Following the Drama, 424 % Increase

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

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

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

Before--$0.98 Now--$3.19

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

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

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

Read that last again. It is astounding. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lunch with Friends

Wednesday, we went to Cullman. Lunch was the first order of the day.  It was too windy to eat outdoors, so we picked up lunches at the church for our friends that go to the lake with us for lunch. They invited us to eat at their house since they knew how careful we are. Their grown grandchildren won't come into their house for fear they will give covid to two nonagenarians. 

It was a very congenial visit. Soup and salad was the lunch. Tommy ate both the soups and I ate both the salads. There were peas in the soup. We had two more of these meals for our Wednesday dinner. Scrambled eggs will be my protein. Tommy's soup has a lot of meat and smelled delicious, but had too much heat for me.  I don't need more fiber today. 

We went to PO, my lot, and two grocery stores--bananas at one and for $0.69/can green beans at the other along with a 2 lb. bag of cornmeal for $0.99. 

I went into AT&T to try to get a new phone for 5G use. No, no flip phones there that are 5G. However, I did pay my bill so my phone would be turned on. Since I have auto pay, I am not sure why my service was turned off. I did not want to debate with them, just turn on my phone! Done. Now, to find the free 5G flip phone AT&T keeps offering me. 

The daffodils that were poking their green shoots at New Year's visits are now fully bloomed. I forgot pick them to bring them home.  My allergies bothered me Wednesday, so I could not have had them in the car. Daffodils are one thing that triggers my allergies. 

When I had my battery replaced in a store in town, I remembered they carried canning items. their lids and rings were expected in six weeks. Well, they were in stock when I checked this week. I bought two boxes of lids and rings. I have had no trouble finding canning jars, but the lids and rings were nowhere to be found. Now, I have enough with what came on the jars. 

Dinner on Friday night--pork loin chop, Tommy had cabbage and blackeyed peas, I had coleslaw with my pork. 

Have you had trouble with AT&T? What carrier do you use? What is your experience with carriers?

This and That

 Tommy has a pillow he uses behind his neck in the recliner. It was his father's, and he died in 1972. Tommy said he got the pillow in about 1969. Tommy has used it since 1972.  It has never been washed! That grossed me out. I bought three travel pillows, one for the car and one for each of us in the house. Tommy threw a loud fit, saying he like the bone-shaped pillow and did not want or need the travel pillow. 

Well, since yesterday he has used his pillow exclusively. I bought these six months ago, but wanted the pillowcases to use with them. I would just use a pillowcase that fits a regular sized bed pillow, but I only have three pillowcases here and I use two of them all the time. I found the pillowcases this last week, washed, and hung to dry. 

He loves the pillow! I suffered verbal abuse when I bought the pillows. Maybe one day, I will suggest he throw the old pillow out. I know that if it is washed, it will come apart. Can you imagine using a pillow for 60+ years and never washing it? I offered and suffered verbal abuse. He said it did not need washing. Yuck! 

I have been using one of the travel pillows under my shoulder, so that pillow is pretty flat or at least not so fluffy. He wanted that one and let me have the new one. That is okay with me since the fluffier pillow will work and I won't have to fold the flatter one for use under my shoulder that has torn rotator cuff. 

New book last week--Just Mercy, by Bryan Stevenson. 

This book follows the murder trial, coercion, and conviction of a black man for something he did not do, was not in town to commit. It is shocking how many lies convicted this man and put him on death row. Stevenson is a young black attorney who comes to Alabama to work for blacks wrongly convicted. Of course, all this is now a matter of record. 

Some nights, I read as little as four pages and then go to sleep so I won't work through the sleepiness and stay up too late. I could read the book in three days of leisurely reading if I put my mind to it. I think I will keep a book in the living room to read, plus one in the bedroom. 

Friday night, I put the hen in the oven late, about 6:15. The hen was still partially frozen with giblets inside. I put the oven on 350F, intending to leave it that temperature for an hour and turn it down to 300F. His oven is 50F too high. But, I forgot and left it on for the whole four hours. I wanted the frozen giblets cooked, not raw! I ripped off the breasts and put in a bag. Then, I ripped off thighs, legs, and wings for Tommy to remove meat today. It may be overcooked, but it is not raw! There are about 10 meals in the refrigerator from one huge hen. 

The hen was rubbed like it was turkey and it smelled like Thanksgiving in here. I rub salt, pepper, and ground sage into the hen before it is baked. I never use poultry seasoning. I chopped an onion in anticipation of Thanksgiving cooking and froze them. 

