Last of Christmas and Repairs and UHC

 Saturday was another quiet day in the house. The car was not started all day, and I stayed in my nightgown.  Actually, I slept in a summer nightgown and put this winter nightgown on because I was chilly. I never did ask about the temperature of thermostat setting. 

Sunday starts the Year of the Rabbit. Maybe the year will be as gentle as a bunny. However, the only time I ever tried to hold a rabbit, it kicked me and hurt me! Maybe this year will be gentler than that rabbit.

On Friday, I mended the Christmas deer that broke a leg somehow. I think it fell over on the bookcase where I had placed it. I forgot to put them out for Christmas, so I put them out the day after Christmas. There were two deer and a Santa. I bought the two deer at a furniture store, went back in several weeks later and found a Santa. The deer are white with wreaths around their necks. The Santa has a long red robe and sack on his back and a wreath in his other hand. All three of these pieces are beautiful. They are sort of frosted with very small glitter that never seems to fall off much on things. 

I let the glue on the deer leg set for a couple of days. When I was ready to put the Santa in its box, I remembered I needed to repair it, too. When I returned to the store and found the Santa to purchase at half price, the woman took it to the register to wrap it and place it in a shopping bag. She exclaimed that it was "damaged, so you can have it for $9." The price I was going to pay was something like $18, and that was the half cost. So, I got a Santa worth almost $40 for $9. This was several years ago and when I had money to spend after Christmas. 

The damage was a hole in the Santa sack over his shoulder. It was a tiny hole, too small for a patch. It does not show at all sitting as a display. I was going to put a tiny patch and paint it later. But, today, I put a drop of E6000 on it. If it dries whole instead of just going down into the hole, I will store it as it is and maybe next year find something brown to color the clear hole. Maybe it will be done and left as is. Some repairs are just as good when minimal. Trying to make the brown match would probably just make the repair move obvious.

This is the last of the Christmas decorations as I put the rest away on NYE. The deer and Santa were not in my line of vision! The Kiss stays out and is lit at night, thanks to a remote and fairy lights. 

For the last three years I have saved coins in a little bank from Tootsie Rolls. I had Tommy count it all for me--over $35. This last year, I saved little in the coin banks. I still have piles of coins the cleaner got from under the nightstand and bed. Since I mostly use a debit card, I get few coins. These coins are saved for the grill I want. Since I rarely find coins, this is the little I get from change or on a return. I wish I could find wheat pennies! 

Only four of my products came from UHC--oxygen monitor, low-dose aspirin, Vit D, and Neosporin. I wonder when the rest will arrive.

Dinner tonight is all leftovers: Chicken breast or pork roast, mashed potatoes, baked carrots/sugar peas/broccoli, salad with Romaine and tomatoes. 

I love to repair things. I know--crazy. Do you mind repairs or like doing repairs? 

If you get OTC from UHC, do they dribble in a few items at a time?

For what are your coins tagged? 

Forgotten Christmas Decoration, Tommy's Sandwich Creations

 Thursday night, we watched Coat of Many Colors, a story about Dolly Parton. There was not a bit of Christmas in it, but I suppose it was shown as a holiday special. 

The boneless turkey breast was delicious. We each had a meal from it. I imagine we will have at least two more meals each from it. Tommy added cranberry sauce I made to his plate. Friday night, we will have turkey breast, carrots and cole slaw. Tommy might want cranberry sauce again. 

For years I have wanted a life-size, cardboard, Coca Cola Santa. I have been obsessed. Last year, after Christmas I finally acquired one. I was going to bring it here and use it, but I forgot about my plan. But, it won't go to waste. Next year! I also wanted my 3-4 ft. Santa blow mold, too. But, it is in the back of my storage unit and not as easily found. We had several one-foot-tall Santa and Snowmen. I gave those to my grown children. Those are about 40- and 50-years-old. I love blow molds. 

Because of a crowded freezer, I took out some bread. Of course, we try to eat it instead of throwing it out. I told him there was pita bread to eat. I had some salami that I cannot eat, given to us on a charcuterie board and some white cheddar that was dried from being frozen. He came in and showed me his "pita sandwich." Inside the pita bread, he had salami and white cheddar cheese, and he had microwaved it all. He put mustard on it and seemed really happy about his lunch.  I provide "stuff" and he becomes creative. It's cute. 

I also make sure there is lettuce of some sort and tomatoes. He helps himself for lunch and sometimes adds things to his dinner. Of course, sometimes I do make a sandwich for him, but rarely. We eat lunch at different time.

