Sweater Weather & Zolucky

 

Today, I got a lime tree. It is a thornless, Key lime. Hmm, I did not know Key limes had thorns. Now, I have two trees to bring into the house this winter. 

Speaking of plants, I am now thinking about bringing all the plants in for the winter. Tommy said there is no more room. And, I have more plants. I will figure out something. 

Last night, I forgot to take the tart cherry juice. So, I was awake all night. By the way, the $11+ 16 ounce container of cherry juice is concentrate and makes a gallon, so about $3./ quart. 

The forecast for this weekend is for 70s in the daytime and 30s during the night. So, I might need a sweater. I have only seen one tree that has turned or even started to fade. It was very small and bright yellow. With the drought in this area, we may not have a locally brilliant Fall. 

Since we did not use two coupons yesterday at Publix, I remembered to take them in today. They gave me $8 in cash which I gave to Tommy since he complains he almost never has pocket money. He was happy. He said he always got $50 cash every week and has not done that since he does not work. I think I get what money he has in his pocket. Looks like I can hit a yard sale. 

In my mind, this plan is set in stone for making money. But, I will reveal the plan when the first steps are taken. 

I ordered an outfit from Zolucky. It was late getting here, did not fit, sewing was iffy, and it smells like a chemical. So, I took a chance and will have to pay to return it. To say I am mad is an understatement. 

Has anyone ordered from Zolucky? 

What was your experience? 

Sentient Towels

 

The kitchen towels came in stinky again after a regular was and were made to stay in a spare bedroom. Today, I had Tommy take them and wash them again with a Finish Laundry tab. As he left to go out, he said, "If the towels were sentient, they would say, "What did we do wrong." He can be funny!

The kitchen towels were washed four times, once with the ALL and Unstoppables, once with vinegar, once with regular wash, OxyClean and All. This last time was with the dishwasher tab, Finish. 

Edit: Towels from dryer after ALL and OxyClean still smell of the Unstoppables, but very faint. Not the best outcome, but better than earlier washings.

Monday, I found a penny. This was the first time I had been out of the car and into the store in a month. YAY! Sandals on the ground is the secret. 

I bought a Pelee mum. I have promised myself that I will NOT buy another mum this year. I kept the one I bought last year outside. I want to keep this one inside, but it needs light, so maybe I will leave it out for a bit each day. 

This last week, we bought apples, bananas, and milk for Tommy. We get the ads on Tuesday, but not this last week. That's okay because there was not much, and those two things will be purchased with a raincheck. Food Giant had bscb for $1.99/lb but Tommy went to Publix because he thought I wanted the ones that were $3.99/lb. Since the Publix bscb are trimmed better, I decided to go with that as it was getting dark, sooner than usual. 

We will need to get started sooner from now on. We were spoiled being out until 8 pm., enjoying the later sunset. I will sorely miss the light. 

When I got in the car, waiting for Tommy to lock the door and come out, I happened to look at the Meyer lemon tree on the porch. There was something white at the end of a limb. I was so excited, thinking it was a flower. Tommy confirmed that it was a flower and there were several other buds. I think I might get a lime tree now. 

I wonder if the fertilizer was the reason for this blossom and the buds. Or, was it just time? 

Today, when Tommy was doing laundry, the door was open. I saw the UPS man walk to the other side of the garbage can and toss a package. The package was shredded, not from him, but from all the abuse it had experienced. Thankfully, Godinger understands abuse of cut crystal and packed it appropriately. And, Macy's had packed that box into a Macy's box that had huge bubble wrap and lots of it around the Godinger box. 

Last night, I could not sleep. I got up about 10:30 am and watched TV with Tommy. At noon, I was ready to go to bed again. We did get the bscb for $3.99/lb from Publix. Otherwise, nothing happened. 

Tonight, I had ground beef from freezer already cooked with a thin slice of cheese on it. Cheeseburger? I stuffed myself on vegetables--leftover slaw, and green beans opened tonight and soaked. Before I ate, I cooked vegetables in the oven--four potatoes sliced in 1/2 inch slices, two pounds of baby carrots, two lbs of sliced Brussels sprouts. I put Italian Seasoning, garlic powder and onion powder on all before cooking. 

Tommy said we have enough leftover vegetables to last for more than three days. I like it that way. He is eating the strawberries and I am eating the blueberries. 

