Trees That Will Grow in Pots

 

You can grow Trees in Pots. Although I have the Meyer Lemon tree, I would love to have an apple tree, and maybe a fig tree. This article gives the names of dwarf varieties that are best for growing in pots and the year-round care they need. Of course, you can plant in the ground. Right now, I am working on Lemons, blackberries, and blueberries, so I won't be purchasing these dwarf varieties this year.

My sinus problems are lessening each day, but not gone. Still puny.

I cooked pork roast with carrots and potatoes in the crockpot. It is delicious and will provide leftovers. I also baked about 20 thighs in the oven. Tommy will take the meat off the bone and I can freeze a portion of the thigh meat. 

Tommy put all the pots on the porch onto the ramp last night, so they have had a proper watering. He was going to put MiracleGro on today, but maybe tomorrow. The Stella d' Oro are blooming. The wind was blowing so hard that the supertunia was swaying so it was threatening to blow down the shepherd's hook, so I bought zip ties to connect the hooks to the rail of the ramp. The pots where we sowed seeds have something coming up. Like Tommy said, they could be weeds. Maybe in a few days we can tell. 

We took a short ride and went to the park. I put out a bit of the cereal we have that is gross. One bird came. We are going the wrong time of day for birds to be about. 

I am continuing my walks down the hall. It is not much, but it can't hurt and can only help. 

How I ran out of Miracle Whip is a mystery to me. Usually, I have a reserve jar or four but not this time. So, we went to store for that. I do remember buying it at a sale price, one quart, hoping to find a better sale. Well, now the regular price is the sale price. So, the price of MW is dropping. Well, it appears that way.

The cleaner did not come again today. We have heard nothing. Tommy said he wondered if she ever came back from California. 

The weather was beautiful today. There will be no rain until a chance next Friday. I like this. 

What kind of trees do you grow in pots? 

Have you found a few foods are coming down in price?

Do you have one food that is always in reserve in your pantry, something you can always count on?

Dinner: pork roast, carrots, potatoes, strawberries

Reason #2 Why I Love Commercials

 # 2--I need a bathroom break. Plain and simple and very basic. Most of the time, I hate to miss a minute of any program. Turner Classics does not have commercials, so I often miss some of the movie. 

Today, the cleaner came but she had to go home after two hours to dress her husband. He earned his realtor's license this last month. So, he wants her to come home and dress him for his first open house. He never dresses in anything but a uniform for his job, so is insecure.

She cleaned the half bath. The commode is so close to the wall, only a child could sit on the commode. And, it is one of the short commodes. Just for fun, I sat on it and had to sit at an angle since my knees would not fit. I was right up against the sink which is the kind attached only to the wall. Then, I could not get up! I was afraid to pull the sink off the wall! My legs rubbed against the door when I sat. By having her close the door so I could reach the doorknob, I manage to extricate myself. It was an adventure. 

She, of course, threw out two or three bits of carpet and the fuzzy commode seat cover, all nasty. He has never used this in all his 40 years here. His boarder did. She left the carpet bits and the commode seat cover. Her brother and boyfriend moved her out when she was ill with liver cancer. I am quite sure she would have cleaned the bathroom and bedroom. Nevertheless, this bath has not been touched in about 18 years. Plus, he closed off the bedroom and shut the hvac vent. Of course, it would get moldy in the bathroom. 

She and family are moving to California, so eventually, I will lose her help. This week, she is driving with her three little children to Ca to look for a house and visit her family. 

Other than a nap, nothing else has happened today. It did start storming when the sun went down. I did not even go to the door to look out all day. Lots of little birds, sparrows, I suppose seem to like my potted plants. I don't think those plants are coming back. I had a bag of six tulip bulbs that I had her put in one pot, not sure what will happen. 

Although I am not planning on buying a vehicle anytime soon, I am now obsessed with what is what on the road. We did make a drive-thru in a car lot. All along the drive on the interstate, north and south. he pointed out what was what. But, my focus right now is on a mattress. Of course, the health issues take precedence. 

