Friday Chores and How They Went or Did Not

 I made a list. Did I do everything on it? No. Did I get most of it done? NO way! I did not even come close. 

The list:

Figure out my yahoo email password

Get DexcomG6

Call Lynda

Call someone to get help cleaning

Put tag on my car

Wash black clothes

Plant tulips

cook and freeze cranberries

Wash and dry clothes.

Pay three bills by phone.

Mail cards

Ignore the strikethrough from here on out. It won't go away. Okkkaay! It only took about 20 tries, and I am not exaggerating. 

I only got one card mailed, but I am counting it as it was for a friend who beat cancer after major surgery. Tommy washed and dried the kitchen linens, so I guess that one is for him. 

I did deadhead one ugly mum when it was almost totally dark. I am hoping that will cause it to flower again. Tomorrow, I hope to do the other one. 

More chores would have been done if not for me. I went to the bedroom for something and had two boxes of cards in my hands. I saw the bed and decided to lie down for a minute for my back. Then, I decided to cover up. So, maybe I will lie on my left side. Oooh, the covers feel good around my neck. And, I woke two and a half hours later. Well, I only got 4 hours sleep on Thursday night. 

After we dropped off my letter and two for Tommy, we went to Publix. I looked at the wrong ad and went for Miracle Whip. I did buy 4 jars of Planter's lightly salted Peanuts bogo, Russell Stover sugar free stevia peanut butter cups, Northern Tp Purple wrapper bogo, Rumford reduced sodium baking powder. Then, I went wild and bought sourdough bread to cook a home. Of course, I needed bananas. I did pay an exorbitant price for French's Fried Mushrooms for the green bean casserole.

Tommy likes peanuts and it keeps him from eating things bad for him. Now, I have the French's fried onions and won't worry about anyone running out, even though I paid a lot and know they will be lower. I have green beans for $0.69/can, and soup for $1 can. Tommy just wants the green bean casserole, so he spends to get it. 

Then, I went crazy and bought an expensive loaf of sourdough bread to cook at home. It is the best sourdough I have ever eaten.

When DST ends this weekend, the days will be so short. That makes me depressed thinking about it! 

Saturday, it will be very rainy and windy. We will stay in. I might do a few things on the list tomorrow. Or, I can make a new list of strictly indoor chores. 

One Saturday project I forgot. I will fix Lynda a bag of food since she is not working again. We will deliver it to her on Saturday if it quits raining or on Sunday. Maybe I will bake the sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving and freeze them. I will mash bananas to freeze for banana bread. 

What does your weekend hold for you? Are you ready for DST? Do you wish we would just keep it?

Surprise Item Shopping

 Despite gloomy weather some days, and rain drizzling for hours, there has been beautiful sunshine on those same days. We do sit in the park for about 30 minutes to an hour each day. The hummingbirds are still here, delighting us with their antics. We have a large shepherd's hook and a smaller one I bought at a yard sale for $3. Actually, it was a trade. 

It has been so much fun to see one of the smallest hummers sitting on the small hook. Tommy said he sits there because the diameter of the larger hook is too large for the little feet. I suppose that is correct. 

I haves spent many hours tired and sleeping Friday and Saturday. I don't know why, but I have suspicions. If I am right, I will tell you. Nothing has happened, good or bad, to report or complain about. 

I am still reading at night, but have decided my present book is too heavy to hold up in bed. So, it may become a book to read at night when I don't care for what is on the TV. Maybe I need to read paperbacks in bed? 

Only three boxes of patterns have been sorted, and there are at least that many to do. Since no one has indicated she might like a pattern through the mail, I may have to get rid of them locally. There is a church that has a yard sale when weather is permitting. My friend at a country church says no one in the church sews. That stumps me! Tommy suggested calling and donating them somewhere. I will just have to get over the fact that most envelope patterns will just be emptied, dismantled, and be destroyed! 

