Till Birnam Wood come to Dunsinane

 When Tommy and I were driving along, we both saw a tree moving along and commented almost at the same time. As it turned out, a man was cutting some limbs and carrying them in a manner where he was obscured. The limbs must have been from a dogwood tree as they looked like they grew and spread in a flat manner instead of being from a tree where the limbs had limbs in a different configuration. I immediately thought of Macbeth and the prophecy. I have to admit this moving tree unnerved me for half a second. Same with Tommy. 

Tommy said to tell you he was reminded of a WWII movie with Robert Taylor where Japanese cut limbs to obscure their advance. 

Okay, enough of Shakespeare and our fright. I was seriously doubting my sanity! Three seconds later, I understood.

Tommy has started to tell me what he says, so I do.

"We don't care if our children die in a ditch as long as they don't die in the road and make it bumpy." I watched Resident Alien and it was hilarious. I heard lots of new terms--elimination portal where aliens probed. Sooo funny! 

Today, I had a visit to a new doctor only about 5 minutes away who is from a hospital downtown. I had to see the nurse practitioner which was fine with me. AND, they could not get blood. So, what is new with my veins? I am well-bruised. I cannot handle the pain from the back of my arm or back of my hand without lidocaine and they have none. So, I am going back another day. 

Today, the visit was about 3 hours, counting seeing the np, traversing long halls, and the several attempts at a blood draw! So, I am drained. I can talk about that later or maybe not.

So, we saw walking trees. What have you seen or thought you saw, in nature or not, that was not what it seemed? Do prefer nurse practitioners? Do you watch Resident Alien?

Plans That May Change

 I bought four containers of blackberries at Publix, of course, small containers. The plan is to make blackberry jam or something resembling blackberry jam. Since I don't want to add 2 cups of sugar and don't want to add artificial sweetener, I think I will crush the blackberries, add about 1/4 the sugar required, cook with or without no sugar Sure Jell and call it jam. 

Strawberry shortcake was in the works, but Tommy prefers the little shortcakes sold for dessert. I hate those and love my biscuits that have a bit of sugar and butter. Do I please him or please me and have less sweet stuff? 

After visiting two more stores as I shopped, no special trips, I found that the vinegar was cheapest where I bought the first two gallons. So, I will go there for another 8 gallons. 

The terrific wind brought down a large limb that will need a saw taken to it. So, we need to get that taken care of this next week. It fell on the neighbor's fence but did no damage. Just the end leafy parts are on the fence. But, since the wooden fence is inside the chain link fence, there could be damage not evident from my view from the car as we passed the house. 

I told Tommy he should go over and tell them he will get the tree off the fence. Tommy said he will do nothing, not even talk to them and ignore the limb unless they say something. He is a terrible neighbor. 

Produce is lasting forever here since I convinced Tommy it should go into a storage bag with the air pressed out. One week, at the food giveaway we were given 7 clamshells and bags of salad greens. We bagged them all in separate storage bags and not one was lost. Tommy ate out of them for over a month. So, he is a believer. These are Christmas designs and cost very little. We reused the bags for other uses, not food storage, before they are thrown out. 

I think I will make Kool Aid with Swerve. About once a year, I want Kool Aid. I wonder if Swerve will freeze so I can make popsicles, too.  ???

Tommy is not a father, but he was a good chickydaddy the ten years I had chickens. I always wish him Happy Father's Day. He did object but I point out his job as chickydaddy and he smiles. We are doing nothing spectacular or celebrating. So, it will just be another day. Both our fathers are dead, taken by cancer. 

We celebrate having air conditioning! The temps are high here. So, what are you doing on Father's Day?

More Christmas

 Today, it was very warm out, at 5:30, it was still 69F. This was the last day free of rain. And, Tommy won't help with putting out lights on the ramp. So, I told him to return them. He quickly said, "Okay." And, he seemed happy about it. 

