Cullman Trip and Pain

 Thursday, we went to Cullman to get my mail. Since I had only had 1.5 hours sleep, I was ready to come home quickly. 

I wrapped a box of Reynolds Cooking Bags and gave them to my 92-yr-old friends. She is tired of cooking. They often go out and get a sandwich for lunch and family brings meals to them. They are not so feeble they cannot cook. The just plain don't want to cook! I can relate. That is why we use cooking bags. Well, actually, standing at the stove to cook is no longer possible. 

We also took soup/tuna cans for a mutual friend who collects them from many people and redeems them. We use few cans, so it takes about two months to even get a Publix bagful. This is her casino money, so I am not much invested in this enterprise. But, we do it because the elderly couple want to help her. 

When I told her I was coming in town and could we drop by to leave the cans. She said a nurse was with her. So, we did other things for an hour or so. When I told her we were ten minutes away, she said she wanted me to see her, how well she looked. 

OMG! She looked like she had been beat up with a huge purple knot about her eyebrow and deep purple bruises all along her face, collarbone, and chest. She had fallen off her bed ten days ago or five, forgot which. She had no idea how it happened. She made sure we knew she had never fallen off the bed before in her life. Her injuries were brutal. She said she looked so much better now. Of course, she went to the ER, not sure what they did but I can imagine test on her brain/head and stopped the bleeding.

She has also survived her second round of covid! Thankfully, she was negative today. It scared me to think I was even standing in the yard with a positive person. She said it was so sad and lonely spending Christmas Day alone in her house with her husband. I am quite sure her family brought food. I felt sorry for her the way she said it. 

Just as we were getting ready to go out the door today, something fell on my foot. The pain was so intense! And, I was bleeding. A lot! I wrapped a tissue around it and left. I put antibiotic on it. Keep your fingers crossed it does not get infected. I will probably lose a toe or worse! I am not kidding. I have wooden birds and wings to attach. These are made of 2x6 and are about a foot long. Well, one landed beak-down on my toe, just behind the nail. It was a bare wood cardinal that got me. You can imagine how heavy it was. I worry about wood being the agent that gouged into me. 

At Publix, I found more turkey breasts for $1.49/lb. and bought two, cheaper than bscb. They are in the refrigerator thawing right now. I need a thing to seal this food after it is cooked. Kraft Cheddar Cheese was $3 this week, so I got two. 

This state is a hotbed of covid, flu, and RSV. Today, I noticed more people were wearing masks, mostly older people. And, they were all wearing the kind with a valve--N95, I believe. 

As soon as we came home, I went to bed, but I could not sleep. So, I am up again, hoping to get sleepy enough to get a nap.

I am sitting amidst a bit of clutter I just put down around my chair, on table, on ottoman. Tommy has a similar clutter he has assembled. I told him we had to get this cleaned up and soon. I will not let this happen again. He agreed we should get it out of here. We just came home, so exhausted, not just lazy.

When we had Lynda over, I needed something to hold frilly toothpicks. I asked Tommy and he had nothing. Of course, he finds things he has forgotten he has. I told him something on the order of a shot glass would work. I did have pretty cut glass and pressed glass to use. But that is gone. Well, he came in with a tiny pimiento jar. It looked wonderful to me. I put a red, lacy, Christmas ribbon around it. It was perfect. The pretty ribbon came from an ugly wreath I ripped apart. So, saving a jar and ribbon worked for me. By next year, I will have a new cut or pressed glass tiny container. 

Today the temperature rose to 72F. I think they need it in Buffalo to melt some of the ice and snow. It is amazing to me that the temperature rose from 7F to 70s. 

Dinner: leftover turkey, pan of baked vegetables--carrots, broccoli, onions, potatoes, celery. I am cooking enough for two nights. Saturday will be sausage balls and something else.

It is late now, and some of the clutter is still here with me. I always take away stuff I have put in here instead of putting where it belongs. 

Do you ever use a common item for a really nice item? E.g., jar instead of cut glass...lol. 