For dinner Friday night, I cooked two preformed patties and put the rest of the packet of onion sauce on it, and we had vegetable of some kind...lol. Saturday night, I used a package of precooked  browned ground beef (93/7). This package had been defatted by pouring boiling water over it while in a colander. 

I had a really cheap name brand Taco kit. So, I used that and had to buy tomatoes and green onions. It was sooooo good. I even had lettuce to go on it.  The meat seasoning and the taco sauce was so hot I only used a bit. But, Tommy used more. I just threw away the rest of the seasonings. 

I can tell it is getting cooler because one of those huge outside roaches made it into the house. Last year, I serendipitously sprayed the porch and the front door and never saw another one. I did the same today. Now, tomorrow, I must do the back door. I hate those critters! 

The crocheting is not coming along well at all. I need to get lighter colors so I can see what I am doing! Or, I can crochet outside. 

When I went to a big box store, the cashier threw my bags into my electric cart. When we go home, I was shocked to find a bag with a smoked turkey tail. Now, you know I did not buy that or steal it...lol. I put it in the freezer to give away. I know the store will not put it back in stock. Plus, I struggle to even find an electric cart. If it were disposable plates or a can of food, I would return them. 

Since I sent my dil's birthday card late, thinking it was the following month, I did get that mailed in time this year. I have heard there is a planned slowdown of mail delivery. Have you heard that? So, her card has two weeks to arrive from the day I mailed it.

Have you ever gotten home with items you did not purchase? What did you do with the item>

Saturday

 Saturday was an exhausting day for me. We had planned a trip to Cullman about three times, and each time, I just said, "no" to the prospect. Since we knew the mail was piling up, I just went today. First, I started an antibiotic. 

I had to pick the mail out of the PO box. It was packed so tightly. It took several minutes to extract all the mail sometimes, one piece at a time! Once sorted, half of it was junk. Isn't that always the way?

Then, we got some DQ and sat in the park for a bit. There were many newly hatched ducklings looking like leaves on the water as they paddled along. It is always so relaxing there. 

My lot is still there...lol. We headed home. I felt like doing none of the things I usually want to do. 

Once home, I wrote a reply to Kim and went to bed for a 2.5 hour nap. And, here I am. There are things on the agenda, like cleaning in the kitchen before the woman who cleans gets here. I keep telling Tommy that we can do some stuff or pay her. These are things we do anyway. 

I discovered I need more red items in my wardrobe. I had only a dressy red tee and it had to go in the washing machine alone. Usually, it gets washed with black items, but it was getting dingy looking and little black balls of fuzz on it. No more. 

My head quit hurting. Then, nausea started. Now, just exhaustion. Chest and head congestion are worse and coughs are productive since I started guaifenisin.  I am pretty sure this is not Covid 19. But, I need to get better so I can get the covid vaccine and have it be effective. 

Friday night, we had salad and meatballs. Saturday night, same menu. 

The Art of Magic

Did you know there are "magic" stamps? A friend sent me a birthday card with two forever stamps titled The Art of Magic. When I bought stamps a few weeks ago, these were not presented as choices. Are you aware of these stamps? Or, maybe they are only sold in California.

I bought  a box of 12 Sympathy Cards for $1.88 so that Tommy would have a sympathy card for the family of the man across the street who died.  At 16 cents per card it's is certainly the best price I have seen for cards anywhere. Okay, cards from yard sales are cheaper. 

Thursday afternoon, I only chopped an onion and put it in the freezer. I took the meatloaf from the freezer that I just put in there Wednesday night. I did NOT feel like cooking. I did slice 4 zucchini and a portion of an onion and put it in a pot with a bit of water and more olive oil and some garlic. I think Tommy ate 3/4 of the zucchinis. He loves how I cook zucchini. I had diced several potatoes and forgot to put them on. Later, I put them in the zucchini pot and cooked them. Tommy thought they were delicious!  The olive oil with zucchini, onion, garlic taste were different. So, small meatloaf, zucchini, potatoes.

