Favorite Food Missing

 The chicken and ground beef was not cooked. I am just too sick. No, Tommy cannot put it in the freezer. I would have meat juice all over the place. 

Today, I called the doctor and of course, the nurse returned my call ten minutes before closing. I can take a specimen into the office for testing. Another doctor gave me sterile specimen jars to bring to his office. So, I am all set. Tommy can walk it into the office. If she had called earlier today, I would be a day ahead of getting better. 

Today, I received two free Westinghouse LED bulbs. Yesterday, a pillow for lying with knees higher came, one I ordered, not free. It seems now someone has decided to put items where we don't have to struggle to retrieve them. The box with the pillow was on the porch next to the door. The lightbulbs were on the table. 

I finally sent off a birthday card and gift to a granddaughter and graduation gift to recent grad grandson. They are siblings.  I struggled to get those done. My writing was shaky. I almost sent the Amazon gift to myself when I ordered it. Tommy took cards to PO.

Without an afternoon nap, I took an unplanned nap tonight during The Seven Year Itch. What a great movie and I missed 30 minutes. Rats! 

My wildflowers are really blooming now. The millionbells have fully recovered and are multiplying. Both varieties were beaten into the dirt that one day and struggled to fully recover. 

Dinner: Tommy had Tommy had hotdog and fake hamburger--both without a bun, slaw. I had hotdog, chili, cheese, slaw. 

I must have a Red Delicious Apple every day. Mostly, I just eat half. But, Wednesday, I had a huge apple and decided to eat a third each day. Well, wouldn't you know, it was brown inside except for about a quarter inch. So, I just peeled it and ate peeling. We did not remember to get more apples while we were out. So, my eating pattern has been thrown off quite a bit. I feel peckish and all that will do is an apple. 

Is there any food you want to eat every day, a food that you do not usually do without? Oh, I also want banana every day, too. 

Accounting and Cutting Back

 One of my Christmas cards arrived ripped and in a plastic bag from the PO. It was a beautiful card, covered in gold glitter. One corner of envelope and card was missing. Jan, it is a beautiful card. This is only the second piece of mail I have ever received packaged after it was mangled. Thanks, Jan and PO. Have you gotten mangled mail saved by PO and in a package with an apology? 

When Tommy opened one of his cc bills, he told me how much we put on the card the month before, November. He was not complaining, but his tone was one of surprise, complaint and consternation. 

I suggested he write down the categories and amounts to see what was driving the increase this last month so we could see what was happening, and where we need to cut back. He said that was too much trouble, so I said to give it to me and I would do it for him. The first thing I know he is writing like mad. He said he was writing it all down in categories--Amazon, gas, eating out, Publix, other grocery stores in one category, etc. He pointed out the excesses in eating out--1xWhataburger, 2x Chicken Salad Chick, and 1vSlim Chicken. He went over the other categories, too. I never want to give up CSC! I forgot the other categories he called out to me. He uses this card for points and convenience and pays it off each month with no penalties. 

Next step: I will get one of those books with green pages to record it all instead of his writing on every envelope and searching for the last month record. I have no idea how these books work, but maybe I can find someone to show me.

We will not be cutting back on gas, but we can rein in food shopping just a bit. However, buying fresh fruit and vegetables, a2milk, and loss leaders probably will never be cut down. If he could eat a sandwich from home when out, we could cut out more eating out.  Actually, we have not been inside a restaurant since early 2019! 

This is the first time he has ever told me what he has spent on his cc. I never ask. It is his bill, but we both share what we have spent and really have no secrets about anything financial. 

All the gifts are wrapped, not that there were many. The sausage balls will be made today. Decluttering continues. Dishwasher needs to be loaded. Acessories need to be hand-washed. Decluttering continues. Life goes on. We listen to Christmas music. Tree needs to be fluffed and decorated. I have not had breakfast and it is noon. Decluttering continues. Ham needs to be sliced and portions frozen. Bathroom rugs--wash. Then, kitchen linens--wash. 

Tommy is amazing! Since the cleaner came and we are having company, he is going about and doing things he declared for three years did not need to be done. Once, I remarked I would scrub out the Harvest Gold wastepaper basket in the bathroom. 

He blew up and said it did not need to be cleaned, that he had never washed out a wastepaper basket, ever! And, he said I was not allowed to clean it either. So, he had had that plastic, ugly, broken container since before he moved her in 1980 and has never washed it. ewww! I bought a new, white one last month, and he scrubbed it before we are having company! And, he put a plastic bag in it. I am still trying to recover from this development. There are other equally startling things happening with him...lol. It's a Christmas Miracle!

So, we are plugging along with decluttering.

Almost 7 pm now, and I just put the two turkey breasts in the oven. That is not dinner, but it's meat for the freezer, plus some for eating now. He is washing the sink after turkey breast and juices in the sink. 

He fluffed the tree while I took a nap today. But, the two tiny bins with the ornaments are nowhere to be seen. Maybe we will only have lights this year. 

I called our one and only guest just now. It's on! Tomorrow night, she will be here with bells on. 