The wreath is finished and on the front door. It looks beautiful. Instead of a big red bow, I put a bought decoration--two bells with their own bow. And, around the greenery are five or six poinsettias on clips. I hope they don't fall off. 

Every year, I get him to straighten and fluff the 3-foot tree. He uses his forearm to straighten them, saying he cannot pull them out. So, it has never been fluffed, just mashed. It is so strange. So, we are heading into the grumpy season for him. 

I will pay someone to fluff it since I am still itching from the wreath fluffing. He hates Christmas because he might have to spend two cents extra. But, he is front and center if anyone else does the inviting, preparing, and cooking, and spending. Plus, in all these years, he has only given me one gift. But, he loves his gifts. 

Just now, I put a 6.5 lb. hen in the oven. It had been thawing for four days and was still mostly frozen. So, it will have to thaw and cook in the oven! I cannot understand how it takes so long for a small bird so long to thaw.  I ws really suffering when I got it out, out of packaging and into pan for the oven. Consequently, I left out the celery and onion, left them on the counter. UGH! I did manage to put salt, pepper, and ground sage on it. 

My hand still hurts. I have not checked to see if my hip is bruised. But, it hurts! 

We will have Stovetop Stuffing, green beans, and jellied cranberry sauce to go with it. I just had a tangerine. It appears we do not have more canned, jellied cranberry sauce, so I will cook berries. 

My next Christmas goal is to put up the tiny tree and decorate. 

Monday Dinner Out and Handyman

 We were invited to my new friend's house Monday night. We had so much fun and she was saying how much she enjoyed us coming and we would have to do it again. She bought three chicken breasts from Publix, a package of potato salad and one of slaw. Smart woman. Before dinner we had strawberries and peanuts. This is my kind of hostess. My kind of friend. My kind of woman. (Okay, dinner out was without a mask inside of a friend's house.)

We met her when I insisted on stopping and talking to her as she was in her yard. I make friends everywhere! 

Her home is a small unassuming brick, with a beautiful yard. Inside, her home is well-appointed, stuffed full of very nice furniture. I was surprised. She had to downsize and kept what she could. 

She was so thoughtful in that she put her dog in the bedroom for the evening. That is a plus. I had a very good friend who allowed her dog to lie across my feet over my objections. I did not say a word, just moved my chair back until I was six feet from the dining table. Dog owners are one of the reason I "don't like dogs."

We talked about everything under the sun! She is funny and interesting, and not a bit shy. Tommy had a good time, too. Of course, we let him talk...lol. He seemed to really enjoy her company. 

This is the first time we have been with anyone without our mask, in someone's home, or with a person while eating. We did meet our friends in Cullman in the park, but they are in their 90s, and the weather has not been fit on the free lunch day. I don't know if they are up to cold weather. We would sit outdoors and just bring a blanket to wrap in while we eat, but I am not sure how they would feel about this arrangement. 

Tuesday, a friend from Cullman came down here and cut a tree and suckers that were going to ruin Tommy's roof. The suckers were  20 feet tall. Then, he cut a 20 foot tree that was right next to the house, within 6 inches of the foundation. Tommy and I fought bitterly as to whether these two trees would ruin the roof. He also cut some firewood for himself! None of the trees or limbs were over 4 inches in diameter. 

Then, he climbed on the roof and used his leaf blower to clean out the gutters. I have never heard of anyone using a leaf blower for gutters, but I suppose  it works. And, he walked carefully so as not to damage the roof. This guy is a jack-of-all trades, retired military. I have known him for well over 20 years. No, he did this for me and he is not a handyman. But, he is a handy man. 

He said the last time he climbed on a roof or up a tree, forgot which, he ended up in the hospital. He told me he wanted to go to UAB. So, with that settled, he worked steadily. He also said his wife did not want him to get on the ladder. Yikes! 

I have something he wanted to trade for. So, that deal was done. Plus, I gave him $30 for gas. He  objected and finally put it in his pocket. 

