Good Day! Hard Day!

 Today, we took my new laptop to Office Max or Depot in Cullman to get everything transferred from old to new. He was not sure he could get it done in the over 4 hours before he went home at 2 pm. I felt nervous when we dropped it off and forced myself not to call and see how he was doing. 

We did a lot in four hours. 

went to bank and cashed a $5 refund check

went to cash in aluminum cans as we got off the interstate--$6

Dropped off bag of small Coke bottles and a friend will put them in her recycling

dropped off small bag of soup/tuna cans for a friend to give to mutual friend

went to PO

sat in my driveway for about three minutes to look at my daffodils on retaining wall, by mail box and in a swath in the backyard--a host of golden daffodils (Wordsworth)

in Publix bought a banana, bowl of watermelon to eat in car, went to bathroom, looked for keto bread

bought gas for $2.93

ate lunch at Chicken Salad Chick

went to Lowe's

I started thinking about how we had money for Chicken Salad Chick. I had to convince him. I reasoned to him--the $5 is free money, the $6 is free money. I have $3 in my purse from a refund at Publix, and the charge was on your card. If we take this $14 and spend it at Chicken Salad Chick, it won't cost much to eat this time. So, he was convinced. 

Really, he wanted money in his wallet. He sounded pitiful about never having cash. So, I told him to keep the cash until I needed it and put it on cc. That is not really good logic, but it worked...lol. 

At CSC he ordered Fruity Fran and chicken and dumplings. I ordered Classic Carol and loaded baked potato soup. We ate in the parking lot at the park nearby. My scoop did not seem right. Well, I had been given Chic Cranberry Kelli. Not happy. 

At lowe's, I realized they had bedding plants. The woman working at Lowe's took a Romaine 6-pack and Tommy's credit card, and bought it and brought it to the car. When we got home, Tommy brought them in. I know he did not mistreat them. However, many of the stems were completely broken! I am annoyed. We may just have to eat the tiny leaves and then plant the broken ones and hope we do get more Romaine. I know the wind was whipping the leaves and the wind had gusts of 38 mph today in Cullman. So, maybe the wind broke off the Romaine. 

I am going to plant two or three plants in one pots. We have to get busy. I have pots and I have soil. So, we can at least get these out and on the porch, but not in this wind. 

My feet were so swollen when we got home that I could barely walk. I needed to take a nap, but did not.

Dinner was already made: chicken breast, potatoes, carrots. I had the rest of the slaw. Tommy had a salad with Romaine, grape tomatoes, carrots sticks I cut, zucchini rounds. It was huge and colorful. 

When I wanted to get out my computer as soon as we got home, I could not get it online. I knew I was doing it right. Well, the internet was down! I will sell the old laptop. So, now it is up and running.  It is much faster than the old one. It took about 30 minutes to get to a blog or email. 

When I dropped it off, I warned him the noise it emitted might drive the whole store crazy. When I picked it up, I asked him if the noise was too loud. He said it was loud and he hated it . 

Today, the high was 83F. This would be an ideal high year-round. The wind was so high that at one point, my hair swirled around my head, over my face, and in my eyes.  We went to the Festhalle to empty the trash. We had it in a styrofoam food container that we wanted to wash and recyle. Tommy took it and dumped it out his window right into a trash barrel less than a foot from the car. As he dumped it, every bit of trash flew out and away from the barrel. It was faster than either of us could move even in our younger days! We both were aghast and felt ashamed, but we could not reach it even if we had tried. 

At least, we are recycling the styrofoam. And, I think the pickel spears did go into the trash barrel. Tomorrow is the day we will take the styrofoam, mostly egg cartons to Publix to recycle. We took in two huge bags of papers last week. Taking it all at once is too much. 

Is it always a wonderful thing to get a new laptop that actually works? 

Was it windy in your neck of the woods? 

Too Good to be True

 Since it is Wednesday, I barely remember Tuesday. But, it has nothing to do with my memory. It is because nothing happened Tuesday that was memorable. 

Tuesday dinner was even leftovers, delicious, but not very exciting, all leftovers--baked chicken, carrots, and potatoes along with leftover green beans, plus peas for Tommy. Later I had half an apple and a couple of cookies. So did Tommy.

