Sweet Surprise

 

Redbud trees are in abundance and blooming now.

While the cleaner was here, imagine my surprise when I found a Cherry Dum Dum. Since there was only one, I put it aside on my bedside table for later. Well, later came this afternoon. That was such a treat! Since I felt awful, it made me happy. Of course, what I want is ice cream.

After discussing with the doctor what antibiotic he would prescribe me yesterday as he stood by the car, I was so disappointed not to have him call anything in for me. When I awoke at 11:30 Tuesday morning, I felt twice as bad as the day before. Tommy called Walgreen's. They had gotten the prescription and would have it ready in 20 minutes. 

We got it and I took it in the car on another small errand. I have never had such indescribable pain in my stomach from medicine in my life. I grabbed a plastic bag and held it under my chin for about an hour. And, I have to take this three times each day. I will try it one more time before I call for something else. The medication was to be taken with food. Since I had just stepped away from lunch, I think I was taking it with food.

Tonight, we were glad to have leftovers of chicken, potato. Tommy had slaw and I had green beans. We both eat only one small piece of potato. 

Before I took a nap, I cancelled my oncologist appointment on Wednesday. There was no way I could make it. 

Tommy took all my plants from the utility room. He watered them, too. When I awoke, it was too late to see them. I prepared some weak Miracle-Gro for the Romaine. Someday, I will get around to sowing seeds. 

That was today, folks. Tommy is back to catering to me 100%.

Are there redbuds where you live, in your yard, or the area where you live?

Does a med ever hurt your stomach?

Are you easily thrilled by finding a bit of candy or a treat of which you were unaware? 

I Ordered It

Belk's keeps in touch with me, bless their souls! I get some very enticing emails from them, multiples every day. I ordered a Nu-Wave air fryer. My total price is $61.95. The original cost was something like $139, reduced to $69 minus $10 Belk reward, free shipping, and my price is soooo much lower--$61.95.

Since the huge microwave is gone from the counter, I can use the air fryer in the space left there. Although I will probably not store it there.

Since I never fry anything, this will be a different kind of food around here. 

I hope this is a good one for me. And, hopefully it will do what I expect it to do and more. So, now I must wait for delivery.  Does anyone have one like this or have an opinion?

My squash are about through having died in the heat of the front porch. It has been a long, slow death. I only paid a quarter for each plant. And, the eggplant given to me has decided to bloom. I suppose I will keep watering it and give the fruit to someone else--maybe the guy next door.

The grape tomato plant on the porch has one tiny tomato. I cannot wait to eat grape tomatoes.

My cousin who was here with his wife arrived in an enormous motorhome pulled by his truck. He said they planned to travel for two years. Their only son and his family live in their home. At the end of two years they will sell their home to their son or move back in themselves. It is all up in the air as to what will happen at the end of two years with several plans possible. South Carolina is their home base where they will go back often before they head out West. 

Today, Monday, it is going to be in the 90s. We are headed out in the heat. I worry about Tommy sitting in the car and getting so hot. He will not drink water unless he gets thirsty, a dangerous practice anytime, especially with diabetes and in this heat. 

This and That and Small Economy

The paper inserts this week have three coupons for Ball jars, Ball lids and bands, and a new Ball jar shape. This week, I will pick up these pink envelopes that people leave by the curb. Look in your Sunday paper to find them if they are not thrown in your driveway in a little pink bag.

Last night, Tommy peeled 5 lbs. of potatoes. It was so late, I just put them in a bag and left them in a cool place. I hope they are okay. These will go into a cooking bag with some sort of seasoning and meat. While he was working on potatoes, I cleaned strawberries and made us a smoothie with mostly strawberries.

Today, he can peel apples for pies. He likes peeling things because it is food he can eat...lol. Not once have I ever had to push him, encourage him. He just does it when I ask or even mention peeling.

Today, I don't have to water my plants on the porch. It is raining so hard that they are being watered well. This is forecast for the rest of the week. My back was hurting while watering the few plants.

Last week, when we went to Walgreen's, WG included a card with the meds. It said, "Happy Thoughts and Good Vibes." The envelope was unmarked, but the card was. Today, I used the bright orange envelope to mail coupons to my friend. Yes, it is a small economy, but it saved me paying for an envelope.

I am going to cut the off the front with the saying and include it with a gift.

Okay, I have to work on things.

Do you save clean envelopes from greeting cards to use elsewhere?

