It has been so long

 I have forgotten the exact order of things. However, we got up on Monday to go the Cullman to Office Max or Depot and the guy I needed to talk with was out of the store for the day. So, we planned to go on Tuesday, and I did not want to go. We went Wednesday and picked up our lunch from a church--grilled chicken with dish of bbq sauce, corn, green beans, little slice of butter bread, and two cookies. We also had the identical thing for dinner.

The guy came out to the car and took the burned laptop inside. He came back with info insurance and numbers for me to call. Then, I gave him laptop we bought two days or so after this one and decided to not even open. That went well. So, Tommy has over $1k back in his account. And, I should be getting a check for this one, actually that will go into his account, too. 

The sale on chairs interested me, but I would have to go inside. No luck with getting a new surge protector. I forgot what else I tried to buy. 

I found Miracle Whip bogo which made it $5.40 or something like that. Used the bathroom, went to PO, and came home.

The laptop had to sleep outdoors the first night. It camped out in the bathtub on a metal baking pan in a tiled showed stall for two nights. I was really afraid it would blaze to life again.

 

Unfortunately, this laptop cannot recharge, so it must stay plugged in at all time in order to use it. Plus, none of my passwords are evident. AND, it has a whine and scream and rat-tat-ing noise all the time. So, I cannot use it when Tommy is asleep. 

I got into my Yahoo account and into my blog, so all is better. 

A fly has been cruising the house, buzzing around me and any food we are trying to eat or cook. He even buzzed my hair. I could feel his wings making a breeze or something.  I resorted to running to Lowe's and getting fly strips. I hate those nasty-looking things. But, I hate the fly more. I even had Tommy stay with me in the kitchen while I was removing the pork loin and vegetables from the cooking bag. It has gotten dark and cool now, so he is sleeping, I suppose. 

My big chores for the day were replacing my electric candles' batteries and going through a tote bag of mail. The batteries in the Red Kiss were replaced and all eight batteries were put in the battery recycling Planter's Peanuts jar. Between Tommy and I, we removed pertinent information from my mail to shred and put rest in two places--paper to recycle or newsprint items to go the Animal Shelter.  

For some reason Belk's sent me a check for $8.98. And, Belk's sent me a coupon for $10 to use instore. 

Finally, I quit coughing. The guaifenesin made it a productive cough. So, it is gone. I only cough when I swallow something the wrong way. I am so relieved to be rid of the cough. 

Finally, I felt like going into Publix and shopping. When Tommy goes in, he comes out with all sorts fo chips and cookies. I have not been in a store for about a month. 

While I was in Lowe's shopping for fly strips, I noticed Christmas is going up. On the way to find the strips, I was horrified by an apparent boneyard. Someone was hanging skeletons and left them on a platform. They looked like a heap of bones, a boneyard.  It was spooky. I want a large skeleton and a stack of three pumpkins, but I will just dream about them. 

Oh, speaking of dreaming, I have been dreaming since I started taking melatonin. I was having an in-depth discussion with someone about the ceiling fans that can be screwed into a light socket in the ceiling. Tommy and I, another night, were having an equally scintillating conversation about something, forgot what. 

The humidity is incredibly low, so days, and especially evenings with low temperatures have been pleasantly not torrid or muggy. I don't rush to start the car as soon as I get into it. 

What fine chores have you accomplished? 

Has the humidity and heat become more tolerable where you live? 

Tuesday and Wednesday Favorite Meat

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monday Christmas Talk, Sales & Next Year

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christmas Morning Snow

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

My chickens were not fans of snow! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The Day Before Christmas Eve

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Party Time

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

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

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

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

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

So, these are my plans and thoughts. 

Do you like planning special occasions, get-togethers?

Am I missing anything? 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nothing Sunday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tornadoes, Familial Tremors, Fairy Lights

We were watching a Michael Bublé special as the tornado warnings scrolled across the screen. Rather incongruous, yes? It is blowing and raining. We had Michael Buble special on, but the weather people took over and he was overridden by the weather. And, that's okay. I have my light with me and Tommy has his. There is a little light to turn on in the bathroom. Phones are charged. Hopefully nothing dire happens. 