If I seem to disappear, my computer has been making a horrible noise, like a death rattle.

Have you ever gotten a letter or package from the PO that is mangled, partially missing and repackaged with an apology from the PO?

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? 

Absentee Voting, Building a Fire, and Other Things

 I did mail my request for an absentee ballot on Friday, unsure if it would be received in time for me to get an absentee ballot in the mail. Well, I got it today, filled it out and mailed it back. Noon on Tuesday is the deadline for it to arrive at the polls. I wonder if I will ever know if it is received. 

The ballot and three envelopes and an instruction sheet came in an envelope. The top of the ballot was folded down and needed to be refolded to go into the inner envelope called "inner secrecy envelope." That envelope had to go into the "affidavit envelope."

I had to sign the back of that one and have it signed by two witnesses or have it notarized. That was a pain. One person never answered the voice mail, the other person was ill and could not come out, the next person's voice mail was full or something. Finally, we got the first person, and it is done! Whew!

While we were at the PO, I bought more "Forever Stamps." I got two sheets of very pretty flowers for me and a sheet of elephants for Tommy. We both still have stamps from before the last time the price went up. So, we are set. We mail few letters, but I hate to need a stamp and have to go in to buy one or more at a higher price. I did not care for the Christmas stamps, so I will check later for those. Last year, some of the stamps were only winter scenes.  I like those. 

I have finished A Dog's Purpose except for 10 pages. My eyes were bothering me, so I just quit. I would still highly recommend this book. So, this was two reading sessions, basically. It is not a short book, 325 pages. Okay, I finished the book. This book is a real tear-jerker. Well, my eyes were wet a lot. 

Here is a story for you: To Build a Fire. Click on the link to read the complete text of the short story by Jack London. It has a dog in it, but it is about building a fire. And, it is only ten pages.

Slaughter House Five by Kurt Vonnegut will be my next book to read. Have you guessed I love literature? My son is also an English teacher and both daughters are readers, the youngest teaching reading.  

Right now, 5:30 pm, I am sort of depressed. I have nothing cooked or planned for dinner. I do have sweet potatoes baked and salad fixings. He said the ground beef was some he just took from the freezer, so at least he won't be eating iffy meat. If I had chicken breast, I would be happier right now! 

Okay, I expressed my desire for chicken breast from Publix, saying it was just too dark for us to go out. Well, within three minutes Tommy had convinced me to go. Ha! I did not expect that at all. It was delicious and so was the sweet potato.

An eclipse is happening tonight. So, I suppose I will stay up for that. 

When we went to the PO, we got the pink bag with ads and coupons back in the neighborhood. We will go through those tonight, maybe before I post this. 

When I mentioned my friend having rats, that was six months or more ago, not now. The purpose of mentioning it now was to say I think Extra-Strength Tylenol killed rats. So, no problem with rats at the moment. People gave me advice as to who to call for help. 

We had a record high of 88F today. Right now it is 78 and very pleasant. The temperature can stay right where it is today. By next Monday, the temperature will have dropped 50F degrees. 

Tonight, I had Tommy go into the hall to help me get out some food and other items from the back bedroom. It was a disaster. He can be so helpful or an a$$. Tonight was his a$$ night.  I did all I could, knowing it will wait for me and be here tomorrow. Why does work never abandon me?

He hates me to tell him something he says he knows. Tonight, I muttered words someone on TV had said. I repeated the phrase in astonishment and was not talking to anyone. He asked what I said. I repeated the words. He went into a rage, saying, "I heard that! You don't have to tell me!" It took a lot of arguing for him to know what went on because he just kept yelling at me. Now, my stomach is very upset. 

I think we are both staying up or getting up for the eclipse. How about you?

Did you go to the polls on Tuesday or vote by absentee ballot or another way? Do you buy Forever Stamps?  

Much Free Food; We Won; Even Cheaper Gas

 Wednesday was so busy. It was a matter of getting up to leave at 9:30 and go to Cullman. Getting my mail was important since I have not picked it up at PO in almost two weeks. There was the pickup lunch, and a lecture to attend. 

I awoke too early, hot as usual! But, I was able to watch a bit of the Today Show, eat breakfast leisurely, read blogs, read some news, and bathe without feeling rushed. I had scrambled six eggs for breakfast yesterday and put up three for today. Usually, I bathe, get dressed, and take my eggs and a glass of milk in the car. 

The day was so bright I could barely see! We picked up four lunches and went to the site of the pickling lecture. We eat in the parking lot under a tree. When we came to the site, we saw a beautiful white horse out in the sun eating a tall weed. There were four other horses, all brown, under a stand of trees that were planted for harvesting. The brown horses stood so still, sort of looking off into the trees. I surmised the heat did not affect the white horse so it could stand the sun and heat. I could be wrong. Maybe that breed can stand heat better. ???

Lunch today: hamburger, hotdog, condiment packets, huge slice of beautiful tomato and good amount of lettuce leaves for the hamburger. Since we got four, we had dinner tonight, too. 

