Tommy's Birthday/I am Determined

 I was awake from 4:30 to 7:30. Tommy got up to go to the bathroom as I was going to bed. We pass in the night! I had told him to wake me at 10 am since I was told that the $1.49 turkey breast would be out by then. Well, I got dressed when I woke at 10:30 a bit miffed he did not wake me. I dressed as fast as I could and combed my hair in the car. On the way to Publix I did sing Happy Birthday in a creaky voice. He thanks me and liked the song. 

At 11 am, there was no turkey breast no matter how many people dug in that case of turkeys. Finally, it seemed that the truck was delayed so I could check back tomorrow. UGH! I did get vanilla ice cream like Tommy requested for his birthday. 

Since I had nothing to eat, I told him I was buying his lunch. We went to Arby's and had a roast beef sandwich with cheese and no red sauce. Other places nicer were too far away. We were on a tight schedule. Of course, I had to squirt Horsey Sauce on each bite. I love horseradish. One time I got the burn up my nostrils and loved it. Usually, we would eat in the park. He suggested I eat while we drove to Big Box and he would eat in the car. He had had breakfast. 

I did some quick shopping and no browsing. We left finally and got to next chore. We witnessed and almost head-on collision. That was frightening. 

It took a while to recover and we watched some of the news. Then, Tommy started peeling potatoes and carrots. We both worked. While I was trimming everything, he washed the squash and zucchini which I then cut into three inch pieces. 

Carrots, potatoes, onion went into the bag with the pork loin on top. I tied up the bag, poked holes, and put it into the oven. Maybe he put it in. I turned around to wash my hands as he stood near me, using his walker. He asked, "What are you going to do with the squash and zucchini? Oh, my gosh. I left them out of the bag. So, I cut the tie, dumped them in and he put them back into the oven. At least the pan was not hot at all. 

I said it was birthday present time. He was eager. He opened the shredder and was happy. Now, for three years he has opposed a shredder being purchased. He opened the book I got him--A Dog's Purpose. He seems like he might finally read it. I gave the old one with pages curled to Lynda. 

Life is short; eat dessert first!

Then, since dinner was still not near done, I asked him if he wanted carrot cake--"Of course!" So, we had carrot cake. I am so glad a whole cake was too expensive--$19--and we only had a slice each. He did not want ice cream on it. He hates ice cream or whipped cream on desserts, even when I whip real cream. Oh, I bought him a pack of Juicy Fruit since he likes gum and never has any unless I buy it. He is an aggressive chewer and saves it until morning, stuck onto something, so I don't encourage him. But, it is his birthday. 

Dinner smells so delicious--Applewood Pork Loin, potatoes, carrots, onion, zucchini, squash, all in a cooking bag. There is enough for another meal even if we both eat lots tonight. Plus, there will be enough for sandwiches. I bought slaw mix to go with any of the above meal if there is enough for more meals.

Determined? I will get two more turkey breasts! It is getting hard, but I will persevere. Next time, I will be at the store early on the day ad starts instead of noon the next day. But, things happened on Wednesday. No more excuses for sales. Tommy exclaimed, "Where are we going to put two breasts?"

I am determined to get two more in the stuffed freezer! I can thaw and cook one, if push comes to shove. One time about 8 years ago, I put three turkey breasts in one turkey bag and sent Tommy's home with him. It can be done. 

I ordered a Christmas cd for when Lynda comes to visit. Later tonight, I will listen to it and see if it is good. This will be a "party" done right. We might have dancing! jk

At 8:30, I called Publix. The meat truck has not come in yet. So, someone must stay until it gets there. At least, at this point there will be turkey breasts in the morning. We would not have gone in tonight, anyway. 

I asked Tommy if he wanted any ice cream. "At about 10:30." So, he is enjoying his birthday. Cake, ice cream, shredder, gum, a good dinner, Auburn t-shirt, and a book made him happy. The flashlight and head lamp can wait until Christmas. 

Are specials and sales becoming hard to find because of low stock? 

Do you ever become determined to get the deal?