Tuesday and Wednesday Favorite Meat

Decorating-- Somehow, all the tree ornaments in two tiny bins just disappeared. So, only lights. And, it was actually very pretty. Things happen. I did not get out the large Rubbermaid type bin. That left candles and the red Kiss with lights. But, I had tins! One square Moon Pie tin with a cute, Christmassy scene, a father and son in front of a red barn on a snowy hill, making a snowman. I stood it on its side next to the Christmas tree. Another cheery tin with Santa is on the bottom shelf of a table where light shows through the glass top. 

I brought out the fake poinsettia I bought for $5 at a yard sale. The basil plant in a nice white pot seemed like a touch of Christmas. These green touches were not much but cheered up the scene a bit. They made me happy. Then, there was a short, green, round Christmas tin that found a spot to beautify. 

Tuesday, Tommy went to plants stored in the utility room and trimmed them. The temps were in 40s, so a little chilly. I asked him to trim them when the weather was warmer, but he finally did it. I was shocked he had covered them in plastic. But, at least they are free of plastic now. It will be a great mystery how many of them survive this spring. There are no shrubs, not one, in front of his house, so the place looks barer than since before I started bringing plants. 

I want my pots of squash again! They were huge and lush and fed some critter well. The porch was pretty with the green. 

Tuesday Dinner: ham, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce--all leftovers. 

Wednesday:

I had an appointment I did not make due to only two hours sleep and having head and chest congestion, and coughing. So, I slept until 2 pm. The oncologist gynecologist is probably wondering why I am not coming in since I called him. 

The rest of the day was spent reading blogs, watching baby videos, and maintaining the lack of clutter, and only decluttering a bit more. But, every bit counts. Right? So, the day was not a complete loss. The movies at night have been fantastic. We saw Rear Window tonight--fantastic. I had not seen it in years. 

Tommy cut the ham from the bone while I was sleeping and has four bags of ham, not a full bag in any of them, but two to freeze, he said. 

Before I went to bed on Wednesday night, I took out a bag of turkey, one of the four bags from the two turkey breasts. Wednesday morning, it was thawed. And, tonight, we finished off the turkey breast from Christmas, and have more meat for Thursday. If I had 24 turkey breasts and roasted them all and froze them, I would have meat ready for a year. Half a turkey breast won't last a week, but mostly it will. I can dream, can't I?

Dinner: We had turkey and salad. I had an apple and half a banana later. I will never tire of turkey breast and salad.

The temperature was 61 today. I feel for those who live in such cold climates as the north of the country is now. 

You know I love turkey breast or chicken breast. What is your favorite meat to eat that you do not tire of eating? I do love beef and pork, but right now, I realize how much I love turkey and chicken breast. 

Turkey Breasts and Yard Sale Treasure

 At 8 am Saturday morning, I called Publix. The meat guy went to check. He said he got two for me. Later, but really early, like 10 am, I went and collected my turkey breasts. Both were a bit over six pounds, $9.16 and $8.52. That is not bad for those huge hunks of meat. 

But, they were strange. Turkey breasts are rounded all over. The has twoprotuberances, one on each side. I asked the guy why those things were sticking out. He said they were bones. I was skeptical and told him a turkey breast won't have a bone there. He said it was probably wings. I am going to be fit to be tied if I bought wings. 

We decided to air up one of my tires. The car would not start. So, Tommy had to use our handy-dandy car charger and it started. Then, I backed it out of the carport and he aired them up, all to different numbers--32 pounds for this tire, 34 pounds for that tire. It just makes me crazy. But, he said it won't matter. It appears sitting for so long and one tire only with 12 pounds did not make any of the tires get a flat spot. I imagine driving Michelin is why they held up nicely. 

I drove a little to keep in practice...lol. and decided to take it to the car wash. Well, there were about 12 people in line and I was not doing that wait. We will go tomorrow. 