Dreaded Visit to Belk's

For a while I refused to go into Belk's to return items I bought that did not fit. I had five things I ordered from the internet and took them all back. However, I had ripped the tag off one,  a jacket with a zipper that would not zip. She would not take it back. I did not argue. I will take it up with someone else with more clout.

Using my walker, I shopped for clothing that was 60% off regular price. I tried on nothing. Next Tuesday, I will return what does not fit and see about the jacket return. I wanted sheets, but could not walk that far. I went to the purses and just left. This would be a great time to buy children or teen clothing.

We carried chicken sandwiches and ate those at the lake, looking at the ducks and people. It was so pleasant that I hated to leave. I really wanted something else. When I went to Publix, I bought a quart of strawberries and we ate those on the way home.  So, no bought lunch today.

I also went by my house and someone mowed my lawn. ??? I think I know who and it was not out of generosity. Self-interest was behind the gesture. I could be wrong.

On the way into town, we saw two yard sales I planned to stop by on the way out of town. The first turned out to be a mobile carwash set up in front of the courthouse. The next was gone, but it was 3 pm. So much for a yard sale.

I took money from the bank, gave Tommy what I owed him, paid a bill, found nothing of interest and not cheap at another grocery. I got the mail and there was nothing urgent or of interest. I kept ten ones for yard sales.

The bill I pay with cash at the drive-up window has a $3.95 charge if I use a card. Since it is a 3 min stop and near everywhere I go, I opt to pay cash at the window.

I sent a fax at Office Depot. Tuesday Morning is going out of business, so just I had to shop on the sidewalk and inside. When I came back to the car, Tommy asked me if I found anything. "Yes, I found needs/wants/wishes, but nothing I was willing to lay down money to buy."

When we got home, I had to rest a bit and then we watered the plants. I was talking baby talk to them when Tommy wanted to know what I said. When I told him I was talking to my plants and they liked it. He said, "Talk to them like you did your chickens and I will know what you are doing." I thought I was.

Now, I need to try on all those clothes and get them ready to return to Belk's if they do not fit. I cannot justify keeping all of them. Trying on things is something I hate with a passion.

Many businesses were going out of business! I am not surprised.

Do you talk to your plants and chickens, talking baby talk?

One Plant at a Time and Meat

Today, when we went to Cullman, I dug up some Hosta that I planted in hard clay in my yard several years ago. It never got taller than six inches, poor thing. So, now it is here and in 3 little pots. I had bought Hosta bulbs, but these will work and I can take those back to Lowe's.

I salvaged plants so I could return the ones I bought. I like saving money by getting plants from a free place--my front yard this time. These poor Hosta had needed rescuing for a long time.

Next, I need to get my iris that have never bloomed because of the hard clay and not enough sunlight. I think I will put them into a large pot.

There are still bedding plants on the porch! I will get them planted if you give me long enough! A person from Auburn University is bringing tomato plants this next week, so I have not bought any yet. It is part of the study.  Well, I did buy one cherry tomato bedding plant from the woman with CSA.

The gerbera daisy is not looking well. Will it bloom again? Should I toss it?

The $26 chicken pack fed us for 8 days. Believe me, we had very little chicken every day except yesterday. This week all the meat is free--rotisserie chicken, veal, two chicken-meatloaf stuffed peppers. Free lunch today and another free meal gotten for dinner.

Planting

I forgot to say that we took a sandwich for lunch on Saturday and went to eat it at the lake. I think we sat there for almost an hour, maybe more. The ducks are entertaining as are the people and kids walking and biking. Saturday was very pleasant, blue skies warm and very little breeze. So, we spent nothing on eating.

Sunday, we "wasted" planting and potting time watching two great movies. Since I had not had a banana on Sunday, I could not face Monday without one, we ran down to Publix where I bought five. Now, I am set until Thursday.

I think we got outside about 6:45 and Tommy dipped all the potting mix into three huge planters and four really tiny ones. I transplanted my summer squash I had already planted into one of the large pots. It looks broken. Then, I took the bedding plant for crookneck squash and put it into the other, matching planter.

Tommy dipped the soil mix because it hurts my wrist and shoulder to be dipping heavy stuff too many times.

Maybe I repotted something else. By this time, my back was hurting so that we quit. Then, I watered everything on the porch. So, nothing will die from lack of water. Then, it rained.