Do you use the commercials for a bathroom break?

Cleaner House and DST

 The cleaner came today. She has the half bath ready to clean. At the very end of her time, she got all the trash left in there picked up and the room, tiny bath    room, vacuumed. Also the closet had so much trash in it. Tommy had a boarder that left about 12 years ago. She was too ill to clean it, so her boyfriend and her brother moved her out. They left trash and belongings all over the room, closet, and bath. If course, Tommy has not vacuumed or cleaned it for that long, about 11 years, maybe more.

I asked her to clean a huge spot on the kitchen floor. She got on hands and knees and scrubbed the whole floor! She took the pile of junk left by the missionaries and we got that sorted and some donated, some to the trash, some to her. It looks so much roomier in there. But, lots needs to go in the dishwasher. I need to get in there and do that right now. I washed the filter on the vent hood and she changed the bulb to an LED that is brighter. Tommy could not understand why I washed the filter as he said there was nothing in it. Of course, it stuck to my hand and left my had sticky after putting it into the dishwasher. Apparently, nothing needs to be cleaned after forty years! 

Of course, she changed my bed and the floral sheets are on and they are so much more fluffy and cuddly than the other two flannel sets. 

Tommy was willing to get rid of more things, thankfully. Many of the items he has belong to his boarder. He cannot remember her last name. However, she had liver cancer, so we wonder if she is alive now. I claim the items he says are hers if he does not want them. One nice pitcher still has a sticker on it. Someone gave it to him in 1980 at a housewarming party the church threw for him at the church. 

He had five lighters and four worked. He does not smoke, and I have loads of matches. He decided to donate four. We donated about six ice cube trays, all very old, rough, and dirty! We tossed dirty, used, and shabby sponges. 

She cleaned the glass in the storm door. Now, I can see through it. He would not "allow" me to clean it several years ago. Now, I cannot reach up easily and almost tip over backwards! She was puzzled at the stuff that did not go away when the vinegar dried. Well, it is called extreme dirt! So, the door called for lots of cleaning. 

Tommy washed and dried three loads of clothes, pink set of flannel sheets, blue set of flannel sheets, all my towels, washcloths, and underwear. Thankfully, the day was not cold and there was no rain, so he could actually do it, going outside and up the driveway. 

Last week, I asked her to a move small folding table to the end of dining area and put my garden things there. I needed to find seeds. Only this Sunday afternoon did I discover she put it all against the back door. Yikes! I would be afraid of trying to get out in a fire. And, I found my seeds.

She made four trips to the car to carry out things leaving here. Plus, the trash can was overflowing when she emptied it, most from this afternoon. She also vacuumed the back bedroom, picking up boxes, vacuuming and putting boxes back, except further back in the room so we can get into the room more easily. It is not done yet, but it looks so much better. 

For dinner: Tommy--last of ham and chicken, potato, turnip greens. I had late meal of chicken breast, potato, Romaine, and an apple. 

The refrigerator is getting empty! I need to buy fresh vegetables. There are carrots left and the Romaine I bought yesterday. 

On Saturday I was ecstatic that DST started today. I have never had a problem with sleep from the time change. Of course, now I have sleep problems, but today I could tell no difference in my sleep. Actually, how would I know? 

I am still ecstatic over the time change. Today, has been a good day.

Did the time change cause any change in your sleep? Were you late to church? 

Hard Day of Progress

 After less than two hours sleep, the cleaner came. We only worked in my bedroom and the bedroom with storage and junk. I was barely able to go on. 

She changed my bed first. She cut and put paper in the drawers of the dresser and chest of drawers. Later, she suggested she could put my clothes in the drawers. That was a big help. Lots of things are sorted. I have a huge bag of clothing outgrown in the last year. No, I will keep it to wear when I lose just a bit of this fluid. Tommy was really surprised at the room she uncovered. 