Monday, I told Tommy I was going out on Tuesday for things I wanted/needed. So, we did and it almost killed me! My blood sugar was so low that I had to have something to eat. I still have not recovered from hypoglycemia! Tomorrow, I will feel more human. 

We also went to the food giveaway. In line, a woman was stopped and people were going around her. She called someone and got out of the car to see the street sign. I had Tommy ask her if she needed help. She did. We both got out of the car, both of us holding onto the car to walk around it. He took the device we bought at Auto Zone to jumpstart her car. I drove ahead to stay in line. He walked back with his walker to me and I drove. I hated to leave him behind! 

What we bought and used today--Duralast Jump Starter, 2.4 amp jumpstarter power pack. The guy at Auto Zone recommended it and said that is what they used at the store to start cars. This has helped us quite a few times, and now we used it to help a woman stranded. I think every car should have one! Maybe we have a new calling! That, plus the device to air up the tires are certainly useful.

Sometimes, we are given a frozen chicken breast with feta and spinach. What we got this time looked like that but had no label. So, I opened a box of potato onion pierogies and cooked the dish that might be chicken. Well, the pierogies were awful and the chicken was butternut squash. We did not eat the pierogies, ate some of the butternut squash, and leftover taco soup.

I took a nap. So, what is new? I lay down, went to sleep instantly, and did not move until I awoke two hours later.  That won't interfere with my sleep tonight, since we will stay up until the danger of a tornado is past. 

The two sets of fairy lights had to be returned since one was damaged, and I could not find any in the one store where I went. I hope the tensions in China will not affect my new order for more fairy lights. There don't seem to be fairy lights made in the US. 

I talked with my friend who is 92 and husband is 91. She was saying how difficult cooking was for her. I told her we use the cooking bags and how we put in chicken, potatoes, carrots and onion and have a meal in the oven shortly. I told her how Tommy peels potatoes and carrots, and once I get it all seasoned, he puts it in the oven and takes it out, giving us days of chicken to do different things and eat different meals. She said her husband can make bread. So, he can probably do all the preparing and cooking of this kind of meal. I bought her a box of Reynolds Cooking Bags. Of course, any meat can be cooked in the bags. Her family brings meals to them, but she still cooks a bit. 

She might never buy Cooking Bags, but if she has a box at hand, she might use them. I will wrap these as a Christmas present and give them a sweet potato bread loaf (made with my pumpkin bread recipe) for her Christmas. 

She has familial tremors and says the condition makes her very tired. I understand tired! But, I know nothing of familial tremors. 

Decorating Thoughts

 Since I decided to put fairy lights in my red kiss candy dish instead of candy, I had to buy fairy lights. They finally came. When I put the whole string in the red kiss, it was magical. Of course, there has to be a stinker in the mix. One set, the first set in which I put batteries, was faulty. One of the little spring coils on which the battery end rests was missing. So, since they were ordered in a box of two, I had to return both. 

I found construction paper that had 12 sheets of red and 12 sheets of green to make a chain like we made when we were kids. Tommy insists we use every color of paper. Who does that? It's certainly spoiling the idea of having a paper chain for Christmas! 

Tomorrow, I will get out the door wreath and start the little decorating we will do. The red kiss will be here when I get fairy lights.

Tonight, we watched The Great American Christmas Light Fight. It was wonderful. There are four contestant each hour. The best Christmas lights win. I am always full of inspiration after we see this program every year. Of course, the idea quickly dies after considering I don't have the stamina or youth to do all this decorating on the roof, not to speak of the lack of money.  One year, I did enter the Christmas decorating contest in the town where we lived. I made elves and decorated the swing set in the front yard. 