Tommy pointed out a yard sale close to the house. We passed it several times before we stopped. There was furniture 6 feet high and massive. Behind it they put all the small stuff. We pulled into the driveway, and I decided there was nothing there for me. Then, I saw a tiny edge of something like a table, only I knew it was a Singer treadle. Yep. I bought it for $15. Since it was so cheap and she would deliver it, I offered to pay her five dollars to drive a mile to my house and put it in the carport. 

When we left, Tommy said, I thought you had sewing machines. I DEAL in sewing machines. I really only want this one for the iron bottom. I can sell the head to someone who wants to cannibalize it or to refurbish it. The wooden part, especially the drawers are good sellers for people who use them on shelves to store something also collectible. I might even make money on the deal. Now Tommy has to go out and cover it as even under the carport rain blows in. 

I have always wanted the iron stand from a Singer treadle to put a marble or wooden top on it. This would be pretty on a porch but would get really wet on Tommy's porch. However, it would be great anywhere. This is one of my dreams come true! I do have a Singer treadle older than this one, but I won't take it apart for a table. At one point, I used it in the den for my TV. 

The table at the head of the post is using the tabletop of the machine. So, that is an idea for a table kept indoors. I love it. 

We have a Christmas party to go to next Saturday. The weather will be great, but covid is on the rise everywhere, so I may opt to miss all the fun.

Dinner will be leftovers from Tommy's birthday meal--pork loin, potatoes, carrots, squash, zucchini, onions. I am so glad I don't have to cook! 

Are you missing parties to be safe? 

Do you use a Singer iron base for a table base?

Have you ever wanted this type table? 

 

Tommy's Birthday/I am Determined

 I was awake from 4:30 to 7:30. Tommy got up to go to the bathroom as I was going to bed. We pass in the night! I had told him to wake me at 10 am since I was told that the $1.49 turkey breast would be out by then. Well, I got dressed when I woke at 10:30 a bit miffed he did not wake me. I dressed as fast as I could and combed my hair in the car. On the way to Publix I did sing Happy Birthday in a creaky voice. He thanks me and liked the song. 

At 11 am, there was no turkey breast no matter how many people dug in that case of turkeys. Finally, it seemed that the truck was delayed so I could check back tomorrow. UGH! I did get vanilla ice cream like Tommy requested for his birthday. 

Since I had nothing to eat, I told him I was buying his lunch. We went to Arby's and had a roast beef sandwich with cheese and no red sauce. Other places nicer were too far away. We were on a tight schedule. Of course, I had to squirt Horsey Sauce on each bite. I love horseradish. One time I got the burn up my nostrils and loved it. Usually, we would eat in the park. He suggested I eat while we drove to Big Box and he would eat in the car. He had had breakfast. 

I did some quick shopping and no browsing. We left finally and got to next chore. We witnessed and almost head-on collision. That was frightening. 

It took a while to recover and we watched some of the news. Then, Tommy started peeling potatoes and carrots. We both worked. While I was trimming everything, he washed the squash and zucchini which I then cut into three inch pieces. 

Carrots, potatoes, onion went into the bag with the pork loin on top. I tied up the bag, poked holes, and put it into the oven. Maybe he put it in. I turned around to wash my hands as he stood near me, using his walker. He asked, "What are you going to do with the squash and zucchini? Oh, my gosh. I left them out of the bag. So, I cut the tie, dumped them in and he put them back into the oven. At least the pan was not hot at all. 

I said it was birthday present time. He was eager. He opened the shredder and was happy. Now, for three years he has opposed a shredder being purchased. He opened the book I got him--A Dog's Purpose. He seems like he might finally read it. I gave the old one with pages curled to Lynda. 

Life is short; eat dessert first!

Then, since dinner was still not near done, I asked him if he wanted carrot cake--"Of course!" So, we had carrot cake. I am so glad a whole cake was too expensive--$19--and we only had a slice each. He did not want ice cream on it. He hates ice cream or whipped cream on desserts, even when I whip real cream. Oh, I bought him a pack of Juicy Fruit since he likes gum and never has any unless I buy it. He is an aggressive chewer and saves it until morning, stuck onto something, so I don't encourage him. But, it is his birthday. 