Today, I drove my car and put gas in it. Well, I drove and Tommy pumped the gas. Dinner will be light tonight, something I do not have to prepare! We have a bag of salad and there is ham I bought to feed J. And, there is fruit. 

We had a busy and fruitful twenty-four hours. Today, I think the predicted temperature was 74F. It has been very warm and pleasant. 

I have other things J wants, so he might do the things that need to be done around here. 

Frugal Outdoor Decorations, Cleaner Came Today

 One summer day about 20 years ago, I was at a yard sale in Decatur, AL. I found a hairy creature that sort of resembled a reindeer. I inquired as to the nature of the beast and the price. It was a reindeer for $1. At that price, why not?

I got it home and started looking at it. It had a plug, so I plugged it in. Under the hairy stuff were lights. When I started trying to pull the hair off, it came off easily. It appeared someone had taken a Christmas reindeer and hot glued strips of fake hair. 

When I got the stuff pulled off, I had a reindeer without antlers. When I started dating the guy before Tommy, one day during Christmas holidays his daughter came with him to my house. I gave him several wire coathangers and asked him to make antlers. He was stymied even after I explained. His 14-year-old daughter was listening and watching as I explained. Finally, I asked her if she understood how to make antlers. She assured me she did, so I told her to help him. 

I had bought a string of lights for the antlers. The deer was gold and the light strings on him were goldish or beige, not white. So, I took foil and covered every light and sprayed the whole string gold, turning it over and over in the grass until I had covered the whole wire string of lights. Plus, I sprayed the coat hanger antlers. This Christmas light spraying was a fun thing to do on a hot summer day. 

A bit later, I had them make the antlers! They put the lights I bought on the antlers and it was perfect, moving his head up and down. 

That summer I bought a six-foot tree for $3 or so at a yard sale. It was not an outdoor tree, but I put outdoor lights on it and put it outdoors with my reindeer. I put it in the side yard so it could be seen from the street and from my picture window. My whole outdoor display cost me less than $10 and I had a tree and reindeer. 

I really want a reindeer!!! The tiny ones are not right and the huge ones are not right. I want one in the mid-size, just right. 

Wednesday, I put our Christmas candy in a cheap, covered, plastic, Christmas-decorated container. I don't dare put it in a candy dish where is easily and unobtrusively gotten. 

Thursday, today, the cleaning woman is coming. So, I will have to tell you about how it goes in another post. 

Cleaner just left. It took her 3 3/4 hours to clean refrigerator and the freezer above it and the front and a bit of one side of the refrigerator. She did not clean the top because she is short, older, and has fallen. It cost $80. There are dishes with food still to be emptied and washed. 

Neither she nor I could get the shelf in that holds the crisper drawers. Tommy had to lie on the floor to get it all together! 

There is a tall kitchen garbage can full of food and bits of bottles of stuff thrown out. I would have kept some of it, but it was out of the refrigerator, so I let her toss it. I sat in the kitchen the whole time, talking to her and and saying what goes and then what goes back in and where. 

The two crispers are now in use. And, the shelf he took out 20 years ago is back inside. I may have to take it out if he cannot get milk out. I don't want him to have to lie in the floor to get his breakfast. I have three of the Dollar Tree bins like milk cartons, really small. I did not have her even look in those because it is just cheese. Yes, in all three. and cream cheese and goat cheese. 

She wanted to throw out my out-of-date cottage cheese that I know I will eat soon! She would not have like the dates on the milk and eggs. The milk had been frozen, so it was "out" of date by weeks. 

We hope she will at least come back to clean the two baths, well, 1.5 baths. And, the guys installing the installing the dishwasher want her to clean under the sink...lol. 

Do you shop yard sales for Christmas decorations or Christmas houses like I do? What have you found? 