A hen tender was my lunch (no breakfast), dipped in Miracle Whip instead of Honey Mustard, milk, half a banana and pb. 

Tommy is watching an Auburn game, so the day is stalled while he watches. There are so many little picky rules in football. He doesn't mind telling why things happen, but I am not so sure I care. I know people like football, but it all seems so cruel and violent that I wonder about people who love football. Okay, not really!  I guess we don't have jousting and gladiators, so we have football. 

Hopefully, he will not want to watch the whole game. I can dream, can't I. But, there are things to do. I won't even ask about going out. 

Since all my Ball quart jars are now clean, I can fill them with beans, sugar, flour, powdered and brown sugar and such. I started that on Friday night. One jar of Great Northern Beans is in the freezer for a three-day stay. 

The weather is going to be beautiful this weekend, with a predicted frost or freeze on Saturday night. Most trees have not turned yet, so maybe this frost will do the trick. Some trees, deciduous ones, are still fully green, maybe fading but still green. 

Are you an avid football fan? Have the trees all turned in your area? Does anyone you know refuse to give up and replace an item that has seen better days? Do you use Ball jars to store dry goods?

Ball and Bulbs

Once in a while, I decide to check on canning supplies when in stores. I got lucky last weekend and found a box of Ball canning jar lids and rings. There was only one box. However, there were two boxes of lids for large mouth jars, so I got two of those. 

With the short life of the new lids, I am loathe to buy any more for fear they will go bad before I can use them. That's okay because I am using jars for dry storage, cannisters, leftovers. There were jars but I barely noticed how many or what kind as I have plenty. Of course, those here have rings and lids. 

Monday was supposed to be rainy. But, it was not, and I had cancelled a doctor's appointment. Rats! 

Sunday, I sort of straightened and cleaned the front porch. There were pots to toss, the black nursery kind.  It looks so much better for two minutes attention. I have Purple Prince tulips and daffodils to plant in pots soon. I have pots to plant other bulbs, too. 

Dinner on Sunday night--Chicken Cordon Bleu (given to me) for both of us. He had the rest of the quinoa with vegetables and the zucchini. I had a portion of a salad that was not good to me.  I ate it for the nutrition. 

Dinner Monday night--baked chicken breasts, two small red potatoes (one for each of us), green beans. 

Do you ever plants two kinds of bulbs together so they will bloom together? The purple tulips and bright yellow daffodils are gorgeous. 

Ball Canning Jars are Back

 For the last three weeks, it appears that Ball canning jars are back on the shelves. I don't need any, but some of you do. There were lids and rings, too. While I am not sure how long they will be abundant, maybe you should get supplies now before the rush during the late summer. 

Thursday, Tommy came to wake me at 9 am to go to Cullman and to picnic with his cousin. Well, the cousin cancelled because he had trouble sleeping the night before. Tommy said that I told him, "Just go away because I need more sleep." Well, I awoke at 12:30 as he was getting his lunch. 

I felt awful. One of my meds needed refilling, so I was suffering from the lack. It took me a couple of hours to start feeling normal/well. 

Milk was gone after I ate lunch. I needed an otc. I managed to spend a lot of money, but everything was a necessity. I had a $12 coupon for candy, so I was not buying a $3.98 bag. I did find a bag for $12.49 and bought that. It cost me $0.49 + tax, so about $1.50 for candy. A woman I see all the time was the recipient of candy two times, so now she asks where is her candy. I will give her some for a few weeks. There were 100 pieces. 

Tommy washed and dried my laundry and I discovered 6 things that needed to go into a skimpy load. That's annoying. But, I had just gotten out of bed. 

We missed Resident Alien and I am annoyed. Tommy does not know what happened that he did not find it. 

Tommy reported a bee was on a dandelion, so at least we will have one bee to gather pollen and pollinate the vegetables I will grow. I love all the signs of spring and the coming summer season. Hopefuly, other bees find their way to my house.

The tulips are done and flowers cut. Now, I will leave the tulip greenery until it fades away so there will be stored food for tulips another time. Since the tulips grew in water, I am not sure how much food they will store. Got any suggestions? 

Need canning jars?

Today's Stuff

 Today, we went out to the hated big box. I now sit in the parking lot and wait for an electric cart to come out. I no longer go into the store, walking too much, and fretting, sitting, or coming back to the car without  an electric cart. We just start off roaming the parking lot and then sitting and watching. 

Today, we spied an electric cart and went to the other end of the parking lot to snag it. As we got there, the woman on the cart was not moving. I asked for the cart when she was through with it. She told me to meet her at the bus stop. We drove behind her to keep someone from hitting her as she did not bother to move to one side. 