A wealthy and influential man won for just sticking the back end of Santa out of a second store window with a little balcony. People all over town called or told me in person they had complained to the powers that be and said I should have won. We moved and I never tried that again, probably because I never saw that any town had that contest. 

Sunday night, I measured out the spices for the sweet potato bread. I may measure the flour and sugar tonight...lol. I will get it done one day. I promised Lynda some, so need to just bake it. She is very understanding. Besides, I told her that I would be slow getting it done. 

Part of decluttering is thinking and planning. I have determined to put glass baking dishes and glass cereal bowls and glass storage dishes in an upper two cabinets. I had put three colanders in these cabinets, but I believe the glass will be better up there instead of on a chair! The colanders can go into a bottom cabinet where we both can reach them. Neither of us can get very low. 

My air fryer will go on the curb with a "free" sign. I used it twice and the drawer will not close. So, it is just taking up space! That was a waste of money. 

When I fell, I hurt the knee that was the uninjured knee. But, my shoulders with rotator cuff injuries both hit. Now, my left shoulder is in agony. I thought Tommy was going to have to help me get my t-shirt off today. Lots of other spots on my body have that "slammed to the floor" feeling, but it is my left shoulder and left knee that still are in significant pain. 

We watched "White Christmas" tonight. I loved it!

The grocery ads don't seem to have much to interest me this week. But, I have not looked at the Piggly Wiggly ads yet. 

Today was another beautiful day. I love these days, not dark and not too cold. 

How was your weekend? What is happening in your world? Did you take advantage of Cyber Monday?

A Nightgown with Pockets!

 Tommy bought a nightgown for me after I told him what to get. It has pockets, deep, side-seam pockets! Can you believe that? This nightgown feels like the brushed nylon ones I wore many years ago that made me so hot. This one is brushed polyester, so not sure how it will be to sleep in it. Polyester does not make me sweaty like nylong does. But, I have other plans if it does not work out for a nightgown.

The nightgown may be perfect for wearing in the house, but not sleeping. It is long, has long sleeves, a high neck and keeps the draft from this house from freezing me. Plus, I will have my phone in the pocket. My summer nightgowns don't have pockets. 

I planned to go to Cullman today, but it was raining. About a quarter to noon, Tommy said it would be okay to go. So, in 15 minutes, I finished my breakfast of a turkey sandwich, washed, dressed and we were in the car. 

The Farmer's Market was closed tight. This was the last day and we got there in the last 45 minutes of the year. Oh well. We went to PO. I was going to pick up Tommy's paint by number that had been mounted. But, time was short as we needed to be back here by 3 pm. We came screeching in at 2:45. whew 

The worst weather today was about five minutes of mist. Right now, it cold and miserable after a day of gray skies. Because I was ill and still feverish, Tommy left the heat up a bit for me last night. Hopefully, he will not want to turn it down tonight, either. 

Since today was the last day for present ads, I went to Publix, had someone put the Publix app on my phone and the coupon for a2milk. So, I paid the same for a half gallon of my milk as Tommy paid for a gallon of regular milk. 

It is only 8 pm, but feels much later since I had no nap and am still sick and become exhausted easily. If it weren't for the fact I need to take meds and sit up for the next three hours, I would go to bed right now. 

I have been looking for red and some green construction paper. The package I bought had one sheet of red and no Christmas green. On Amazon I could find packs of each color for about $25. Same at Office Max for red or green copy paper. I just don't need a ream of either. At Publix, I found Crayola construction paper, 89 sheets, 8 colors for $3.39. Perfect This has been something I have searched for all year long. 

Tonight, we had turkey for me and chicken cubes for Tommy. We both had baked carrots and broccoli and two Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies. I had about a Tablespoon of shredded medium cheddar cheese on my turkey. I am too tired to talk about the ads, but they were good. Tomorrow.

I am so delighted and proud of my nightgown with pockets. Have you ever had or even seen or heard of a nightgown with pockets? 