Since I only managed to sleep six hours on Thursday night, I am already drooping at noon. 

Yesterday, I saw a sign that said $2.09 under the cartons of 18 eggs. I whipped around and went back. No, the sign was for a dozen eggs. No way! Eggs prices are the one thing that I have seen that are causing me alarm.  It sort of triggers my alarms. So, today, I found the last carton of 18 eggs and paid $4.29. It is okay since I want eggs! I will forego some egg eating and shop better. Some are boiling right now.

On Friday in Cullman, we saw gas for $2.82/gal. Of course, Tommy had filled up for $2.88! 

By the way, my Pfaltzgraff dishes, four-place setting. 16 pieces in total, only cost me $53. I opened my savings "bank" and had only to put a bit more with the savings to buy the dishes. I had not spent my bank money from last year, so this was sort of "free" money and dishes since that paid for the rest of the dishes. The dishes were free as far as it coming out of my pocket right now.

These were ordered from Walmart.com and they are made in China. They are not supposed to be good quality, but they look fine to me. Since I have never seen the originals, I suppose I am ignorant of what I am missing.

Someone is supposed to come on Sunday to help me get stuff out of the living room.

Do you own a life-sized Coca Cola Santa? What is the price of eggs where you live/shop?  So, it's the weekend. What are your plans?

Groceries and My Santa

Wednesday, I went to the opthamologist with Tommy. I am really afraid for him to drive alone. I stopped and bought way too expensive chicken to cook. It is less expensive and more healthful than McD. I think I will make both of us two chicken sandwiches with leaf lettuce or a salad with chicken on top and one sandwich the next time we have to go to Cullman. He has a new prescription for lenses that he "might" fill. sigh. Oh, I bought two more six-packs of oj.

Of course, I took along oj and pb crackers to the doctor. I would eat a third of a cracker and say I could not eat the rest. I did this for three cracker. He refused to "help me" finish the oj. He did drink the last little bit when I was in the grocery stores. We are home and he is okay.

The gloom is a bit less today. Tommy pointed out ribbons of blue in the sky. But, they are not spreading. Last night, I slept three hours, the same as last night. So, I need a nap.

Yesterday was bad. As soon as I posted the last post, I tried talking to him. He just said, "What?" over and over. We went round and round and he started cursing loud and repeatedly. He refused to eat anything. Finally, I took his dinner to him. I hurt too much to stand and cook anything. So, I opened a can of soup, something sort of healthy, chicken and rice and vegetables. He almost spilled it, picked it up, looked at it, sighed and leaned back. Finally, he struggled with the glass bowl and put it over on a table.

He looked pathetic and then he looked cocky, sort of like a drunk who is trying to pretend he is not drinking. His whole face changes. Finally, I searched and found one peppermint, Starlight mint, I guess. I asked him if he wanted it. He grabbed it and looked so grateful and even thanked me. He calmed down, and eventually ate his soup. He is horrified at what he does when his blood sugar goes too low. He apologized.

Of course, his stress is relieved and mine rises. Between stress and eating too late, I was up, sitting up in bed and on the computer, reflux keeping me company. sigh. This will end next week! I know some of you are sick of this, but keep it to yourself.

For the last ten years, I have tried to get one of the life-size cardboard Coca Cola Santas. I tried to get one from a guy that operates a gas station that my friend sold him. His wife was jealous for no reason. The Santa was delivered. She loved it and sat it in the store. The guy said he would not take it from her. I understand.

Well, my friend bought a new gas station. Since I was not in town in the fall, I forgot to ask him until too late. Finally, about a week before Christmas I approached him about getting me one. He told me he would not be there after Christmas and the next owners might want it. I asked him to mention it for me. Well, last week I went in and mentioned the Santa. Both seemed to be aware I wanted it. So, they brought it to the car and folded it up. Tommy did not like where it was and yanked it forward in the car. All the little projection for folding got caught on the car pieces when I tried to get it from the back. GRRR At the unit I asked a guy to help me get it out and carry it inside. SOOO! I have the Santa I have wanted for years. I am so happy.

I have a blow mold Santa that is about 4 feet tall that I have put indoors. It was so bright, I needed no other light in the room. I love Santas! I also love sleighs and have quite a collection.

My collection is not extensive but curated carefully, sometimes not so carefully. Do you have a favorite thing you collect that involves Christmas?