Dinner smells so delicious--Applewood Pork Loin, potatoes, carrots, onion, zucchini, squash, all in a cooking bag. There is enough for another meal even if we both eat lots tonight. Plus, there will be enough for sandwiches. I bought slaw mix to go with any of the above meal if there is enough for more meals.

Determined? I will get two more turkey breasts! It is getting hard, but I will persevere. Next time, I will be at the store early on the day ad starts instead of noon the next day. But, things happened on Wednesday. No more excuses for sales. Tommy exclaimed, "Where are we going to put two breasts?"

I am determined to get two more in the stuffed freezer! I can thaw and cook one, if push comes to shove. One time about 8 years ago, I put three turkey breasts in one turkey bag and sent Tommy's home with him. It can be done. 

I ordered a Christmas cd for when Lynda comes to visit. Later tonight, I will listen to it and see if it is good. This will be a "party" done right. We might have dancing! jk

At 8:30, I called Publix. The meat truck has not come in yet. So, someone must stay until it gets there. At least, at this point there will be turkey breasts in the morning. We would not have gone in tonight, anyway. 

I asked Tommy if he wanted any ice cream. "At about 10:30." So, he is enjoying his birthday. Cake, ice cream, shredder, gum, a good dinner, Auburn t-shirt, and a book made him happy. The flashlight and head lamp can wait until Christmas. 

Are specials and sales becoming hard to find because of low stock? 

Do you ever become determined to get the deal?

Plans Changed Multiple Times Today

 I had a good plan until it was not a good plan due to my mistake. The plan Friday morning was to buy bscb at Publix today. Then, I decided why not eat the half of the turkey breast reserved for our eventual Thanksgiving meal and buy a new breast cheaply for $1.49/lb. and thaw it. The plan was a good one until I found a turkey breast at Publix for over $32. It seems the ones for $1.49 are gone, sold. Or, the price was only through Wednesday. 

The chicken breasts were an exorbitant price, nothing I wanted to pay. We went to another Publix. No turkey breasts at $1.49. I bought milk for Tommy, and we headed home. I was exhausted and the sun was low in the sky. 

We sat in the park for about 15 minutes and talked. I made a new plan. We would go home, and I could search the freezer. That plan was working until lots of frozen rocks fell from the freezer quite an avalanche. Since I could not read what was on the packages because of no light near the freezer, I called Tommy. He took the large package over to the sink where there is a measly light, and read it--a whole chicken. So, it went into the refrigerator to thaw. I did not hurt as much as I thought I would.

The things that fell out were meatloaf and field peas, among other things. I was rushing to see The Great Christmas Light Fight. We hurried and heated meatloaf, leftover sweet potatoes, and field peas for dinner. We had three minutes to spare. Then, he realized he read the wrong thing and The Great Christmas Light Fight was not coming on. Bummer. 

We watched Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. I love that song and movie. Now, we are watching It's a Wonderful Life. I have to see this once every year. 

While I was picking frozen food off the floor, I found two chicken legs, so that is thawing as a meal or two for Tommy. A package with two hoagie buns will be eaten, probably by Tommy with peanut butter on them. I need to go check and see if something is hiding in the dark that escaped from the freezer.

There are two great gaps in the freezer that are for turkey breasts when I find ones that are cheap again.

I did not get the sweet potato bread baked. Maybe I will bake it tomorrow evening. Don't hold me to it. I told Lynda I might bring her some on Wednesday. I told her it would be Thursday, and then Friday. This evening, I told her it would be baked someday. I will be glad when my sense of taste recovers. 

I piddled at decluttering and picking up bits of trash from the table beside me. Yes, we can tell a bit of difference. 

The fall--my knee collapsed quite a few times on Thanksgiving. So, I used my cane. Today, the collapsing and almost falling stopped. My hand and shoulders hurt. I appear to be recovering nicely and I can still bend my left knee, something I could barely do before I fell. I am achy in places, but not really hurt except for the left knee pain. 

What movies or specials do you love to watch each holiday season?