We worked in the other bedroom. None of Christmas was in boxes, just put in the room. So, we got that done. I hadn't even gotten out all decorations from the year before. It was all consolidated, thanks to her. Only a few items are still out, but on top of the red bins. 

Three years ago, I bought a huge duffel bag with Halloween items. I took it out and used much of it. The costumes were still there. So, she took the costumes home along with other Halloween items. I kept the realistic looking pumpkins, the only reason I paid three dollars for the duffel bag. One can be lit with bulb. My pumpkins were $1 each. They will decorate the living room. Next year, I will get a fake pumpkin for the porch. The fake poinsettia has saved me money, along with the artificial Christmas tree. 

When she cut the shelf paper for my bedroom, I pointed out a small, folding table I bought from Sam's. It helped her to do the chore more easily. She then took it to kitchen were I had her set it up for indoor plants. 

Her backseat and trunk were filled with things for donations and item she could keep. Tommy had four Sam's tshirts that he let go. Many things he saves are not things he is hoarding and will not let go. Most are things he has just not given away. 

Since the best toothbrush ever is discontinued, I have been beside myself. I found Tommy had two unopened ones. So, they are mine. He does not floss and I hate mint, so the mint samples are gone. 

She dusted the living room, making it look so much brighter and cleaner. 

When she left at 2 pm, I was beyond exhausted. I needed lunch. Finally, at 3:30, I went for a nap, telling Tommy to wake me at 6:30. He could not get me to wake up, so left me until 7:30. We put chicken and potatoes in the oven and had dinner. He had slaw. potato and green beans with baked chicken thighs. I had baked breast, half a small potato, and green beans. He rinsed and soaked the green beans, so they had less sodium. 

You know I have said I like all green beans. Well, I did find a brand that had a gross taste. On Friday, I think, I found another I could not eat. Unfortunately, I threw mine away. They were so soft, they were not palatable, mushy! The date was 2021, so, maybe just too old. I doubt it. Have you ever had mushy green beans? 

We have a busy Monday. I struggle to make it through a busy day! 

Tommy is in the kitchen emptying the dishwasher and cleaning up the baking pan and making sure the chicken juices are in the garbage where they won't leak. He saves the liners of cereal boxes to contain the juices. Yes, I could cook with the juices/broth, but I have saved too many pints only to throw out the contents. 

We have a large shamrock for the front door. It was bought on sale several years ago. I do give a bit of homage to all holidays. Will you recognize St Patrick's Day at all? Do you celebrate? 

Sunday Progress and Disappointment

 This was a wonderful day because the cleaner came. We ended up talking too much or she could have gotten more done. I had her clean really well at the head of my bed and change the sheets in my bedroom. I wanted her to measure and cut paper for the drawers. but she can do it another day. 

She vacuumed the middle of the living, not under everything. 

Thennn, I could not show her what to do. I sent her into the dining room with a box to pick up things off the floor. She came back with the box full several times. I suppose she emptied the kitchen garbage can three times. There were cans of food 10 years old, papers of Tommy's stored in boxes with dates 20 years old. He allowed me to throw out the little red lids from KFC sides. 

I found some of my Tupperware he has had for ten years! I wondered where all my T had gone. She was grossed out by so many roaches, all dead. I told her I had put out roach bait. These are the big outdoor ones that come in the door in the dining area. She removed all the baits and we will put out more tonight. 

So many boxes, large and small were discarded. it is amazing how large the space looks now. Back when I was capable of doing all this, I was forbidden to do so. Very few things were mine. About 20 quart plastic freezer containers are in the sink. Tommy insisted they were good. "I got soup in those." "Where are the lids" "I don't know." "What will you use these for?" " O don't know, but they are good." "Actually, I can plant things in them and poke holes in the bottom." So, they are in the sink, ready to be washed. 

Whew! She just stood holding the tall cylinders, looking back and forth between us. 

