Decorating Thoughts

 Since I decided to put fairy lights in my red kiss candy dish instead of candy, I had to buy fairy lights. They finally came. When I put the whole string in the red kiss, it was magical. Of course, there has to be a stinker in the mix. One set, the first set in which I put batteries, was faulty. One of the little spring coils on which the battery end rests was missing. So, since they were ordered in a box of two, I had to return both. 

I found construction paper that had 12 sheets of red and 12 sheets of green to make a chain like we made when we were kids. Tommy insists we use every color of paper. Who does that? It's certainly spoiling the idea of having a paper chain for Christmas! 

Tomorrow, I will get out the door wreath and start the little decorating we will do. The red kiss will be here when I get fairy lights.

Tonight, we watched The Great American Christmas Light Fight. It was wonderful. There are four contestant each hour. The best Christmas lights win. I am always full of inspiration after we see this program every year. Of course, the idea quickly dies after considering I don't have the stamina or youth to do all this decorating on the roof, not to speak of the lack of money.  One year, I did enter the Christmas decorating contest in the town where we lived. I made elves and decorated the swing set in the front yard. 

A wealthy and influential man won for just sticking the back end of Santa out of a second store window with a little balcony. People all over town called or told me in person they had complained to the powers that be and said I should have won. We moved and I never tried that again, probably because I never saw that any town had that contest. 

Sunday night, I measured out the spices for the sweet potato bread. I may measure the flour and sugar tonight...lol. I will get it done one day. I promised Lynda some, so need to just bake it. She is very understanding. Besides, I told her that I would be slow getting it done. 

Part of decluttering is thinking and planning. I have determined to put glass baking dishes and glass cereal bowls and glass storage dishes in an upper two cabinets. I had put three colanders in these cabinets, but I believe the glass will be better up there instead of on a chair! The colanders can go into a bottom cabinet where we both can reach them. Neither of us can get very low. 

My air fryer will go on the curb with a "free" sign. I used it twice and the drawer will not close. So, it is just taking up space! That was a waste of money. 

When I fell, I hurt the knee that was the uninjured knee. But, my shoulders with rotator cuff injuries both hit. Now, my left shoulder is in agony. I thought Tommy was going to have to help me get my t-shirt off today. Lots of other spots on my body have that "slammed to the floor" feeling, but it is my left shoulder and left knee that still are in significant pain. 

We watched "White Christmas" tonight. I loved it!

The grocery ads don't seem to have much to interest me this week. But, I have not looked at the Piggly Wiggly ads yet. 

Today was another beautiful day. I love these days, not dark and not too cold. 

How was your weekend? What is happening in your world? Did you take advantage of Cyber Monday?

Plans Changed Multiple Times Today

 I had a good plan until it was not a good plan due to my mistake. The plan Friday morning was to buy bscb at Publix today. Then, I decided why not eat the half of the turkey breast reserved for our eventual Thanksgiving meal and buy a new breast cheaply for $1.49/lb. and thaw it. The plan was a good one until I found a turkey breast at Publix for over $32. It seems the ones for $1.49 are gone, sold. Or, the price was only through Wednesday. 

The chicken breasts were an exorbitant price, nothing I wanted to pay. We went to another Publix. No turkey breasts at $1.49. I bought milk for Tommy, and we headed home. I was exhausted and the sun was low in the sky. 

We sat in the park for about 15 minutes and talked. I made a new plan. We would go home, and I could search the freezer. That plan was working until lots of frozen rocks fell from the freezer quite an avalanche. Since I could not read what was on the packages because of no light near the freezer, I called Tommy. He took the large package over to the sink where there is a measly light, and read it--a whole chicken. So, it went into the refrigerator to thaw. I did not hurt as much as I thought I would.

The things that fell out were meatloaf and field peas, among other things. I was rushing to see The Great Christmas Light Fight. We hurried and heated meatloaf, leftover sweet potatoes, and field peas for dinner. We had three minutes to spare. Then, he realized he read the wrong thing and The Great Christmas Light Fight was not coming on. Bummer. 

We watched Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. I love that song and movie. Now, we are watching It's a Wonderful Life. I have to see this once every year. 

While I was picking frozen food off the floor, I found two chicken legs, so that is thawing as a meal or two for Tommy. A package with two hoagie buns will be eaten, probably by Tommy with peanut butter on them. I need to go check and see if something is hiding in the dark that escaped from the freezer.

There are two great gaps in the freezer that are for turkey breasts when I find ones that are cheap again.

I did not get the sweet potato bread baked. Maybe I will bake it tomorrow evening. Don't hold me to it. I told Lynda I might bring her some on Wednesday. I told her it would be Thursday, and then Friday. This evening, I told her it would be baked someday. I will be glad when my sense of taste recovers. 

I piddled at decluttering and picking up bits of trash from the table beside me. Yes, we can tell a bit of difference. 

The fall--my knee collapsed quite a few times on Thanksgiving. So, I used my cane. Today, the collapsing and almost falling stopped. My hand and shoulders hurt. I appear to be recovering nicely and I can still bend my left knee, something I could barely do before I fell. I am achy in places, but not really hurt except for the left knee pain. 

What movies or specials do you love to watch each holiday season?

Sick Again

 

Tommy did test me. It did not go well for him. When I am ill, just stop with the nit-picking!

On Sunday night, I slept a good 7 hours, took a 4 or 5 hour nap, and then slept with my recliner back for an hour. 

I had a huge knot on my neck, lymph node, I suppose. I felt so ill, feverish. And, then he went too far. I did not sleep all night long and was in here at about 7 am. My temp is up a steady two or three degrees. I ache. My neck hurts. 

We drove two miles to Publix and back. I wanted eggs and he got Chips Ahoy cookies, too. I felt so awful. But, I can put the turkey breast in the oven. Right? No, it was still frozen mostly. I let water run into the plastic bag sealing it and went to bed at 6 pm and told Tommy to call me at 6:30 pm and I would put the breast into the oven. I finally got up at 8:30 and got it into the oven by 9:30. It will be done at 11:30 pm, so I can eat a bit and get it back into the refrigerator for freezing tomorrow. 

Tommy did everything, handed me everything while I leaned on the sink, never moving, just handling the breast. He handed me cooking bag, dish towel, salt, pepper, ground sage, pan; celery. broccoli, carrots from refrigerator. Then, he put it in the oven and turned it on. I know I should pre-heat! 

Before I got up, he ate chopped chicken on a salad. This is why I keep plenty of options in the refrigerator for him--I don't have to be present for him to eat a healthy meal, and he does not eat junk.  

Oh, I don't have to worry about the cornbread Stovetop Stuffing since Tommy threw it out. Obviously, he did not like it. 

Monday, I had an appointment for an MRI. I cancelled. Of course, I could have napped in the machine. I have done that before. 

Nothing says Christmas like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I love it. I think I will have a cup of hot chocolate since I am freezing. Between being cold and body aches, I am just miserable. 

The pink bag of ads and coupons came today. We made a list of what we need, want, and might buy.  I don't want to be in crowds and fighting to get around in multiple stores to find what I need at the last minute. I will list the sales tomorrow. 

Have you gotten the ads for this week? Any good deals/sales at your stores? What classic holiday movies do you enjoy?