Tuesday night, I made a chicken, MW, and cheese sandwich on keto bread for Wednesday breakfast, which I ate in the car as Tommy drove. I spent my time before leaving washing my hair. It dries on the trip up. 

Wednesday, we went for Cullman for a couple of reasons. There was a lunch that once was inside. Now, we pick it up--hamburger patty with gravy and mashed potatoes, green beans, small piece of buttered bread, and two cookies. 

When we got our dinners, we took two dinners to our 90+ friends. The woman was having physical therapy at home. They were very grateful. 

Sportsman's Lake was not open, so we ate at a little city park with all short bare, brown trees. 

At the PO, the only two pieces of mail were from United Health Care. I got a new card and tried to activate it. I was so upset because it could not be activated as it was an exact duplicate of the one that does not work, so the new one does not work, either. The woman told me my new card number that would work.  The manager at Publix figured out how to enter the number without the card. I tried it on a banana and it worked. I shopped otc in the pharmacy and it did not work! However, I did get the test banana for only 3 cents. 

We also went to the body shop, but the woman owner was on the way to take relatives to the airport. I suppose it was people who came to the grandmother's funeral this last weekend. I left a message we would be back in an hour. An hour later they still were not back. So, we will go back next week or the next. Thankfully, the car is fully drivable. 

That was our day in Cullman. When we got home, I took a nap. Is anyone surprised that I took a nap? 

For dinner tonight, we had a repeat of lunch--hamburger patty with gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy, and green beans. Later, I will have an apple and half a banana. I had strawberries sometime today.

Tonight, my goal is to order online from UHC. Wish me luck. Oh, I was chided today by the uhc lady who told me I got a replacement card, and the new card would be the card that worked, like this was all my fault. The card I got today had a huge scratch across the upc! Of course, I was not going to try to try to use it. 

That was our day, nothing much. We did miss an instapot demonstration! I did not know it was happening. 

I did make a decision yesterday--from now on when my milk is on sale, I will only buy three half-gallons instead of six. There is so much milk in the refrigerator that it was cluttered, and I could not find anything. The money saved is not worth the aggravation! It never goes bad, so no loss of milk occurs. 

What did you get done today? Anything new or exciting? Do you ever wash your hair and let it dry as you go somewhere?

Saturday and Hor D'oeuvres/appetizers

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday Successes

 Saturday, we needed to pick something up in Cullman. Since it was supposed to rain, I was leery of going. Tommy woke me at 7:15 as I asked. Even after leaving at 8:10, things went well. We needed to miss the rain forecast for Saturday and get home in time for the Iron Bowl.

Hoping to find a cheap turkey breast, I went to two stores and found two for $1.69/lb. Publix was an in and out trip. The turkey breast was $17.88 for a 10.58 lb. breast. 

In the other store, Betty Crocker brownie mixes in a pouch for $1.29--got 4. Three disposable bread pans--came to $1.40 for each pan. The turkey at this store was $8.72 for 5.16 lb turkey breast. I wish both had been smaller. 

We both went into this store. He bought five cans of the Double Luck green beans I love for $0.69 each. He then had a receipt to enter the drawing for $100. Of course, I had my receipt to enter, too. As I was inside before him and well into the store, I called him and alerted him to apples reduced--$1 per bag of 4, so he bought a bag. 

In about 2018, I won this drawing and had $100 to spend on groceries. Maybe we will have a repeat of good fortune this year.

Got the mail from the PO. 

The turkey breasts were the only food I looked for and seemingly the only good price I found except for the green beans. However, I searched for them, so maybe more bargains were out there.

Have you found any good prices still left from Christmas ads? Any deals at all, food or otherwise? Are you still eating Thanksgiving food and enjoying it? Or, have you reimagined it?

Tommy wanted to eat at Chicken Salad Chick again. He is really a fan of this place. I had the Classic Chicken Salad again, no soup. I had to order a sandwich or could not get the scoop of chicken salad. So, I order a croissant on the side. It is lying in the box in the car, wasted. Tommy had Fruity Fran on wheat bread. We drank water even though Tommy asked if I wanted a drink. I let him have my cookie. 

