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. 

Saturday So Busy and "Marching" Record

 We went to Cullman Saturday. I got the mail and went to the Farmer's Market where I bought:

A mess of green beans $2

dozen eggs $4

peaches--seven for $6

zucchini $4 with yellow squash added to make it $6,

2 yellow squash 

I used coupons for free produce, and they are in $6 denominations, so I get something to make up the extra cost, hence the 2 squash. 

The green beans came from the guy selling eggs. I asked him if I could just get $2 of green beans. The other guy at the booth started bagging up a whole mess of green beans and I reminded him I was only buying $2 worth. He said, "Well, this looks like $2 worth of beans to me." So, he was being generous because I am a regular customer and love to talk chickens. Good deal! 

I went to a store and bought tomatoes and Vidalia onions. The market only had green tomatoes, and I am not a fan of green tomatoes. I should have bought a couple to fry for Tommy. 

Saturday night, we had meatballs and green beans cooked in foil in the oven and sliced tomatoes. It was delicious. The tomatoes should have been added to meatballs and beans. Tommy like the whole green beans--"different way to cook (whole) and different taste (olive oil and garlic), good." The meatballs were cooked and frozen, so just needed heating.

On Friday, I "marched" for 10 minutes, a new record for me. Tonight, I will do the same. Okay, it is getting late and I am about to drop, so tomorrow. 

Saturday morning, I cooked breakfast to avoid buying Hardee's sausage and biscuit. Tommy ate bread and two sausages. I had three scrambled eggs and two sausage patties. Next time, I will only have one sausage patty. The Johnsonville Sausage patties were on sale this week, so I have three packages of premade sausages. 

After sleeping an hour and a half on Friday night, I took a two and a half hour nap, getting up much sooner than I really desired. Hopefully, I can work my way back to a semi-normal sleep pattern. 

Saturday was a really good day.

Saturday Post I Deleted

So, another post completed and then it disappeared. It was late Saturday night. I determined I would never blog again. That is how badly it bothered me. So, here is Saturday if I can remember it. None of this is in order of what we did. 

The plan was to go straight to the optometrist to get the little pads on my nosepiece changed. I am allergic to the ones that come with the glasses. So, I am wearing the old frames and lens. Well, the internet had information that said the business was open on Saturday. NO, it is not. I get very discouraged with incorrect information about businesses. I could have called but we left here before they opened, so I didn't. It is too bad businesses do not update their web pages. 

I love the Saturday Farmer's Market at the Festhalle. We have several markets but this one is about four blocks from my old house. My favorite farmer was there, the one that sells sweet potatoes I love. I bought a basket of strawberries for $13 but he gave it to me for $12. Sunday night, I finally washed and trimmed them and have them in the refrigerator. 

There is no resisting a good fried apple or peach pie. But, I will never buy another one from this vendor. It had too much dough and little apples. I ended up eating off the side to get the fruit and throwing away all the outside. Yuck! $5 wasted. Tommy ate all of his so maybe it was only $2.50 wasted. 

A woman had all sorts of plants. I can never find Autumn Sedum Joy, so I bought one from her--$4. And, a tomato plant--$2. I forgot to ask what variety, so it will be a surprise. 

Finally, I came across eggs. I asked a few questions before I bought them. Have these been washed? Have they been refrigerated? When I got a negative answer to both questions, I bought a dozen for $4. The man started talking. It turns out he is in a program at The Foundry. It is a place for drug and alcohol rehab. He now loves chickens since they have him working in their chicken house. He was so happy with his job and "his" chickens. It was a pleasure to talk with him and the guy who was his driver. I am not sure if they are only at the market on Saturday or not. Oh, not that it matters, but these were large, dark brown eggs, beautiful. 

Last Thursday, when we went to the lake in the city, I got a $2.69 chicken breast from the Publix deli. We shared it as we watched ducks. Well, it was so dry! So, Saturday, I took the receipt  back and got my money back and bought another to take to the lake. At the lake are 19 pavilions that can be rented. Saturday, I think all were rented with lots of birthday parties being held. 

There were travel trailers pulled by pickups at the back of the lake. Pedal boats and row boats were on the lake, rented from the concession stand. It was a jumping day at the lake. Plus, there were lots of walkers on the paved path around the lake. And, the train was running that circles the lake. Fishing is $2. There is  a section marked off for fishing only. Putt putt is $3. Plus, there is a splash pad. We had a very good day at the lake.

My friend with the lumber was away from home and could not come to his new home to give me more. It will happen. On Friday, I gave my carpenter more lumber for my project, so everything will work out. 

We went to a store where I can cherry pick deals. There were no deals. Nada. 

We went to my house like we usually do. It is still there, the lot, that is. 

Sunday night, I had the rest of the baked chicken and strawberries with milk for my dinner. Tommy fixed his own from a can of beef stew while I napped and then he had strawberries and milk, too. 