We took turns zapping fruit flies/gnats. The sound of them zapping is so satisfying. You can slowly move the electric flyswatter through the air and pop things you cannot see. I think I got a mosquito, too. I tried this on flies several years ago, but I might have gotten one fly. 

On Thursday, Tommy's mailbox held three pieces of mail. All three were for me. Today, Friday, one piece for me, one piece of mail for him. 

Thursday, the skies were the most beautiful blue. There was not a sign of any haze from fires like there was the other day. 

We were out for two hours and saw three bad, multiple car wrecks. 

Thursday night, Tommy told me he was going to get his oil changed on Friday. I said I would go too and what time. I grunted when he said 9 am. I told him to get me up and I would be ready at 9 am. He kept questioning me as to what time to wake me--9 am. 

I got 7 hours sleep! Two nights in a row I slept. When he woke me at at 9, I got up and was ready to go in four minutes. I combed my hair in the car and carried a banana and glass of milk with me. Later, he said I threw off the cover the minute he spoke to me instead of waiting 15 minutes or him having to wake me again in 15 minutes. 

He had his oil changed. We went to Auto Zone and got a bulb for his turn signal. Then, we took the bulb back and they changed that. We came home and got my car and had the oil changed in it, too. Whew!

This afternoon, we have a project--check all old fruit/veggies and depending on what needs to be done, either throw it away or take it and give it away. Then, we both are going to prepare fruit/vegetables and freeze it. 

No Sleep and Doctor Appointment

I slept two hours last night. Then, I was disturbed by a call I had to make and was returned. Tommy is going to have dinner earlier than he likes. Or, he can let it sit and reheat it...lol. It is 5:30 and he should have dinner by 6 pm.

Today, he had to go to his six-month checkup. I drove since he could not have anything. The car was so hot. We arrived ten minutes before his appointment and we sat for another 30 minutes. Then, i had to sit there for another 45 minutes. I ran the ac because it was very hot at 9 am! And, they refused to allow me to come inside to use the bathroom.

My garden is dying. Never grow food in front of solid brick house with brick porch that is about 3 ft. high and is brick, too, and where the sun sets on the front porch. Of course, the eggplant are thriving! gag.

When the mail arrived. there was a beautiful floral package. My friend from CA sent me three packages of foam rollers. Remember, the ones she sent earlier did not make it out of the house and the ones i bought fall apart! Now, I can have a bit of fluff, bend, or curl instead of stick straight hair. I love getting things in the mail.

I made a ten-minute shopping trip for two stock up items. Of course, both were chocolate. I will hide this.

Dinner tonight is pasta and canned spaghetti sauce, garlic bread, and cucumber/tomato salad.

I have Cherokee Purple tomatoes that Tommy says he will not eat. Yes, he will. He was freaked out by the yellow tomatoes and ate them.

Okay, too tired to type.

Adventures at My Town

Today was the only day when no rain was forecast this week. So, we went back to Cullman. The day was bright from the time we left about 9 am. Sunday I was tired by resisted a nap, I think. I was eager to go to sleep after I took liquid Melatonin on Sunday night. I cannot see the eye dropper, so I took three droppers of it. That may have been too much. I slept for 8.5 hours and could have slept more. I am not sure if I were tired or had overdosed when Tommy woke me. I had my daily banana and milk.

Tommy wanted to buy coffee and sausage biscuit. You think I am going to say No to that? I felt greasy when I finished--hand, face, clothes...lol. The day was beautiful and the drive uneventful. The sun shone all day.

Tommy put a load in the washer for me this morning. I went out and put vinegar in them after we got home. I cannot get them in the house because they are so heavy, so he brought them in tonight.

I returned and got my money back on the scissors. Tommy went in first with scissors and a copy of the two receipts. The man was angry and asked Tommy if he had a dog in this fight. Tommy said, "I am here to help a friend" That made me angry that the guy would question Tommy. He told Tommy if he did not have a dog in this fight to get out of his store right now. I said, "No, he is with me and I want my money back on the scissors."