Tommy had leftovers--baked chicken, kale, brussels sprouts. 

Just now, he went out to bring in the dried towels, but had forgotten to remove them from the washer. So, maybe I won't have a verdict on the stink until tomorrow. 

Have you found money this week?

Do you have any sentient laundry? Does your laundry wonder what you are doing?

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? 

Success Thursday and Found Money and Favorite Furniture

At last, a day was not sabotaged by me or anyone else. I went to my doctor for a dozen items...lol. I had them written down, so we went over them, one at a time. Some questions took 30 seconds or less, some took more time. He looked at the knot in my calf and sent me right up for an ultrasound. It is "benign, not a blood clot." Whew! He told me to watch it. It is a knot on the muscle in my calf. 

None of my meds are implicated in causing dementia. The severe blow to my head Monday won't cause a brain bleed at this late date. 

I really like my family doctor. When I go with a list, we work through it. 

We picked up refills at two pharmacies. One pharmacy had no one else in the drive-up line. We waited behind 4 cars and for almost 30 minutes at the other pharmacy. Waiting in line is sooo tiring. Went to Publix for bogo catsup. Went to a furniture store to ask a question. I found a baby chick about a foot high. Someone gave me money as a birthday gift on Paypal, and I had forgotten to spend it. So, I did, and this huge chick came home with me. It is not my style or colors, and I don't know what kind of fat chick it is, but I love Maggie May.

Right now, a nap is after me, so I am surrendering. When Tommy wants to eat, he can heat up leftovers. Thank goodness for leftovers. Nope, changed my mind! Not napping even though I only slept three hours Wednesday night.

Someone is lined up to make a coat/hat rack for Tommy. I don't know what kind of wood to use but definitely not plywood. This one will be a box with a door. 

Then, I will surprise Tommy with a new bookcase to replace his rickety one that is about 5 inches too wide and made of some sort of wood covered with paper with a grain. There are three of these monstrosities in this house. He bought this one 40 years ago for this house. 

I have a nice bookcase about 60" tall that my parents paid $11 for in 1957 at the Goodwill. It has a waterfall front, so you can imagine it is 50 years or more older than the shabby one here. Mine is not rickety at all, 90 years old. I found an identical one for $40 a few years ago, so I have two! Besides being sturdy, the finish is in good shape. Yep, I like "brown furniture."

At the bread store, I put the bread on the counter to pay for it. Right there on the edge nearest me was a quarter ready for me to pick up. I could barely believe my good luck. 

I picked up a wand for watering to make it easier for Tommy. He is out there, watering, and holding the wand about six inches from the nozzle. He does not believe me when I tell him to hold it out to spray the plants! I cannot even watch. No, I am not just watching, but I can see from my chair where I sit. 

Friday, there are plans for three chores. Let's see if we can pull this off.

Do you like old "brown furniture?"  What is your favorite piece of furniture in your house, not the prettiest, not the most stylish, not the piece in best shape, just a piece you love, cherish or would never get rid of now or ever? The piece could be the prettiest!

I am sorry

 As I was searching for Tommy's keys that I had last, I looked under sofa cushions and found 3 dimes and a nickel, my own money. Cn I count that as found money? I found a penny someplace else, forgot where. 

The wind is causing me problems. My asthma is acting up and it feels like my throat and chest are closing up. Because of the wind, I have been forced not to spray paint. At my house, I had a large room where I could and did spray paint summer and winter. I also set seeds there to germinate. It was a good, handy, and rather large room.  

I am so sorry, but I need a nap right now. I will write more on Sunday. Is the wind causing you any health problems? If the wind were blowing would it cause health problems?

At the Dentist

At the dentist office I went to the bathroom before I sat down to wait for the receptionist to invite me back to have my teeth cleaned.  As I came to sit down, I spotted a coin--a dime. I sort of exclaimed--Oh, a dime as I moved to pick it up. A woman sitting closer to the dime said that dime could have been hers if she had seen it.  We both laughed. But, I had it. 

After my cleaning I received two toothbrushes instead of one, tiny container of dental floss, and a small tube of toothpaste. The dental floss is mint, so I am saving it for my Pink Purse project. I think the toothpaste is what caused severe gum pain. I am so thrilled with two toothbrushes since I cannot find these for sale--Soft GUM. One was a pretty lime color and one was a pretty yellow.  