Sick Again

 

Tommy did test me. It did not go well for him. When I am ill, just stop with the nit-picking!

On Sunday night, I slept a good 7 hours, took a 4 or 5 hour nap, and then slept with my recliner back for an hour. 

I had a huge knot on my neck, lymph node, I suppose. I felt so ill, feverish. And, then he went too far. I did not sleep all night long and was in here at about 7 am. My temp is up a steady two or three degrees. I ache. My neck hurts. 

We drove two miles to Publix and back. I wanted eggs and he got Chips Ahoy cookies, too. I felt so awful. But, I can put the turkey breast in the oven. Right? No, it was still frozen mostly. I let water run into the plastic bag sealing it and went to bed at 6 pm and told Tommy to call me at 6:30 pm and I would put the breast into the oven. I finally got up at 8:30 and got it into the oven by 9:30. It will be done at 11:30 pm, so I can eat a bit and get it back into the refrigerator for freezing tomorrow. 

Tommy did everything, handed me everything while I leaned on the sink, never moving, just handling the breast. He handed me cooking bag, dish towel, salt, pepper, ground sage, pan; celery. broccoli, carrots from refrigerator. Then, he put it in the oven and turned it on. I know I should pre-heat! 

Before I got up, he ate chopped chicken on a salad. This is why I keep plenty of options in the refrigerator for him--I don't have to be present for him to eat a healthy meal, and he does not eat junk.  

Oh, I don't have to worry about the cornbread Stovetop Stuffing since Tommy threw it out. Obviously, he did not like it. 

Monday, I had an appointment for an MRI. I cancelled. Of course, I could have napped in the machine. I have done that before. 

Nothing says Christmas like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I love it. I think I will have a cup of hot chocolate since I am freezing. Between being cold and body aches, I am just miserable. 

The pink bag of ads and coupons came today. We made a list of what we need, want, and might buy.  I don't want to be in crowds and fighting to get around in multiple stores to find what I need at the last minute. I will list the sales tomorrow. 

Have you gotten the ads for this week? Any good deals/sales at your stores? What classic holiday movies do you enjoy? 

I Swear with My Hand on a Cookbook

 In order to get everything done and as cheaply as possible, I am doing Thanksgiving in stages. Today, I made a list of everything I will need for the meal. Next, I will check to see if I need to buy those items. Then, from this week onward, I will watch for sales for those items.

One thing I did was prepare Tommy and the refrigerator for the day. I told Tommy we had to keep the top shelf of the refrigerator clear enough to hold a turkey in a pan to thaw. For him, that means not opening a bottle of juice. Telling him this was also to help me remember not to buy too much milk, no matter cheap the price. 

Today, I tried to bend in front of the big freezer to find a turkey at the bottom. Since there is no light in the room, I am doing this blind, so to speak. I felt and felt until I thought I felt the rounded mass of poultry. 

When I pulled, I finally dislodged a turkey breast. YAY! When I put this one in the oven, I will dislodge another turkey or turkey breast. I swear with my hand on a cookbook that I will never, ever buy another whole turkey no matter how cheap it is.  They are too much bother for me to hold and put in a pan and then into the oven. I barely got myself standing after getting the breast loose from the freezer. 

Tonight, I decided to cook the two chicken breasts in a chicken, soup, rice, green bean casserole. I might put cheese on the top if I have what I want to use. Otherwise, it will still be delicious. Tommy said to put broccoli in the casserole. So, I put in frozen broccoli florets, bought on sale, bogo from Publix. I did add a tiny jar of pimiento. Tommy does not like pimiento, but if I drain the juice, he says it is fine. So, I drained it. It looks like a pretty Christmas dish. There will be several nights of leftovers from this. 

I mashed 2.5 large bananas, one too ripe even for me. These will be used in a banana bread. Maybe this will be made before Thanksgiving, maybe not. Don't hold me to anything cooking-related...lol. 

PAM is going to kill me! I staggered out of the kitchen to find an inhaler. I know I can put a smear of oil in a casserole. Why do I do this? Yes, I might get the device that will mist oil in pans. 

