends better or maybe I am deluded. 

One more thing--dice a nice juicy tomato or more and put tomato and juice into the slaw and stir. I was grossed out when I saw slaw I had to eat with tomato in it, but it was delicious. I rarely do this, but it is good. I love to entertain and cook. However, it is hard on anyone. I really enjoy having prepared dishes. 

Two other things I serve. I hate both--sliced cantaloupe, not chunked, and just cantaloupe and a drained can of peas, cubes of cheese, grape tomatoes or diced, and MW or mayo. I don't/won't eat either cantaloupe or peas, but these are easy and colorful dishes for a table of things that call for a hot stove. I can make slaw, peas/cheese, and slice a cantaloupe in an hour. Or, I can make all three over the course of the day. The cheese might look unappetizing once it sits in mayo. But, oh well! Eat it! It's good for you!

If you use my recipe, let me know if you like it.

Tommy just arrived in a Lyft. I will explain tomorrow.

So sad that the submersible is lost along with five lives. 

I Read the Label

 I saw a Breyer's low-carb ice cream on sale and thought "this is for me." However, I hesitated, wondering what the magic ingredients could be. So, I searched and found the answer. I won't be buying this. Read for yourself.

Do I want to eat THIS? The ingredients almost turn me off icecream!

Today, we were going to two events in Cullman. The first was a box lunch to pick up at a church. The second was a lesson on cooking squash. Well, it was rainy and I was not well on Tuesday, so we skipped it. 

Tuesday night, I frantically searched for a bag because I was about to throw up. Well, I didn't, but kept retching for the next two hours. Ten minutes after the initial scare, I realized the other end was letting loose, too. I managed to get to the bathroom, retching all the way. Thankfully, the dry heaves never amounted to anything. Then, I had reflux for hours that involved retching more. Finally, at about 8 am, I could lie down and relax, sleeping until noon. That's still not much sleep. 

At 4 pm, we decided to go to the market here and get the Wednesday ads. Plus, The Pig gives 5% discount to seniors on Wednesday. That takes a bit of the sting out of the 10% plus cost at The Pig. Well, Tommy forgot to remind them he was over 60. 

At the market we got a small basket of blueberries, a basket of plums, 2 ears of corn, and five tomatoes and a peach lemonade drink. The total was $22.50. The tomatoes were huge and only $1 each! 

I sort of wanted some of their small squash, but I have two squash here along with the bag of squash and onions. We also have potatoes, but I wanted theirs, too. A gallon of blueberries was an eye-watering $35. lol...maybe not...definitely not buying. 

I may get out a pound of bacon and fry/bake it for blt. Yum, makes my mouth water. At any rate, I have six huge tomatoes to eat as Tommy eats very little tomato. 

Although if was in the 80s today, the humidity made it oppressive to be outdoors. Of course, I walked to the car and back only, I still felt it when I had to roll down the car window. Hot and dry is better. 

Tomorrow, the furniture repair guys are scheduled to repair my chair. I do hope this goes off well. You do know we have a four-hour window in which they may arrive. It will be just our luck to have to wait until someone comes at the bottom of the window. Hope not. We have no place to be or go, but when I cannot leave the house because I am waiting on a repairman, I always "need" to go somewhere. At least it is not like the 8-hour window that repair people gave us. Remember that time? My experience is even a definite time may or may not happen or happen even near the time. There are always their emergencies that take precedence. 

For dinner: Tommy had two pulled pork sandwiches with bbq sauce and a huge helping of slaw and salad. I had one pulled pork sandwich with bbq sauce and slaw on it and another helping of slaw, salad of Romaine and tomatoes.

Fruit--Today I had apple, banana, blueberries, and peach lemonade.

Do you get antsy when waiting on repairmen with a huge window instead of a set appointment?

Where are you getting fresh fruits and vegetables--farmer's market, CSA, your own yard? 

Did the ice cream label make you feel ill?  

Easy Fruit Dessert

 

Back when I entertained once a month, one single guy brought the same thing in the summer. Or, maybe he brought it during other months. He would buy a bag of frozen peaches, a bag of frozen strawberries, and a bag of frozen blueberries. He usually had it out of the freezer for an hour or so before he came. At my house, it was almost ready. I had to take it out of the bags and slide each into one large bowl. By the time were through with dinner, we dipped up this frosty dessert. Mostly, it was thawed. It was delicious and easy for him.

You may want to mix fresh fruit.

Before dinner, I sliced all the squash I bought at the market and a huge Vidalia onion. My intentions were to fry the squash and onion but without dousing it in meal. I decided I had too much squash for a meal and put half the squash and half the onions in a bag for another day. Maybe I will make a small squash casserole. 

After an hour of Tommy tending squash and onions, I went in to see what was happening. Well, he had a 12 inch skillet on a 6-inch eye. NO WONDER! I put the skillet on the larger eye over his vociferous protestations. Well, it did cook a bit faster. I went in and it was on high and boiling. Finally, I called it done, not a bit of browning, not even on the onions. I drained mine on a paper towel because he used too much oil. Oh, that was the first paper towel I have used in three weeks. 

The bachelor buttons are blooming. I have a red one and a blue one. so far. Blackberries are turning red. 

It was sooo hot today. However, I was pleased. It beats cold weather any day. But, I would have been ill if I had had to be out in the heat very long. I took more recycling into Publix and bought blueberries, strawberries, keto for me, milk for Tommy and a beefsteak tomato. They for 4 for $5, a real bargain as they were huge. 

Tuesday dinner: Tommy had pork, a sweet potato, squash and onion. I had a huge salad before dinner, then chicken breast, squash and onion. We both forgot we had slaw in the refrigerator. 

The day was a very good day, even though I slept little the night before. 

Do you ever mix frozen fruit almost thawed like my friend did? What is your favorite combination of fruits for this? 