Tommy was sort of insulted I wanted the sink washed AGAIN. But, around 11 pm Sunday night he wandered off and scrubbed it. When he got back I asked him if he didn't feel better about having done a good job. No, he said his back and hands hurt. But, the sink shone mightily. He does enjoy what I cook. I suppose buying a pizza or hamburger would keep the sink clean!

Sunday, I did my marching exercise twice in two hours. Here, at the end of the day, my feet are barely swollen.  Now, I just need to do it more often each day like my plan was. I am still at 90 seconds of marching. So, keeping my feet up, exercising, and getting more sleep helps. My sodium intake is low, so lowering it is probably not possible.

Monday

Only one of us did any work today. And, it was not me. I awoke at 8:30 after a long, good, hard sleep. By 10 am I was exhausted from sitting. By 11:15 I was back in bed, telling Tommy to wake me at 1 pm. He did. And, he woke me at 1:30 and 2 pm. Finally, I got up at 2:30 pm.

While I was watching TV when I awoke, I was so cold. So, I picked up a heavy fleece jacket and zipped it up. When I went to bed, my intention was to take it off. Instead, I got into bed with the jacket on and covered up with a quilt and a comforter. When I finally got up, I was having chills.  98.9F temp and my normal is 97.2. It is just enough to make me feel yucky. 

But, we went into the driveway and I cut his hair. I cut it sitting on my walker, and the first thing I did was to completely cut off one side burn, clear to the skin. I left a stubble on the other sideburn. About halfway through, he said it felt so good to get the weight off. lol 

I know what my illness is--my chest. I have had a dry cough and then productive. I know this will be gone in three days, but I hate it. 

After I got up from my lengthy nap, Tommy started telling me all he did--washed my clothes, put some in dryer, and got them out, watered my plant that was not looking too healthy, made his lunch (cheese sandwich), got the mail and something else. Now, I have dinner to make and clothes to either hang or fold. 

So, This probably means I cannot get the second Covid shot. But, I was told it should be done before six weeks, so all is not lost. 

I did 30 seconds of my exercise just to keep it for another day. I am afraid I will regress if I don't exercise at all.

The weather is beautiful today, mid 70s, sunshine and few clouds. Is your weather pretty? Do you ever use clippers for cutting hair? I think I need to watch a video again. 

Counting Coins and Blackeyed Peas

 Suddenly, I decided to count my change that I have put into the Tootsie Roll bank that Tootsie Rolls come in. When I started using a debit card almost exclusively, I still had a bit of change. That went into the jar, but it was about $2 because I had not used money much, and I never wanted to touch what change I had. 

Since I wanted it counted, I asked Tommy to do so. . . lol He took it and counted it for me and recorded the number of each coin. 

Once, I had stuffed a $1 bill in, too. Why? I don't know, just to boost the count I suppose. So, here it is. 

Pennies 89

nickels 33

dimes 31

quarters 45

One-dollar bill 1

Total $17.89

I think I will just stick it back in the bank unless I figure out something to do with it. I may use it to buy purses for my Pink Purse Charity. 

Of course, we had blackeyed peas for New Years. Usually, I buy the cheapest I can find, $0.99/lb. When the panic buying started, I decided to up my count of beans by another pound. Only, none were left at any price. Then, one day, I passed the bean aisle, and found one lone bag of beans, one pound of Camelia. 

I paid $2.49/lb and was just horrified. The only dried beans I ever buy or eat are Navy Beans, Great Northern Beans, and Blackeyed Peas. And, I have never paid over about one dollar per pound. But, I bought them. 

Last year, I cooked them in the crock pot for New Year's Day. Usually BEPs fall apart and can go to mush before I can finish the pot. Well, these BEPs did not fall apart at all. Even after 14 hours in the CP, every last bean was intact! I am still in shock. Do you ever cook BEPs? Do yours fall apart or remain intact? Does it matter to you? I like the ones that fall apart. Have you ever had Camellia brand? 

I am having trouble remembering what day it is. Are you? Holidays mess with my mind. 

A Dream About Money

 I have to get this post up quickly, as I have done nothing but sleep most of the day. Yesterday, my reason for being in Cullman was very stressful. Plus, the uti is still here even without medication. I slept about 7 hours last night and in a few hours, I went down for a nap, a very long nap. Now, i need to cook the chicken and the hamburger meat in order not to waste it. Tomorrow, I have to be gone all day, so it will not get cooked tomorrow. 