Gunsmoke Chickens + New Pet+ Reading New Book

When we watch Gunsmoke, we both watch what the chickens do as the action goes on around them. Gunsmoke chickens just keep pecking or scratching or walking around. The don't become alarmed as people walk by. They don't mind horses unless one almost steps on a hapless chicken. On many Western movies the chickens are skittish when horses walk up, but not on Gunsmoke.

This tells us the animal handlers and trainers keep chickens where there is action all the time--people, dogs, and horses. It looks more natural than scenes in other movies where the chickens are skittish of even their own people in the scenes. 

My chickens were skittish of everyone except Tommy and me. Other people came there, but no one came regularly. 

When Sluggy came, the chickens were hard to get settled because she was new. Sluggy thought I was running away from her. But, I was trying to keep my chickens from taking to the bushes or trees. Tommy had known them and they knew him from when they were about three days old and living in the house. I had to warn other people to wait so I could get them in their pen. 

Oh, I do remember Gunsmoke from my youth. I would not watch it. I read. I did not like Kitty's trashy earrings, garish makeup, and the beauty spot. I thought she looked cheap. Okay, no criticism of my thoughts. I was really young. 

Daddy must have like it or he would made us turn it off. I suppose my brother did, too. 

Coming home today from Lowe's, I found a pet I have been wanting. As it crawled around, I captured her, well, Tommy did. He let her loose at home. Hopefully, she and her babies will help protect my flowers next hear. I had been wishing I had a ladybug. At Lowe's I found yellow daffodils and brought them home. I don't want the paperwhites or the yellow daffodils with the orange center. No, we planted nothing today. Since it was 83F, the ground won't be freezing anytime soon.

Saturday night, I started reading A Dog's Purpose. I stayed up too late reading. It is one of the best books I have ever read. Have you ever read it?

Have you had trouble with the time change? I have not. When we change all the clocks, I won't be so confused. The one on the wall is the last one to change since laptop and cells change themselves.

Do you ever notice the Gunsmoke chickens?

Do you encourage ladybugs to stay in your garden or do you ever order them? 

I thought I had Stovetop Stuffing, but obviously I don't! So, I will be looking for a couple of boxes of cheap SS for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Everything I need for Thanksgiving and Christmas will be gathered in one place, just to make sure I am not caught short when the holiday is here. I do not want to go out in crowds at the last minute. There may be some in the bedroom, so I will check tomorrow.

Do you have any close experiences with chickens? Anyone else getting things together for Thanksgiving so you know what you have?

Obsessed or Not

Maybe not obsessed, but mighty interested in figuring out what I am doing with these succulents. 

I have learned a lot about succulents in 24 hours. It is sort of a crash course for me. I got the succulent pieces on Wednesday, bought the cactus soil mix on Friday, and finally "transplanted" the leaves on Saturday afternoon. Impatient, later Saturday night I picked up one of the leaves and roots had started to form, just like the class teacher said they would. It is amazing. So, anything that gets roots will get planted. That means nine "planters" and the room for them to sit around! 

If one of the four flat leaves is a Christmas Cactus, I will be happy to have just that one since I have always wanted one. Oh, I have always wanted Hen and Chicks, too, even more than the Christmas Cactus.

The problem lies with soil for succulents. Even having it in the same room caused me to start having asthma symptoms, coughing and shortness of breath. I won't be driven to an inhaler just because of a plant! These need less light soil, but I am afraid to experiment with a heavier soil. Does anyone have an idea of what soil they can stand that won't choke me? Even having the basil plant near me causes me problems, I fear. At least the basil serves a health purpose by lessening ear congestion. 

Obsessed much? Well, it will shortly end as I get the knowledge and get these bits of cactus under control. I removed the bag of soil from the house and now can breathe better! I need a storage place and an outdoor place to work!

When we heard it might rain overnight, Tommy took the new geranium onto the ramp for a chance of a good watering. It appears it did rain a bit. So, he won't have to water at all today since the temperatures are lower. 