Last night, I sat on my bed and let out a shriek. I had sat on the spring sticking out of the mattress. It had made a hole in my newest sheet, and there was a cut a little way away. I went to the living room and sat down, told Tommy to go look at my bed. He wanted to know what he would see. I told him about the 1/2 inch of metal through the hole and the cut. I told him if that did not impress him, I could bend over and show him the tear in my behind.

He came back out and told me to get the sale paper I showed him and decide where we should go to buy a new mattress. Soooo, we will do so. In the Rooms to Go ad, they list many good brands of mattresses. Now, I had a Serta Perfect, bought in 1980 that lasted 40 years. But, who knows if the quality of the brand is the same. So, I can get a mattress. Of course, we may not get a mattress from there. 

So, I am quite happy with a new mattress in the future and a lot of cleaning and tossing having happened today. I have pined for a mattress for weeks, so now he is convinced. 

On Saturday night I slept two hours. She left and I slept one more hour. Okay, it was an hour and fifteen minutes. 

The vacuum cleaner I bought when I first came here was only used for five minutes once and another three minutes another time. I cannot use a vacuum at all, any kind because of my back, not even the stick. It sat for three years. Now, I find out that somehow the dust is all inside the vacuum cleaner and outside the bag. The bag does catch some dust and all larger particles. This vacuum will get a really bad review on Amazon! I hate it. I paid the price for good filtration, hepa, and now the expensive piece of junk does not do the job. She had to spend about fifteen minutes outdoors, cleaning the inside. 

I have about a cup of chopped celery that I will add to a can of tuna and call it the start of dinner. Since I have only had a bowl of cereal today, I really need more to eat. Tommy is in the kitchen, probably making a salad and getting either ham or chicken legs. 

 

Mug Cake

 Before people advised me what to do, I had already looked at all possibilities to fix my laptop brightness and color.  I tried again. Then, this morning I opened up the old, screaming laptop on the off chance that my vision had failed between laptops, I compared them and had Tommy look at the screen. He agreed about the sharpness and color. The old laptop had better color and sharpness. 

So, I called the guy and will get a new laptop. He said it was something that I forgot. So, that will happen when he gets one in. At least my vision is not the problem!

Thursday night, I slept well and awoke at 10:30 am. We went to The Pig with the express intent of getting an ad and left. I can and do look at them online, but it is so tedious. The electric carts there are left on the sidewalk, so if I can hobble to the cart, I am good. 

Oksana, the woman who cleans, called me today and asked if she could come on Sunday. She is so humble, asking for permission to work for free. And, to think I have had to beg people to come here and work for $18/hr even when they asked for $12/hr. Since I did not want anyone for 8 hours a day, I wanted them to be happy with their pay. 

Today, when we were out, it was drizzly on and off and very cold feeling and gloomy. Today's 50F and drizzle was cold after yesterday's 80F and dry and sunny.

I don't know whose blog I was reading, but the thought was ug cakes. When I first read about those, I was interested. But, when I realized how I would still have to get out all the ingredients for a cake and measure Tablespoons instead of cups, I was less interested. So, one day I had a sale chocolate cake mix. Then, I only had to put about a 1/2 cup of the cake mix in the mug. Then, I added milk, stirred, and microwaved. I don't remember how much milk, but it all worked out to be a hot, edible chocolate treat. Very tasty!

I asked Tommy if he had ever had a mug cake. I expected not. He said he seemed to remember having one. Then, he said, "Oh, yeah! Mississippi Mud Cake." I said, "Mug, mug, MUG until he understood. He is so funny sometimes. We had a good laugh. 

We brought in the Romaine from its daylight excursion. I am going to get grow lights so I can keep it indoors all the time. Keeping it on the front porch will just cause it to bolt sooner. I am looking at this BULB or this CLIP ON.  I am not sure of what I need to get and if there is something I should not get. Any opinions?

Have you ever made a mug cake with cake mix? Is that even a thing?

After Cleaner

 Sunday, I took a one-hour nap after the cleaner left. There are always things I need to sort after she leaves. I did nothing. Absolutely no effort was expended on dinner Sunday night. 