Last night, it seemed I dreamed all night. For some reason, I could walk just fine and was attending a junior college. A professor with whom I had become friendly approached me frantically. She wanted me to take her purse and go shopping for her. She had to teach class.

It seemed there was some sort of fabric sale where the fabric is spread all around the campus, up against the walls in halls and the cafeteria and other places. 

I objected to taking the purse as it was heavy. Finally, after much haggling about whether I needed it or not, I took in one hand just what I needed to make the purchases. She told me to buy $100 worth of a certain brand of fabric. Color and type of fabric did not matter. I wish I could remember the brand. In my dream I had never heard of it.

As I walked around campus, I kept finding money. It was hard to pick coins up with students walking behind me and almost running over me. At one time a male student tried to get the money first even when I called it. Another time a male student got one of the quarters and covered the other up with something heavy and then uncovered it and got it. 

A woman was emptying an ash tray and I saw a quarter, a dime, and two dimes land on the ground. I screeched it was mine, and the woman, a smoker, looked at me like I was crazy. I was!

When I got to some of the fabric, I still found money. So, no one would help me find the fabrics. 

Then, I woke up...lol. But, I must have found $5 in coins and thought how I bet Sluggy had never found so much in loose coins in one day. 

Tell me a dream you have had. Did you ever dream of finding money? Coins? 

No Doctor Again! Money in the Mail

I took from the freezer a package of five Italian Chicken Sausages. Tommy only eats two at a time and  I won't touch them. So, Monday noon and night, he had two sausages. Tuesday, I was going to give him the last one and vegetables. Well, I did not realize I had two packages and had thawed out the last one after wondering why I had not gotten it out.

So, I informed him he could eat sausages on Wednesday, too. He was okay with that. Monday night, I just had vegetables, and now I have forgotten what I had.

Tuesday night dinner for Tommy: two chicken Italian sausages, big helping of steamed zucchini, half a cantaloupe. I had baked chicken tender, big helping of steamed zucchini. I cannot stand cantaloupe! Later, I will eat an apple. We did not have the vegetables we should, but we will remedy that tomorrow when I feel more like cooking or slicing.

Tuesday, we drove another 75 miles, 150 round trip to the same doctor who was closed last week. AND, the office was closed today, too. I was so upset and discouraged. AND, there are other offices in northern AL, and no one answers any phone. No one has called me back after I left messages. Wednesday, I will wake up ready to wage war! But, I will be nice.

Last week, the woman who talked to me told me they had left messages with all patients to call back and reschedule the appointment. NOPE! Not last week nor this week. I did receive a voicemail reminding me of the date and time of my appointment. AND, it is saved so I can forward it to them if I can figure out how to forward a voicemail.

The rest of the cantaloupe needs slicing and storing. I need chocolate. Maybe I will go to a walk in clinic here tomorrow.

I am so weak and in pain that I feel like I might die, but I know I won't get that lucky...lol. 

The mail yielded a check for $15 in payment for participation in the garden research project. Since the overdraft problem, I decided to just get the cash. Then, holding dirty cash made me uneasy. 

Okay, it is Wednesday now and the day has been spent waiting for phone calls. Do you ever feel like you wait for too many people to return calls? 

Thursday and Friday

We had to be in Cullman at 9 am on Thursday. ugh So, we left here at 7 am. Of course, he had to have a sausage and biscuit and coffee. okay. It is a huge habit, but I say nothing  because I do not want his blood sugar dropping. Then, he announced he had to get gas! That could have been done the day before. So, I have to question him about gas from now on! GAH

I packed a lunch--chicken sandwiches and a halo. He also had orange juice and pb crackers for the wait. I was in the hospital for about 1.5 hours. He had eaten the crackers and oj when I returned. We went to the lake in town to eat lunch. It was a glorious day and the setting was perfect.

Last week, I wanted a chocolate ice cream cone from DQ. They do not have chocolate! So, on Thursday we stopped at the DQ in Cullman and found they had chocolate. We told the manager who gave us our cone that the one we went  had no chocolate. She said she had heard that there were only four DQs in AL that carried chocolate ice cream. What?

We won't have another cone until the price comes down to $1 for a cone. The only thing we bought at the grocery store was Duncan Hines cake mixes.