A First for Tommy

 Today, we put the pork butt into a cooking bag and left it in the over for four + hours. About an hour before Tommy took it out of the oven, I put in two sweet potatoes. I had made cole slaw. Dinner was less than stellar. Those are sweet potatoes I hate, NOT Beauregard. The meat was so fatty. Somehow, the slaw was not quite right. 

But, we ate. Tommy was thrilled with it all. Maybe my taste is off. I don't know. 

He disappeared into the kitchen and took the meat off the bone and the fat off the meat. A little later, he came out. Then, he went back in. I asked him what he was doing as he passed me. He was going back into the kitchen to freeze the meat he did not put in the refrigerator. I stopped him and asked what he was going to write with. He showed me a felt marker. The Ziploc bags say to use a ball point pen. So, i had him give the marker to me and gave him a ball point pen. 

This is the first time he has EVER frozen anything. Well, I have told him to put the hotdogs in the freezer, new ones I bought for much later. 

Now, I have one more pork butt to cook and freeze. This one I cooked in the bag. The one I cooked in the crockpot was fine, not too fatty. I cooked it all night. It was great for pulled pork. The one I cooked today was mostly fatty meat amidst a few chunks of good meat. 

Last night, the storms were terrific, loud, rainy, and destructive. But, the lights only blinked briefly for a second. Tonight should be quieter, thankfully. I did get enough sleep, even if it took me half a day. My sinus infection seems to be clearing. I think the problem may be this weather. 

Do you cook pork butt? By what method? 

Did you have tornado or storm damage? 

Sunday Storms

 As usual, I have had trouble going to sleep. Last night, it was a new and worse problem. Finally, at 8 am, I did sleep, awaking at 2pm. 

I think the reason I have felt so exhausted is a new sinus infection. I don't want to move! However, I know sitting is going to kill me! Thankfully, we have plenty of leftovers and frozen cooked meat in the freezer. However, I will finally cook the pork butt and make coleslaw. 

Tommy is out moving the blackberry bushes and covering them with tulle. I will make sure to put a rubber snake near them. There is a long cane on each, making it impossible to cover them. So, i will have him cut the cane. I hope that does not kill them. 

We called to have the recliner repaired in March. In April, someone came to look at it and come back in two to three weeks to repair it. Shortly thereafter, a box too large and too heavy for us to move, containing the metal mechanism to go under the chair. It was sitting where rain could hit it. The furniture store told us they would be out soon. Okay, and it has rained here two or three days each week. Now, in June, someone will come in two weeks to repair it. The charge for labor will be $230. I wonder if this was under warranty for parts. I have no idea. 

Well, Tommy just came in from sticking blackberry canes in dirt. He used a reacher/grabber to dig around in a pot. Why? He said he was making the dirt where he could plant. No planting, just poke it in. I cleaned the loppers thoroughly and oiled the cutting part and jaws. NOW, I will have to put grabber in sink because it has dirt clods in the soft part that makes it possible to pick up a dime from a surface. "It don't matter," he yells at me. Yes, dirt clods on the carpet do matter. By the way, he only uses this bad grammatical error when yelling about some dirty place that is just fine. 

I watched my father clean tools thoroughly before putting them away in his shop, so I came by tool cleaning honestly. If you do not clean yours, I don't care. 

Maybe I do the cane poking the wrong way. But, every cane I have poked into hard dirt has worked. Well, I push ten in the ground and four live. That was with the forsythia. Scuppernong worked. So, maybe blackberries will work and some of the six canes will be a new blackberry bush. 

I am weak and fighting nausea, so I need to go. There is more bad weather on the way, so all laundry is being done, dishes are washing, and we will eat early. Oven will be on before it hits. I have my flashlight at the ready. 

Do you poke blackberry canes into the dirt to get more blackberry bushes? If it does not work or that is not the way to grow more blackberries, well Tommy spent an hour cutting two canes into six pieces, digging up the dirt and planting them. I know they spread, but this blackberry bush is in a pot. I will put it into a bigger pot eventually. Oh, I know this is the wrong time of the year to do this.

Do you clean tools after using them? Oil them?

 

Baking in a Reynold's Cooking Bag

 It was at least 90F here today. It was hard to get the car ac to cool the car when we got in to go out. The flowers appear to love this weather with rain every day and heat, too. I hope vegetables are doing well. 

Someone asked about how I use cooking bags for meat and vegetables. First of all, I use Reynolds Cooking Bags, but there are others on Amazon that I have never tried. For a turkey, there is a Turkey Bag size.

In the smaller size (8 lbs) I can put about ten chicken breasts or multiple thighs or legs. And, some days, I put legs, thighs, and breasts in the same bag. A whole hen can be cooked in a cooking bag. 

There is an instruction sheet with the bags that can be a good guide for cooking with sizes/weights and cooking temperatures and times to cook. 

One day, I accidentally left out the flour. The instructions say to add two teaspoons or Tablespoons of flour and shake. Well, the bag without flour did not explode, so I have never used it again. But, follow the instructions. Do as I say, not as I do. Okay, take your chances with leaving off the flour. 

However, I do put the six slits in the bag. If you don't, it will blow up like a balloon, scary looking. I either snip slits or poke the bag with a sharp knife while holding onto the bag so I won't poke a hole in the bottom of the bag. I always make the holes on the area of the bag where the juice won't leak during cooking. 

I use a pan that will hold the bag without allowing any of the bag to sag over the side. Once, I came in and the bottom corners were hanging over the sides with lots of juice in each corner. I was afraid it was going to burst. And, I was afraid the meat was not sitting in enough juice to keep the meat from burning. 

If you are cooking bscb, add about a half cup of water to keep the meat from burning. Maybe you want to add just a quarter cup of liquid. 

