Lately

 I spent most of Monday night in the bathroom, like peeing every ten minutes. Finally, I slept until 1 pm. It was as though I was never ill. That did not last long. Soon, I was back in the same condition--sore, brain fog,  tired, lethargic, dizzy, unsteady on my feet, achy. I feel worse every day. We go out with a few chores, and I can only last through two items on the list. 

Yesterday, the three deer sold that have been lying on the porch since earlier in the year. That got rid of the three ribbons for the necks, an eyesore in the living room. I called a nursery about purchasing trees to be planted next month. I am in the process of shopping for a new front door. The Anderson doors are not what I expected! I saw some at Lowe's that we may get. If we have time, we may shop for paint for the inside of the house.

We have fhew groceries to buy, all bogo or a good sale elsewhere. 

We are working on Auburn time. Chores need to be done so we can be home by 2:30 pm when the game starts. He will ask me what happened when he is out of the room. Who scored? I tell him there was lots of running, then yelling, and someone scored. I am not a very good reporter. 

Our neighbor died, funeral is 2 pm Monday. Tommy has a very important doctor appointment at 2 pm.  I hate to miss this funeral. 

The heat is still high but without the humidity. It is very nice outdoors even in the 90s! I suppose the story is the same most places. 

We may get mums tomorrow. That will brighten up the porch. Oh, Tommy will allow me to have flowers in the yard with the trees. YAY!

Thursday Blackberries

 When I boiled the 7 or 8 chicken breasts, I decided to season them with many seasonings. Tommy was going to bring me the little jars and a bowl for me to make a concoction of spices to dump into the pot. 

I used in varying amounts:

salt, pepper, basil, dry mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, celery seed, parsley, ground sage. I love sage-y chicken or turkey. But, that is a taste for Thanksgiving. 

Wednesday night, I had chicken and more than half a can of green beans and raw purple cauliflower. After I ate some chicken, I took the rest, shredded it and had an onion roll chicken sandwich. I put just a bit MW in it. Tommy had tomato, chicken and something else.

The chicken was not just boiled chicken. All the seasonings made it delicious, but subtle. I can add it to anything I cook. 

By the way, I love purple cauliflower. It lasts longer and stays pretty longer, both a plus. I am turned off by brown cauliflower or even bits of brown that I know is just oxidation. Since it was only $2 for a huge, fresh head, I will be looking for purple cauliflower again. 

Tonight, I am boiling potatoes for potato salad that will not be ready for dinner. Of course, I mix the onion and boiled potatoes while potatoes are hot to infuse the potatoes with onion. I still have Vidalia onions to use. 

Dinner Thursday night: bought meatballs, green beans, raw cauliflower florets. Tommy will have potatoes with onion in them. He likes this simple meal. Of course, it is just the beginning of potato salad. Dinner for me: boiled potatoes, 3 meatballs, more than half a can of green beans that were drained, soaked in fresh water, and then drained again.

Speaking of green beans, Tommy opened a can of French Cut Green Beans. I hate the French Cut. I eat them anyway. I did discover they are best in green bean casserole. Now, I have to eat the rest of these nasty beans!

Tommy picked four blackberries and brought me three. Maybe I need to freeze these until I have a cup or so to make something. Some are very bitter and some are sweet. I am not sure why the difference. They are very black and ripe. We will have five more plants for next year since five of the six cane pieces took when stuck in a pot. They still survive. He may have gotten the sixth one upside down. 

Today, Tommy saw a huge yellow butterfly visiting the flowers, especially the wildflowers and the one hummingbird feeder. Then, a hummingbird visited all the flowers and the feeder. He said he stood very still so as not to disrupt their feeding and so he could enjoy them. I enjoy seeing the bees in the clover.

Do you ever get just a couple of blackberries and save them for a larger portion for jelly, or tiny cobbler? 

Do you have a preference for cut green beans or French cut? Or, does it vary with how you eat them or in a recipe? 

Not Much, Happy Day But Nothing Exciting

 Sunday has been very quiet. Tommy was putting on his shoes when I asked him where he was going. "Out to water the flowers." As he completed the utterance, there was a crack of thunder. "Not anymore." So, rained, not a lot. We closed the door since we don't want lightning inside. After that brief rain and blustery winds, nothing else happened here all day. 

We mostly watched tv today, doing not much else, no projects. Then, we went to Publix for a couple of items. 

The Wave Petunia that sat in the laundry room all winter has many baby plants from reseeding and several flowers. The blackberries are shriveling. I think water runs off the tulle instead of going through. I must repot the lemon tree. It blows off the porch all the time because it is still in the black pot that is so light. I have plenty of pots and dirt, so we need to do it. 

Dinner was chicken, slaw and tomatoes. Not sure what Tommy ate. We ate the last of the slaw that I bought mix to make, so hopefully we will get more for coming weeks. 

Now, we are watching the Bourne movies, 1,2,4. Not sure why they skipped 3. I usually hate action movies. But, I love these. 

Fireworks started around 7 pm Sunday night, but so far at midnight, nothing. On Monday night I am sure there will be more in anticipation of Tuesday fireworks. 

We will eat what we eat, but there are no grand plans here. Hopefully, I will bake the chicken and maybe grill the steak. Maybe I will make baked beans for Tommy. If I am too tired, things won't happen. I will make pimiento and cheese and jello with fruit, one for both of us, minus bananas for Tommy. 

Have the fireworks started at your house? 

Are you going away for the 4th holiday? 

Are you cooking/grilling?