In the back yard I was sad my Romaine had bolted.  I tried one leaf, one bite,  to make sure it was too bitter. IT WAS! So, I pulled up everything in one of the four boxes. My back hurt even worse, so I just watered the two boxes with cabbage in them.

Maybe tomorrow I will pull up bolted red lettuce and kale plants in the boxes left, except for cabbage. The cabbage has yellow spots and some droopy leaves. I have no idea what is wrong with them.

I have two bedding plants from Lowe's and two from the lady with the farm in Cullman and the CSA.

I have one chair in the front and one in the back, so part of what I did was from a sitting position. Tommy stood in front of the porch and sat on his walker in the back yard.

Birds keep sitting on these "wicker" chairs and pooping on them. I am going to buy a bag of rubber snakes and put on in each chair and alternate it from chair to ground. I will put one on the porch and a couple by the boxes out back.

In front of the porch I gasped as I looked down and saw a "snake," part of a bungie cord that was attached to the garbage can to keep raccoons out. Maybe I will find broken ones around here and use those.

Monday afternoon and I now have 40 lbs of produce to wash, sort some, put in refrigerator and cook. Tonight, it will not be bean soup. It is going to be potato soup. I have too many potatoes right now. Since I have 5 pounds of carrots, I suppose I will make potato soup with carrots, kale, and bacon. Maybe I will put cheese in it. Not sure.

Groceries

This is what I bought Wednesday and Thursday. 

4 half gallons a2milk 4@ $4.49

one gal. 2% milk 1@$2.50

1 8oz.-Cheddar Chunk Cheese $4.19

2 8oz Cheddar Chunk Cheese 2@$2.99

5 lbs.  potatoes $2.50

4 zucchini $2.99

Cheerios family size ??? 

Wheat Thins bogo $2.35 each 

4 bananas $0.65

3 qts strawberries 3 for $6

~1 lbs red grapes $1.79

tomato $2.39

Milk Duds $1

Raisinettes $1

3 12-packs  Diet Pepsi--$11

3 12-packs Caffeine Free Coke

2 loaves bread $1 each

I spent ~$60

We don't buy drinks often. This is the first time we have bought Cheddar cheese in two months, I believe. He eats the Cheerios. We had a quart of strawberries for dinner last night. Red grapes are his favorite. I will not touch them. I am waiting for white grapes. Yes, I got our favorite candies. 

Haircolor 

two food seedlings--forgot what

Northern is my favorite TP. However, I prefer the one with lavender package , but I have only found the one in the blue package. I am not happy with it. NOW, the one I like is back on the shelf. No, I did not get more tp. 

It seems the arrows in stores befuddle me. I find myself going to wrong way and getting looks. Why can't I get this right? Plus, even when I am doing it right, it is such a chore to go down an aisle I don't need to circle back to the one I want and still go in the right direction. But, I am willing to do it. It is a small thing that might make a difference. Besides, I don't want to frustrate people who are trying.

I am hardening off the two plants I got in Cullman. If I don't quit dropping them, they will die from trauma! I am assuming the two I bought today do not need to be hardened off since they sit outdoors all the time in a garden center.  

Tommy hooked up my oxygen generator. I could not figure it out because I was soooo tired. I cannot wait to go to bed tonight and maybe wake up feeling rested. 

Late today, I watered the plants. Tommy has to put the hose on and turn it on with pliers. Then, he got the 50' electrical drop cord ready for me to drill hole in the plants tomorrow and plant things I have here. 

Not much done compared to other people, but it was a lot for me. Hopefully, more restful sleep and restorative oxygen will help me. I need to harvest herbs early in the morning and freeze them.

What are you doing in your flower or food garden? 

Sleepy Sunday

After 3 hours sleep on Friday night, I got 6.5 Saturday night. I had to get up and wash my hair before church, get it dried and get a few curls in it somewhere. During church my back hurt so that I had to move forward in the pew and rest my head on the front of the pew in front of me. Thankfully, no one was sitting there. When I sit in the pew, my feet do not touch the floor which makes my back hurt. I am going to find a sturdy box to leave in the pew during the week. Other people leave their own pillows.

Since I no longer have my spiralizer, I saw one and bought it. Well, I got home and I had a food processor. I was sure I saw a spiralizer. When I went back to the same location in the store, yes, there was a spiralizer right on the shelf. How could I pick up a food processor instead of a spiralizer? Tired? Distracted? At any rate, I took the food processor back today on the way home from church. The spiralizer was manual, so I did not get it. My hands would not be able to stand cranking it.