We drove by my lot and came home! We beat the rain and arrived home about 1 pm. By 2 pm I was in bed for a nap. I only slept three hours and feel like I need another nap. 

I worried I would not be able to easily fit the turkey in the two holes in the freezer, but had absolutely no trouble. I think we might have to return to Cullman for business, so maybe I can get two more at that price, hopefully, two small turkey breasts. Turkey breasts are less than the cost of bscb--half the price per pound. 

Today was a good day despite my lack of sleep and worry about rain. If Auburn had won the Iron Bowl, it would be nearly perfect. Tommy is a little discouraged, as is my son. 

Gas price is down to $2.91. 

In a few minutes we are watching a Lifetime Original premier of the The Twelve Days of Christmas Eve. Okay, this looks good...a Scrooge-like character. Tommy is heating a roasted chicken leg, sweet potato, and frozen mixed vegetables.

If you have checked, what price are turkey breasts where you live? 

Thursday and Ducks

 Thursday, we had to go to Cullman to pay for my PO Box. I had tried it before, but yesterday was the final day. My mail would be dropped in the garbage if it was not paid by March 31. So, ill as I was, we had to go. 

I had been told I could pay it at any PO. But, that did not work. Online did not work, either. So, yesterday, ill as I felt, we both tried to make it happen. Tommy was on the phone and I was online. Finally, he got someone on the phone who would help him online. So, he handed the phone to me and she talked me through it. There is no way that I could have figured out what to do. But, she was so helpful.  Again and again, I filled out form after form. 

She was baffled, too, as to why this did not work. 

Tommy went in and told the guy he wanted to pay the box rent. He commented to the employee that the online option just would not work. The employee said lots of people complained it did not work as they drove to PO to pay the rent. 

I wanted a chicken breast, so he went in Publix and bought one and a thigh for him. But, he was given two thighs. I hate thighs and gave most of mine to Tommy. After we left the lake where we ate, I took the receipt, the chicken bones to prove it was a thigh and went into the store myself. The woman was dense at the at the cs desk. She finally leaned over the counter with the bag where chicken was placed with two sticky receipts, one that said breast and a separate on that said thigh. She talked to my like I was the village idiot, point to the word "thigh" and said, "see right here, it says "thigh" and looked at me with much sympathy. I snatched the brown bag she had in my face and told her she did not get it. She volunteered to get her manager. He came and she lurked. He understood the first time I explained it. And, gave me a full refund for both pieces of chicken. I was way too ill to deal with some idiot. 

Jars of peanuts were bogo, so I got two for Tommy. I decided to get a chicken finger since I had little. THEN, I saw very pretty strawberries. In the deli they used a fruit/vegetable wash on the strawberries. So, my lunch was chicken breast and strawberries. Tommy had a thigh and most of my thigh. Chicken and strawberries are an excellent lunch, much better than BK. 

In another store, I found red grapes for $0,99/lb. and Vlasic relish for $0.99 for a 10 oz jar. We now have four more relish, two sweet and two dill.

When we left here, I wanted lunch, go to PO, and to second store. Publix was a trip to straighten out order. There were other chores to do, but I was not up to anything else. 

I did not want to go to the auto supply or art store as I had planned. 

Oh, I forgot. I went to Office Max for a charger.  They brought it to the car at the curb. I have always been given a cell phone charger with the cell phone. Not this time. Then, the charger fits the phone on one end and a usb port on the other. There is no wall box into which to plug the charger cable. sigh Thankfully, I have half a dozen wall box plugs for a usb. By the way, Verizon had a $25 or $30 charger. I passed on that. 

There were not many ducks at the lake where we were parked. Most of the ducks were over where people might feed them or they could find scraps. We like seeing the ducks upend themselves and stick head into the water and right themselves. Today, I was grateful the sky was overcast. It was more soothing than the bright sun I like. About 1 pm, the clouds allowed the sun to break through. By the time we arrived home, there were no clouds in the sky. 