Chicken breasts will often be pale. But, the spices I add gives the meat color. Adding only garlic powder and onion powder gives a tasty but pale meat. In a salad or a sandwich, it does not show. Sprinkle meat before you put it into a bag. Otherwise, it is not easy to sprinkle evenly, just messy. We only season the top of the meat. 

I don't waste the oven heat and all this prep for just meats as I add vegetables to the bag. Tommy peels potatoes and carrots, enough for at least two meals, often more.  We only eat half a potato, having leftovers so we don't need to cook the next day. Some days, we eat leftovers from another day and save leftovers from the present meal for the day after that. Maybe we freeze some of the bscb. 

We have added many vegetables--onion halves, broccoli, cauliflower, snow peas, celery, potatoes, carrots. Sometimes, we put the meat on the vegetables. The celery and onions are placed on top of the meat. No, we don't put meat on potatoes. I forgot--I also cook squash and zucchini in with the meat. However, I cook it whole with just the ends cut off. Amazingly, it does not go to mush. Most of the time, we put bscb in the bag and put all the vegetables in front of the meat. See? There is no one right way to do most of this. Some days, the chunk of onion is just lying between the meat. 

Don't pour water over the top of the seasoned meat as it washes off the seasoning. One day, I forgot to put water in bscb. So, I found my little funnel, stuck it in one of the slits and poured the water into the bag that way. Another time, I found the slit, sort of mashed it down and poured the water on the slit and wiggled the bag around the slit until it went into the bag.

There are ties for the bag, little pieces of plastic to tighten like a zip tie. We lose these all the time and usually find them later. No worries. Just cut off a half-inch strip off the top of the bag and use that to tie the top of the bag. 

None of my spice blends contain sodium. I got rid of those. All of my spices and spice blends season the potatoes just fine. So, need to season the vegetables. Tommy, who like salt on food, does not even season after cooking this way. If he wants more salt, he can add it later, and I am not forced to eat salty food. 

Funny practice--one day, I was slicing potatoes in quarters, and carrots into three inch pieces, sliced onion while sitting in my chair. It was enough vegetables to last several days. I told Tommy to bring me the cooking bag. I place everything into the bag in no particular order. I carried it to the kitchen like a bag of potatoes, put it into the cookie sheet, sort of mashed the vegetables to make them even across the bag and pan. Then, I put the chicken on top to cook. Tommy laughed at my unorthodox use of the bag as a bag to carry. 

The bags come in Large and Turkey size. I baked three turkey breasts in one turkey bag. I have also baked turkeys. 

Finally, here is a link to Reynold's Cooking Bag Instructions  This may answer your questions. Or, you can ask me in comments.

Have you ever used Reynold's Cooking Bags? 

Any questions?

Tommy Shops

 Tommy went into The Pig today with the list I made from both our circling the ads. He bought a pork butt, Ronco Spaghetti that was on sale for $0.78 for 8 oz, bananas, Doritos and Cheetos. The last was his idea. When all was said and done, Pig adds 10%. 

There was not much at Publix that excited either of us. So, that was all the shopping. We went to the park and looked at the blueberries to see how they were doing. Fine. 

I took a nap and we put on chicken, carrots, and broccoli for dinner. Of course, it all went into a cooking bag. Tommy had something else, too. 

THEN, we watched four movies, from 7 pm until 3 am. None had commercials, so no good break for the bathroom. We even missed the nightly news! 

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

The Lion in Winter

On Golden Pond

Morning Glory

All were Katherine Hepburn films. She won an Academy Award for all four. I saw the first one when it came out and had not seen the last three on the list. 

As you can see, nothing much happened today. Well, we did look over the flowers blooming outside the house. 

Do you go outside for the express purpose of seeing what flower is blooming?

Do you have a store that ads 10% to price in ads and on shelf? The deal is that we get groceries at their cost plus 10%, That is what the ad says. 

Tuesday in a Haze

 Monday night, I decided to take a prescription prescribed to me after I asked about a cure for a problem. This problem is a big problem, but not a problem with a cure. The prescription is for another problem, depression, but not prescribed to me for that. So, I took the prescription in the afternoon on Monday. Until Wednesday morning, I was in a fog. 

Tuesday, I had no affect. I had no ambition. I even went to bed for two hours and just lay there, unable to sleep. I cannot imagine how this med could cure depression. Or, maybe it is meant to mask feelings? But, all feelings? I managed to get in the car and put the seat back while Tommy was out. Then, I just rode with the seat back. I have never done that. 

I hated the feeling, so I will never take that med again. 

Tuesday night while still in a fog, I had to think about a Wednesday appointment. No food after midnight and no water after 7:30 am. Well, I awoke after six solid hours of sleep. However, my throat hurt, was dry, and I was trying to stifle a cough and sinuses were draining. Yep. Awful. Not thinking, I grabbed water and gulped it. It didn't matter since the drive was iffy with tornado talk, at least storms. So, I cancelled the appointment. I really needed this appointment to stretch my esophagus so I won't choke on food!

Dinner: corn on the cob, peas, baked chicken for Tommy. I don't know what I want. 

I boiled the corn and it is hard and not so tasty. I think it was old. The last we had was sweet and juicy and tender. 

I cannot imagine how anyone takes an antidepressant and functions! I feel like I lost a day. Everyone promises me I will not feel so groggy, so blank, so much brain fog if I give it two days or two weeks. However, dizziness and nausea are not something I want to endure. I commented on a few blogs and typing were difficult. Plus, there was no promise that the antidepressant would alleviate the first problem. The doctor who prescribed it told me he tried it and quit because it did not help. 

Now, I am fighting the sinus infection with otc products. Of course, we watch the weather to determine how bad the storms will be, maybe dangerous. 