He was so rude to Tommy, berating him. Neither of us took the bait to be rude. He gave me my money and told me to get out and never come back. "Oh, believe me, I have already decided I would never spend money here again." He gave me $50 while I paid $49.05. I can purchase these scissors elsewhere. No problem. On the copies of the two receipts were was his handwriting and the price and model number. So, he really had no choice but to give me my money or go to small claims court and close his business and pay court costs.  It would cost me nothing but an hour when we were going there, anyway. I did not threaten him.

I had two coupons for anything Hershey or other brands I do not remember. One coupon was $3 and the other was $1. I found  Hershey products bogo. I got a Hershey's extra creamy solid milk chocolate and one Hershey's extra creamy milk chocolate filled with strawberry cream. I am drooling as I type. I asked if I could get one of each and could. I asked the guy if it were possible to use both coupons. He said I could. So 2 Hershey's  10-oz. packages of chocolate.

  20 ounces for $4.19
  - $3 coupon = $1.19
 - $1 coupon =  $0.19 !!!
That is nineteen cents for chocolate hearts!

We ate at KFC with a coupon. I have not had KFC in several months, I think. At any rate, we shared one box and got the two free Senior drinks. I had unsweetened tea; he had Diet Pepsi.

I paid two bills in person. In one case, I want to keep a presence at the business. It is nice and advantageous to know the person at the desk. That often changes. At the other, I was not sure if there was a charge when I use a card in person or over the phone.  I am still not sure! I will call. I went to my bank to get cash to pay one of those bills.

My mailbox is always open nowadays when we go to my lot. I close it each week. So, I suppose someone is checking for mail each week. The person is pulling it open and easing it back so it catches but will make noise when it is pushed close. It is overly tight.  I left the pink bag with 15 newspaper inserts in the mailbox for a friend. Tomorrow, early I will know if someone stole them. Have you ever had a mailbox thief?

There were a few cheap plastic pots at my lot, the kind for planting. I had nicer ones and huge ones that were taken immediately after the incident. Now, they are gone. I had 13 pieces of cast iron--pots, skillets, lids there, too. Today, I had someone put them in Tommy's Rogue. There were four skillets, one lid and one pot. That is more than half that were stolen. I am beyond annoyed. Mama gave me some of those.

I went to a food bank. I am just too tired to look and type, so that will be a story for tomorrow.  I have had to correct almost every word I have typed.

Oh, I have to tell this. I bought a box for filing and it was not what I needed. So, i took it back. Today, i went in Office Max and got a copy of the two receipts and received a coupon for $10 off $30 purchase. Of course, I took it right to someone to find the proper file box for me and file folders that were on sale.

Then, I inquired about a 4-in-1 printer.  The $179 model was on sale for $59, so I got it.  I bought  a Kodak printer there about 5 years ago and it was faulty. The store would not give me a refund because they no longer carried Kodak. Kodak said take it back where I bought it. So, I was sol. Today, I bought a warranty. Since it is HP, I doubt I will need to use the warranty. This model is probably being discontinued.

I have broken the "print' habit! I was printing fodder for a book. Never mind. Did you ever have a habit of printing too much?

We got our pink plastic bag thrown in the yard today. It had store ads and only one two inserts! There was one $5 coupon I will use. Now, it will rain for three days on the bags. Maybe I can find some that are not full of water. Some are dry. Some are full of water, depending on where they are thrown.

Tonight, Tommy will have the thigh from KFC, a sweet potato, and tomatoes. I will have ham and scrambled eggs. Later, I will have sweet potato and salad. Maybe i can stay awake until we eat!

Go to Publix for bogo chocolate hearts this week! This ends Tuesday night.

Good Day Moneywise

When I went to bed, I was warm last night. The problem of cold feet was solved by another blanket only over from knees down. Still, at 3 am with warm feet, I was still awake and had to take something for sleep.