I am so afraid I am going to lose this post!

Saturday Produce and Shelling Peas

 Since there will be heavy rain all this next week, we went to Cullman on Saurday. I checked my mail and got an important letter. I relayed yesterday the canned peaches that are on sale.

But, I forgot to tell you about the produce I bought at the Festhalle Farmer's Market. One woman had freshly shelled beans/peas. One container was $10. My coupons for produce were in $6 denomination. She gave me enough to make it a $12 purchase. 

I asked the young woman when the peas were shelled. She said, "Today." Our eyes locked; mine in incredulity. She quickly explained she has a pea shelling machine. That must be nice! My mother had four pea shelling machines--US!

I love yellow crookneck squash and found my favorite vendor had them. Each little cup was $3, so I got two cups for my $6 coupon. Sunday, I will make squash casserole. I have ends of bread in the freezer to use for that. 

Saturday for dinner, we had Romaine and lettuce salad and a pimiento and cheese hamburger. The two huge patties were given to me. The tomatoes were the 4/$1 ones I bought at Piggly Wiggly and they were actually very good. The Romaine was from a bag that was bogo at Publix. The dinner was frugal and very good.

How do I feel about pimiento and cheese hamburgers? They were delicious. Neither the pimiento nor the cheese were neither one very evident, but just a note of goodness. I won't be making one myself, but I approve. I ttied it full of trepidation, but no worries.

Tommy got rid of two more shirts that were given to him by his cousin. He received these about ten years ago and some he does not like, so they are going. Others he has worn. 

Sunday, I will freeze the peas. I don't know if I will cook them and freeze them or blanche them and freeze. This much activity will exhaust me. But, I will. There is a scant gallon and a beautiful sight. 

I talked to my friend who has a junk store, had surgery last month, and physically is in bad shape. She has to wait every morning, hoping that someone will come and use a lift and get her out of bed.  I feel sad for her. People promise they will come and then call her and say "I am busy." No, she cannot get state help because her dead husband's ss is too much.  Her four grown children and about a half dozen grown grandchildren are too busy. 

When I say she is a friend, I only know her from her junk store. I actually had about a dozen friends that I met through their antique stores. Three were actually friends who came to my home. One was a long-time friend who retired and opened an antique store. I suppose friends come in lots of degrees. 

I took chicken sandwiches for lunch and took a Coke and Diet Pepsi in a cooler with a bag full of ice. I love chicken and Miracle Whip sandwiches. 

We left before 7 am and were home before noon. And, then I took a nap, a very good, long nap. 

Saturday was a very calm August day. There were storms somewhere around but not here.

Have you ever sat and shelled peas on a hot summer day? It seem everyone in the South has sat on the front porch shelling peas with family. With the advent of air conditioning, sitting indoors is the choice for pea-shelling sessions these days. Share your experiences with pea-shelling or other produce preps, if you will. Was it and is a family affair?+

Free Lunch and Veteran's Celebration and Other Stuff

We went to Cullman today and had a meal at a church--soup, cornbread, half a grilled cheese sandwich, huge piece of pound cake with whipped cream and fresh blueberries on top, unsweetened tea. I gave Tommy my soup and he gave me half his sandwich. There were peas in the soup, so no thanks. I only took one bite of the pound cake, one bite of whipped cream and none of the blueberries since I am told to lay off fiber. Bummer!

I had things to do, and when they were done, we came home, arrived here about 3 pm. I wanted a chocolate ice cream from DQ, so we got one on the way out of town. We just got a mini size to save money and we were not hungry, just wanted a chocolate cone. One day when I felt so bad two weeks ago, we went to DQ for a chocolate ice cream fix and they only carried vanilla! That was a bummer. Does your DQ have chocolate ice cream?

We went to my house and just sat for a moment in the driveway. It felt really good and painful, too. I got to talk to my old mailman. I was supposed to meet the city arborist, but had to settle for a telephone conversation.

Tonight, we had pork loin with bbq sauce, sweet potatoes, and sliced tomatoes. That is the last of the burnt meat. With bbq sauce on it, the scorched taste/smell was hidden well.

I went to the Farmer's Market and bought pecans and tomatoes. The pecans were $5/pint bag. I got four. That is for all winter and came from money allotted for groceries for the month. Tomatoes were $6. I believe I got 8 good-sized tomatoes.

Today, I wore my black outfit, burnt orange sweater, and statement necklace. Next time, for the Christmas dinner at this church, I will wear the black outfit with a red sweater. Remember, the top is sleeveless so I can handle wearing a sweater indoors. Today, it was low 70s, so not too hot and not too cool. In the car in the sun, it was hot without the ac.

I sat in one office for about 30 minutes and Tommy was at the curb and had lowered all the windows, so I know it was hot for him. I left that office with the issue unresolved.