This afternoon, I went to the thrift store looking for Corelle plates. Tommy is slowly warming up to the idea of not using paper plates. He no longer objects, so that is good. Sometimes, he even uses a real plate. There were hundreds of plates in great and small stacks. None appeared to be Corelle, and some were broken! I could not pick them up. 

However, I did find two measuring bowls just like the set I got for a wedding present. I already have one, the middle size and today I found the two smallest. So, good deal for $1 for the two. Then, I found a very heavy, antique pressed glass dish, divided for serving olives and such. It was $4.49, a steal. I can sell it for twice as much if I want to sell it. 

I stood as long as I could. I wanted a Trivial Pursuit game. The manager sent someone to find it for me and bring it to the front. However, she did not bring Trivial Pursuit, and all were for children, just a bunch of games loosely related to trivia. I left disappointed. 

Today, as we sat in the park, me soaking in the green and Tommy soaking in a baseball game, I had an idea. Where we sat there was an area near a fence with a hundred pinecones, new ones. My idea--get a circle of cardboard, clean off a bunch of pinecones, glue them to the circle of cardboard with the pinecones lying point out, layering them so they formed a tree of pinecones. Then, I could spray it and put it on the porch for Christmas. Tommy could use his reacher to pick up the cones and put them in a box. I can lift it to his walker for him to carry. Maybe I will do this, maybe not. 

The decluttering is slow, maybe one item a day, maybe 5. But, things are leaving one way or another. 

Tonight, my dinner was salad with tomato, shredded cheese, and chicken on top. Tommy had cube steak, mashed potatoes, and carrots. 

Today was mid 80s. But, best of all--the humidity was low. 

Coatrack Search

On Friday night, I searched the internet and found some suitable hat/coat racks to order but have shown nothing to Tommy. I suggested we go to a store near us. Well, somehow, we went at almost dark, not part of my plan. But, he was watching movies, so I decided to take a nap. Then, he was watching something else when I awoke. So, we finally got going.

This place had one coat rack, not my style but Tommy has no style. The people took it out to the car for him, but he said it did not have enough hooks. So, that was that. 

However, in all the waiting, I was sitting in front of the Christmas sale section. I fell in love with two deer with wreaths around their necks. I also found a branch with green leaves and beautiful red berries. I could not find any branches elsewhere before Christmas. Well, I did buy a branch from Dollar Tree and the berries fell off if you looked at them. So, I threw that away. The deer came home with me and the branch. 

The first chair inside the door and that I sat in was perfect! I wanted it. They sell recliners, so I may go back and see about those. They were closing soon after I got there. This store has possibility, and I will be going back! 

My weight loss now is 20 lbs in two weeks. 

The rain on Sunday means we won't shop! So far, it is an uneventful Sunday, and it appears nothing will change. I am still decluttering from three weeks of being ill and recovering. It is amazing what gets left where it is used or dropped. I found a box to store the deer in and it was full of chunks of Styrofoam. What's with that. So, it is in the trash. 

Maybe if I get the container for the ornaments, Tommy will undress the tree. 

Sunday is a good, low-key day! Was your Sunday more exciting than mine? 

Better

 Every day, I have a small window of time when I am alert and feel almost normal. I don't feel ill late in the evening. In the morning I always feel ill. Then I have to take my antibiotic. I go to bed and feel ill in the morning. Wednesday night, when I felt normal, I did a few things. Mainly, I took the wreath and stuffed it into a garbage bag and put it in the room where it will live until next Christmas. 

This year, I will store things in my Christmas tins so as not to store them empty. 

Earlier Wednesday evening, Tommy cleared a path in his stuff to the other recliner. He said it was lumpy. It was, but I could recline and get pressure off my spine and had my feet up. 

He insists on keeping all his clothes in the living room, food, and all his paperwork for bills and banking. He has a box with many containers of mustard, crackers, multiple jars of peanut butter, and boxes of cereal! It is a habit borne of limited mobility. While I understand, it is annoying. Besides, why does he have to have so many of each at his fingertips?