Today, we made our trek to three grocery stores to collect the ads. We missed the pork butt at $1.78 two weeks ago, and bought it for $1.89 last week, and it is $1.78 again this week. Right now, Tommy is going over the ads, circling things we want, things he wants, and things he thinks I might want. Then, I will go over the ads and we will discuss what we want to buy. It is a process rather than what we see and want, missing deals. We make a list after discussing the choices we underline. 

Now, I need to survey the Father's Day ads for tools I need or might need. Of course, I am not looking for power tools! I have always thought FD sales were better than Mother's Day sales. 

Do you look at Father's Day sales for things you want or need as opposed to giving something to a father?

Have you found that antidepressants side effects are unbearable?

Is there anything good in your grocery ads this week?

Stocking Up and Other Things

 Yesterday, I determined we would go to Cullman come hell or high water. No matter how little sleep I managed, we would go. I only slept four hours, if that.

Our first stop was the PO where I had six inches of mail waiting for me.

I have wanted to go to the store where I find the only pimiento that is grown and packed in the US. I had Tommy buy 10 of the tiny jars. That will last me for six to twelve months. Since I now add it to dishes without Tommy complaining, it might only last six months. That was my stock-up, not much, but all I had in mind right now. 

Then, I went to Publix for one thing and then did not get it. I decided to see if they had the items for which I received a rain check here. I made a mess of shopping and was exhausted when I left the store. I found Special K Original, Caffeine Free Diet Coke, and could not remember the third item, Angel Soft tp. When I saw maple syrup was reduced, I grabbed one of those. 

I checked out. I had gotten the wrong size Special K. The maple syrup rang up at the wrong price. Well, a guy up front was going to help me and got me the wrong Special K because I did not tell him what I had. And, I was mistaken about the maple syrup. The one on sale was smaller than the bottle I bought. Whew, so much to figure out. 

We had a BK sandwich and headed home. Once home, I tried to nap and could not. Usually naps are easy. 

There are two small packages of chicken breasts and the pork butt to cook, but I was not into cooking tonight. Tomorrow, the goal is to make a casserole of chicken, purple cauliflower, green beans, and pimiento and a can of soup. Plus, I need to cut the pork butt in half, freeze one half and cook the other, plus make slaw. That is the plan, but even talking about it tires me. 

Tommy was so happy to give me a 2023 dime he found Sunday under a car as he got back in his. He commented today that it was so shiny it was easy to spot. I think it was minted this week...lol. 

Tommy examined the flower he/we thought had two different kinds of flowers. He said there were two different stems side by side. They look like one. He said the leaves were different on the stems. I searched through 100 flowers and found two that looked like this one. However, none had poppy-like flowers on the same stems. I think the flower that looks like a poppy is a mallow. 

Remember I bought a new juicer and thought I had one already? Well, I took the stickers off the one I bought and washed it. Tommy was going to put it up and asked me where I wanted it to go. I told him. He came back in with two identical juicers! Yes, I did have one already. So, I put the stickers back on and put the receipt inside. I had put the labels on the back of the receipt since I just knew I already had one juicer. The clean juicer will be returned. Score! 

I had plants on the ground from porch and table after a brief and furious storm blew through here. Did you have wind or storm damage from Sunday? 

Sunday Easy Cooking and Plant ID

 Sunday slept over 8 hours.

Did nothing. 

Went looking for a food truck. 

I had a 9 gram carb lunch.

Made up for it when I made and ate chicken and dumplings and followed that by baked bread and butter. 

I boiled bought, frozen dumplings in broth and water, seasoned with salt, pepper, and rubbed sage. Since cooking the hen in the crockpot was done Friday and the dumplings were done. This was simple. 

The dumplings were thin and looked like pie crust. Mine are thicker, soft, and flour-y. So, I put these into flour. That way, the broth on the chicken and dumplings was white and thicker with flour. This dish tasted almost like my mother made.

I ate these by dipping cooked dumplings and broth into a bowl and then putting in the amount of chicken I wanted. So did Tommy. I suppose there is enough chicken left for 2 more meals for him. I have two more meals from the breasts. So, he had three meals, and I had four. That is 7 meals from one hen. I think he had another meal, really, so 8 meals. 

We also have a bit of meatloaf from what we thawed. It will be eaten tomorrow. That means I have to cook on Tuesday! Rats!

One of the blue pots of wildflowers is about two feet tall, maybe shorter. The flowers are tiny clusters. One day, a flower that looked like a red poppy bloomed, too, on the same stalk as the little purple clusters of flowers. Today, the wind blew off the red flower that looked like a poppy. Does anyone know what this flower can be?

The bachelor buttons should be blooming by tomorrow as they are opening and showing color. It should storm here in a bit. I just hope it blows none of my pots off the ramp or table.

How are your flowers? Hosta? Vegetables?

Small Projects and Oregano

Do you have small projects that seems to take forever to start? I do. I absolutely know why I don't accomplish hard projects, lengthy projects. However, I do know that in most cases I only need to break it down into smaller tasks. This was not always the case, but now it is necessary.

Then, there are the small projects that do not need to be broken down because they are already very small. Well, I finally did one of those today. I have two small plastic bins in a cabinet where I store spices. I need this because I cannot see into the cabinet. And, I cannot stand long enough to shuffle through them. 

Today, I had Tommy bring the baking pan and the two bins with spices to me. I took all the spices and wrote down what I had. Now, I won't have to stand to see what I actually have and what I need to replace or just buy for the first time. I have managed to get them all into glass bottles, so that is a great accomplishment for me. Tommy washed the bins and then replaced all the spices with spices for sweets in one bin and spices for savory foods in the other. 

While I was at it, I removed three spice blends that had salt in them. That way, I don't have to limit flavor to limit salt. Two are expired. I will give the avocado toast seasoning (sale) away. 