I drove today. I have been meaning to drive one day but forget. I still have the whole tank of gas I had in the car when I came down here. There were a lot of double take when Tommy was getting into my car. From the time this car was bought last September until now, I have put only 4K miles on the car. It had less than 46K, now--51K.

His car has had brakes that "shudder" when applied. And, he said they were okay. He does not repair things until it costs ten times as much as if he repaired it in a timely manner. Yesterday, there was lots of clanking in the rear of the car along with the shuddering feeling. I suspect a master cylinder because I had a car with same problem. Have you ever had a master cylinder fail? Was it accompanied by noise?

Well, he just informed me that he is going south of Birmingham to the dentist first! It is difficult to keep this man alive.

Sleepy Sunday? I have been sleepy all this afternoon. Then, I wanted to watch the news. I am falling off to sleep as I type. So, at six in the evening, I have no intention of taking a nap!

I have a container of prepared basmati rice with olive oil. After I heat it, I will take out a share for me. Tommy's portion with get the remains of his can of peas he ate Friday and Saturday evening. If I have the energy, I will put grape tomatoes and in a skillet and stir them in a bit of olive oil and add those. Mine will have no peas. Since I bought a quart of strawberries today, I will prepare most of all of those for dinner.

Tomorrow, I will get soil and find something in which to plant my purple tulips and daffodils. I planted them in the ground last year the middle of January, so this should be okay. When we went to my lot, the daffodils were bursting to bloom.

This afternoon, Tommy cleaned the trash out of my car. He brought in a brown paper grocer bag full of things to sort, mail and receipts. He threw away a gillion other bits of trash. Plus, he left about 8 cans of food on the front seat of the car for me to decide about. I had left four large cans of peaches in a bag. Otherwise, they would have been in the dump. I got those in after deciding to throw away some of the cans. He volunteered to clean my car. I was shocked and happy. He brought in one shoe. Hopefully, the other is under the seat. He could not get under the seat because of his osteoarthritis. Now, I can clean something in his house without complaints...lol.

Do you ever get so tired and sleepy on a Sunday afternoon?

Oh, halfway through cleaning out the car, he brought in a $5 bill. When he came in for good, he said he had 80 cents sin his pocket and reached for it. I told him he could have that as his pay.

Me or the Cat

One of us is going to kill the other. I was coming into the house tonight and she decided she was coming in, too.  I tried blocking her with my legs and feet, hissing at her, hurrying, yelling. She does understand "NO."

I was carrying a cut-down box with bedding plants in it. I managed to drop the whole box and damage some of the plants I picked out so carefully. Then, still fussing at her, I managed to close the door across the top of my big toe. I then fell backwards and hit the picture window. I heard it crack. While I have not looked at the window, I am hoping it was just the glazing or something that is not glass that I heard cracking.

The neighbors down the block could have heard me yelling at this stubborn cat. After I dropped the box of plants, I almost ripped off my big toe as I was trying to not step on plants and close the door, and fell against the glass of the window, I staggered to the bed, making lots of noise from the pain. And, of course, there is not anything in this house that can be used for pain, not even an aspirin!

My plan--get a flyswatter and tie a plastic bag to it. I will hang it on the porch. She hates the sound of a plastic bag.  I have no intention of hitting her hard, just enough to let her hear the plastic. Hopefully, she will back off when she hears it coming.

My neighbor took out my garbage tonight. I have picked up garbage every morning this last week. Whatever is getting into the garbage can now gets it all over the steps, besides the yard. And, this new can has a lid that sort of locks. Whatever gets into the garbage does not mind chewing on kitchen foil.

Tommy gave me two bungie cords from his trunk. He said he remembered my saying I might have to use bungee cords.

Today, I had an appointment at 1:30. At 2:30, I asked what happened since I had the first appointment after lunch and he was in the waiting room when I arrived. The receptionist told me a walk-in new patient came in before me and he had to see her first. WHAT???

Then, he stayed with me for an hour. By the time I got back to town, I was drained. I put gas in the car because there were few people at the station. I paid $2.18/gallon.

Since I forgot apples when I went to Publix on Monday or whenever I went, I got a few grapes, and strawberries, and apples.

Any suggestions as what to do to keep the cat from killing me?





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