She was an elderly, black woman with four bags. She was not big as a minute. I got out of the car and stood by her and watched for cars. I helped her get her rollator out of the basket of the electric cart. A woman near the store had helped her put it in the cart. 

I rescued her coffee cup full of coffee, lying in the cart. She was upset it had fallen over. A young woman on the bus came out and helped her. The elderly woman told me to help her I could put her bags in a seat on the bus. I had to tell her I could not get on the bus. She assured me they would let me on. She looked me up and down when I told her I was not capable of getting on the bus. Well, I could but not with four bags and one holding a cup of coffee. Someone would need to help me! She was in disbelief, but I told her it was my back. 

The young woman got her and the walker on the curb and up the bus steps. I drove back to Tommy's car  in the cart and got a Publix tote bag and rode back to the bus, waving the bag so someone would see me. The driver did see me and must have sent the young woman out to me. I told her the woman needed a bag, so give this one to her. 

It felt good all over to be able to give her a bag to help with her purchases. When you think you have problems, just consider having to ride a bus with bags and walker. Hopefully, someone back home watches out for her. Maybe not. 

I bought little. 

The Ball regular lids and bands were on the shelves, so I purchased one box of a dozen lids and bands. The Ball leak-proof, black lids were on the shelf, so I bought a package of four. Well, I thought I did. What I bought was four 4-oz storage jars and the leak-proof lids. 

For storage, I bought one can of petite-diced tomatoes and a can of Armour chili, no beans. And, there was chocolate in heart-shaped boxes that found their way into my bags. At another store we bought Dasani water and one package of bologna for the freezer. 

Canning Jars and Grocery Shopping

 I had found canning jars, about 30 dozen the Pig and went there to buy more. THEN, I did not buy any. When I went to Publix, there were two dozen. I got one. I did find something in Publix to help with the lid shortage. 

From Masontops, I bought a box of storage lids at Publix. These are not like the previous storage lids that Ball sold. The old ones did not have a waterproof or airtight seal in the lid. Plus, they broke the two times I dropped a jar with a storage lid on it. 

They are good for freezing, storage, refrigeration, just not processing in heat. The silicone seal will come out of the lid for washing.  Check masontops.com. They are expensive. They are four in a box. $7.99

I found certain Campbell's Cream of soups on sale at 4 for $7. I got four. 

White grapes 2.15 lbs. x $1.89/lb. so, $4.06. And, I will freeze a few of these, too. 

4 half gallons a2milk x $4.49 each

bananas $0.43

Maxwell House Coffee--Tommy has it now, so I have no idea. But, it was $6.69- $1.50= $5.19.

Smucker's pb $3.72

Baby Kale Mix $3.34 This is for the potato soup.

Romaine $3.32 for salads going forward.

12 Ball Canning Jars, quarts $13.99

1 Hunt's tomato paste $0.87

large box Wheat Thins. I had a coupon for $4.29, but they were on sale and $3.50 and the coupon covered it. This will be our December box...lol.

At another store, I found 

3/4 inch elastic like I put in my waistbands. $2.28

6  kale starts $3.47

BIC razor, did not mean to get delicate, ugh 20 for $4.97. I use the cheap ones.     

Nesquik chocolate $7.38

Hair color $6.97

package of 6 Minute Maid OJ $3.46 Medical supplies

100 count paper plates $4.94 It seems paper plates I buy are never there, so I get them before I run out.

Large spaghetti sauce that I don't remember $1.48

1 washcloth $1.14...only one pink one left

1 gal milk for Tommy  $2.70

AND

I bought 5 lbs. Roma tomatoes for soup this winter when I process and put in freezer. $4.96 

Usually, I use two quarts I have canned or one quart with store bought tomatoes. I just cannot wait. I hope I have Summer Savory to put into the soup. Otherwise, I will buy some. Oh, I will go back and buy 5 pounds as long as they are this price and freeze them. 

Friday. 

Today, we will blanch, peel, core and freeze. Yes, Tommy is helping. I wonder how many quarts this will make. I love fresh, home canned tomatoes for winter soup with vegetables and browned ground beef. 

Earlier today, I started coughing, choking over congestion. I was not sure if I were getting worse or if things were just turning loose. So, I am getting better or worse...lol. 

Friday 5:30

I just received my application for an absentee ballot. It is a very low-key looking letter. I would never suspect it has anything to do with the election. I suppose that is the plan.

Ugh! We went to grocery again. That will be for tomorrow.