I have not handled paper money in over a month. I have one place I pay cash because they charge me over three dollars to use my card. I am right there in the town, so it pays to make payments with cash.

When I took the money from the bank Thursday, I did not touch it...well, just the ends to count it in the bank envelope. I wiped the envelope with a Lysol Wipe and got it just wet and nasty. So, I pulled the bills out and held them with a wipe. I told the lady that the wetness was only a Lysol Wipe. She said they had been wiping down everything all day. The whole building had only four people working as opposed to their usual twenty or so. She was inside, just pushing out a window for people to place payment.

I take advantage of paying on the phone or online every chance I get, which is always, except for the one bill I paid today.

The grocery store was stocked with tp. There were few people there. There were no wipes, hand sanitizer or Dial Soft Soap.

Friday, I called my car insurance company and found out a 15% refund will be applied back to the credit card used to pay my insurance. This will be once for April and once for May. YAY! This is because of the coronavirus and lack of driving. The same will happen with Tommy's insurance.

Today, I not only watered my garden, I put poison on the back and front of each leaf. This chore was back pain intensive. This poison supplied to me is supposed to not be dangerous. Why was there a caution to wash hands if you got it on your hands? Today, I am getting the hot peppers I need for my own non-toxic bug spray.

I wanted to get a couple of hot peppers and forgot why I wanted to go to Publix! Shoot! I told Tommy I did not need to go to Publix when were out. I went to Dollar General to look for elastic.

Found Money at Curb Shopping

On Wednesday night we came home and stopped by the pharmacy to get prescriptions I had called in from the nurse practitioner. We got one prescription. I had four or five called in for me. Three were refills, one new med, and one replacement sticker for diabetes testing.

All of a sudden, nothing was happening. We could not hear the tech. A pharmacist came with a sign that all systems were down. So, I walked into the store assisted by a shopping cart. People were being turned away who were picking up prescriptions. Even their phone lines were down. In front of the store, cashier was telling people cash only and the card reader was down.

I called at 9:30 and all was still no go. This morning before the trip to ER, I went back to get the other prescriptions. Still, I did not get the diabetes thingamajig. sigh.

On the way back here, I saw table legs sticking up in a trash heap. I asked Tommy if we could turn around. He did so willingly. I dragged the heavy metal table from the trash heap as cars honked at me since I was right on the edge of the road. It was harrowing. I had to roll the table on the edge of the top. It would not go in the car. It is three feet or less in diameter.

We came back and he asked his neighbor who has two trucks to help. He was in bed sick. I told Tommy to let me take out my walker and huge duffle and leave them here and the table would fit. He doubted it but let me unload the back end of the Rogue.

I just knew someone would get my table. It was still there, upside down like I left it beside the driveway. I righted it and rolled it over while Tommy held onto the luggage rack to get to the back. He lifted it, mostly, while I helped. He declared it would not fit. We got it in upside down and the legs were not too long as he had declared over and over.

I went back for more. There were three shelves from one of the shelf units of plastic. And, there were two of the round things that go between shelves. There was more: a heavy wall unit with a shelf and pegs for hanging. This was an expensive item. I could tell by the construction and the heft.

Tonight, after returning from the ER, we started talking about the wall shelf. I mentioned it could not get wet and ruin, that it would work in his kitchen over his little table. He brightened and agreed. He said he would get it in. I don't know how the man does it. He had it standing on the seat of his walker and had the heavy unit leaning against his shoulder and head. I stayed to the house with storm door open. He handed it to me and I lowered it to the floor and sort of walked it to the kitchen. He came in to examine it. Nice!

When we went back to load it all in the vehicle, I found the shiniest quarter right on the ground. How did I miss it the first time?

Stress is still here and making my chest hurt. But, my cardiologist is out for the next ten days!

Found Money, Blueberries

I am exhausted, so telling of our adventure today will have to wait.  We left the event early because my back hurt so that I felt I was going to throw up. A late nap has made my back quit hurting a bit.

At 8 pm,  I had Tommy drive me to Publix to get candy to take to the lunch on Sunday. When I came out, he told me how he found money. As he sat in the car, parked and waiting for me, he said the thought he saw paper money.

He got out of Rogue, got his walker out of the backseat and walked to the middle of the lane/road right in front of the store. A man in a car stopped to help him pick up the money. It was a $5 bill! He was very happy.