Today, about 4:30 pm, Tommy looked to see if we had any mushroom soup. He said we did not, so we headed out to Publix before it became too dark. When we got home, I found lots of cream of mushroom soup. He did not look in the place where I put it. Oh, well. We were going out for bread, anyway.

I told him to get low sodium soup if he found it. Well, he called and said there was a no salt variety and a low sodium variety. The low sodium variety had 750 mg sodium and the no salt had something like 5 mg sodium. I still need to examine all the other ingredients in the no-salt can. That will be done soon, maybe tonight, maybe not.

This morning, we spent time in the kitchen. I washed about two dozen snap-lock lids for the glass baking/storage dishes. Tommy dried them and organized them so much better than I would have. He had found a bin I bought from DT and keeps the sizes together. While he was drying, I finished cleaning out a drawer.  He has held onto fuses since before his fuse box was changed for a breaker box. So, more in the trash and less stored useless items. 

Just now, I asked him how long it had been since he had a fuse box. Never. So, he has had a breaker box since he moved in here in 1980. The fuses were from the last owner! He has kept their stuff for over 42 years. He had no idea where the little light bulbs were from or if they worked as they were from the previous owner! 

It is getting chilly out. Tonight, tiny children were still in shorts and shirts. 

At 11:15 am, I was ready for a nap since I slept less than 5 hours. Of course, I always hope for sleep, so maybe tonight will be better.

The ads start today, but I found nothing of great interest to me. How about you? Any good sales? 

Forgotten Christmas Decoration, Tommy's Sandwich Creations

 Thursday night, we watched Coat of Many Colors, a story about Dolly Parton. There was not a bit of Christmas in it, but I suppose it was shown as a holiday special. 

The boneless turkey breast was delicious. We each had a meal from it. I imagine we will have at least two more meals each from it. Tommy added cranberry sauce I made to his plate. Friday night, we will have turkey breast, carrots and cole slaw. Tommy might want cranberry sauce again. 

For years I have wanted a life-size, cardboard, Coca Cola Santa. I have been obsessed. Last year, after Christmas I finally acquired one. I was going to bring it here and use it, but I forgot about my plan. But, it won't go to waste. Next year! I also wanted my 3-4 ft. Santa blow mold, too. But, it is in the back of my storage unit and not as easily found. We had several one-foot-tall Santa and Snowmen. I gave those to my grown children. Those are about 40- and 50-years-old. I love blow molds. 

Because of a crowded freezer, I took out some bread. Of course, we try to eat it instead of throwing it out. I told him there was pita bread to eat. I had some salami that I cannot eat, given to us on a charcuterie board and some white cheddar that was dried from being frozen. He came in and showed me his "pita sandwich." Inside the pita bread, he had salami and white cheddar cheese, and he had microwaved it all. He put mustard on it and seemed really happy about his lunch.  I provide "stuff" and he becomes creative. It's cute. 

I also make sure there is lettuce of some sort and tomatoes. He helps himself for lunch and sometimes adds things to his dinner. Of course, sometimes I do make a sandwich for him, but rarely. We eat lunch at different time.

Since I only managed to sleep six hours on Thursday night, I am already drooping at noon. 

Yesterday, I saw a sign that said $2.09 under the cartons of 18 eggs. I whipped around and went back. No, the sign was for a dozen eggs. No way! Eggs prices are the one thing that I have seen that are causing me alarm.  It sort of triggers my alarms. So, today, I found the last carton of 18 eggs and paid $4.29. It is okay since I want eggs! I will forego some egg eating and shop better. Some are boiling right now.

On Friday in Cullman, we saw gas for $2.82/gal. Of course, Tommy had filled up for $2.88! 

By the way, my Pfaltzgraff dishes, four-place setting. 16 pieces in total, only cost me $53. I opened my savings "bank" and had only to put a bit more with the savings to buy the dishes. I had not spent my bank money from last year, so this was sort of "free" money and dishes since that paid for the rest of the dishes. The dishes were free as far as it coming out of my pocket right now.