Tomorrow, we will prepare a box of food we do not eat and take it to a parking lot and give it away. I get the free item at The Pig for others even if we will not eat it. I have two boxes of boil in bag white rice and other items from there. There are magazines, too, things I have read and need to pass on to someone else. 

The next time we go to Cullman, we have a garbage bag of aluminum cans to redeem. The price of aluminum cans is $0.55, so maybe we will wait as prices are going up. 

Thursday now.

The furnace guys who called and cancelled and rescheduled gave me a chance for another two hours sleep! Still, it was not much sleep. 

Today, my absolute minimum goal is baking two packages of BSCB and a package of thighs. Piddling and putting things away should happen. Maybe not. 

Since I won't be putting that horrible med in my body, I should feel tremendously better by 5 pm. 

Do you know anyone who stores food by the chair in which days are spent? 

EOY

 Embiggin to read.

Brevity by Dan Thompson

Blondie

The menu changed, but we settled on what I could do. I think Tommy was sad there was no green bean casserole. We had turkey, plain sweet potatoes, green beans, homemade cranberry sauce, and dressing. The only thing I did today was make Stovetop Stuffing. The rest was in a can or made earlier. I didn't even feel well enough to make giblet gravy with chopped boiled eggs. (Maybe tomorrow) Later, we had fresh strawberries. Tommy had some in a bowl. I cut mine in a bowl and added a bit of milk. 

The week before Christmas, I realized we had not planted our Amaryllis. I really did not care to rush to plant them. I mean, we did not plant them in time for Christmas, so why rush?  Amaryllis will be welcome the end of January, maybe more welcome than at Christmas. 

I took a long nap today, and then kept going back to rest a bit. 

We ate from the new Christmas plates and the food tasted better on nice dishes instead of paper plates. Okay, maybe it was just a better atmosphere. 

Filters and Frozen Turkey

 We went right past KFC today, but Tommy left the receipt at home. No biscuit today! 

For the last two weeks, there has been a sound of something like "sheet metal" being bent/popped. You know the sound. Well, Tommy denied it was happening. I pointed out it was from the furnace area. He said I was wrong. Then, he heard it and said it might stop. So, the guy came and confirmed it was the sheet metal in furnace. The filthy filter is the problem according to the serviceman. 

The filter was over 1/2 inch thick with dust. Tommy said it is okay, according to some furnace official he heard on tv, to change the filter only once a year. Today, this guy said buy the cheapest filter and change it monthly. Tommy objected, saying the filters are sometimes advertised as okay for 3-6 months. The guy held up both hands and said, "It is your house, do what you want." Tommy brought up the filters advertised for 6 months. The guy said "they want you to buy their filter." 

The filter sucked way down when the guy put it back in and the furnace was on. It is SO clogged. We spent the afternoon searching for the size his takes. Two grocery stores and home improvement stores had none. We came home and I ordered 6 for something like $61. Now, to twist his arm each month to change these. 

Tommy ended up buying a plan to go over the whole system and change some sort of filter outside. Tommy's heat is a gas furnace under the house and a system outside for ac. I do not understand. 

The guy said that not changing the filter often enough will shorten the life of the furnace. Tommy disagrees. He fixes nothing!  Things have to be replaced here. 

How often do you change furnace filters? Or, any filters?

I went in to put the blankety blank turkey in the oven. It weighed about 9 lbs. and after a week, it still was frozen solid except in one place where Tommy poked it. The bottom is solid and the behind part is solid. I put it in at 7:30 pm. A thawed turkey should take up to 2 hours. I suppose I will leave this one in for at least 3 hours, maybe more. Maybe we will have turkey some day. We have had dinner tonight. 

Merry Christmas!

 

Christmas Eve

Around 1 pm on Christmas Eve, I decided I wanted a Chic-fil-A sandwich. So, we drive a million miles to get one. okay, it was only 12 miles, still too far. In Cullman CFA it was only 1.5 miles and on the way to everywhere. It was delicious. Then, Tommy just drove around and we stayed out for several hours. 