Easy Fruit Dessert

 

Back when I entertained once a month, one single guy brought the same thing in the summer. Or, maybe he brought it during other months. He would buy a bag of frozen peaches, a bag of frozen strawberries, and a bag of frozen blueberries. He usually had it out of the freezer for an hour or so before he came. At my house, it was almost ready. I had to take it out of the bags and slide each into one large bowl. By the time were through with dinner, we dipped up this frosty dessert. Mostly, it was thawed. It was delicious and easy for him.

You may want to mix fresh fruit.

Before dinner, I sliced all the squash I bought at the market and a huge Vidalia onion. My intentions were to fry the squash and onion but without dousing it in meal. I decided I had too much squash for a meal and put half the squash and half the onions in a bag for another day. Maybe I will make a small squash casserole. 

After an hour of Tommy tending squash and onions, I went in to see what was happening. Well, he had a 12 inch skillet on a 6-inch eye. NO WONDER! I put the skillet on the larger eye over his vociferous protestations. Well, it did cook a bit faster. I went in and it was on high and boiling. Finally, I called it done, not a bit of browning, not even on the onions. I drained mine on a paper towel because he used too much oil. Oh, that was the first paper towel I have used in three weeks. 

The bachelor buttons are blooming. I have a red one and a blue one. so far. Blackberries are turning red. 

It was sooo hot today. However, I was pleased. It beats cold weather any day. But, I would have been ill if I had had to be out in the heat very long. I took more recycling into Publix and bought blueberries, strawberries, keto for me, milk for Tommy and a beefsteak tomato. They for 4 for $5, a real bargain as they were huge. 

Tuesday dinner: Tommy had pork, a sweet potato, squash and onion. I had a huge salad before dinner, then chicken breast, squash and onion. We both forgot we had slaw in the refrigerator. 

The day was a very good day, even though I slept little the night before. 

Do you ever mix frozen fruit almost thawed like my friend did? What is your favorite combination of fruits for this? 

Stocking Up and Other Things

 Yesterday, I determined we would go to Cullman come hell or high water. No matter how little sleep I managed, we would go. I only slept four hours, if that.

Our first stop was the PO where I had six inches of mail waiting for me.

I have wanted to go to the store where I find the only pimiento that is grown and packed in the US. I had Tommy buy 10 of the tiny jars. That will last me for six to twelve months. Since I now add it to dishes without Tommy complaining, it might only last six months. That was my stock-up, not much, but all I had in mind right now. 

Then, I went to Publix for one thing and then did not get it. I decided to see if they had the items for which I received a rain check here. I made a mess of shopping and was exhausted when I left the store. I found Special K Original, Caffeine Free Diet Coke, and could not remember the third item, Angel Soft tp. When I saw maple syrup was reduced, I grabbed one of those. 

I checked out. I had gotten the wrong size Special K. The maple syrup rang up at the wrong price. Well, a guy up front was going to help me and got me the wrong Special K because I did not tell him what I had. And, I was mistaken about the maple syrup. The one on sale was smaller than the bottle I bought. Whew, so much to figure out. 

We had a BK sandwich and headed home. Once home, I tried to nap and could not. Usually naps are easy. 

There are two small packages of chicken breasts and the pork butt to cook, but I was not into cooking tonight. Tomorrow, the goal is to make a casserole of chicken, purple cauliflower, green beans, and pimiento and a can of soup. Plus, I need to cut the pork butt in half, freeze one half and cook the other, plus make slaw. That is the plan, but even talking about it tires me. 

Tommy was so happy to give me a 2023 dime he found Sunday under a car as he got back in his. He commented today that it was so shiny it was easy to spot. I think it was minted this week...lol. 

Tommy examined the flower he/we thought had two different kinds of flowers. He said there were two different stems side by side. They look like one. He said the leaves were different on the stems. I searched through 100 flowers and found two that looked like this one. However, none had poppy-like flowers on the same stems. I think the flower that looks like a poppy is a mallow. 

Remember I bought a new juicer and thought I had one already? Well, I took the stickers off the one I bought and washed it. Tommy was going to put it up and asked me where I wanted it to go. I told him. He came back in with two identical juicers! Yes, I did have one already. So, I put the stickers back on and put the receipt inside. I had put the labels on the back of the receipt since I just knew I already had one juicer. The clean juicer will be returned. Score! 

I had plants on the ground from porch and table after a brief and furious storm blew through here. Did you have wind or storm damage from Sunday? 

Butts, Lemons, and Impatiens

I had Tommy go back into the store with the pork butts for $1.79/lb. to see if they got more in before the ad went off on Tuesday. No such luck. He was going to get more lemons, too, but they had gone back up in price since they were on the holiday ad. 

Interested in how the lemons tasted that looked pale orange, I took one and cut it open. It was the juiciest lemon I had ever seen, and the juice was not so tart as most lemons. After a little research, I decided I had bought Meyer lemons. The bag is from Limoneira, from California. The brand seems like an upscale brand, but this grocery store is definitely not upscale, not that it matters. 

I have been checking for lemon flower buds on my Meyer lemon tree. Now, I need to juice the ones I have from the grocery. 

At the plant sale, I bought an impatiens plant. I am not crazy about impatiens, but I knew the ones I had seen had really pretty flowers, especially when viewed from afar. My impatien finally had one red or dark pink flower. Then, the leaves started turning yellow, but the yellow was in a pattern. So, I lost the panic and figured these were variegated leaves. Then, many flowers bloomed. It is beautiful.

Finally, I looked it up and found a plant just like mine. I am so happy I bought this pot because it is beautiful, not as many flowers as in the pictures, but gorgeous anyway. And, the plant was a foot tall for only $4. My flowers are not pink, well not a paler pink like in the picture at the head of this post. I love it. 