These were ordered from Walmart.com and they are made in China. They are not supposed to be good quality, but they look fine to me. Since I have never seen the originals, I suppose I am ignorant of what I am missing.

Someone is supposed to come on Sunday to help me get stuff out of the living room.

Do you own a life-sized Coca Cola Santa? What is the price of eggs where you live/shop?  So, it's the weekend. What are your plans?

Turkey Deal

 Today, at Publix I got a good deal. Butterball Turkey Breasts were advertised for $0.99/lb. I wanted the two allowed! I went in and bought a2milk at 3 half gallons/$10. I will buy 3 more on Monday. Then, I picked up 2 boxes of turkey bags. Since I did not see the turkey breasts, I asked. The guy took me to them where there was a sign for $0.99/lb. I had him put the two largest in the electric cart, got bogo Mayfield ice cream and was ready to check out. I happened to see the screen with my transactions--turkey breast $19.79. 

"no no no no"...this was a quiet voice caution not a yell..."that is the wrong price." I was assured this was the correct price. I told them an employee helped me and said these were $0.99/lb. AND, there was a sign there. My turkey breasts were quickly whisked away from me and returned to their home in the freezer. 

I was stunned. My turkey breasts were spirited away. But, another employee, higher pay grade, came over, listened to me, and we went back to the turkey breasts, she with ad in her hand.  She compared ad and turkey breasts and the signage. Then, she told a meat guy it was priced wrong on the tag. 

THEN, I remembered that if something rings up wrong, the item is free. So, I asked. Naturally, the cheapest breast was free, but no matter. I got a free breast and one for  $0.99/lb. 

I paid $6.28+tax for 12.01 pounds of turkey breast! That is meat, folks, for $0.52/lb, 

Fifty-two cents for one pound. 52 cents

This price is cheaper than chicken breasts and about the same as dark parts of the chicken. 

Turkeys were $0.49/lb., but I decided that the breast would work. There is a hen thawing for any good flavors that the dark meat gives. I only eat breast. Tommy eats the dark meat but prefers the breast. 

We went to Cullman, today, but that is a tale for tomorrow. 

So, today was a good day at Publix. We will get two more turkey breasts for year round eating! 

Tommy said he wondered how many people paid original price of $3.48, the price that made the first breast cost $19.79. I imagine lots of people will come back complaining.

What prices have you found for whole turkey or turkey breast?

Turkey Breast $.99/lb.

 That is what I saw when I read the ads online. This morning, I could not find the store. I even asked Tommy if I told him about it last night. He said I did, so I know I did not dream it! 

Remember the CHILLS I HAD? Well, today, I realize I have a raging uti. Lovely! Of course, it is chilly inside and very cold outside. But, with a fever, I don't really know.  Last night, I was cold all night and got up for a trip to the bathroom at least once an hour. It was a rough night. But, I made it through October with no congestion in head and chest, so I just need to conquer this problem.

Today, I finally found pretty red spray paint for my cardinals I am making. It is gloss, but it was the last can of red in the store. The last three stores had no red spray paint of any kind. I can put matte on it another day if the boats from China ever unload. 

I have been preparing dinner from the sofa. Tommy washed 4 sweet potatoes, brought them, a knife, a towel, tiny baking sheet, and a tiny bowl with a bit of olive oil. I trimmed the potatoes, oiled them, put foil on the pan, and sent it all to the kitchen where he had turned the oven on 300F. We will have sweet potatoes, kale, beans I froze last year. If I can find any cooked meat, we can have that, too. I think there is some in the freezer. His oven runs too hot, so I cannot use 350F for baking.

For the last four nights, I have been reading a new book from my box of books mailed to me. I could only read about four pages last night. I wondered why, but I was ill. 

Right now, I am wearing Halloween leggings, a nightgown, and a light jacket. I look adorable...lol. 

Have you seen turkey breast this low lately?

