Lanterns, Doves, Kale, Plans

 

The lantern is another Christmas gift for Tommy. The Vont lantern came two to a box. So, I got it and told him that part of that box was mine. He appears to love it when he has to go into a room without light to find something for me. Yes, he gets to go search dark rooms. 

Plus, he can hang it in the laundry room since there is no light in there. It is so much  better than a flashlight that cost $1. He also hangs it under the kitchen sink. I will tell you about that another day. He had to live forever without light before he appreciated it. Before, he said he did not even need the tiny, cheap flashlight. His lay here for months before he would use it. Sooo stubborn!

When I was in Cullman last week, I pulled into my yard as I do every time we go. Right there a few feet from the car was a dove. I loved my doves. I suppose they decided to stay at their location. Then, Tommy has doves, too. They built a nest on the water drain right under the gutters. I love doves.

In December I planted kale the woman who works for research brought me. The cover came off a few weeks ago and the kale was looking like it did not want to live. We went out Sunday and I cut kale for the potato soup that has carrots and cheese in it. The kale is tough, not sure why. I put it in salt water, but bugs were still stuck to it. Plus, there were little patches of tiny dots. I cut those off and scraped off the bugs. I was glad I did not have to buy a huge bunch of kale or any at all. I love a garden.

Tommy might have a lighter or two, probably not. But, I came upon matches and bought some. They came 20 in a box and 10 boxes to the package for $1.07. He exclaimed when he saw them, "Why did you buy SO MANY boxes?!" I am trying to get together lighting options and fire making equipment. This quest started in November.  The only candles I will use are tealights in a saucer in bathroom or kitchen sinks. I am afraid of fire. He is cavalier about candles in candlesticks. 

I do have battery-powered tealights and batteries for them, the round kind of batteries. Then, there are the fairy lights I got for Christmas. Power outages do occur. He says I worry too much. I have spent a bit over $20 so we can at least see. 

Next is a grill. I will use money earned from Amazon for that and buy a small gas grill. 

Are you prepared to have light during a power outage?

Since it is MLK Day, all my plans for calls I need to make are on hold. At least my plans for light are about done.

Bugs in the Garden and Grocery Shopping and Clothesline and John Prine Died

On Monday, I went out and picked enough Romaine for two meals since it should rain today. There were little worms everywhere and tiny clusters of tiny eggs. I brought it all in and picked off and squashed the clusters of eggs, worms, and bugs. Then, I put it in basin of water and vinegar. We left to go to Publix and Piggly Wiggly.

I left it in the sink and when I came back I realized the Romaine had been soaking all that time. Of course, it hurt nothing. Lots of once-live things were floating about. I let Tommy dry and break up his own while I brought in a bowl of diced tomato.

At Publix Beef Steak tomatoes were $4.99/lb. !!! I bought 3 tomatoes for $6.30 . We will eat a half tomato for the next three days. We will survive. Chicken on top will make  delicious salad.

How on earth did I spend $54?

Raspberry Egg $0.50
2 Wheat Thins $5/2
Boneless, skinless chicken breast $11.83 (small package w/three breasts, but huge ones)
Ruffles, Party Size--$2.64, a promotion
Beefsteak tomatoes, $3.99/lb, three tomatoes !!! $6.30 I am horrified
Domino' Granulated Sugar, 4 lb bags x 2, $2 each
Kraft Grated Parmesan, 2 for $6, bought 2
Milk Chocolate Lindt Easter Bunny $3.50 for Tommy
Easter Bunny plate, $3.50 for me
2 lbs Butter, $6 for 2 1-pound packages

Saved $14.64
Total Spent $54.20

We ate the raspberry egg in the car. The chicken and tomatoes were an exorbitant price in my book. One Easter, I bought Tommy a chocolate bunny for Easter and he was so happy, smiling and just overjoyed. I asked if that were his favorite candy. He said that he always got a chocolate bunny in his Easter basket when he was a child. So, he will be glad to see that.

Everything except for the chicken was marked down, pr bpgp. There were so few packs of any kind of chicken that I felt lucky to get that.  Eventually, I only cook with cheaply bought food. The cheap Ruffles caught my attention, my favorite chips. I eat Kraft Parmesan on spaghetti, pasta and olive oil, and salad. I have not had either of the first two for weeks. But, I eat a lot of Parmesan when I eat it.

Then, we went to Piggly Wiggly to get two gallons of vinegar for $1.74 each.

The guy next door was mowing Tommy's yard, so that made me extremely happy on Monday.  I think I will give them enough Romaine for a salad.

I walked all the way back to the clothes line. The line is rusty wire. I will get the wire covered in green plastic unless someone has a better idea. Anyone? I like hanging out clothes. At my house not one soul saw my dozen pair of huge panties on the line. Here they will unless I wash sheets and hang those on two lines around my panties.

When I grew up, Mama taught me to hang panties on inside lines. Did your mother teach you that? Do you hang your panties in plain sight or hide them?

I really spent a lot this week, but I did not have to buy Romaine or any greens for salads because I picked what would be the equivalent of about $10 in Romaine and kale and red lettuce. Of course, I never buy that much, so this will be a treat.

What do you use, type of material, do you use for your clothesline?

AND, John Prine died. Tommy has never heard of him! And, when I played "Paradise," he said he never listened to THAT kind of music. I cried.