Have you ever found Meyer lemons in the produce section at any grocery? 

Do you like impatiens? My friend's impatiens reseeded every year so she never bought them again, just watched them grow. Has this been your experience? 

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. 

It Was Tuesday All Day

 I don't know what gets into Tommy some days, but he was easily irritated all day today. Over what? Anything. 

The rain that fell only lasted about 30 minutes, but it was a very hard rain with lots of wind. It almost ruined my flowers. However, it was mild rain in short spurts the rest of the day. Well, until night. I heard the wind roaring and the rain beating on everything. I wonder what my flowers will be like in the morning and how long it will take for them to recover. What happened to "April showers bring May flowers"? Today the May storms destroyed flowers. 

Tommy was happy when I remarked that he need not water the flowers today. He does it willingly, but I think a walker with big wheels would go through the grass more easily. I want to find an old one to keep outdoors. 

He washed some clothing for me. Now, before go to bed I must hang them to dry. We also need to carry the tuna to the bedroom like we were going to do yesterday. Why did I not do these chores earlier? Maybe it was the nap that interferred. 

We finished off the Mediterranean Pasta. Sooo, that means cooking tomorrow or finding leftovers in the refrigerator. I did not get mushrooms at Publix because I did not want to buy two containers as it was not bogo as I thought. 

I have 27 pages of introduction to This Side of Paradise before I can get on to the story. Do you always read the intro in books as I do? Usually, I read the intros if not always. In school I always read the intro. My professors would be very disappointed if they found out now I was skipping the intro.

Are your flowers or vegetables being beaten into the ground? Losing blossoms?

Cucumber Sandwiches and Coronation

 I am not one to watch the Super Bowl or any games for that matter. The Kentucky Derby is not a food occasion for me. But, one event will call for food...all night long. What is that?

The coronation of Charles III. Today, I took advantage of Publix sales to stock up on things that are not high carb. I will be eating all night during the coronation...lol. 

I bought celery and now have three heads in the refrigerator. Why? Because I forgot I had two heads and bought a huge, pretty head for $1.50. I suppose I need to get dicing, eating, freezing. But, I will put it in a Suddenly Salad with tuna. 

Slaw will be made to eat with chicken breast and Roma tomato. Slaw was bogo at Publix--$4 for 2.

Avocado $1

Blueberries. I have strawberries, both just to eat, no desserts with them. 

European cucumber for cucumber sandwiches. The bread will not be cut in rounds, just 1/ 4 pieces of bread. I have cream cheese.

I bought Nabisco Graham Crackers in case I need one with peanut butter. Northern TP because it was on sale. Classico Spaghetti Sauce because it was bogo.

There is tuna and Suddenly Salad here which i will make with lots of chopped celery and not all of the salty seasoning pack that comes with it. 

Tommy bought six 24-packs of Diet Pepsi and Diet Dr Pepper. He may have bought some sort of chips for him, not sure. (yes, he did)

I am very excited about the coronation. I love the tradition and pageantry. I am so glad Meghan will not be present. And, I am not a Camilla fan. There will be no debate from me on this subject. But, you may disagree. It will be a disappointment not to see all the traditional robes and accoutrements as it seems lots will be eliminated, like the knee britches and velvet robes.

On Friday night, I will go to bed after the news at 10:30 pm and have Tommy set the alarm for 3:30 pm. I plan to stay up for the pageant and will need snacks, so Friday afternoon will be spent preparing the cucumber sandwiches and Suddenly Salad.

Tonight, the ground beef did not thaw, so we will have chicken thighs, yellow squash with onions, and sliced tomatoes in our salad. There were chicken breasts in the chicken thighs I baked, so I won't have to thaw anything for myself. I need to freeze lots of the thighs tonight. I should have made Coronation Quiche. 

At 7:30 pm we went out and put the pink lemonade and lemon slice into one pot. It went quickly and Tommy put a bit more fertilizer on it and watered everything. He won't have to water this next week because it appears we will have rain every day or a chance of rain. 

Will you be watching the coronation all night long? Are you a fan of the royals? Are you having coronation food?

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

Flowers

 

                                                                          fuschia

                                                                    lemon slice calibrachoa

                                             superbells pink lemonade calibrachoa hybrid

The strange little flower at the top, the fuschia is in a 10" hanging basket. It is a strange plant that I am hoping the hummingbirds like. There are many of these flowers, but from distance it's not very showy. You sort of have to be up close.

The second two, the calibrachoa, are supposed to tolerate heat well. That is what we need out front. Both of those are in very small pots, maybe four inches.

Tommy would not even look at plants I drove to the car, and he yelled at me to buy what I want. I was so tempted to fill up cart with flowers! 

The best of all is something Tommy found. He came in and told me one of the plants overwintered and never watered had blooms all over. "The tall stems" he said. There was one stored plant that turned a translucent white, tall, round stems. Well, my plant never died, even without water! In one day, it started turning a pale green, getting darker each day. Now, I have about 30 blossoms on my Stella D' Oro! I am beyond thrilled.

My favorite color for flowers is pink, but pink needs some yellow to show it off to its best advantage. Well, that is my opinion. And, white brightens the pink. 

" 'Stella d'Oro' has all the traditional merits of other hybrid daylilies, plus a few more. It has the classic colorful trumpet-shaped flowers that individually last only one day; but rather than the normal one- to three- week bloom period typical to other daylily varieties, Stella d'Oro can potentially bloom from early May into September and October. This, combined with an unusually vigorous growth habit and very little maintenance makes Stella d'Oro the most popular cultivar in the most popular genus of all perennial garden flowers.