The program at the church before the meal was for a Veteran's Day celebration. The tables were festive with red/white/blue place mats and napkins, flags and flowers in vases. It made me sad that people talked about all the men who served in the armed forces. My mother was a WAC! I almost cried that she was left out! The music, poetry and all was very uplifting.

Do you have or have had a female family member in the armed service?

Tomorrow, I have to search for Crest or Colgate tooth paste that is not mint or gel. What are your plans?

Saturday Farmer's Market | Sunday Shopping

About 8:15 am. Saturday, I rushed to Farmer's Market and bought a fried peach pie for $2. Then, I bought $6 worth of squash and $6 worth of tomatoes. I used the coupons from the program for low-income seniors. I didn't think about it, but I may make the squash fans for Tommy next time he comes up. He hates basil, but I can hide it and then he  never complains, or I can tell him it is parsley. Basil is growing right out the side door.

Then, I went to a food bank. I have not seen all that was in the box, but some of it. Potatoes--3 lbs., gallon of  milk, eggs, loaf of bread I hate, loaf of rye I love, Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup. can of strawberries, box of generic cereal Tommy will eat, one roll tp, 2 cans green beans, 2 cans mixed vegetables and one of peas--all three he will eat.

I went out later in the day and brought in the rest of the box. Things neither of us will eat--2 cans Spaghettios, Siracha pork and beans, boxed pasta dinner, mac n cheese ,can Great Northern beans. So, I will offer those things to someone else.  Usually, I will only use half of what is in the box. This time was exceptional.

At Walgreen's I used almost all of the gift card from return merchandise from a few days ago. CVS is next door, so I went in to raid the coupon machine and got a $2 off anything  coupon. I needed nothing so I grabbed two of the packages of the 2/$1 potholders. Then, I remembered I did need something and could have just used the coupon on that. Oh, well.

When I left the house Sat. morning, it was 75F degrees. Sounds nice? The humidity was 89%. Not nice. The least exertion left me sweaty, like going down five steps and walking to the car.

I see a BLT in my future. I may make that for dinner when Tommy comes. He is sooo happy to get a BLT. The squash casserole will go with that just fine. Well, it won't be like squash and creamed corn that I was going to serve the other day. I had cooked all the other squash and will make this ahead so I don't have to heat up the kitchen.

Yes, I comment on heat, but I really do much prefer heat to cold.

I remembered Medicare recipients can get one pair of shoes per year if the doctor prescribes them. I am quite sure sandals are not approved but I can get some closed-toe shoes for winter. By the way, Medicare is for all those 65 years. My friend who had more money than God got her free/reduced shoes from Medicare. Or, maybe they were 80% off. It is still a good deal.

Sunday

As I said earlier, I am getting shabby looking. I needed a purse. I asked Tommy if he had noticed my purse was getting worn looking. He exclaimed, "Yes!" Then, he described how it was looking worn. Now, for a man who just doesn't notice these things, this was a surprise.

Belk was having a back-to-school sale, so  I went fearing the crowd. But, I did find the next to last cart to lean on. I described the purse I wanted and the clerk found it. Perfect! It was $220. I passed on that. The only other leather one I liked was a SAK, $169. Now, that was still too high, but it was on sale.

I went to the shoe department to rest and look at shoes and ask if they carried SAS. No, they did not, but I saw $55 Clark "rubber" sandals that would be perfect for house shoes in the hospital. They could be washed off so I do not have to wear germy shoes. They were reduced to $34, still too high. Then, I saw a sign about 15% off and a 20% off coupon.

I asked about this and found out I would get an extra 15% off all purchases today and a 20% off coupon for next week. I also got a percentage off if I updated my cc. I went for all of it. I probably will use the coupons for a bra next week. Maybe I won't use it.

Then, I started thinking none of this information was given to me for the purse. I asked her if she could return it and redo it with the extra percentage off. The other clerk lost that sale. In the end, I paid $22 for the Clark's sandals. The purse was $89. I know those are outrageous prices and I should not put it on a cc. BUT, I did the best I could on the prices. Before I pay it off, the charges will be minimal. Purses were not included in the no tax weekend.

No, I cannot shop at a thrift store. AND, purses that are not leather wear out very quickly. In 1985, I bought a purse for $100 and used it for ten years. Then, I gave it to a friend who cried because she had been praying for a purse because hers had torn up. In church, she showed it off as she testified up front. She used it for at least three more years.

When you cannot walk far, you will see the problems with shopping. In the past I have found clothing, purses, and shoes in yard sales and was not too proud to buy them and wear them. I am selling things, so maybe I can pay this off next week.

Recap:
purse $169, final price $88
sandals $55 final price $22
original prices $224
sale prices $111

Maybe you disapprove my spending so much? Hey, I have cut my hair four times now!