When I awoke on Thursday, I had sinus pressure, ears felt full, and throat was sore. My chest is tight. None of this was happening when I was at the doctor on Wednesday! So, on Friday, I will call his nurse and see what he can give me. I know I want prednisone! 

Allergies are not good!

Bargains

 We went to Cullman today, leaving here at 9:30 AM and arriving here at just before 4 PM. We got a lot done. His knees hurt and my feet are swollen! 

~~ delivered Pepsi cans and tuna-type cans to friend to give to mutual friend so she can turn them into money for her septic bill. Also gave her water bottles to recycle. 

~~went to my lot where hundreds of daffodils are ready to bloom. These have been in the yard prior to 1977. The ones I planted in a sunnier place are in full bloom. Tulips I planted several years ago are up about three inches. 

~~Publix had the Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes I had bought at BIG BOX for $0.98/can even cheaper-bogo, $1.74 for two, I think. I cannot find the receipt. So, that would be $0.87/can. I had already decided to buy more 10 more, so this saves me a bit.

~~I found butter once again for $1.50 lb. and bought all six packages on the shelf. They had more in the back, but I just got the six pounds. I don't bake a lot. Bought reduced package of Rice a Roni stir fried rice. Tommy will like it. I might, but thought it would be something different. I have plenty of vegetables for it and will add some meat for a whole meal.

~~paid my property taxes at the courthouse. 

~~ate at BK

~~stopped at Verizon to find out how to get to voice mails. Once I knew to hold down "1" to get to voicemails, I set it all up myself.

~~went to PO

~~went to bank

Dinner on Thursday night--thinly sliced chops from a pork loin, zucchini leftover from last night, carrots baked with chicken last night, leftover turnip greens. I love leftovers! 

No, I did not win the PCH! Have the scammers called you? It was 75F today...so nice. What is for dinner at your house? Is spring showing up yet?

Thursday, Clock, Pain

 It was a beautiful day, no clouds and blue sky. Just a sweater was too much for the warm day. Plus, I had had all of five hours sleep, so I was not so exhausted. 

The trip to Cullman was unremarkable except for the several dead deer and a dead coyote on the interstate. I had a list in my head of places to go. Of course, we went to my lot, bought bananas and cherries at Publix where I went to the bathroom. There was nothing interesting on the Cullman Publix ad like there was the week I found the pork tenderloins bogo. The other store had nothing on sale that was of interest to me. 

Now, I have to make enough money to pay for a very pretty wall clock I bought. The price was too high, but I found it marked down just a bit. It was the last and a floor model. So, I asked for discount on "shopworn" item. They discounted it for a flaw and laughed and sold it to me for even less. I cannot justify spending this money. But, I can sell something to make it an earned item. 

We had a burger and took it to Sportsman's Lake, the lake in the city limits, hoping it was open. Well, the first section was, the commercial section. We managed to park with a view of the lake. 

Usually, there is one mother duck taking care of 15 or 20 goslings. Thursday, the babies seemed on their own. I wonder why they were out alone. Where were their mothers? This was the first time since the first of November or end of November that the park area has been open as they were putting up lights and decorations for a Christmas display.

When I was at the store and bought the clock, I made it clear I could not hold it at all. The women held it on my lap for me. I was so careful not to break it or injure my hands. They understood or at least catered to my needs. They took it to the Rogue and put it in the back. 

Well, when I got home, all that ended. Tommy carried it in and put it where I needed it in front of me. Of course, I was anxious to look it over and took it out of the two bags where it was packed. It was sort of heavy, too heavy for me to pick up. Tommy says it only weighs five to seven pounds! 

The next time I moved my hand after putting it back right in front of me, my hand hurt so that I shrieked. Just moving a finger caused extreme pain. Since I could not use the chair control, I had to reach over to the right with my left hand. 

After I rubbed some Diclofenac on my hand, the shriek inducing pain left just a bad throb and pain. After dinner, I took care with my hand. Today, Friday, I am still medicating it and being careful about what I do with it.

Thursday night, I managed to cut in thin slices four stalks of celery that I quickly cooked. Also made about 1/2 cup rice in microwave. Cooked celery and brown rice added to the leftover soup made enough soup for two cups apiece.