Stella d'Oro produces golden-yellow flowers with arching strap-like foliage that you often see planted en masse around office buildings and retail businesses, which is one reason it has now developed a reputation for being somewhat tired and overused. But when used selectively, Stella d'Oro still has a role in almost any garden design."

Today, I went to the oncologist ob/gyn. We went to Lowe's afterwards. I had lots of plans and ambitions on the way home. Then, I sat down in my soft chair. 

I wish I had more of the pink lemonade and lemon slice calibrachoa because these are small and not showy enough. But, they were $6 each, so that would have been too much to spend. They are also small, so it would take two or three more to put into a pot. 

Since we watched the news, we did not cook. I had meatloaf planned. But, he had turkey, a bit of green beans and a salad. I had Hormel's Roast Beef and Gravy, Romaine, and a whole can of green beans, minus two tiny spoonsful that Tommy ate. I picked up the Romaine leaf and bit off it. I was in a hurry to watch the Carol Burnett special--Carol Burnett: Laughter and Love. I actually remember many of those skits and costumes. 

Now, I need to fold the kitchen linens. Did you watch the special? What have you done today? What do you plan for tomorrow? What is your favorite color flower? Favorite flower?

Wednesday and a New Project

 This day was a perfect day. The skies were pretty and the temperature was in 80s. We had two things to do. We picked up my book that was lost in the house. My friend wrote it--To Live and Die in Alabama, by Stephen Edmondson. Unfortunately, they gave the paperback instead of the hardcover I ordered. 

Then, we went to Sam's Club, bought a few things and returned home. The bulkiest, heaviest item we bought was the wrong size. So, that will be another trip. I am bummed about that. Tommy needed milk and checked the price which was cheaper than stores we frequent. 

We had a slice of Sam's pizza and diet drink in the car. It was not much of a car picnic since we ate in Sam's parking lot. I just did not want to drive to a shady place. It worked. We ate. Tommy wanted to half a piece which was okay with me. But, he wants the meat pizza, four kinds in this case. That really grosses me out. Plus, I am allergic to something in pepperoni. 

He took the scenic route home from Homewood, whatever the scenic route is. 

We are really good at shopping together, with neither of us causing a problem driving around the store. We load the huge cart efficiently with both of us moving things about with no disputes about what goes where. He was in a peaceful mood today. It was fun. 

He got his taxes done, getting a refund of $1K from fed and almost $100 from the state of AL. He was annoyed he had overpaid so much and said he needs to figure out what to do to pay less next year. 

Yesterday, I had Tommy bring me a baking pan for my lap, then a pot of dirt. I planted two packets of seeds in it. He watered it yesterday. Hopefully, something will come up. I planted Bachelor Buttons and Alyssum, both free packets from the Ag Center. Any flowers I get will please me. He watered it today, too, all the plants. I hope the birds don't decided to eat the seeds. I will put a fake snake near it. 

I heard on TV that seniors can get even more of a reduction on taxes even with the homestead exemption. He argued with me and then I heard it again. So, now I will enter the information online. He is always eager to save money. 

Today, I got out my hot pink sandals and felt happy wearing them. I am silly that way...lol.

My new project overshadows all plans I have. I know a college student who needs help. He failed last semester because he lost his ride to school. And, he is homeless. So, I have contacts that will help him figure it all out. He needs a car and a place to live permanently. However, he holds down a fulltime job. He is a non-traditional student. I have talked with someone who can get him through the process of regaining his grant. I have taken on the task of getting him in a car. I have contacts, old as they may be. My mind has been whirring. This kind of thing energizes and excites me. I can advocate for someone else much better than for myself. 

This was an excellent Wednesday, excellent day. For dinner I had a thin, tiny slice of ham and a huge plate of slaw from a mix. The cabbage is chopped in little squares, instead of being shredded. Tommy had rest of the ground beef, zucchini, and some of the same slaw. I had half a banana, strawberries, and blueberries today. A huge box of blueberries was fairly cheap at Sam's and they are huge. 

Tommy found my bluebird I made, so tomorrow I can repaint it and hang it along with the hummingbird feeders. 

How was your Wednesday or any other day? 

The mower did not come as scheduled. grrr. He will come when he can. I lay down for a nap thinking he would wake me with his work. But, instead, I had a nice nap. 

Do you ever garden in your lap?

 

.

Disappointed

 I actually feel like I am going to die! But, that is not all the reason for not posting. 

I finally heard from the stress test. No heart blockages or any problem with arteries. Instead of calling me in 3-5 days, it was almost two weeks with me calling several times inquiring. I am not happy about the delay.

Now, I have to see how long it takes for follow-up appointment. I had changed eating habits which were not horrible, but now are better over last two years. I have plans for changing two more things--using more healthful dressing for salads and going back to natural peanut butter. 

We went back to OM in Cullman and I got another laptop. This one has color that is off, too. The color of the screen right now is my fault, and I will fix it. So, set to exchange this one for different. better and more expensive laptop.

I ordered grow lights to grow Romaine indoors. Tomorrow, I will plant wildflowers outside in flowerpots. I have a postcard to put in a pot. The postcard has embedded wildflower seeds. I have five seed balls to plant. I gave Lynda one and cleaner will get one tomorrow, so three for me. This will be fun.

Tomatoes and squash are back on the agenda since we love both. 

At Chicken Salad Chick I was given the wrong chicken salad a few weeks ago. Finally, I called and the manager said to bring in the receipt. I did and that manager was gone. So, I got whole new meal from interim manager--Classic Carol scoop and loaded baked potato soup. Tommy got an Arby's Roast Beef. 