As soon as we went into the building, there were Covid tests to take home. I got one but Tommy did not get one when he came by.  The young woman gave a demonstration of quick pickles along with a six-page handout. Each person also received a little bag of bay leaves and one of dried dill seeds, Mrs Wage's pickling mix. There was a lunch, too.

I got a portion of a sub with spicy meat and turkey and a tiny egg sandwich and a tiny tuna sandwich. I ate the filling of the tiny sandwiches and took the slice of sub with me. There were five jars of pickled relish and other stuff the young woman had made. The handout had the recipes for those. There was a huge container with water that had herbs in it. Tommy tried all the pickled garnishes for the sandwich but not the sandwich. 

Toward the end there was a drawing for door prizes--jar of blueberry jam, two small jars of smoked honey, quart jar of pickled pears, pint of canned pears, two half-dozen cartons of fresh eggs, two pints of freshly-picked grape tomatoes. All the door prizes were locally prepared. My name was drawn fourth and I chose blueberry jam, changed my mind and chose fresh eggs. Tommy's name was drawn and he chose the pint of pears. We were so pleased both our names were drawn. We came home with 6 pretty, colored eggs and a pint of pears. 

There was a donation jar for the catered lunch. We only had a $1 bill between us. So, that was that. The day was hot (heat index of 105). The only time Tommy got out of the car was to go into and out of the building. I did the same, plus went into and out of the store. He did go out to water the flowers after 7 pm. He said it was very warm, but not hot. At 10 pm, it is still 83F. 

We went to one store. I bought the huge can of Argo peaches for $1.99, and four pouches of Betty Crocker fudge brownie mix for $1.19 each. These were $1.09 about four months ago and $0.99 last year. These are small and make few brownies, but we don't need many brownies, if any at all. Freezing extras won't help since I like frozen fudge brownies.

About ten miles down the interstate, we realized we had not gone to PO! Well, I was in no mood to return, and he did not offer. He would have if I had asked. 

These days, we carry two bottles of water apiece. Tommy insists he does not need even one bottle. But, after seeing reports about the dangers of the heat and how people need to carry water, he does bring along four bottles. Of course, I do emphasize that water could save our lives if the car breaks down. I usually grab one from the table where I have been drinking it and carry it along, too. 

Gas was $3.51. Amazing! 

When you go out, do you make sure you have plenty of water? 

Do you like or attend demonstrations?

Is the price of gas falling more 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?

Hard and Happy Thursday

 Wednesday night, I went to sleep easily at about 2 am. My intentions were to get up at 8:30 and wash my hair, make breakfast and go to Cullman. I had things to do. Well, I awoke at 4:20 am and did not go back to sleep until 8:15. I washed my hair and bathed and made scrambled eggs and heated a sausage, and had it with a glass of milk. Tommy had 1 sausage and half a piece of bread. There was no grumbling about the sausage, thankfully. It was the Jimmy Dean patties. 

The day was beautiful with big fluffy clouds in a perfectly blue sky. The drive was uneventful. And, I had a mental list. 

• PO
• my house/lot
• WDG
• Publix
• somewhere to eat
• lake
• Farmer's Market
• Belk's

There were no surprises at the PO, and nothing urgent. We went to my place and sat a few minutes. I went to Warehouse Discount Groceries. Split fryer breasts were $.99/lb. The price seemed like a good deal even with waste of bones and skin. I decided not to go to Publix. At Belk's I returned several items and bought a blouse and dress on deep discount. Plus, I had a coupon. In Belk's I also caught up with an elected official I know. We got a little burger from Burger King and took it to the lake to eat and lingered a bit to enjoy it all. 

The Farmer's Market was the highlight of the day. I used a coupon for the market to purchase 6peaches for $6. At the eggs I purchase another dozen for $4, and got the remaining $2 of the coupon in 4 tomatoes. I always talk to this guy, a recovering drug addict, about chickens and eggs. He is making a new life for himself and is in love with chickens. I encourage him. 

I mentioned one of the eggs had a blood spot. We discussed why this happened. Then, he offered me one egg. As I got in the car, he gave me a whole dozen. I plan to scramble a dozen eggs at a time, and use them for four breakfasts for four days. 

So, I came home with 2 dozen eggs, 4 tomatoes, 6 peaches. As soon as I got home, I attacked a peach. It was so delicious! 

Then, I slept from 5 pm until a little before 9 pm. Before I lay down, I told Tommy to eat meatballs and spaghetti sauce, the cooked zucchini, and whatever else he wanted...lol. He ate meatballs with catsup on them and a salad. Fine. 

Just now, I tried on my two garments. The blouse is bright pink and almost to my knees, so I suppose it is or could be a dress. The blue sundress is the kind with elastic on the top. It sure squeezes me, but it is pretty. Tommy like both and said they looked nice on me. Both were on clearance and then I used a coupon. Good deal! Even using Tommy's walker, the trip inside Belk's was brutal. 

About 4:30 pm, I saw a hummingbird who lingered at both feeders and returned twice. When Tommy was coming into the house, it flew right in front of Tommy who sort of dodged it, thinking it was just a big bug. 

I missed the pecan man. Rats! I need to make arrangements to get pecans.