Still, it was 5 or 6 am Monday morning before I slept. Then, I awoke at 1:30 and did not eat until 5 pm. I was not hungry. However, I have been lusting for a Taco Bell Soft Taco Supreme. So, we went out and I ate two along with a drink from home. 

Of course, we went to the drive-thru to order. We were told at the radio they could not take an order, to come inside. Three times, we told them we could not, could they just let us order at the pickup window. NO! I told Tommy to drive there anyway. The woman inside tried to ignore us. Finally, someone came but the window was locked. ???

She said that we could have to come in as all the drive thru was not working, to come inside to order and pointed to the counter registers that were not busy at all. I asked her very nicely if she could walk over there and order and walk back. She looked confused and said she guessed she could. There was no one else inside, it appeared and no one in front of us. So, this surely could not be an inconvenience. 

We ate at the park about 5 pm, the first bite or anything to drink all day. I accidentally ate one of Tommy's and he was gagging on sour cream. Then we went to search for a bag of ads and coupons that are usually thrown, but there were none. 

So, dinnertime now and we will be baking lots of chicken, five packages, I think. With chicken always available, we seldom go out for fast food. We no longer eat fries and I pinch off the buns around the edges. 

I encouraged Tommy to track where we spent money in December. He still has not done January. So, it will be interesting to see how much less we spent. However, I already know January is less spent. So, getting February done will be the real test in order to compare it to January. 

Okay, it is11 pm and I got one pan of chicken from the oven--8 breasts and 10 legs, all seasoned with garlic powder and onion powder. Sorry, did not get the onion and garlic prepared. At 11 pm after getting the first pan out, I put in another with 8 breasts. It was a smaller pan, so could not get so much in it. There was one package of chicken that Tommy did not like its smell. So, that small pack gone. 

This is the first time all day long I have felt tired. I needed the rest all day from yesterday, and it appears I got plenty of rest today. In a few minutes, I will store the first tray of baked chicken. At midnight, I will take out the second tray and store it, some in the freezer and a bit in the refrigerator. It seems like it takes me all day to get enough energy to do anything! It seems I would rather work late anyway, always have. 

We are not eating all the turkey and chicken I cook as the freezer holds it better cooked than frozen. Plus, it is nice to have on hand. Besides, I want to make chicken, rice, broccoli and cheese for dinner one night. I use cooked chicken rather than raw. It works.

Today, I managed to get plenty of sleep Sunday night. I have piddled and done things earlier today, but not the sorting from the cleaning yesterday. Now, I just hope I can get plenty of sleep tonight. 

The tulip tree across the sleep started blooming Saturday. I can see this out the door when we have it open. Pretty pink. 

Tonight, I read some about Coleridge and Wordsworth, founders of the Romantic period. I "discussed" it with Tommy who just looked at me. He had not one idea. That's okay. I wonder if he will remember what I said about Wordsworth--Lake District, Switzerland, poems he wrote his sister. I suppose it is like Tommy explaining machinery to me.

Okay, I have rambled on long enough. EDIT: If I seem to disappear, it the computer humming like a spaceship and the whole thing is hot to the touch.

Do you track spending and compare each month? 

Do you prefer to work later in the day than early? 

A Day to Do Nothing

                                                                Would you recognize him? 

                                                                       Milburne Stone

After a hard day of watching someone cleaning, it is difficult for me the next day. I was on my feet more, sitting on my walker seat more, and stressed more on Sunday. After she left, we got the dishes in the dishwasher, so a bit more effort during the day. I did take a nap, but naps are no longer refreshing. I wake less exhausted, that's all. 

It seems today I mostly sat. We did go looking for a pink bag of ads and coupons. There were none, so that means I have to make a list from ads on the internet. 

I have, however, done a tiny bit of decluttering.  tiny  But, any decluttering is better than nothing. The table to my left seems to gather things. I have no idea how...lol. 

