Plans That May Change

 I bought four containers of blackberries at Publix, of course, small containers. The plan is to make blackberry jam or something resembling blackberry jam. Since I don't want to add 2 cups of sugar and don't want to add artificial sweetener, I think I will crush the blackberries, add about 1/4 the sugar required, cook with or without no sugar Sure Jell and call it jam. 

Strawberry shortcake was in the works, but Tommy prefers the little shortcakes sold for dessert. I hate those and love my biscuits that have a bit of sugar and butter. Do I please him or please me and have less sweet stuff? 

After visiting two more stores as I shopped, no special trips, I found that the vinegar was cheapest where I bought the first two gallons. So, I will go there for another 8 gallons. 

The terrific wind brought down a large limb that will need a saw taken to it. So, we need to get that taken care of this next week. It fell on the neighbor's fence but did no damage. Just the end leafy parts are on the fence. But, since the wooden fence is inside the chain link fence, there could be damage not evident from my view from the car as we passed the house. 

I told Tommy he should go over and tell them he will get the tree off the fence. Tommy said he will do nothing, not even talk to them and ignore the limb unless they say something. He is a terrible neighbor. 

Produce is lasting forever here since I convinced Tommy it should go into a storage bag with the air pressed out. One week, at the food giveaway we were given 7 clamshells and bags of salad greens. We bagged them all in separate storage bags and not one was lost. Tommy ate out of them for over a month. So, he is a believer. These are Christmas designs and cost very little. We reused the bags for other uses, not food storage, before they are thrown out. 

I think I will make Kool Aid with Swerve. About once a year, I want Kool Aid. I wonder if Swerve will freeze so I can make popsicles, too.  ???

Tommy is not a father, but he was a good chickydaddy the ten years I had chickens. I always wish him Happy Father's Day. He did object but I point out his job as chickydaddy and he smiles. We are doing nothing spectacular or celebrating. So, it will just be another day. Both our fathers are dead, taken by cancer. 

We celebrate having air conditioning! The temps are high here. So, what are you doing on Father's Day?

Father's Day and My Eye

My father has been dead for almost 30 years, so there was no one to celebrate by cards, presents, and presence. So, that was that.

Tommy and I talk every Sunday. It has been a source of frustration for both of us. He goes to church, comes home, heats and eats lunch and then most of the time collapses into a nap. I will call him and catch him eating, or he just walked in, watching something on TV or he is napping.

Finally, I told him to come home, eat, and then call me. So, now there is less stress and frustration for both of us.

On Father's Day, he called me and I asked what the church did for FD. Every man who was a father was invited to the front. My heart broke for Tommy. Each father was given a gift bag with a box or bag of Cracker Jacks, a bag of peanuts, and baseball cards. I determine I would get all that for him. He was the only man in the church left sitting and not down front! He said it turned out okay because there was one bag left and it was given to him.

When I had chickens, I always called him Chickie Daddy. I think he liked that. He was amused.

If my eye had felt better, I could have gone to the nursing home and made the day for some old guy. But, that did not happen, so the thought does not even count.

For almost a week, I have had a problem with my left eye. First, my eye was gooey in the outer corner, sort of like my eye was dry. Then, it became inflamed, very sore, and unbearable. The irritation went outside of the eyelids and onto the skin outside my eye. Or, maybe it was outside my eye the whole time.

Finally, today, I went to the same eye doctor I visited when I had an eyelash growing under the eyelid. This new thing is like a little infected volcano. She mentioned something about a stopped up gland, duct, or something.

A very nice doctor examined me, finally saying it was very sore, red, and full of yuck. She gave me an antibiotic for eye and said it should be well in ten days. Otherwise, come back. This took all afternoon!