Tommy's Cake

 My head has been busy today, deciding what to serve for our tiny Christmas party and what to make for Tommy's birthday this Friday. 

I asked him if the pork loin with potatoes and carrots and onion would be fine after I asked him what he wanted. He shrugged at first, but said the pork loin would be fine. I suggested slaw and he said no, it would be too much. Exactly when is slaw too much. We will have it, but he does not have to eat it. I want it. 

Then, I went through the ads for the week, finding a few things but nothing major except for the ham for $1.49/lb at Publix. So, my grocery list is done. Eggs still are not on sale. 

I asked Tommy for a suggestion for cake for his birthday. He did not know. When I asked about carrot cake, he was eager, "get a couple pieces." So, he will get a carrot cake or just slices. He just now said to get a slice or two, not a whole cake. And, he wants vanilla ice cream. So, it is settled.  We don't need a whole cake around here. I do have candles. 

Today, I needed a nap at noon. I forgot we had someplace to go, so I could only sleep until 1:15. UGH Then, I needed the rest of the nap at 5:15 pm and awoke at 6:30 pm. Honestly, I am napping like a baby! 

Tomorrow, we have plans, so I hope I can sleep well. We will go to Belk's and to several stores to grocery shop. I have gift cards for Belk's. 

I received the Amazon fairy lights and went to the trouble to set them up for Lynda's gift. I was fit to be tied when the remote did not work. I had already set mine up! So, I was going to have to dismantle mine for the second time and order more and return the present set. The very nice woman said to just keep them, take a refund and order more, plus they were giving me a $10 credit at Amazon. Okay, then.

The lights will still work if they are in the same area with the first set in the box. The remote works on both. thankfully. 

The remote lives in a sandwich bag. It is so tiny and thin that it will disappear if it slides somewhere, it will disappear. If it disappears, I can find it by the sandwich bag. I have one hiding somewhere for my boombox! It could have been thrown away for all I know. 

Have you seen these tiny remotes (3.25 x 1.5 x 3/16 inch)? Have you lost one? 

Have you ever just bought one slice of cake for the birthday person?

How are the ads for this week at your stores?

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? 

Finally!

I made the Strawberry Poke Cake with some fresh strawberries in the cake for good measure. Right now, I am waiting for the Cool Whip to thaw. 

Saturday night, I had cabbage and strawberries, but not together. Tommy had a full meal, but I forgot what because I was asleep. 

The temperature has been in 90s Saturday and today and predicted for several more days this week. 

I still have things to do. We could not find the ribs in the big freezer, so we will have something and be happy about it. I do know I will have potato salad and cole slaw and Strawberry Poke Cake. 

Okay, I made the poke cake this afternoon. Tommy was saying "mmm" as he was eating it even though he objected to my description when I first mentioned it months ago, saying it did not sound good and sounded awful. So there!

How was your Sunday? Are you going anywhere on Memorial Day? What are you having to eat on Memorial Day? 

Friday, better; Saturday, best

 On Friday I got two little Jiffy peat pot seed starting Greenhouse Kits. I say "little" kits because I did not get the one with 72 peat pellets. I need to have something I can handle. So, two 25-pellet kits. 

One pellet kit will have flowers and one will have food plants. I won't buy any seeds, just use the ones from last year. Last year, I bought herbs. This year, I will grow them from seed. 

I also bought two travel pillows for the car. When I go into the dentist/eye doctor, I have to ask for something to go behind my back. From now on, I will have my own back support. We actually need a pillow for our heads sometimes in the car. He often takes a nap when I am in the store forever.  Nowadays, though, I don't go often or stay long. 

A Swiffer cost me about $13. Taking a plan from others, I will never buy the pads. I have all sorts of cloth to use. Tommy has a mop that looks like an industrial mop. It is the largest I have ever seen in a home, appearing as large as the ones used in school hallways. It is a regular round shaped mop, not a wide one. It would be so heavy to push! Wringing it out would be impossible for me. It sits in front of the refrigerator, but I am going to move it out to the utility room. 