My car is finally back in the carport. It has been out since Tommy got hit. Then, when I put it back the other day, it was in wrong, so it needed to be changed. I have to put the car near the brick wall on the right so I can get out without feeling I might fall two feet to ground.  Plus, it must be parked where I don't hit the carport support and ruin the door finish. And, he needs to be able to push his walker beside it to washer in utility room to the front of the car. He said he can get by on the brick side. Well, that involves scraping my car! So, NO. 

In my optimistic head, I planned to call UHC today, but did not. I also needed to get new cell service. Did not. I should have put paper in the newly cleaned out drawers and I should have looked for my pink blanket. There is always tomorrow. I really was truly tired today since I need recovery days. 

Wow, it will be 70F here Tuesday and 72F on Wednesday. Tonight or tomorrow, I need to find my pink fuzzy blanket and Tommy needs to sort the items she took from his dresser drawers. 

In Tommy's sorting of his books, he is getting rid of five huge books, tomes (large and oversized), all about the Civil War. I absolutely did not encourage getting rid of these scholarly books. I will keep one as I need to know more about the subject. 

Dinner: baked chicken breasts and thighs, potatoes, and carrots. I will have an apple later. Dinner was delicious. Tommy added a chunk of bread to his plate. The chicken was very tough, but it was 195F inside, so I suppose it was safe to eat. Now is the time I wish for a pressure cooker. I will put the chicken back in the oven sans cooking bag and cook it more. I had four chicken breasts that weighed over five pounds for the pack. 

One chicken breast must have been nearly two pounds. Of course, I mean one side or half of the breast. I wonder how miserable that hen was before it was slaughtered. 

Okay, now I must put all the food away in freezer or refrigerator.

Is your energy at a level that causes you to need to rest after any exertion?  Does a portion of a day out of the house and in the car or at a doctor's office make you need two or three days to recover? 

Dust Be Gone

 The volunteer cleaner showed up. And, she is marvelous! We both were leery of the other. She stayed from 10 am until 2:30, the last 45 minutes with me objecting she had been here long enough. In that length of time, she did not even finish, that is how bad the place was. 

In discussing paying her, she said that her husband makes about $200K and they do not need the money at all, so no. I still had Tommy write her a check, but she put it down and said it was a Christmas gift for us. So, we tried, and she is coming back in two weeks. 

Now, the nasty outside of the commode is clean, the light bulb in the hall is changed. Now, I can see! Things that have been here for years are now gone. Tables are dusted, finally. My poinsettia in a planter is out and looks so cute next to the big fat bird chick. 

As she was dusting my red Kiss with the fairy lights, I took the remote and turned it on while she was trying to figure out what she did to turn it on. I gave her books that I got over 2 years ago from the free stacks. Many boxes are on the porch for Tommy to break down for trash or recycling. 

The place smells better with much of the dust gone. I did not realize how dusty it smelled in here. It is also bright with dust gone from wooden furniture. Maybe I will have less allergies, and Tommy will have lest sneezing and head congestion. 

We watched A Christmas Carol, 1938 version. Now, The Sound of Music is on. So, we have had two great movies. Plus, I took a nap. The day has gone quickly. 

Dinner: beef stroganoff and noodles, finished off leftovers of green beans, potato and slaw. 

Discombobulated

 If I don't get some sleep, I feel like I will die! Cleaner did not come today nor return my two calls to her. I stayed up yesterday morning with only 4.5 hours sleep. And, I did not take a nap even though I wanted a nap. Tuesday morning, I awoke with 4.5 hours sleep. I did not go back to bed as I usually do. I waited up for her. Then, I did not get a nap. I called friend who could not talk and said she would call right back. Well, 45 minutes later, I finally went to nap. Then, 45 minutes after that, I got up madder than a wet hen! 

Finally, about 7 pm, we went to store and got bacon and bananas. Then, we came home and both had a salad with bacon and tomatoes. The salad had carrots, red cabbage, radishes, zucchini, squash and tomatoes. Tommy went into the store and had a lesson in how expensive bacon is these days. He bought the precooked kind and some more of the low sodium bacon. We still spent less than if we had bought dinner anywhere!