Luckily, having the lift chair kept me from pressing with my hands to lift myself. Last night, I dared not to even fold clothes. I need a nap. 

I have no idea how to deal with my hand injuries. I suppose just using pain reliever is the only way to stop the pain. If this is age-related arthritis, the only remedy is to not get older. So, the pain remains. I won't take pills, just use cream. 

What do you do for age-related arthritis?

Saturday in Cullman and Soup and Summer Savory

 We went to Cullman with a list and finished the list and got home about 3:30. I am so tired. The day was pretty but below freezing until about noon. But, the humidity was 23% yesterday evening unless it was a mistake. No ice on any of the roads make for safe driving.

Before we left, I grabbed a cheese sandwich and water. Tommy had gotten bread and sausage. So, it has been many months since we stopped at Hardee's for a sausage biscuit. Buying the premade sausage has made the difference.  The sausage is expensive, but much less than Hardees for both of us. 

We got the mail, went to my lot, dropped off a huge bag of plastic bottles for recycling, I went to two grocery stores where I picked up 4 more pimientos and two more cans of cheap green beans. The other store had no bargains today. Sportsman's Lake is still closed, and the Christmas decorations are still in the park.

At my friend's junk shop I saw a table I wanted several months ago. She is the one who is in a wheelchair and the person who asked me to buy food for her friend, saying she would pay me and never did. I had $9.50 on the books with her. Brought her something that put another $10 on the books, got the table for $20, leaving me 50 cents on the books. I mentioned she needed to pay me for the money I spent for her friend and the fact she said she would pay me. She said pitifully that she only had $3 and needed to buy something. I replied dryly, " I have change." She ignored me and never paid me. 

I will just put it on the books next time and never bring her friends food until I get the money. This actually benefits me. Today, she said she would sell me an iron bed and rails for $25. I will never get the money without making an enemy. She has never paid me for one blessed thing I have for sale! But, it gets put on the books and I get "free" stuff. "I will trade you my stuff for your stuff" sort of deal.
 

There is a beautiful, little table in my trunk, so I am happy. 

I took a purse to the shoe shop and had it repaired for $3. The remote for my car had a dead battery, so got that taken care of for another $3. I knew the people in both places, so pleasant conversation made me feel really happy. I have shopped both stores for 30 years, so it felt like home. 

While I was in a friendly atmosphere, Cullman, where people know me. I decided to shop at Walgreen's and get some otc at the drive-up window. The one here told me I had come into the store, just flat out refused. 

One friend who is semi-retired told me his wife died of covid-19 just before vaccines were available. The conversation made me sad because he is a nice man and seemed to really love his wife. I counseled another young man about educational goals. He has changed majors eight times! I congratulated him for his perseverance. I could not see making him feel bad about his decisions, especially since he is still interested in education. 

We arrived back home at about 3:30. At about 5:30, I decided to make soup. Tommy cooked and chopped the meat and scraped the carrots. I peeled the potatoes prepared the celery and put the soup into the crock pot. Around 6  pm, I decided the soup would never get done. Sooo, I put it all on a pot on the stove and added two cans of diced tomatoes and more water. 

I was so tired that I went to sleep in the recliner. I never finished adding things to the soup. So, I did when I awoke.

Soup

ground beef, maybe 2 lbs. today

carrots, a little over a pound

potatoes, just a few diced small

1/2 bag coleslaw mix

two ribs of celery, sliced thinly crosswise

two 15 oz cans diced tomatoes

can of green beans

diced onions

clove garlic

bay leaf (take it out after cooking)

I intended to put Summer Savory in to season it, but I had none, and Publix does not even carry it. If I put Summer Savory, I don't put salt, pepper, or bayleaf. The soup with the savory is very fragrant. I love it. Tomorrow, if Tommy wants me to, I will add brown rice to the soup. Okay, he wants brown rice. I don't add much, just 1/3 cup brown rice. Usually, I add corn to this soup and lima beans. 

The Summer Savory is not carried at Publix, so I ordered some from Amazon. Do you ever cook with this spice? There is a Winter Savory, too. I use one for soup, hopefully Summer Savory that I ordered.