He went on to tell me that he found a $100 bill once, and twenties and lots of ones. I never knew!

Today was a beautiful day but cold and breezy.

A box with two blueberry bushes found itself in my basket. Now, I just have to keep it alive. I did no research to determine if this grows well here. It was an impulse buy. Right now, the blueberry bushes are on the porch, getting their freeze hours? Now, I need two bigggg pots. They will produce in 18 months.

Breakfast was banana and milk. Lunch was a turkey sandwich we took with us, a Halo and water.  Tonight, we had lots of cabbage and two small pieces of potato, and half a turkey sandwich each with lettuce and tomato.

Sunday Church Breakfast and Found a Penny and Thrift Store

Saturday night I did not want to cook...period! There were two baked potatoes in the refrigerator that I baked about three days ago. A small portion of English peas were waiting since I forgot to give them to Tommy. I gave him a chicken thigh from the freezer and half of another. So, there will be another portion for dinner on Sunday night. And, I will bake sweet potatoes. Two days done! Just the way I like it...lol. It was all leftovers. Oh, and a salad.

This Sunday morning is the Birthday Breakfast for all the people who have birthdays in January. I cooked twelve eggs, six at a time. His tiny skillet will not hold more. I spilled about one egg and ate another when they were done. So, I suppose I took ten eggs. I ate them at the breakfast, too, maybe three. Someone brought eggs, but I could not eat them, ever. The white was showing all over. I had eggs three times, a raisin oatmeal cookie, a flat biscuit, and pineapple chunks. I did wait until the end to get more eggs. I suppose we had two dozen eggs scrambled for 8 people. There was other food to eat, but it was all processed little weenies in a sauce and some sort of one bite of a smoked sausage.

After I scramble my eggs with a beater, I strain them. Somehow, I spilled about one egg. I cleaned up the counter before I left. Some got on a dish towel with clean dishes on it. At any rate, I got to church before the woman who made me move from "Her place." The preacher had the flu, so his wife read Psalms 25, and we came home. YAY!

We went to return stuff. I got a new pair of pants in the place of the one with pills all over it. The jacket I kept as I would lose money getting back what they would give me. This was all sweat suit type stuff. Then, he brought me home to pee and took me back to a thrift store.

I wanted a 10x 13 casserole but, of course, none was to be had in the thrift store. I did get a very pink, floral plate perfect for a cake or cookies or whatever. I found a diamond-shaped little dish that looks like something from Japan. But, I believe it is hand-painted by an individual here and then put in a kiln here. There is a tiny flaw, but I have nail polish sitting in it instead or falling over and being shoved around.

I decided to go further into the store. I got to electronics and found nothing to resell. When I rounded the corner, I found a carrom board with the little stick. I sold these all the time thirty years ago. I can make money from the board. It still has bright paint on it, not faded, not scratched! I just don't know where I will sell it. The board has provenance in the form of where it was made and the date 1970. Maybe it is not provenance, but it is more than the ones I found years ago.

We worked the neighborhood, picking up pink bags with coupons in them. These are thrown on Monday night or Tuesday morning. Some people get them in, some throw them in the trash on Thursday night. I figure the rest are fair play. So, I got five packages of coupons and store ads. I cut out coupons I wanted, threw away the ads, and have saved the rest for my friend who used them for the food bank items. I feel very successful at couponing today.

As I cut/tore coupons, I got to thinking about the Carrom board, There are parts that go with it. I have never found any, but I was hopeful. I sat here explaining all this to Tommy and wishing aloud I could that I could go back and see if there were any. There were two pieces of tape on the board. I went into the store and looked where the board was located. Sure enough, there was a sandwich bag of parts. I took it up front and explained how I had bought the board and how the parts were separated from it. The woman told me to take them. I was trying to show her the receipt, but she believed me and did not treat me like a thief.

I looked at dishtowels that looked new. They were $1.49, too much for me to pay.

And, I found a penny! Watch out Sluggy, I am overtaking you. Tonight, we will have ham or chicken and baked sweet potatoes and salad. There should be enough ham here for three days.

Have you ever heard or seen or used a Carrom Board?

I Found a Penny!

So, take that Sluggy! It was right on the asphalt in front of the grocery store as I opened the car door on the passenger side to talk to Tommy as I drove him.