He Is Catching On

 Written on Monday

After I had made the taco casserole that is more like soup, we had a bowl. The next day, we had another. I was trying to decide whether to freeze it or just eat it. Tommy said, "Well, it would be good to have a meal fixed and ready to eat, wouldn't it?" I was proud of him. I froze it.

About that casserole/soup--it needs to be fixed and will last more meals. I used a package of ground pork that was 1.6 pounds, enough for two recipes, really. Then, I put in a can of black beans and one of corn. That was good, but then, I put in a whole cup un uncooked brown rice. That was twice as much as the dish needed. So, I have a dish with mostly rice but beans and corn are not abundant in it. 

My plan is to thaw the meal and put half a can of corn and half a can of black beans in it and a 15 oz. can of tomatoes. That way the proportions will be right. Of course, it needs more taco seasoning and a bit more cheese. This will make another three meals for both of us, six portions. 

I will freeze the other half cans of corn and beans in the same bag and save it for the next time I prepare this for us. Maybe we will just eat them with another meal. 

Tommy seems really interested in the fixing of food. I have no delusions that he will ever do it on his own. I treat him like I would a child (not in a demeaning way) , talking to him about why I do things while he is standing still, watching. And this is not my idea for him to watch as I don't call him in. I showed him how I put holes in the cooking bags when he was in the kitchen. Hopefully, if he needed or we needed food, he could do things. 

But, if it were left to him, he would buy frozen, prepared chicken strips and prepared vegetables and heat them in the oven like he did when I met him. But, with his walker, he can barely get to the stove and sink and anything. 

Speaking of Tommy, he ate cottage cheese after swearing he hated it and would never eat it. I made a salad with cottage cheese, Jello, Cool Whip, and pineapple, the same food he had rejected loudly just two weeks before. ??? LOUDLY! I had not even made it, yet!

Monday night--I put frozen carrots in a pint bag from the freezer; five or six thawed, boneless, skinless chicken thighs; and one small potato, quartered into the oven. The carrots were on the bottom, thighs on top, and the quarters of potatoes in cracks. I sprinkled garlic, herb seasoning over all and they are baking in the oven. 

Tuesday night--leftovers. turkey breast for me and chicken thigh for him; BEPs for both; slaw; carrots.

When I awoke on Tuesday, I made three turkey sandwiches--one for my breakfast, and one each for our lunches.  So, we spent nothing for lunch on our trip to Cullman. 

We had only one-half potato each on Monday since I am trying to lose weight. He had the rest of peas in refrigerator, and I had romaine and some of the last of the turkey breast. I had four scrambled eggs at about 1 pm today. I still have not apple or banana yet, so there is still that. I am not supposed to have  much fiber, so the reason I eat little fiber. 

Half the thighs will go in the freezer for meals for him.

Turkey Breast and Grilled Alligator

When I went into Cullman and asked about the turkey breasts, the person in the meat dept. said it did not come in. I called when back down here and was told they did not know what I was talking about, that they did not carry anything like that. So, I called back and the person up front said it was a deli item.

I did not argue but I knew better. Why would they advertise a gravy packet and say it was fully processed?

So, I went in today and asked up front, showing the manager the ad. He led me right to it in what he called a "dump bin." I got two, about $13 worth. When I got home, it would not fit in the freezer! I had to take out the loaf of bread. I am not happy, but it will be okay.

I also remembered to get the frozen lemon juice I keep forgetting and a box of ice cream sandwiches just because.

The reason we were out was that I needed more potting mix from Lowe's. That place is bursting at the seams with people. Not only did I get the potting mix, I found my favorite flower--wave petunias. Well, these are not my favorite flower, just the one I like for pots that hang.

Since I saw the neighbor out who has four children, I offered to tutor them. Actually, I caught the mother who was very pleased. Then, the father came out and she went in. He said that the teaching children was her job...lol. Okay. Hopefully, they will let me help them in math or English.

This neighbor grills out all the time. He told us today that he grills anything. He told us how he grills alligator tail and will bring us some next time. Okaaaay….  He is the first person I have know who grill or even eat alligator tail or alligator anything. He said he grilled wild hog the other day.

Have you had alligator?