About 7 pm, Tommy suggested we go out and look at Christmas lights. The streets were deserted, thankfully. It was fun. We ate candy and Diet Cokes while Christmas music played. 

We had a can of Roast Beef with Gravy, opened can of kale, and ate freshly baked sweet potatoes on Christmas Eve. 

I had bought a Gingerbread house kit for Tommy to erect. Some mild cursing occurred. He broke one side of the house and thought I would be upset. No, just "glue" it together with the Royal icing. It kept falling apart, the sides, one from another. Finally, he said it needed to set all night. So, it will.  

In the meantime, I chopped celery and onions to add to Stovetop Stuffing. Sweet potatoes are baked, cooked purple hull peas are thawed.

Christmas Day

It is barely Christmas Day, so who knows what will transpire with the food.I have an alternative plan if the turkey is not thawed. 

We just opened gifts that Santa left...lol. I wrapped Tommy's belt and gave him a promise card of a certifiate proclaiming him a Laird and a description of his 1'x1' plot of land in Scotland. He was pleased. Even though he gifted me with the recliner, declaring it was my birthday and Christmas present for the next 2 or 3 years, I did get something to unwrap--gift card for $50 from Nordstrom. Happy Day! Also, the package of Harry & David's Truffles. 

So, This is Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Nothing Happening

 Since I awoke at about noon on Thursday, I have done little. It takes a few days to catch up after doing anything. Unless I put this turkey in the sink with water on Friday, I doubt it will be ready for the oven on Christmas. 

Tommy said he would rather have sweet potatoes than mashed white potatoes. Since I only have a small can of fried onions, we will have half a recipe of green bean casserole. There are frozen purple hull peas. I will probably cook/prepare something else, just don't know what. 

Thursday, we took a package to UPS to return. Tommy took three things into Big Box store to return. Another item goes back to Publix tomorrow or after Christmas. We took a drive around the neighborhood to see what lights were on at 4 pm. Amazingly, there were lots of lights on around the neighborhood. 

We left before 3 pm on the 23rd and the busyness was astounding. I suppose earlier in my life, crowds and cars were not so worrisome. I am well beyond that. So many cars bother me now.  

We saw a special about "Silent Night" and almost watched something else Christmas-y. 

Christmas Eve, Gunsmoke was a Christmas Episode. 

My friend, Lynda, spells her name with a "y," so I learned that when she put a Christmas card behind the screen with a gift card in the Christmas card. 

Merry Christmas Eve!

Sunday Help with Floor

 Why the floor? Because I could not bend to get things off the floor! Besides, you cannot vacuum the floor until you find the floor! My friend had someone in mind to help me. I asked about the person...she said a 50-year-old black man. Hallelujah, someone is coming! He dusted a bookcase and all the items on it, the tv and everything on the table that held the tv, and a step-table next to the TV. He picked up items and bags on the floor and at end of sofa and between an old recliner. Tommy and I threw out lots of papers and junk lying in the midst of good stuff, stuff I needed, wanted, and should be put away--bottle of vitamin C, groceries in a bag, a huge tote bag full of tote bags, and other items. 

Much to my surprise, Tommy has a Dr. Who Role Playing Game. Tommy was not surprised since he knew he had it. He might sell it. 

There were four pouches in the grocery bag and not old at all. I had set the bag beside me, it slipped off, and I covered it up with several other items. 

He carried the very many light items down the hall and put them in front of the bedroom where we keep things. The heat register is off in there. I can go in and put them where I want them instead of having someone just put them anywhere. 

The living room looks bright even with only half the furniture dusted! It's amazing. It feels like my back is collapsing when I bend to dust. So, I am not lazy, just in pain. 