Yes, I am grumpy feeling, but not grumpy with Tommy. 

Tommy told me to call the lawn guy. I did and have not heard from him, either. But, he works hard and long in this heat. He will call when he can come. 

I tried to get an appointment with the ob/gyn oncologist and have heard nothing. The family doctor is out of town this week. The podiatrist, well, I forgot what happened with her. I just feel discombobulated. And, I am not going to look back over what I wrote, either. No editing. I hope it makes sense. 

Do you feel completely undone and miserable when you really need sleep and things happen or don't happen? My whole body started to ache when the nap did not happen!

This whole day has been horrible. Feeling like this is rare. The lack of sleep is the problem. 

The sky and clouds were so pretty today, so that made a portion of the day much better. The clear blue sky had the fluffiest, white clouds blowing along, a rare sight. 

Do you feel miserable when you cannot sleep and circumstances seem to conspire against sleep? 

BLT Fail

Tommy put all the bacon on a pan I covered with parchment paper and put it in the oven. Then, he went out to water. I checked on it. He came in and went to check it. He came back into the living room and told me it was "very dark and shrunken." I rushed in to rescue the burnt bacon. I only succeeded in ripping the bacon out before it went totally black. Aaargh! My rushing was a fast limp. I did not fuss because it was his first view of bacon cooked in the oven. 

I told him to take things out, that we can return it to oven if it needs cooking more. The blt was not so pleasant with burned bacon. I will buy another package of bacon tomorrow and we will try again. His toast which he made himself was burned, also. I turned down the toaster so mine was only brown. I love toast but have not had any in a year. 

We have not eaten a tomato despite having had market-bought homegrown tomatoes since Saturday. I want a good blt before they go.  

Sunday, I mentioned to Tommy, "Didn't she say she was coming to clean Tuesday or was it Monday?" He immediately turned and said loudly, "Why is it that you cannot remember "anything?" Well, I was ready to murder him because he is the one who cannot remember, so he always verbally demeans me until we find what he says he "put right here." Well, no, it is still in the car despite his clarity of the memory. I never, ever turn on him when he cannot remember correctly! 

So, I got up early this morning because I was hot, suffocating. Then, it was too late to try to get sleep, so I stayed up. She did not come! Most certainly, I was correct. She is coming Tuesday. Finally, at noon I went to bed and took a looong nap--4.5 hours. 

While I slept, he washed and dried two of his blankets that had been lying in a corner for three years. He slept much later than I did, so he is not being overworked...lol. These are in garbage bags, sealed at the top so dust won't get it. 

While shopping for the bacon, I found a brand that is low sodium. It probably has extra sugar! No, I checked. It has 0mg sugar. 

Tommy carried the bags of clothing he is giving away to the car. So, it looks even better in here. We carry away lots of bags to recycle or donate from this house. I cannot imagine how the house would be if we left all this in here. Plus, we organize a bit on our own, not relying on the cleaner for every little thing. 

Until I had dinner about 7 pm, I had only eaten two scrambled eggs and about 10 ounces of milk. Since 7 pm, I had the blt and all the innards for another sandwich minus bread, sort of a salad. Just now, I had an apple. Then, I had some ice cream. I try hard! 

Busy Monday

 

                                                                                Cute! 

I just liked this tshirt.

Today, the cleaner came. We got lots done and there is still more to do before she can vacuum. With Tommy's permission, I had her empty his chest of drawers. She first brought him a drawerful of socks. He was to sort into keep, give away, throw away. But, noooo, he had to get out his socks he stores by his chair and sort them, too. There are three huge bags of things from the rest of the drawers to sort. 

Without looking at them, he allowed her to throw away boxers that had sprung elastic. There is a shiny pair of black boxers with red hearts. They look like a ten-year-old could wear them.  There are more bags for him to sort. I know he wants none of the white t-shirts, so those will be put away for rags. Then, there are tshirts from Auburn and other colored picture t-shirts. 