I use all of these or will, except for the ground mustard:

ground mustard

minced onion

parsley

oregano

celery seed

ginger

dill weed

rubbed sage

nutmeg

Italian seasoning

onion powder

garlic powder

summer savory

nutmeg

sweet basil

Grill Mates Smokehouse Maple

2 ground cinnamon ???

bay leaves

Dash salt free

thyme

Wyler's Reduced Sodium cubes, chicken flavor

Whole Cloves

ground cloves

pumpkin pie spice

another vanilla

Mexican vanilla extract

Stevia drops

Sweet oregano and spearmint drops

Salt and pepper are on the shelf in front of the bins. 

Even though the chicken is cooked and off the bone and I am using frozen dumplings and have broth, I have lost the urge to cook. Like Tommy said, we do have plenty that is cooked/prepared that we need to eat. 

For lunch I was having a chicken breast sandwich with MW on Arnold's Keto bread. Suddenly, it occurred to me that oregano on the sandwich might be delicious. So, I sprinkled some on a bite. It was so good that I sprinkled it on the whole sandwich. Tommy refused to try it. Oregano will be a regular on my sandwich from now on. I wondered if it would be good on peanut butter. I tried oregano on a bit of pb, and it was delicious, too. 

Last night, I slept ten hours, mostly because my feet were not cold. I forgot to lower the thermostat. Tommy said he woke sweating and turned it down...lol. We need a programmable thermostat to lower the temperature near morning when the house is heating up. 

Today was an exceptionally good day. Then, Tommy started being mean. It seems I ask too many questions. I thought it was a conversation. 

I need to decide what I need in the way of a spice rack, one that can be taken with me. I have been thinking about the design. It needs to be where I can close it in order to block light to protect the potency of the spices. 

So, today was mostly a spice day. Where do you store your spices? 

Groceries and Tupperware

Chocolate above was less than $1 for 3 oz. bar.

 Of course, yesterday's good sleep is followed by a 4-hour nap last night. But, I did get up at 8:30 and start the day with a bit of reading on the internet. I washed my hair and bathed. 

Then, between the two of us, we put a chicken in the crockpot. We have our movements and separate tasks for all of this. Neither of us moves until we inform the other. That way, we are never bumped off our feet. Today, I have really been dizzy since I ate and don't know why. So, Tommy carries the knives...lol. 

In a bit, we are off to take recycling to Publix and get milk for Tommy, apples for me. The ads were not much this week, forgot what. But, the pork butts are $1.89 or something close to that price. Hopefully, Tommy will go in and get it since this store is the most difficult for me to get into and out of as I have to walk to far. Carts are not allowed outside of the store. I was told it was for my safety because if it rained, I might be electrocuted on the electric cart. 

Why do people think customers are ignorant. Can you imagine how an electric cart maker could stay in business if carts were that dangerous? I honestly think some of the doom peddlers believe it themselves. 

Tommy went into the store that carts are kept in the store only and bought a huge pork butt. One of us will cut it in half, cook one piece and freeze the other half. 

Then, we saw or Tupperware lady from Mississippi, stopped and shopped. She remembered my name and the fact I wanted a pie keeper. (She said she had my name and what I wanted in her phone.) But, she did not have one. I did find things to replace what went into the dump--pasta keeper, tall and skinny container for juice or whatever, midgets or smidgets or something, and another tall cylindrical container ($5 piece that sold for $25 originally. Tommy even paid for it, volunteered because I did not have my checkbook and she did not take cards. I bought the one piece for $5 that was $25. I suppose it was not a good seller or it was the last she had. 

This woman comes from Mississippi and sets up in a grocery store parking lot across from her family's restaurant. She spends the night with family. So, her only cost is gas to get here. She knows I cannot get out of the car and stand for long, so she cheerfully brings me what I want to see and shows me new items. I told Tommy that I would not have spent a dime if she acted like I was an irritant, a problem. Of course, I do have to sit while she waits on others who come to shop. 

Publix--Peter Pan PB bogo, gal of Publix milk for Tommy, dried marjoram, dried oregano, apples, bananas, tiny teeth grater. I had to get a rain check for Angel Soft. Diet Coke Caffeine Free, and Special K.

The Pig--bologna, hotdogs for the freezer, a2milk two half gallons that cost $2.85/half gallon as opposed to $4.99 at Publix, Vidalia onions, free mustard for buying $10 of groceries.

We were so tired when we arrived home about 6 pm. However, the chicken in the crockpot was delicious smelling and falling-off-the-bone done. Tommy made himself a salad and I put chicken on his plate. He had the last of the herb butter on a piece of French bread or some bread that was not loaf bread. I had chicken breast, and slaw. Shortly before dinner I was starving and had a huge salad. 

Tommy and I were discussing salad dressings. He hates Ranch Dressing, and I love it. He prefers Italian and I prefer not to have vinegar because I am allergic to it. However, I do love Italian dressing. Well, he told me he had been eating Ranch Dressing. I was shocked. He said he put either sweet or dill relish on top of the Ranch on his salad. So, I will make dressing for him and let him put in the amount of relish he likes before I put it in a jar with lid. I am trying to avoid all the stuff in store bought dressing that is an allergen for me or that is bad for us. 

Okay, it is 10:30 and the chicken is cool enough for Tommy to take meat off the bone. I may make chicken and dumplings on Saturday because I have sale dumplings to add. We will see. 

Have you ever had a Endangered Species Chocolate bar? 

I am going to use Anne's recipe for salad dressing first, but do you have a good dressing recipe?

Are you a Tupperware fan or not? 

Huge Decision and Grossness

 I made a huge decision. I wanted to call Geek Squad for help with my printer, my phone pictures, and how to get these pictures cropped and such. Actually, if I could grab the pictures, I know how blogspot works for posting pictures. 

Once upon a time, I used a program on the internet for all pictures. When I decided not to use it in favor of the Kodak program, the internet program not only kept all my photos as their property, they removed all pictures from my blog that put through their program. 