My friend brought him here after their church was over and we took him home. He will back next Sunday. At $15/hour, he is a jewel, a real find. Unfortunately, I cannot have him here for more than two hours at a time. It exhausts me. I sat the whole two hours. Tommy took all the plastic bags and divided them. Some, of heavier weight or larger, we will use. The regular store bags will be recycled. 

We waited until he was almost here, and we could not find the Endust. So, Tommy had to go to Publix after the guy arrived. Tommy brought back two boxes of cereal for himself. He has learned about "bogo" and uses it.

We watched Homecoming: A Christmas Story. I love Patricia Neal, but not for this part. Once Upon a Christmas is a trio of Disney character cartoons. The first was about Donald Duck, the second, Goofy, and the third was "and there are others." Cute. 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation was wonderful as usual. 

Tommy handed me a penny and said he got it at Publix when he went for the Endust. I was puzzled. I kept asking him why he gave it to me since I knew he used a credit card. Finally, I understood. TOMMY FOUND A PENNY. I always tell him to look when he pumps the gas, and I will get out and pick it up. He was sitting on an electric cart, so he could get it off the floor right next to the electric cart. 

For dinner we had turkey breast and a cookie pan full of carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery. I drizzled olive over everything and sprinkled the seasoning over them and baked for an hour. Tommy has one more helping of the turkey. And, there is a whole bowl full of the vegetables. He has one more helping of the turkey. 

I absolutely cannot stand raw celery unless it is diced and in tuna or potato salad. I cannot stand cooked celery unless it is chopped and in soup or something. Well, I have been cooking three-inch stalks as flavor in many things for years and for Tommy and he never eats it. Today, it was more trouble, but I sliced the stalks in 1/4-inch slices and we both loved them cooked with the other vegetables. So, I suppose I am doomed to slice celery stalks so we will both eat celery.  

Decorating is done! I did not get one thing done, but it is no problem. Now, it is on to cooking. We will eat well, but I have nothing that I am stressing over right now.  

I must nap. Tell me what you want!

Cooking and Warm Weather

 Friday night, I told Tommy if he would peel, core, and dice the huge bag of huge apples in the refrigerator, I would make him an apple cake. I took 13" pan and sprayed with PAM, dumped in the diced apples, sprinkled cinnamon over them, and sprinkled a spice cake mix over it, poured 3/4-cup of melted butter over it and baked on 350F for an hour. I wish I had sprinkled raisins over the apples. Next time. It is delicious! Tommy likes it and wishes there were more apples and less topping of cake mix. Next time. 

Then, I had him get out the five pounds of giant misshapen carrots and peel/scrape them. I will chop into three inches pieces. I plan to cook them in the oven--carrots, potatoes, onions, green peppers, and the rest of the grape tomatoes (about six), plus any other vegetables I find lurking. Adding garlic cloves and Italian spices. This is for Saturday night. I think we will have pork chops, too.

I am trying to get the refrigerator cleared of food that needs to be eaten, plus make room for Thanksgiving foods. The apples and the carrots were taking up almost a whole shelf! Milk is once again 3 half gallons for $10, but I don't think I will stock up because the refrigerator was too full and hard to manage before Thanksgiving. 

Right now, I have one dish ready for Christmas dinner--purple hull peas. I just wanted them. I may freeze the rest of the turkey breast for Christmas and not bother with a whole turkey until after Christmas. Sounds great to me. Since I just discovered Christmas is Saturday, I suppose I will put another turkey or turkey breast in refrigerator to thaw. I change my mind of a dime. 

One channel promised/advertised a Christmas movie and did not come through! "SANTA WHO?" was supposed to come on at 7 pm and did not, so I settled for Hollywood Christmas Parade. 

Saturday morning and it's already 70F at 10 am. I think this is our high today, not sure. 

There is a bag of six chicken breasts that I need to cook today. I suppose I will freeze them for meals later. 

I have so much to do. Sunday, after church someone is coming to help out with getting things off floor over in a corner and all over the living room! I am tired already thinking about the ordeal. 

In a minute I will be eating my brunch of something. How is your Christmas prep coming along?