Saturday, I finally got in touch with Zaxby/s and my salad with just breading and tiny pieces of that was replaced. The manager replaced Tommy's meal, too and gave me a drink even though I told her I did not order a drink. So, no need to think about dinner on Saturday. 

There is still no response from my new endocrinologist I have never seen. So, I am moving on to a new, new endocrinologist. I am so swollen I am afraid. 

And, another doctor wrote me a prescription for a med I assured him I could not take! When will it end? 

By the way, my tacky, stupid, waste-of-time "crafts" paid my bills for several years, but it is too bad people cannot understand using these items destined for the trash and transformed into items people treasure. Yes, I had people write me years later praising my treasures. No one is throwing them into the trash. Actually, I rescued materials from the trash. Now, I make wooden birds from scrap wood. 

We could barely see out the car window because of pollen today. So, Tommy will need to clean it every day, but he will probably resist! I had him get Claritin for me when he went into Publix. He came back with the only type they carried--chewable/dissolvable. I touched it to my tongue to see the flavor. Yuck--peppermint, so I just swallow it with water. I certainly could not bear to have it dissolve in my mouth.

My allergies are starting to act up. Are your allergies bothering you? 

On the way to Cullman, 55+ miles along the interstate, all the trees were a tender green, just barely leafing. The Bradford Pear trees are blooming like crazy, and the woods are edged with redbud trees, looking like tatting along the edge of pulled work. 

This typing has exhausted me. And, this color is annoying. 

The End of Something

I saw an advertisement for Nearly Natural Faux Plants. I liked the name of the company and loved this plant which I will love but not embrace.

Around noon, I heard something on the porch. We both guessed it was a box from UHC; it was. I received the final purchases made yesterday over the phone using the last of my $150 food/otc/utility allowance.

I received:

Deep Words OFF

Lotrimin (Why did I order this?)

1000 Q-tips

Centrum Silver Vitamins for Men over 50 (200)

Received earlier:

Bayer low-dose enteric aspirin

Neosporin

Oximeter

Vitamin D

So, that is the end of it, free money. Along with my groceries from yesterday, these were my benefits for $150. I suppose I have 1000 Q-tips already, so this should be a lifetime supply. I already have this many here. If I had stayed with this program, I would have gotten these benefits every month. 

I mended more dishcloths. We filled and started the dishwasher. Tommy washed dark clothes for me to hang inside. We put a turkey breast in the oven to roast. I feel a smidgen better, but then any exertion slams me.

Today and yesterday were cold with brisk winds. Brrr! As I felt so horrible, it hurt me. But, the sun part of the day was nice. It seems strange there is snow and ice in other places. Some of the trees have very swollen buds which is a nice promise. 

How is Spring coming along at your place? Swollen buds on trees? 

What is happening at your place? Plans?

One-Chore Day

 Monday, I awoke feeling well in one way and awful in another. I slept well for over nine hours. However, I felt like I needed to get an inhaler immediately! 

We both ate a very late breakfast, the rest of the news, and one episode of Gunsmoke. We needed to collect my pink sandals he bought back in September. Well, I had returned two other pair and finally got these. 

Traffic was wild and it was a long way to the SAS store. I got them and we headed home. I did stop at a store and found a few things, nothing spectacular. 

That is our day--nothing exciting. 

Tommy can now take the sheet off the flowers. He removed the sheet after the first freezing of several predicted freezing nights. He thought the sheet had to be removed every morning. No, just plastic bags. The hummingbird feeders and my black bird came down. It is so bare out in front of the house.

For dinner I am having turkey/tomatoes/salad, half a banana. Tommy is having turkey, slaw, and grapes. 

The exciting part may come after the Antiques Road Show....I am considering making cornbread which means I might make homemade dressing instead of Stovetop Stuffing. 

Tuesday will be a many-chore day. 

Have you noticed the traffic on roads and in stores is much heavier? 

What did you have for dinner?

The Rest of Wednesday and Thursday

 Monday or Tuesday, forgot which, I roasted the turkey breast. Wednesday night, very late, I felt in the big freezer for what might be a mass of poultry since I could not see in the bottom of the freezer. I pulled out a young chicken. So, it is in the refrigerator, thawing. I will probably pull it out on Saturday and put it in the big pot, cover it with water and let it sit in the sink to thaw, refreshing the water often. 

I still believe there is at least one turkey in the big freezer! At any rate, there will possibly be a sale on turkey breasts. And, I need to cook these meats since they have been in the freezer for a bit. 

Wednesday night, I pretreated two red blouses for Tommy to wash on Thursday morning. 

Wednesday night, well after dark, he finally took steps to save my plants. He said he moved them all to the porch against the brick wall and covered them with a sheet. Then, he covered the concrete bunny with a plastic bag. I think the pansies will survive the cold, but he loves them. So, I did not object. I begged him last week when it was in the 80s to help me put them somewhere for the winter. At least it is done, but I hate he had to work in the dark and cold! 

Wednesday, I bought raspberries, 3/$10. I thought I checked them well. However, when I got home, one was rotten and the other had mold. So, that goes back Thursday morning. I am writing this late Wednesday night. Tommy has rewritten the list without all the stuff we bought. He put my list today on two tiny sheets of paper about 4" x 4". Who does that? I had trouble holding onto them in the store. 

Thursday night's dinner will be the rest of the beef and baby carrots, broccoli, and tomato. Of course, it is still Wednesday, so I could change all that. There is diced chicken and ground beef that needs to be eaten first, so he said he would eat those, maybe for lunch and maybe for dinner, one or the other. Neither of us wants to waste anything. He is cooperative like that. 