Then, I bought a little camera that had a disc that I loaded onto my computer. I could take a photo and have it cropped and onto my blog in less than three minutes. When Kodak no longer supported that program, I was lost. 

Geed Squad quoted me a price of $179 to come and do all this and show me while I wrote down instructions for putting photos on my blog or wherever. Nope, won't do that. I may have to put this printer on my lap. I cannot do anything bending over it!

Okay rant over. I will find a way.

Now for the grossness. I have never heard of this. How Gross is This? I never knew or heard of this before. Have you???

I slept 8 hours today, so I feel wonderful. However, I did not get up until almost 2:30. I hate this. However, I get on the computer and entertain myself. I can fold clothes, too. No, the computer viewing does not keep me awake. 

Are you familiar with this grossness?

Farmer's Market and Grocery Shopping

citrus juicer/reamer

We went to the Wednesday one-day Farmer's Market today. Tommy thought it was from 3-6 pm and I thought it was from 4-7 pm. Well, we were both wrong. It is from 9-6 pm. I have been waiting for it to start, and he thought I was letting it pass today or something like that. However, we left about 3:30 to shop.

There were only six booths today by the time we got there about 4 pm. Three were not produce, just canned food. One guy had lots of wooden lawn furniture. I bought a box of blueberries for $4 and a little box of squash for $4. The squash were just like I prefer yellow squash. They were all about five inches long. The blueberries were really fresh. I had some out of the bag on the way home. 

We also went to our three stores to get the ads. Tommy went to the first store and refused to get a pork butt for $1.78/lb. He did not want to shop and said they would be there another day. Pooh! I went into The Pig and Publix. 

Publix had Spice Island Spices bogo. I needed dill and parsley for a mix. Bananas and Chips Ahoy bogo. Libby's Pumpkin was still fifty cents, so I bought two more. 

I finally found a juicer/reamer. It has a glass container with plastic juicer screwed onto the top. I did not want plastic, but that is all there was. I had about a half-dozen of the antique glass juicers that I prefer, but I don't know if any are still in my possession or in the landfill. I also found a single brownie mix bag for half price. 

I was in no mood to cook when we came home. The hen is not thawed. There was no more leftover protein in the refrigerator. So, I told Tommy to see what was in the big freezer. He came back with a package of sixteen meatballs, and another package with a generous meatloaf. He wanted the meatballs, so that is what we had. He ate meatballs, pasta, and leftover spaghetti sauce, and a huge salad. I might have the same. 

Dinner for tomorrow night will be meatloaf and leftover potatoes. Maybe we will have corn on the cob or squash. Dinner ready to eat for tomorrow makes me happy. 

There is no zester in sight. The grater has just a smaller grater, so maybe no help. Plus, I only found one citrus juicer in the one store that had juicer label on the shelf. Is everyone zesting and juicing citrus, or is this a supply-chain issue? My big box grater had one whole side that was a zester. Do you have a box grater with a zester? There is one store in Cullman that will have what I need. 

Now, I should wash the juicer, wash the lemons, zest the lemons, juice the lemons. Ugh! I am tired. 

The Purple D' Oro bloomed today and three more blossoms, at least, will bloom soon. I really want to hit up Lowe's every day and see what flower is on sale. But, I won't. 

Tommy discovered some herb butter in the refrigerator, and he loves it. So, I will try to mix some he will love. He will love it on squash I will cook on the stovetop. Do you add herbs to butter? 

My a2 milk is on sale for $3.60/half gallon at The Pig, as opposed to $4.99 at Publix. If I use the digital coupon, I can get it for $2.85. However, the digital coupon can only be used 2 X. I will take advantage of the price and the coupon. 

Today has been a good day. Warm is always good, and sun is better! I did not wash my hair like I wanted to do. It is late, so not dealing with lemons even though the juicer is clean. 

What did you accomplish today? Cooking, gardening, washing? Have you ever had an antique glass juicers/reamer? Maybe you still use one?

Purple Daylily and Fried Fish

 

Today, I finally took the cardinal wing pattern and one of the wings and delivered them to the guy who will cut them for me. The last place cut them wrong.

When I went to Lowe's for something I could not find, I went to the half-dead plant area and found a pot with daylilies--Purple D' Oro. There are several blossoms ready. Tommy watered it. Tomorrow, I will clean it up, riding it of dead matter.  The strawberry daylily I bought at the plant sale is read to bloom. 

Earlier in the afternoon, we went to see the church that burned here a few days ago. It was sad, appearing to be completely gutted. And Tommy showed me where he lived just before he bought this house. We were actually looking for a certain food truck. We knew where her commissary was, so went there. A cook was gathering the tables and chairs, taking them indoors. He told us where to find the food truck on FB, so we could find her. She lists her locations each day of the week. I asked the guy what kind of food they cook. He pointed to his food truck and said it was all soul food. In his restaurant I suppose it was different food. I asked him what he cooked today--fish and chicken. 

He obviously took a liking to me. I was talking to the older man, a cook, who said he was through cooking for the day. The owner came out with a styrofoam to go box and handed it to me. I was so surprised. He said it was fish. Well, I opened it and started eating with my hands, pinching off bites and devouring the fish. After I thanked him profusely, we drove off. Only then did I realize he had handed me a pack of utensils! I was sort of embarrassed. 

We will go back there to eat one day. I have not had hush puppies in years! Soul Food is notoriously unhealthy, but maybe this place is different.

I told Tommy we were eating purple cauliflower for dinner. He always turns up his nose. I handed him a small piece, about the size of the last joint in my little finger. He ate it without turning up his nose, making a face or spitting it out. We had plenty of protein today, so I am baking vegetables--purple cauliflower, carrots, and potatoes. I put them is a glass casserole with olive oil, garlic powder, and onion powder. They were delicious. He served his own plate. I noticed he had a generous helping of purple cauliflower. So, I suppose he has been converted. 

