The End of Something

I saw an advertisement for Nearly Natural Faux Plants. I liked the name of the company and loved this plant which I will love but not embrace.

Around noon, I heard something on the porch. We both guessed it was a box from UHC; it was. I received the final purchases made yesterday over the phone using the last of my $150 food/otc/utility allowance.

I received:

Deep Words OFF

Lotrimin (Why did I order this?)

1000 Q-tips

Centrum Silver Vitamins for Men over 50 (200)

Received earlier:

Bayer low-dose enteric aspirin

Neosporin

Oximeter

Vitamin D

So, that is the end of it, free money. Along with my groceries from yesterday, these were my benefits for $150. I suppose I have 1000 Q-tips already, so this should be a lifetime supply. I already have this many here. If I had stayed with this program, I would have gotten these benefits every month. 

I mended more dishcloths. We filled and started the dishwasher. Tommy washed dark clothes for me to hang inside. We put a turkey breast in the oven to roast. I feel a smidgen better, but then any exertion slams me.

Today and yesterday were cold with brisk winds. Brrr! As I felt so horrible, it hurt me. But, the sun part of the day was nice. It seems strange there is snow and ice in other places. Some of the trees have very swollen buds which is a nice promise. 

How is Spring coming along at your place? Swollen buds on trees? 

What is happening at your place? Plans?

Forsythia and Shopping/Doctor

 

forsythia

On the way somewhere, I saw that forsythia bushes were blooming. This is a sure sign of spring. I just hope that the early warm spell is not fooling the bushes into blooming, only the destroy the sunny display. Forsythia is in the olive family, but, alas, no olives. 

Many years ago, I bought a tiny forsythia. It bloomed and grew, giving me immeasurable joy for several years. I wanted another to go with it. I waited until we had a soaking rain. Then, I went out and cut about a dozen of the long stems. The, about three feet from the first, I took the stems and poked them as far as I could into the soggy ground. Lo and behold, they all took. So, I had two forsythia bushes. My experiment worked! 

Daffodils were blooming at my house the middle of January. It is just too warm for flowers. Well, too early for them to bloom. However, I usually have daffodils around the first week of January and they live and rebloom the next year. 

Yesterday, last night, we decided to go the Cullman to AFC since my doctor cannot see me until late next week. And, the other places here are iffy as to treatment. In the middle of the night, I got up and decided to see what urgent care businesses were right near us. Well, there is one less than a mile away that had horrible reviews. I cannot endure a 4 hour wait. So, I ditched that idea. 

We went to Cullman and I saw a nurse practitioner. The whole experience was positive except for one woman who was a pain. Everyone else was super nice and some remembered me. I left after giving a specimen. And, I got a prescription. So, I will start it and wait for the incubating specimen to reveal what kind of bacteria is hurting me. I had been told the front of the card worked and, surprisingly, it did. So, I had no problem at AFC with my bill. Only the back of the card is wrong. 

I used the rest of the UHC $150. allowance for otc and healthy food. I had $35.12 left to spend and $1.11 on a Publix card for a return. 

White grapes

quart of strawberries

3 red delicious apples

clamshell of Romaine

2 pints grape tomatoes

2 lbs. carrots

5 lbs russet potatoes 

2 bananas (I had 2 at home)

small bowl of watermelon (to eat on the way home)

2 Stovetop Stuffings

Tinactin foot spray

Bottle of Dasani (because I dropped my lid on the floor in the doctor's office and I was not going to use the lid again. I was not going to try to keep from spilling water. So, I wasted it and bought one bottle.)

I have not had white/green grapes in ages. I just buy red for Tommy. Everything else will be eaten or it will last. None of it except for tomatoes and lettuce will be in danger. But, we will make sure nothing goes to waste. 

Since Tommy and I did not keep up with the total well, we got more than we had "money" on the card. My total was $13.41, Over $4 of which was tax. We had the opportunity to put some of the food back but chose to pay for it. Another benefit was that I got rid of the Publix card since those cards do get bulky in a tiny purse. 

Overall, it was a good day, but it ended up cold and rainy. I have meds, lots of fresh food, and feel hopeful that I will get better. We will have a salad with chicken, tomatoes, and cheese, and dressing. Tommy will not want cheese. 

It is cold here. Tomorrow, I will make soup with vegetables and hamburger meat I have thawing--1lb of ground beef, carrots, potatoes, corn, green beans, tomato sauce and tomato bits or whole, celery, onions, bell pepper, lima beans. Part of the ground beef I cook will be saved for the Kraft spaghetti kit. Since I am using the crockpot for the soup, it may not hold all the cans I want to put into it. I will only put two small potatoes diced small. Then, I may not put the whole can of vegetables into the pot, saving them for another meal later. Pepper, savory, and a bay leaf will be added. Of course, I will take the bay leaf out after cooking. 