Recalcitrant Child

Well, Tommy did put the tree legs in their slots and move a table and pull some of the limbs slightly out. Other than that, he has only succeeded in making the Christmas tree look like shit. He left some of the limbs flat against the tree trunk. The others are not fully in place. He showed me in the air that "I pull them out straight (with two fingertips at end of branch) and they just pop back up." Idiot.

I intend to take it down since he made an attempt to "fix it for me." He put his forearm into the tree and against the trunk and held onto the very top. Then, he forcibly pushed down the dozen branches and left a huge gap in the tree. No tree ever grew anything like this. I am not looking for perfection! Just give it a good try, and honest try and cut out the passive aggressive actions.

I will not make the cucumber sandwiches for the Christmas dinner at church. I will not go to church with him on Sunday. If he tells them I am sick or don't feel well, I WILL tell them the whole story. I am sick and tired of putting on a nice public face after abuse!

He does not mind I spend time this afternoon making pumpkin pies which he will eat or that I washed dishes that were used to cook or serve him food. He has informed me I will get nothing for Christmas even though he knows I always get him something. He cannot fix the tree where it looks like a tree. The top is bent, but he cannot see it, looks straight to him. Passive-aggressive shit makes me furious.

You would think that as much as I love Christmas, I might inspire someone to actively join in. He has never thought up one thing to do, even going to eat lunch at the lake. I think of everything. He joins in mostly, but Christmas is not a time for his cooperating, not costing him a dime.

Christmas Decorating

This morning Tommy pulled out the branches on the tiny 3' tree and took a table from a corner and put it up and dug out the extension cord and plugged it up. That was sweet, but some branches are still up against the trunk. I told him to fix it, but so far, he has not. It is weird looking, but I bought 20 ornaments even though it needs more. He WILL fix those branches. I was not going to spend almost $4 for a topper. Maybe the Dollar Tree will have one. Otherwise, I will make one of cardboard and cover it with foil. Icicles will fix the lack of ornaments. The tree is sort of in a corner, so the back does not have to be completely decorated. Well, the only thing on the back is lights. I was surprised I bought one with lights. But, thinking back, my 3' pink tree had lights, too.

I found socks for bed! I don't have shoes yet and these will not fit in my sandals. At least I won't be kept awake by cold feet. They are Hanes Men's Big and Tall, size 12-14. No, my feet are not that large. I cannot stand tight socks at all.

Groceries today: Romaine, halos, bananas, tea, salad dressing mix, one dill relish and one sweet relish--Mt Olive 8 fl. ozs. These will last me a year since I do not use much at all in my tuna.

I also got a round Christmas tablecloth--red, white, and green check. I had these at home, but all are in the dump. Tommy had told me that I could not decorate. After I put the tablecloth on the table, I needed him to help me find something in the freezer since it is dark inside plus there might be an avalanche. As we went into the dining room, I said to him, "Doesn't it look festive?" He agreed in tone like he liked the look.


My outdoor decorating consists of a can of red paint. I have a cast iron pot given to me by my mother. After a few years black paint faded, showing white paint. ??? But, it is cast iron. I decided I would spray paint it red and fill it with bought of evergreen. I am going to do other things to it, but that is the start.

My wire chicken fell over in a strong wind and spilled pumpkins and flowers. They pumpkins will go on the curb. Maybe someone will want them for their animals. Do you think my wire rooster would look weird painted red? I do. But, Tommy thought it would look okay. I think it needs to be white.

Inside, the kitchen tablecloth and the little Christmas tree are the only decorations that I am planning. But, I could get carried away...lol.

The Amaryllis in the kitchen window is slowly recovering. Hopefully, I will have a Apple Blossom Amaryllis by Christmas. Apple Blossom is white and pink. They usually have six blossoms on each stem.

Tommy is generously sharing his Andes with me. He is welcome to my PEZ. I have not bought Christmas candies yet, because I am a pig out of control. I still have not found Cella chocolate cherries yet. I hope they are not discontinued.

I addressed three Christmas cards and need to find the Scotch tape I bought so I can seal them securely.