As usual with me lately. I stressed over what to wear and if it was warm enough. I put on a cheap pair of knit bought on sale, and they did not fit me any longer. I had to roll over the wide waistband so they would fit. The waist was still loose. The expensive tshirt-type blouse bought cheaply was also too large. The black cardigan sweater fit fine. The outfit looked fine, but was not what I would have chosen. I even got compliments.

I went to my doctor's office to weigh. I had lost another three pounds. I am thrilled. I don't know what I am doing right. But, I am going to keep doing it. I need scales because I am the person who does better weighing every day. I feel like I can keep and eye on whether I am doing okay and tweek my habits each day.

Today, we went to Cullman. I went to two food banks and have enough meat to last two weeks. I even got a four-pound chicken. This may be our Thanksgiving bird. I was hoping for at least a can of cranberry sauce! It was not to be.

We went to Publix and got our flu vaccination. In return for using Publix pharmacy, we each received a $10 gift card. Tommy handed his to me and went to sit in the car while I spent it. I am waiting for sales on some things, but I did manage to spend the $20 on the gift cards for groceries and another $17. So, $57 worth of groceries cost me $17. 5:30--my arm is killing me! Almost everything was reduced. Only the bananas and Jello were bought full price. I think strawberry Jello will sell out quicker than other flavors. I will mix that with black cherry like mama did and put apples, bananas, and fruit cocktail in the Jello for a taste of my childhood. YUM

When I picked up the mail, I found out a package sent me had been sent back. Plus, there was a package waiting for me. The reader who sent me the gloves and earmuffs sent me another package. It had a crocheted watermelon potholder, a Tbsp and a tsp measure and a spatula. Plus, my favorite kind of potholder. It was woven on a little loom with stretchy loops. I had one on my loom ready to finish off. Now, I have no loom or potholder! I think she made these. I feel honored. Thank you so much.

At the Farmer's Market I purchased 8 good sized tomatoes for $6. I asked to trade a red tomato for a green one. Tommy loves fried green tomatoes. I don't, so one fried will work for him. I don't yet have any cornmeal, but at the food bank where I can choose the foods I get, I chose a Jiffy corn muffin mix. Taking a bit out for coating the tomato slice won't hurt. I hate Jiffy corn muffin mix, but I have plans for it. There is a recipe that used Jiffy, cheese, and broccoli. It might use an egg. I had it written down, but I can find it online. I have cheese and may have frozen broccoli.

The temperature was about 46 today, at least that, so it was pleasant and hard to adjust ac and heat. Still, I can wear sandals without getting too cool. We were hoping to beat the rain, and almost did get home before it came. We were still in sprinkle mode when we arrived home. So, it turned out well.

At the free paper office that has ads and community happenings, I now know about grocery store sales and community events.

I went by the sewing place and ordered Gingher scissors. They will never be used for anything but fabric and thread. I had to pay for them first. sigh.

Can you believe it? The Senior Christmas Party that is held at the Civic Center is not happening! They had entertainment, door prizes (one is $500 check). Tommy won a gift certificate for two meals at Cracker Barrel. Of course, I got part of that prize. There was lots of singing. The Desperation Church bought the Civic Center.

I went to my house today. It made me feel good to be there and sad, too. I asked the neighbor if I could leave some garbage by his garbage can since the city no longer picks up trash at my house. He smiled and said, "No, I don't want to get involved." Asshole! His landlord hates me so he does not want to tick her off.

Tonight, we are having roast and potatoes for one. When I asked Tommy if it would be enough for two people, he assured me it would work. Plus, I have one of the tiny salads meant for one. We will half that, too. Both came from one food bank. Good enough for dinner tonight.

While on the way home, he agreed no one would want the cpap, so I suppose that goes in the trash...yay. He saw what I bought, Lysol and Endust, knowing I was going to use it in his house and said nothing. Progress! Tomorrow, I am going to Lowe's and get the stuff to keep the wind out of house by fixing the doors. Yeah, I know I am pushing it. But, I can feel a breeze.