While I was retrieving the chicken, I found some brown bread, the small loaves from Outback. I am to the point we will need bread in about two days, so I will pull that out and eat it instead of storing it and buying more. Obviously, I am decluttering the freezer. I originally put it in the freezer because I cannot eat it fast enough to prevent some of it from molding. And, Tommy does not like it. 

Wednesday night, Tommy told me that while he was in Publix, a woman came by with only six items in her cart--four turkeys and two hams. He thought it was strange/funny that someone would buy so many turkeys and hams. I assured him that lots of people stock up on cheap protein. Turkeys are $0.48/lb at Public with no other purchase required and no coupons or limits. He was surprised at the low estimate I thought she bought. 

Wednesday night, we stayed up until after 4 am to watch the 1948 version of The Three Musketeers. Chances are, I could not have slept, anyway. And, I was up until after sunrise. ugh!

Today, I drug out a wad of Tommy's dark socks. I had him go through them and tell me which could be donated and which could not. He said they all had holes. So, he took them for me and put them in cleaning supplies. I can use the Swiffer tool to clean cobwebs off the ceiling by putting the end through the hole. A spritz of Endust will make a good dusting tool even better. The socks can be tossed after use. Plus, box is empty. 

Thursday Now

I took back the raspberries and got two more boxes. Nope. Still nasty and slimy. I will take them back on Friday!

While at Publix returning two boxes of raspberries, I bought other things, forgot what now. 

I sent to a second store and had a great visit. I asked for someone to get heavy boxes of drinks. A young guy was sent with me. We both went back to the register. While I was in line, I looked over the head of a woman who was maybe 4' 8" and said, "Could you please help me get one of the cartons onto the counter?" The cashier only needs one to scan.

The tiny woman in front of me turned and said, "Oh, sure," as she bent to get the heavy drinks. I was flustered and objected, "Oh no, not you, I was not asking you. I was asking the tall young man behind you." She kept on leaning and picking up the drinks while I was saying this. I thanked her and said I would never have asked her. I did not tell her it was because she was old and short. I told her I was glad that she was so able. She commented that she thought she was lucky to be in such good health. 

I noticed the cashier was ringing up my items and was annoyed she did not seem to finish this woman's items first. The cashier beamed at me and told me that here was my receipt. I was a little stunned she was giving me the other woman's receipt. The short woman said, "Why don't you just give me my receipt, smiled at the cashier who was then flustered. 

Laughing, I said well did you pay for mine? The short woman said, yes, I did. Then, I was confused and looked at the cashier and asked her if the woman did. She assured me the woman did. I objected, saying I was just kidding and told the short woman I certainly did not mean for her to pay for my groceries. The short woman said two people had done things very nice for her, and she was just paying it forward. Well, that was an excellent surprise. My groceries were about $25. I had just given away about $10 worth of food to someone outside the store. 

The next store was a nightmare, very cold. At this store I have to walk inside to get a cart, something that is too far to be any form of easy. When I came to the register, the woman unloaded the few groceries I had and checked them. I told her I would need someone to take them out. You also cannot take the cart outside the store! She said I could transfer them into a buggy and push them myself. No, I told her, I cannot. So, she called for someone just as four women employees had an angry pow wow over my cart of groceries and my cart. 

Finally, I said for the third time, quietly and not demanding at all, "I need someone to take my groceries to my car. One woman exploded at me and said, "Well, she is trying to get to the phone to call someone." How did I know this? No made a move to get around me, and no one asked me to move! So, I moved quickly to roll out of the way. Finally, I said I was going to the car. One woman said angrily to the other three, I hope, that she was going home as she could not take it anymore. Geesh! 

AND, we got home before it got dark. I found the new raspberries need to be taken back, and plopped in the chair to watch the news. Finally, the time to start dinner arrived. It was a black moment. For the last few days, I have had no cheese. And, one day, I saw a can of tomato soup. I asked Tommy if he would like tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. He did! Whoopee!

I hate the whole idea, ate my grilled cheese with relish and then ate soup in a cup, less than four ounces. So, we will have vegetables and fruits later. Ssdo, soup and sandwich are not my thing. I remember pb and honey sandwich and tomato soup. I don't know where that combination is from. 

Tommy covered lots of plants under one sheet and covered the pansies with plastic. When I saw the forecast, I told him to leave the sheet on until the forecast was not for freezing temps.

I still have a bad taste in my mouth from Tomato soup. Yuck.

We have started watching ELF, a movie I have never seen. The intro was hilarious. Bob Newhart was great as usual. 

I think my tomato soup would have been better with crackers like I ate it when I was a child and never as a meal! 

The only thing I need for Thanksgiving is some of the cheap brown and serve rolls, the kind with a crease in the top. Nothing else, no other kind will do. I would rather go without and don't need them for a good meal. Next week's shopping will to be for loss leaders, things that will be for Christmas or next year--stocking up.

We will rework our list tonight.

Have you seen ELF?

Do you like the cheap brown n serve rolls or do you go for something a little more fancy? 

Thursday Mail Bonanza

We went to The Pig to get our $0.98/24 bottles of water. Of course, I was going to have to think of what I wanted after we arrived, except for milk. There was a gallon of milk for $0.99 because the date was Sept 23. This is Tommy's milk. So, I got that reduced gallon and another at full price. Something I wanted but did not get other times was 100% black cherry juice. When I was ill, Tommy drank all of the last jug! I did not really mind. But, I only had about a half-cup or less serving. 