It is about 1 pm and it does not appear as if the rains predicted for today will not materialize or be very late in doing so. I am not complaining. It was so warm last night, Tommy turned on the ac and it is still on. I am not sorry to see bad weather not happen.

We had meatloaf from ground pork, very lean ground pork, last night with sweet potatoes and Brown and Serve Rolls and fruit. Tonight, I will use the rest of the ground pork For Swedish Meat balls...haven't decided vegetables yet. I need to go put chicken in the refrigerator from the freezer for tomorrow's and Wednesday's dinner.

Today, I went to Publix for bananas and cereal on sale. My cereal was NOT on sale, so I got bananas $.69/lb., two (bogo) cans of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup @ $0.72 each, two glass storage containers (bogo) $7.49. These have snaplock lids. And, sadly, I bought 6 mini ice cream sandwiches.

Remember the blankets/throws we were given at Christmas? They insisted we take more and more. One is a quilt someone made by hand. It is an ugly quilt, but I picked it out as one of my choices. It is sewn by hand. All the pieces are triangles and sewn by hand. I don't think it was meant to be given to us. I think this was a quilt top someone finished but was never backed and quilted. It is a touching gesture. The inside of the quilt is a piece of flannel. I imagine someone who had little to give did this tedious handwork. The thread are all coming loose and some pieces of fabric are loose. This will be a project for sitting in front of the tv.

This is the second quilt I have had with flannel inside. The first was given to me as a baby gift for my first child, a boy.


My ankles and everything else is still swollen after the Lasix and potassium. I wonder how long this takes to return my ankles and everything to normal.
. ???

Hard Water, Cardiologist, I Blew It

My hair has been stringy, not holding a curl, and just nasty since August. Finally, I asked Tommy if he had hard or soft water. HARD! I think that is what is wrong with my hair. I read that hard water can cause heart problems and cause strokes. He does not care. He refuses to do anything even for his health. I just worry about my appearance...lol.

I went to Lowe's and the guy said, "You just need salt." He lead me to the bags. I was so irritated. I asked him if I was supposed to just throw salt at the water. He did not know. I asked if there were something to attach to a faucet. "Oh, yes, this PUR faucet would change the water from hard to soft. I am so frustrated because he said I could not put it on HIS faucet. If you think I am abusing him, keep it to yourself!

I wonder if hard water consumption could cause edema that I have. I have read that hard water causes heart problem and high blood pressure. I wonder.

Today, I had a visit with a cardiologist. He saw my swollen feet. He does not think it is my heart but my thyroid. I have another test to next week. In the meantime, I have two prescriptions--potassium and a water pill. I told him I already had trouble making it to the bathroom. He did not look up from the computer and said dryly, "it's going to get worse." Tommy already backs up when I screech that I have to go after seeing him trying to get into the bathroom.

He is going to get my medical records from the endocrinologist and see what is happening. It will be interesting. I am just relieved he does not think it is my heart.

After getting my hav-a-hart trap I used to catch raccoons, I left it in the front yard behind my concrete bench yesterday. Thankfully, it was still there today. We go it into his Rogue and took it to the storage unit. It was a struggle. I wish I had someone to help me have a yard sale.

The day was beautiful once again, blue skies and 60s temperature, no wind.

Moneywise, today, I blew it. I insist on pumping gas for Tommy. He has to hold onto the luggage rack to get around the car to the pump. Of course, the gas tank would be on the passenger side. Early in the morning, I am in a coma for hours. I know he wants 87 grade, but today I pumped 93 at a cost of $5 more. He was really upset with me. I have never done this before.

I Got Mail! I Found Money! Meteor Shower

 I got mail from Sluggy. It's the box I won full of goodies from her giveaway. .

I found the $180 I lost. It was in the bank envelope, the little one they send through the tube. The little envelope was sealed with all the money in it. The envelope had slid inside my day planner. It was well-hidden when I went through my purse. UGH!

Tonight, the Perseid Shower will be in the sky and quite a show. I cannot see it well because of the city lights. I know where I can go to get away from the light pollution, but those are places I would be afraid if I stopped.

When I was small and we lived in Memphis, I remember my parents putting a quilt in the yard and the whole family would lie on our backs and watch the show.

No one has seen one of the shiny, foil cars I spoke of yesterday?