I have a whole chicken thawing. Tomorrow, I will bake it in the oven or put it in the crockpot. We have potatoes, purple cauliflower, and slaw. So, dinner will be easy. We did not have many carrots to have those leftover. NO! There is no more cauliflower for leftovers. Tommy ate it all! So, he really does like purple cauliflower...lol. 

For the last two or three days, he has been telling me about new flowers that grew from an empty container, asking me what they were. Finally, I stopped on the way to the car. I had bought a six-pack of pink Wave Petunias last summer. When I became ill, they burned up in the heat. Now, two of the tiny pots have a petunia each. I will put those in a hanging pot. 

I had a seed ball and a postcard with paper embedded with seed. Both went into identical pots. Both concepts were wildflowers. One of the pots has a plant with purple flowers. It is about 18 inches tall. I am quite sure these wildflowers would be labeled "weeds," We certainly are enjoying all the flowers even if they are weeds. 

I decided I will no longer buy Nature's Own Keto. It is too thick, hard to gnaw off a sandwich. From now on, I will buy Arnold's. It has three grams per slice, just one more gram than NO, but that is okay. 

The day went well, considering I only slept four hours! It was a good day with no frustrations or arguments with Tommy. No pushbacks, just cooperation. We enjoyed our impromptu ride, the flowers at home, and the birds flying around here. Of course, the fried fish was wonderful. 

Do you like fried fish? Not the Captain D kind. 

Are you surprised when flowers reseed so late? These pots of petunias have been out of the utility room for over two months. 

Has the smoke from Canada affected your skies? 

50 Cent Bargains

 I really did not feel like going into a store, so Tommy did. I needed tulle since Lowe's did not have the cover I needed to protect the blackberries. 

I bought Sweet Petite Little Finger Carrots seeds. I know it is late to start. But, I cannot find the carrot seeds here. I need to grow two pounds of carrots to break even on the Ferry-Morse $1.99 package of seeds from Lowe's. 

He found a ten-yard bolt of white tulle for $10. While I have not priced white tulle lately, this seems like a good price, reasonable price. Libby's canned pumpkin, the kind I use for holidays--$.50. It was dated Oct 2024. Stove Top Stuffing was also $.50 and dated 11-2023. Heinz Family Size jar of gravy is dated 2024 and was $.50. Tommy always calls to see if it is a good deal. I called my friend who buys for a food bank and told her. Maybe your WM will have the same bargain. 

All food in packaging for the shelf must stop at my chair. All the new cans/jars/boxes are labeled and moved to the bedroom. This is an ongoing task it seems, but necessary to keep eating the older foods and keep us eating the things with a near date. Since I label top and front of the can, it is easier to see what I am looking at and eating. 

Today started off brilliantly sunny. Now, it is overcast. But, it is still warm--84F. 

I need to go and move my snake near the one blackberry ripening fast. The tulle covering can wait until tomorrow. 

I need to go into the kitchen and cook already sliced yellow squash, zucchini, and onion. Tommy is having the squash/onions, salad, and chicken thigh. I will have the last bit of ground beef and onion, salad, squash/onions. 

Two things I must do tomorrow:

1--find a bird wing and deliver it and pattern to man who will cut the wings. Buying a 2x8 is part of this task.

2--find a video on what to buy to water pots and not a soaker hose like the guy showed me today! I do want a timer for it. Or, maybe not.

3--Maybe we could plant carrots. 

There were calls I needed to make today. But, nothing was accomplished on that front! Those are on the list of things to do, too.

Have you ever watered plants in hanging pots with tubes for water from the faucet?

Do you grow carrots? 

Saturday, Sunday and Berry, Berry Confused

 Saturday was slow and neither exciting nor boring. I still feel unwell, so nothing much done...lol. I did not sleep well. It seemed I was awake all night, but did sleep some, just not soundly. 

We did go to Publix to buy milk for me and apples. Tommy went in. Then, we got his insulin at Walgreen's and left it in the car for four hours or more. And, it was 91F today, so  I think it is ruined. He says it is okay. 

When he handed me a copy of some medical report to read, I did and he has moderate hearing loss even though he says it is all me. I did not mention I saw that comment. There is a new hearing aid advertised for $99. I have commented about it several times. Finally, I asked him if he thought that would help. Well, he is not against it. 

Saturday night, I put some shaved steak in the cooking bag and non-salt seasoning. I cooked it an hour and he removed it from the stove and discovered I had cooked the pad that is under meat. I suppose the people who use these know some of us cook these and do not put anything in the pad that is deleterious to our health. 

While it was cooking in the oven, I made cole slaw. Tommy brought everything to me and I made it in my lap as usual. He was doing something in the kitchen. Most of the time, I don't ask. Well, he had gotten out two small freezer bags of corn I had cut off the cob. Dinner was delicious--shaved steak, coleslaw, corn cut off the cob and frozen. 

The cole slaw mix I bought was delicious because it was full of carrots. From now on I will buy Dole. I like slaw with carrots, tasty and healthful. Other brands never have many carrots! And, this was only $1 at the Memorial Day sale. 

One day this last week, I made the Dolly Parton brownies. I will not buy them again. I like fudgy brownies, but these seemed juicy inside. It was strange. 

Saturday, when we got out of the car, my impatien plant was drooping. When Tommy watered about 6:30, He put a pie pan under it to soak water. At bedtime he took the pan of water away. I read impatiens don't like wet feet. Hopefully, they will continue to thrive in the hot weather and sun against the bricks. Maybe it will do better on Sunday. 

Sunday, the impatiens was fine. Hopefully, we won't let it get so dry again. Tommy watered just after noon since I told him morning was the best time to water. Then, around 6 pm, it drizzled, sprinkled, rained softly and quit. I suppose everything is sufficiently hydrated. 