I cannot wait until dinner on Thursday. I have not had this soup for several years. I don't know why. 

How was your day? Cold like mine? What are you having for dinner? Got any soup plans for the rest of the week?

Milk Decision and Toe Towel

As you know, I drink a2milk to avoid the a1 protein in milk an allergen that causes me gastric distress. When it is on sale, I buy at least 3 or 4 half gallons to save money. The last time it was on sale, I bought 6 half-gallons. The refrigerator cannot handle this and food. Tommy's gallon jug was in there along with two other bottles of something and a half gallon of chocolate milk. 

I always leave the milk in the plastic bag from the grocery. I think this helps insulate the milk to keep it colder as we open the door. Consequently, it was dark inside the refrigerator. So, I made a decision that we will never buy more than three half-gallons at a time. Usually, there will be at least one more of my milk and a gallon of his. 

Tommy mentioned he needed to find a way to get his feet clean, really clean since he cannot reach them at all. So, I got the bucket with a handle. He hates it. I like it. Then, he said he needs a way to clean between his toes. So, I order a thing called a toe towel from Amazon. It is thing plastic handle with a terry cloth towel that fits the end--a toe towel. It works! 

We were both given a backscratcher that is too floppy to work. It will be perfect for making a toe towel cleaner. I will let you know how it works. 

Four more toe towels to fit on the wand cost $14. I believe I can use a needle and thread and hand sew toe towels from a washcloth cheaper than that. 

When I mentioned the state of his feet several years ago, he declared angrily that it was his business and to leave it alone. Then, when I made both of us an appointment with a podiatrist, he accepts ever suggestion. Even when I use his card to buy things for his feet, he acts pleased. 

Late last night when I could barely stand or hold up my head as I sat, I decided what is wrong with me. I have a UTI. I could get no response from the new doctor because the np hates me, and the feeling is mutual. So, I may have to go all the way to St. Vincent instead of two miles down the road. 

Today, I made 9 phone calls to United Health Care. !!! Last week, I was given my new number--16 digits under the upc. Well, I used it to order online. Now that I need the number again, I am denied that for a variety of reasons. I wrote it down and misplaced it. I really need to go to the doctor. I told one guy that if I had to pay out of pocket, uhc would reimburse me. He agreed they would. But, I bet I have to fight for it. 

All last week, I felt blah. Now, I know why, and I am running a 100F temp. I may go to Cullman to a doctor. 

Right now, I need to cook dinner. The red cabbage is cooked. The plan is to bread chicken slices with Panko I have never used and cook that. Maybe I will bake the yellow squash and zucchini. Of course, I will have an apple later. Tommy might eat the cherries. I eat three fruits and at least three fruits every day. I bought the Panko on sale on sale and put it in the freezer. 

Last of Christmas and Repairs and UHC

 Saturday was another quiet day in the house. The car was not started all day, and I stayed in my nightgown.  Actually, I slept in a summer nightgown and put this winter nightgown on because I was chilly. I never did ask about the temperature of thermostat setting. 

Sunday starts the Year of the Rabbit. Maybe the year will be as gentle as a bunny. However, the only time I ever tried to hold a rabbit, it kicked me and hurt me! Maybe this year will be gentler than that rabbit.

On Friday, I mended the Christmas deer that broke a leg somehow. I think it fell over on the bookcase where I had placed it. I forgot to put them out for Christmas, so I put them out the day after Christmas. There were two deer and a Santa. I bought the two deer at a furniture store, went back in several weeks later and found a Santa. The deer are white with wreaths around their necks. The Santa has a long red robe and sack on his back and a wreath in his other hand. All three of these pieces are beautiful. They are sort of frosted with very small glitter that never seems to fall off much on things. 

I let the glue on the deer leg set for a couple of days. When I was ready to put the Santa in its box, I remembered I needed to repair it, too. When I returned to the store and found the Santa to purchase at half price, the woman took it to the register to wrap it and place it in a shopping bag. She exclaimed that it was "damaged, so you can have it for $9." The price I was going to pay was something like $18, and that was the half cost. So, I got a Santa worth almost $40 for $9. This was several years ago and when I had money to spend after Christmas. 