Gopher II for Tommy. I got two of them as I need one occasionally. He must get down on the floor and looks like he is doing a plank. I feel so sorry for him and rush to pick up things from the floor for him. So, this will help him.

I forgot about the tomatoes to freeze, so maybe he will help me. Otherwise, tomorrow will do whether he helps me or not. He said he would help, but about 5 pm, he thinks the day is over...lol. 

Have you found good deals this week? 

Ball and Dawn

It seems there are no canning supplies. Well, I have looked far and wide and cannot find jars or lids/rings. I did find regular mouth lids and no rings. I mostly have wide-mouth, so this is not much help. I had a coupon for $2 off two packages. I still have coupons for jars, so I really would like to find them. 

Wednesday night, I actually got five hours sleep. I still have a sleep deficit, but at least I feel a bit better. One night, I put the little oxygen tube things in my nose and slept without any oxygen turned on. I hate that thing. Another night, I did not sleep a wink because a bite on my ankle. Nothing would stop the itch. 

Today, a doctor's lab actually called me to see if anyone had told me the lab results. I was in shock because I usually have to beg to get lab results. 

Dawn is my favorite dish-washing liquid. Other liquids make my hands break out or made asthma worse.  A long time ago the top was a pull-up top. Now, it is a flip-top. I hate the flip top. Three times I have purchased other bottle of dish-washing liquid in hopes of using a different brand's top. None of the other tops worked. 

When I first realized the dispenser tops had changed, I took the pull top from the empty bottle and put it on the full bottle. Eventually someone "helped" me by tossing the now empty bottle with the pull top in favor of the new bottle. I was furious. 

At estate sales there are all the leftovers from a home. I was hoping maybe I could find the type Dawn I used and at least get the top. No such luck. 

I just got up from a nap that I really needed and feel so much better! 

Have you been able to find Ball products? Do you prefer the pull tops on dishwashing liquid or the flip tops? 

Walking Time and Yeast

Tommy was correct. We both timed my walk and it was under three minutes and over a minute and a half. That is disappointing. Honestly, the walk felt much longer! I was exhausted and my legs were trembling and I was winded. My back hurt for hours. Pathetic!

Next time, I will walk until he tells me I have walked for four minutes. I have him come out to watch me because I am so wobbly walking and feel like I will pass out from the exertion. Yes, pretty bad.

Buying the book about railroads proved to be a good choice for Tommy. He was reading from it before he even sat down in his chair. Everyday, he gets it and reads more. It is the type book that he can read from by choosing the section he wants. Reading is a much better alternative to just watching TV. He is mostly open to alternatives I bring up.

Did you know that "Chattanooga Choo Choo" was the first record to sell a million copies? Neither did I.

It is so rainy and stormy here that we have stayed inside all day today and all of the last few days. I don't even need to go out to water my plants. Right now--4:30 pm, it is 73F and the humidity is 91%. The humidity is palpable.

The ads for stores are not much this week. Hopefully, this next week will be better. Don't get me wrong, there are good sales, just not anything I want to buy.

The coupons are great, especially the ones for Ball jars, lids, and rings. So far, I have two copies of the ads, so two sets of Ball coupons.

I forgot to weigh today.

Fleischman's yeast, the little three pack, is abundant here. If anyone wants me to purchase and mail any, i will.

This and That and Small Economy

The paper inserts this week have three coupons for Ball jars, Ball lids and bands, and a new Ball jar shape. This week, I will pick up these pink envelopes that people leave by the curb. Look in your Sunday paper to find them if they are not thrown in your driveway in a little pink bag.

Last night, Tommy peeled 5 lbs. of potatoes. It was so late, I just put them in a bag and left them in a cool place. I hope they are okay. These will go into a cooking bag with some sort of seasoning and meat. While he was working on potatoes, I cleaned strawberries and made us a smoothie with mostly strawberries.

Today, he can peel apples for pies. He likes peeling things because it is food he can eat...lol. Not once have I ever had to push him, encourage him. He just does it when I ask or even mention peeling.

Today, I don't have to water my plants on the porch. It is raining so hard that they are being watered well. This is forecast for the rest of the week. My back was hurting while watering the few plants.

Last week, when we went to Walgreen's, WG included a card with the meds. It said, "Happy Thoughts and Good Vibes." The envelope was unmarked, but the card was. Today, I used the bright orange envelope to mail coupons to my friend. Yes, it is a small economy, but it saved me paying for an envelope.

I am going to cut the off the front with the saying and include it with a gift.

Okay, I have to work on things.

Do you save clean envelopes from greeting cards to use elsewhere?