A few weeks ago, I had plans to make a strawberry poke cake. I got the cake mix, brought it to the den to read the directions. About three or more times a week, I once again get it out. Tonight, I was looking at the cake mix when Tommy laughed and asked when I was going to make the cake because he had seen me with the box, just reading it. 

It was warm a few weeks ago and I was feeling well. Then, it got cold and I was suffering from shingles. So, there was little interest in baking, cooling, poking, pouring, frosting, and finding a place for it in the refrigerator. I think Saturday will be the day. 

And, I have not read the box directions so many times. I have been looking and contemplating. 

A yard sale on Saturday yielded a Monopoly game (1961 copyright) for $1 with four pieces--scottie, racecar, shoe, and tophat. The money, houses, and hotels and cards were all mixed up. So, Tommy  straightened it all out so we can play. If it weren't for the tape used to hold the lid on, this would be in pristine condition. The tape pulled pieces of the box loose. 

 Remember the embroidered and appliqued table cloth I bought for $1 last Fall? I found 12 matching napkinsthat match, $2 for the twelve. And, I got a purse for my Pink Purse Charity--$2 for a large Nine West purse that looks like it was barely used. The woman remembered me and my purse I was filling, so she insisted I take two tubes of hand lotion. I also got a dresser scarf with an embroidered edge for $2. 

Also, there were four Battenburg lace pillow cases, the kind of sham with envelope closing on the back.  YAY! I like this kind of stuff. It is pretty. I am not a person for tailored pillows. I spent $12. I will sell some of this and make at least what I spent, probably more. 

Saturday, we had a Reuben for $3 at Arby's with a coupon. I had the sauerkraut on the side. I put a 1/4" shred on each bite. I cannot eat sauerkraut because of allergies. It was delicious. It is also a beautiful, sunny day. 

Altogether, it has been a good Saturday. And, it early afternoon. The rest of the day will be filled--a nap, dinner of salad with chicken, emptying dishwasher and filling it again. 

Now, Inherit the Wind is on. Then, I took a nap instead of watching ITW. Dinner--spaghetti and meatballs, salad.

Poke Cake and Other Stuff Today

 Loading the dishwasher hurts me so. I have been washing dishes about every three days. Yes, I allow them to sit in the sink. But, now, I have both sides of the sink to use, so I still have a side to use everyday. This may seem lazy to you, but I don't care. I got them all loaded in one go, but could not bend one more time to put the capsule in the door. 

I folded clothes, put them away, and ate lunch. That is it so far. The rest of the day will be devoted to:

freezing bags of meatballs, meal-size portions--16 meatballs each. 

I need to cook 4 lbs of chicken thighs after marinating them in Italian dressing.

Cook cabbage and something else to go with the chicken. 

Take tops off a gallon of strawberries frozen whole and given to me this last winter. I would not have left the tops on, but they were a gift. 

I am going to make a strawberry poke cake. Tommy thinks it sounds gross. But, he will love it. Who does not like jello poured on cake? I mean, it is 75F outdoors! So, the cold cake will be great. My older daughter loved this cake. But, I mentioned it several years ago and she thought it sounded gross. She just does not remember. 

There is a nail just below the light fixture in the back bedroom where I go to store food. I keep catching my hand on it, so I spied a hammer and carried it to the door. 

Hang wet clothes--panties and nightgowns.

Water tulips.

I bought a shamrock to hang on the front door. Today, I am going to make a pattern to have more cut from thin wood. I told Tommy how I could afford such things once upon a time. I would take something and make a pattern, have the item cut, and sell it. I may not sell the new ones since I don't have the market I had then. 

The urge to sunbathe is overtaking me. Of course, I will fight this urge! It is so beautiful out today. Yesterday, there was not one cloud in the sky. Today, I have not checked. We will go out in about 30 minutes, so will see then. 

I have another two packages of meats that really need to be cooked tonight. We will see.

The money I spent yesterday on food was all for stock-up at low prices. I found Stovetop stuffing for $1, so bought two. 

Have you ever had a strawberry poke cake? Any other kind of poke cake?