Fr breakfast, I had no cereal or banana. Plus, I could not eat for an hour after a pill. So, Tommy got us a Hardee's biscuit which I ate with oj I brought from home. He had coffee. For lunch we used a BK coupon for two Whopper Jr.'s and fries. I only had cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. He ordered a drink for both of us. We both left off the mayonnaise. For dinner we ate from food bank food--grilled sirloin steak Au Jus, creamed spinach and roasted potatoes. We threw out the spinach. My chickens would have loved the spinach. The salad was vegetarian--bed of baby lettuces, greens, candied walnuts, dried cranberries, feta cheese ,flat bread chips, all natural raspberry vinaigrette. I got all the feta cheese, and he got flatbread chips. Sharing these two smallish premade items was enough for both of us. Yes, we spent money--almost $9. But, we ended up with free food at the end of the day.

When we ordered the Whopper Jrs, he had to order the Cokes twice, neither of which times the person added in the cost. Then, when we paid for it, still the drinks were not added even though he mentioned the price was wrong. When he paid, still the drinks were tallied. Finally, I poked him and we left. I have no idea how much money was lost by BK that day, but he order the drinks four times. We sat under the picnic tree and ate. It was so overcast, we did not need shade. About half the sky was cloudless, but the clouds settle around us as we headed to Birmingham.

It was a good day. I suppose I am easily content. We got lots done today. I accomplished a list today. I make a list and do the important stuff first. Sometimes, I am too tired to do the rest. So, it goes on the next list.

Fun Day, Hard Day, I Did Not Win

Last night, Monday night, I did not color my hair. I washed it and went to bed with it wet. I had some interesting little kinks in it this morning. A few turns of a curling iron, and it was fine. The kinks combed out to be nice fluff. I got up at 7 am and managed to leave by 8:15.

We went to the Cullman Power Board Customer Appreciation Day or something like that. Since it started at 10 am, we arrived early enough to go get my PO mail, visit my lot, and go back to PO. My mailbox at the house was stuffed with mail. So, I had to address that issue at PO.

The people cooking burgers started at 10 am. So, we ate early. Then, we ate again about 1 pm and took another burger home. Actually, we had a bag lunch--cheeseburger, chips, and a sweet I have never had, sort of like uncooked chocolate oatmeal cookie. There was water to drink. Other years were soft drinks. The water was fine with us.

A Christian/Country singer was the entertainment. At intervals, door prizes were given out. I won nothing. One year, I won a 7.5 quart Crockpot. I cannot safely lift it empty, much less empty, so I have not used it yet.

Different agencies were represented. Each representative gave a short talk about the agency's role in social services.

TVA had a booth. I missed getting a canvas bag. I got two pens and two little measuring tapes. Bosom Buddies, a cancer support organization was present, selling t-shirts.

Pre-k and K students entertained us with songs with hand motions. They were very cute, a plus for the day.

Then, we went to Belk's where I returned three things and bought two more. One does not fit, so it will go back. I also replaced my mum that does not want to bloom. This time, I got a pink one in full bloom.

That was our day. Fun and interesting. Being outdoors was refreshing.

I wore a sleeveless outfit but eventually had to put on the light sweater I brought. The day was overcast. Before noon, the sun came out and the sky was bright blue and no clouds, plus the light breeze died down. I had to removed the sweater.

The drive home was uneventful except for the fact I could barely keep my eyes open.

When we arrived home, I put out my new mum, put the burgers in the refrigerator. I quickly changed to a nightgown and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. That was about 4:30 and I awoke just before 8 pm.

The high today was 80F. People were rejoicing they were not melting like last year. On hot, humid days, I look as though something dumped water over my head. The sweat drips from my bangs and the ends of my hair. Hairspray does not help at all!

I did not win a door prize. A 55" TV was the grand prize.

The 90s are gone, I fear. But, I will not have to wear a sweater unless I sit out on an overcast day with a light breeze. Thankfully, the weather was by noon sunny and warmer. How was the weather in your neck of the woods?