When the milk does go sour, I told him he could try it with chocolate milk. He said nothing. He may rebel when the moment comes to taste it...lol. I told him I left milk on the counter to make buttermilk and buttermilk did not kill anyone. Since he hates buttermilk, this reasoning probably left him cold.

Then, I remembered that chow I saw last week was over $5, so was left behind. This week, I found chow chow made from Vidalia onions. So, I will try this. Once, I ate so much chow chow and blackeyed peas that I had such an allergic reaction that my face swelled so I could not see my ears. And, my ears were swollen and sticking out. My nose and lips were freakish looking. So, I will eat this judiciously. Squash, Kool Aid, Concord mix for roasted potatoes rounded out my order. 

Since I have succulents here hardening off and ready to "plant," I cannot locate my potting mix for succulents, so I bought another small bag for cactus plants. I suppose it will work. Since I actually found a cart, I shopped...lol. Now, I have purple prince tulips and allium bulbs. I bought my third can of red spray paint for my wooden cardinals. It is going back, I think, before I try it. My concrete bunny planter has a new yellow pansy. I used a store card from previous returns and then Tommy's Lowe's card. It works for me. Now, I have planting ahead for October. 

When I passed the drink box, I was seized, seized, I tell you, with the notion of getting a Diet Mt. Dew! I never have this reaction in any other store even though I pass cases with bottles of Mt. Dew, frosty-cold and ready to drink. I have no idea why I do this in Lowe's. Anyway, Tommy and I drank it, mostly me. 

When he brought in our loot, he went to the mailbox and came in, saying the mailbox was stuffed! And, it was "and all for you", five packages. I started with the four small packages, not so exciting as there were four Covid tests. Then, I came to the goodie. 

T sent me a Barbie Doll. It has the high heels, and a thicker waist and long, lustrous, blond hair, and is dressed in a cute sundress. Her hair is silky, not hard like the original hair. I think I will make her a new dress, using scraps or fabric from another garment. While I am at it, I will make a pattern. This one will be stitched by hand. I am so tickled by this doll! Thank you. I looked at all the different dolls advertised on her box insert, some in wheelchairs, with prosthetic, and other different shapes from the tortured original. I still would like an original, so not saying she is not something I would like, but am thrilled to have a different type Barbie. Thank you, T.,  And, I still owe you that email from a month ago.

One thing I wonder--with so many body iterations, how will pattern manufacturers be successful in making patterns to sell for the correct body. She is #181. This is another thing I will have to research. I don't need a pattern, but some people might. The fabric of her dress is stretchy, so hard to get a pattern wrong. Plus, I am intrigued by the closure in the back--very soft Velcro. I will have to look for this new Velcro. 

When I handed Tommy the doll still in a plastic tray, he said, "My god, the neck!" He has heard from me and others the problems with bodies of Barbies and reality. Her cute pink sunglasses will come off, but I won't remove the glasses or leave her lying around naked like little girls do so often. 

It was 96F today, hotter than yesterday, but today I did not sit in the car with the windows down for over an hour, trying to hear a program. Today started cloudless and sunny, but by 3 pm a few clouds gathered, then it was cloudy and by 3:30 a spitting of rain. Now, at 5 pm, the sun is back out and the rays are beautiful. 

I really want planters for the succulents but will not buy a new planter. I am going to use some of the old plastic containers Tommy had and did not want that I saved for gardening. Since these cuttings are so tiny right now, I will plant more than one to a container and later put in larger containers. If I ever get to a thrift store, I know I can find succulent planters or something that is appropriate. This succulent thing is something I need to learn more about care and feeding. Not watering much is a rule that I do know. Just laying the leaf or cutting on top of the soil is another thing I know, but the rest is a mystery. I do hope at least one of these cuttings will result in a Christmas Cactus.

The new Hawaiian that was free with a coupon is not very good to me. Tommy likes it. I will eat it but intend to go right back to the bread I love when it is gone. Since I have too much bread and we don't eat much and have some in the freezer, we are going to give one loaf, free to us with a coupon, to a neighbor. 

Today, we were going to an appointment 100 miles away, but since I slept two hours, I had Tommy take my phone and cancel it. So, I suppose the two lovely nights of sleep were what I thought--a fluke. But those nights gave me hope. The appointment is rescheduled. 

Today was a great day! When I went outdoors to put bread on chair for friend to get, my hair was blown all around by a gentle breeze that was neither warm nor cool. My hair is finally getting long again after butchering it months ago. The blowing about gently was proof. 

Dinner was cube steak dredged in egg and flour with a choice of sweet potatoes, carrots, mashed potatoes, or a salad with tomato. Tommy said he had never had cube steak it like this, but just fried. If he had not seen the egg and flour and my working with it, he would not have believed it had eggs and flour on it before frying--Tbsp of oil in non-stick skillet. I doubt he knew what he ate in all these friends, relatives, and at eating establishments he said had never prepared it with eggs and flour. Tonight, he was standing in the kitchen watching as he microwaved the store sweet potatoes. I have eaten cube steak with gravy, on a bun like a burger, and mushroom gravy over cube steak. How do you eat cube steak?

Zucchini and Potato Casserole Recipe

 Casserole Recipe Here

While I have not tried this recipe, I put it here to save it. When I can get more zucchini, I will make this casserole. I think I would slice the zucchini a bit thicker and the potato thinner. I might alter the sauce. It is a video and has sound, so beware when you open it. 

The recipe certainly calls for a mandoline, but I am so terrified I will not use the one I bought years ago. Do you use a mandoline? Are you afraid of it? I have gloves that help prevent cuts, but I am still afraid.