Of course, I took a nap and Tommy had his dinner of soup on his own. Today, I cleaned and trimmed the rest of the strawberries, and put a bit of sugar on the sliced strawberries, just a bit to macerate. I want to have some tomorrow on a sliver of angel food cake that Tommy has been eating on for two weeks. 

Two Bell peppers and one red are sliced in two bags--one for Tommy's salads and the other to cook with onions for him to eat. 

It seems peppers get lost in the freezer and then turn to icy bag of green stuff. So, I won't be freezing any peppers until the freezer can be emptied and organized. 

Tommy washed a load of my clothing and I hung them and folded the ones he dried. Laundry never ceases. I remember the days of three children and diapers for six years! 

Two weeks ago, as we swung through the park, I saw flowers that I was sure were blackberries. Well, we did this for three or four days. Finally, Tommy said we have flowers just like that on the table. Hmm, do blueberry blossoms look like blackberry blossoms. I wondered and checked the blueberry flowers. Then, the flowers fell off in the park. I kept watching for the blueberries to form since I have seen those before many times. 

I was confused as to why the blueberries were so gnarly looking. Yet, they never changed, just grew a bit larger. 

Finally, today, Tommy came inside after watering and told me I had blackberries! What??? I did not buy blackberries! He told me I bought two bushes. Oh, yeah. I forgot. So, now I do have blackberries. 

Immediately, I made plans to protect them from the birds. I do have a plastic snake outside and one in here. Plus, I will get bird netting. If I cannot find that, I will buy tulle to protect them. It is just thing thing and comes in wide bolts. 

All this time, I thought I had only blueberries on the table. I do look at them, but since they are close, I suppose I read the tags on them and saw only the "berries" part of the word. The bushes are small, and there are not many berries, just a handful. 

Hopefully, I feel better this next week as I really need a new mattress. Everyday, I plan to go find one and just have no energy. 

Tomorrow, I need to cook squash and onions with garlic butter. Of course, I will like it but Tommy will love it. I also need to cook a box of sliced mushrooms for me since he won't touch those. I may put the last of the jar of spaghetti sauce over those. Yum. 

[Edit--I came home and was ill when we shopped. I rarely even look at the plants up close. So, my confusion about what plants I bought is due to being ill and neglect of the plants. Tommy did not want one of the plants I bought, yet the woman left it in our cart. So, who knows? Do you have blueberries or blackberries?]

"Only Black Man on the Planet..."

 Today was really stressful because Tommy put his keys in a box we were going to give away! We left here about 3 PM and came home at 5:30, all the while trying to chase down his keys. We had found three policemen sitting at a service station who gave us directions, all different. I was stressed, so one offered to show us. He drove us in such a convoluted path. Finally, he told us that maybe the guy was really waiting at the Marathon instead of the Chevron. Why would a guy do that? 

I had called his phone number and assumed it was a cell phone. However, when I decided to call him back, Tommy told me that was his home phone. Well, I called over Tommy's objections. They guy was at the Chevron! Anyway, after waiting on us for so long, he came to us. 

While we were delivering food, I noticed all the oranges were on the seat of the car. I told him to get all those, too. He commented about giving away oranges. I told him I was allergic to oranges and Tommy let them waste. He exclaimed, "You are allergic to Vitamin C?" 

Then, he laughed and said he was allergic to watermelon to which I gasped. He said, "Yes. I am the only black man on the planet who is allergic to watermelon."  Funny guy!

Yesterday, I made soup in the crockpot. I used the last of the ground beef and onions, potatoes I chopped for potato salad, half a bag of chopped salad (cabbage), and the rest of the can of chicken broth. Tommy did peel carrots for me to slice, the only thing that was not prepared. Once again, he was especially impressed at the fact we used up stuff in the refrigerator. It stayed on low all night long and was still in the crockpot when we left here are 1 pm. I was frantic that it would scorch while we chased keys all over Hueytown and Bessemer. Surprisingly, it was fine.

The guy's remark was the highlight of the day. (I am easy,) I did wash my hair and bathe. Dinner: Tommy had the soup and a bit of penne pasta and chicken. Then, he gave the pasta/chicken to me. I ate that and never got around to soup. 

I awoke from an hour and a half nap, then dozed in my chair, and am ready to go back to sleep. 

There are plans afoot in my head for this weekend. Hopefully, it all works out. The weather should be great--nice and hot. The fire ants await their bait. I need apples. Strawberries need cleaning and freezing. We have a return. Exciting times! Right? 

What are your plans for this weekend? 

Tommy is Amazed

 Tommy is so funny. He was reading a recipe. I have no idea why or where he was reading. Soon he finished and said to me as he laughed, reading part of the instructions--stick a toothpick in the center. It would be done when the toothpick came out clean. He laughed and looked to me like that was funny, amazing, or weird. 

I really hated to tell him I had stuck toothpicks into baked food since I was about ten in order to judge the doneness. Or, I used a broom straw to stick into food...is that gross? 

There are so many things he has never done or heard of anyone doing. I mentioned washing his Harvest Gold plastic kitchen trash can. He laughed derisively and said he had never washed out any can for trash. He went on to prove I was nuts by saying he never knew of anyone who washed out trash cans. Since it was falling apart, I just bought a new one three years later! 

In the outdoor bin, I caught him throwing in piece of vegetable or fruit. I told him it would attract flies and maggots and stink to high heaven. Only the idea of flies and maggots stopped him from throwing unbagged trash there. Oh, maybe the idea that he would need to wash the outdoor bin to get the stuck on nastiness out made him stop that. 

Do you consider it a strange idea to stick a toothpick into baked goods to determine doneness? Have you ever used a broom straw? Have you heard of people using a broom straw? 

Today, I spent the whole day feel so awful. And, I have finished the antibiotic!