I own and use several Rubbermaid-type bins. One was empty. I cannot imagine. Now, they are stacked with my stuff in them. I found a shirt I like and forgot I owned. This makes three days she has worked on my room. There will be at least one more day and the next time she can vacuum. There are still tote bags and boxes of stuff that has no home. When I get the chest cleaned out and I am sure there are not silverfish in it, lots of the stuff on the floor will go in there. 

We tried to get the kitchen drawer that binds back on track. I gave up. She used the swiffer thing with a wet pad and cleaned up whatever Tommy spilled in front of the refrigerator and said she went ahead and mopped in front of the stove. 

Then, I had her get things I dropped behind my chair and table. There was lots of stuff. The space from wall required for this chair is so large that she could easily get back there. She also moved cans of food I had not put in the kitchen. 

I have to rest when she leaves, so I did. We were sitting here when it started to rain, then storm. The electricity went off. And, I was stuck in my chair. I could have sat a little longer. However, I needed to go to the bathroom! So, I called 911 and two guys in a huge firetruck had to haul me out of my chair. Tommy was sitting in chair mode, so he had no trouble getting up. We will have motors for these things soon.

Since dinner is done, I am relieved. Watching someone move things is so tiring...lol. It is 4 pm, and I need a nap. 

How cute is that tshirt? Speaking of tshirts, for what do you use old tshirts?

Progress on Many Fronts

1) Found a local magnifier. It was ten whole dollars. Too much and not really good, but it is the only one in three stores. So, we can use it until I get something larger. The lens is about 1.5" square. It does have a light. I figured out part of the problem, the reason I could not make out one word. Well, two reasons--the tiny print was in grayscale, and it was fuzzy besides. I know gray scale is not supposed to be sharp, but this was the fuzziest gray scale I have ever come across. 

2)List for today, rather tonight: 

put capon in oven

cook frozen pizza with some of the meat Tommy cooked

Load ingredients into crock pot for taco soup/casserole

wash and cook blackberries

hang up with clothes

fold clothes from dryer

hang up wet clothes

None of this is really time consuming, just Tommy's job of picking meat from capon carcass. I did buy 5 gallons of vinegar today. I would have bought another five, but Tommy has to push it in his walker and lift it into the house. He has real muscles, bulging ones from lifting the walker with gallons of vinegar, 24 packs of water, two gallons of milk, Cokes. His muscles are impressive. 

3) I just talked to newest cleaner of bathroom. I asked what she wanted in the way of cleaning products. She wants Windex and she will get Windex, never mind that I think vinegar will do a good job. She wants to be paid $18/hr and she will get that and more! She wants Comet and she will get Comet even though I think Barkeeper's Friend is better. I don't want her unhappy! 

If she willing, Tommy is willing to have someone come and do one room at a time until the house is completely clean and then have someone come in every two weeks. 

4) We have lots of utensils. Today, I found dinner forks and got two packages for a total of 12. Yes, we can have a banquet. I have only purchased 6 dinner knives. However, I have 12 salad forks, 12 dinner forks, 12 teaspoons, and 12 larger spoons. I can eat with either fork or either spoon. I have never seen teaspoons that were not iced tea spoons. These are just regular spoons. The larger spoons are not soups spoons, not sure what purpose. We have plenty with 24 forks and 24 spoons. 

Tommy, who so objected to my buying flatware, is now using metal instead of plastic. When I walk into the kitchen holding a fork with which I have eaten, I put it right into the dishwasher. I have no hopes he will do this. But, it is just as well since he would probably put spoons in so they spoon and never come clean in the wash. 

This pizza was given to us. When the instructions say to put it in the oven frozen, do it. I had a hard time getting all the doughy crust from the plastic to pizza pan. It just was a glob I had to try to smooth and stretch. I have never bought a frozen pizza in my life. 

The weather has been nice and hot and low humidity. Nice! It has been a pleasant day all around. How has your day been? What have you done today? Plans for tomorrow?