Wednesday, the other pork butt came out of the crockpot and straight into the freezer--eight servings. Tommy picked the meat from fat. There was not much fat, so the rest is liquid turning solid in the crockpot. My friend picked up both bones and the fat for her dog. So, nothing went in trash. The liquid/fat in crockpot still sits. No, he said he removed the liquid.

The first pork butt was either eaten on Monday and Tuesday or frozen. I forgot what, but two packages of meat are thawing in the refrigerator. Tommy is afraid we will get too much meat in the freezer. He wants me to quit buying it...lol.  

Thursday, I will share my newly acquired seed packets with Lynda. Unfortunately, I only have two duplicates. I might even open the packets that I only have one in order to share those with her. Can I grow a pumpkin in a flower pot? 

We had ground beef for dinner. Tommy had sweet potato, and corn. I had slaw and corn. Since I bought two bags of cole slaw mix, the second bag will be made for Thursday or Friday night. We may want to finish the lettuce/salad mix first. 

Are you a fearless mandoline user?

Laundry Fail, Pork Loin, Flowers

 Tommy wanted to go and have his oil changed Thursday and asked me what time I wanted to get up--"11 am." Well, that was a mistake since I could not sleep until 8 am. I was too keyed up, I suppose, from cooking and being busy so late. Or, whatever. 

I felt awful. But, I ate breakfast and dressed and was like a zombie going to the car. I had to hold on with both hands to get down the ramp. 

The oil change was quick because there was no one ahead of us. That was a relief. Tommy wanted to get Big Macs, so we did. 

Lowe's was in my sights. The only thing I found that I wanted to buy was two hanging brackets and a six-pack of Wave Petunias. I got outside and realized I bought the wrong color, sort of peachy when I wanted pink! They will go in my big wire chicken. 

At home, I needed to nap but was too tired. I watched the news, folded my towels and washcloths. Then I cut six zucchini in large pieces, peeled four red potatoes, put all in a cooking bag and plopped an Apple Bourbon pork loin on top. It is in the oven cooking right now. That's dinner for two days. The pork loin was small, but maybe there will be some of it left for one of us to eat for a dinner. It might go in the freezer. 

The potatoes I just peeled are beautiful, not a rotten spot or little black spot in the four for dinners. I just bought red potatoes for $4.99 for five pounds. That price will be cheap considering how many rotten potatoes I threw away. At last.

Tommy watched me put the vegetables and loin into the cooking bag. He also saw I put no seasoning on the vegetables. I know the meat seasoning will be all we need. He is seeing things my way on less sodium on our food. I keep reading him excerpts from Salt Wars by Jacobson. 

A jacket in a load of black laundry had a tissue that shredded all over everything. UGH! Tommy took it all out and picked off the residue and shook the pieces. I was very aware of needing to check the pants pockets and did. Why not the jacket? Because I am exhausted.

I quit using the inhalers because I was afraid they were adversely affecting me. I was a bit better when I stopped and have not regressed. So, hopefully, I will continue to improve...well, if I can get some sleep.

Nothing, seeds or bedding plants or flowers have been planted. I am afraid to get out the little greenhouse and use it because of the dirt I would subject myself to breathing. I may look out through the door and tell Tommy how and where to put dirt and how to plant and transplant. When I guide him, somehow he does not feel he is gardening. Same with the cooking. 

Rats! I forgot to put a red onion in the cooking bag. And, the potatoes are cooking unpeeled. Tommy hates them unpeeled. But, he can peel it on his plate.

What are you going to plant this weekend or planted last weekend? Do you like potatoes with the peels on? 

It's That Time of the Year

 I awoke hot this morning. Not only did I have a quilt and wool blanket on me, the room was hot and I had the quilt pulled tight under my neck! So, I started getting sick again, sort of a relapse. I need the ac on for my lungs. I need the quilt and wool blanket so the ac won't be too cold. I know--it is complicated but works for me. I did not need a nap today and felt mostly fine. 

When I got to my chair, the ac was cooling the air, so my lungs quickly recovered, almost. The bedroom is so hot when the weather is nice. In the winter it is cold, but I can bundle up. I get up now and Tommy has on a jacket with a hood, and the hood is up and tightened. His chair is right next to an air vent. I wish my chair was there. The bedroom is the coldest bedroom or any room in the house and the hottest. Gaaa

Tonight, we watched The Weakest Link. I hate that show and the woman, but Tommy loves both. Tonight, we watched a woman win who said that a yard has 20 inches. She helped vote off a man who had not missed a question at all, a perfect record. I hope the people she voted off beat her up afterwards. The dumb contestants always gang up and vote off the smarter people. Skill has little to do with winning!

I cooked four pre-made burgers. I had buns but the rest are molded. Two burgers go into the freezer. There was a pork loin thawed to cook, too. We had salad and steamed zucchini with garlic and olive oil. 

Plans were for me to cook the six sweet potatoes in the oven along with the pork loin. I almost made cupcakes today and frosted them...lol. We went for a drive instead. The sky was blue and the huge fluffy white clouds were beautiful. 

Today, Tommy collected the old roach baits and put down new ones. I am bound and determined to never have roaches again! As much as he was okay with roaches, he is now wanting to help keep them away. 

The six boxes of Wheat Thins arrived yesterday evening. I had planned to open one each month which would have made these last until November. Then, I wondered about the use-by date since I did not want them to be rancid. Wouldn't you know, the best-by date was the end of November. Lucky me. 

We saw the one hummingbird one time and no more. I wonder why. Tomorrow, I will wash it refill it and put out all the feeders filled. 

I want a plant for a hanging basket that can endure the heat and full sun after noon. What can you recommend? 

Do you have hanging flowers? Where do they hang?