The damage was a hole in the Santa sack over his shoulder. It was a tiny hole, too small for a patch. It does not show at all sitting as a display. I was going to put a tiny patch and paint it later. But, today, I put a drop of E6000 on it. If it dries whole instead of just going down into the hole, I will store it as it is and maybe next year find something brown to color the clear hole. Maybe it will be done and left as is. Some repairs are just as good when minimal. Trying to make the brown match would probably just make the repair move obvious.

This is the last of the Christmas decorations as I put the rest away on NYE. The deer and Santa were not in my line of vision! The Kiss stays out and is lit at night, thanks to a remote and fairy lights. 

For the last three years I have saved coins in a little bank from Tootsie Rolls. I had Tommy count it all for me--over $35. This last year, I saved little in the coin banks. I still have piles of coins the cleaner got from under the nightstand and bed. Since I mostly use a debit card, I get few coins. These coins are saved for the grill I want. Since I rarely find coins, this is the little I get from change or on a return. I wish I could find wheat pennies! 

Only four of my products came from UHC--oxygen monitor, low-dose aspirin, Vit D, and Neosporin. I wonder when the rest will arrive.

Dinner tonight is all leftovers: Chicken breast or pork roast, mashed potatoes, baked carrots/sugar peas/broccoli, salad with Romaine and tomatoes. 

I love to repair things. I know--crazy. Do you mind repairs or like doing repairs? 

If you get OTC from UHC, do they dribble in a few items at a time?

For what are your coins tagged? 

Too Good to be True

 Since it is Wednesday, I barely remember Tuesday. But, it has nothing to do with my memory. It is because nothing happened Tuesday that was memorable. 

Tuesday dinner was even leftovers, delicious, but not very exciting, all leftovers--baked chicken, carrots, and potatoes along with leftover green beans, plus peas for Tommy. Later I had half an apple and a couple of cookies. So did Tommy.

Tuesday night, I made a chicken, MW, and cheese sandwich on keto bread for Wednesday breakfast, which I ate in the car as Tommy drove. I spent my time before leaving washing my hair. It dries on the trip up. 

Wednesday, we went for Cullman for a couple of reasons. There was a lunch that once was inside. Now, we pick it up--hamburger patty with gravy and mashed potatoes, green beans, small piece of buttered bread, and two cookies. 

When we got our dinners, we took two dinners to our 90+ friends. The woman was having physical therapy at home. They were very grateful. 

Sportsman's Lake was not open, so we ate at a little city park with all short bare, brown trees. 

At the PO, the only two pieces of mail were from United Health Care. I got a new card and tried to activate it. I was so upset because it could not be activated as it was an exact duplicate of the one that does not work, so the new one does not work, either. The woman told me my new card number that would work.  The manager at Publix figured out how to enter the number without the card. I tried it on a banana and it worked. I shopped otc in the pharmacy and it did not work! However, I did get the test banana for only 3 cents. 

We also went to the body shop, but the woman owner was on the way to take relatives to the airport. I suppose it was people who came to the grandmother's funeral this last weekend. I left a message we would be back in an hour. An hour later they still were not back. So, we will go back next week or the next. Thankfully, the car is fully drivable. 

That was our day in Cullman. When we got home, I took a nap. Is anyone surprised that I took a nap? 

For dinner tonight, we had a repeat of lunch--hamburger patty with gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy, and green beans. Later, I will have an apple and half a banana. I had strawberries sometime today.

Tonight, my goal is to order online from UHC. Wish me luck. Oh, I was chided today by the uhc lady who told me I got a replacement card, and the new card would be the card that worked, like this was all my fault. The card I got today had a huge scratch across the upc! Of course, I was not going to try to try to use it. 

That was our day, nothing much. We did miss an instapot demonstration! I did not know it was happening. 

I did make a decision yesterday--from now on when my milk is on sale, I will only buy three half-gallons instead of six. There is so much milk in the refrigerator that it was cluttered, and I could not find anything. The money saved is not worth the aggravation! It never goes bad, so no loss of milk occurs. 

What did you get done today? Anything new or exciting? Do you ever wash your hair and let it dry as you go somewhere?

A Day to Do Nothing

                                                                Would you recognize him? 

                                                                       Milburne Stone

After a hard day of watching someone cleaning, it is difficult for me the next day. I was on my feet more, sitting on my walker seat more, and stressed more on Sunday. After she left, we got the dishes in the dishwasher, so a bit more effort during the day. I did take a nap, but naps are no longer refreshing. I wake less exhausted, that's all. 

It seems today I mostly sat. We did go looking for a pink bag of ads and coupons. There were none, so that means I have to make a list from ads on the internet. 

I have, however, done a tiny bit of decluttering.  tiny  But, any decluttering is better than nothing. The table to my left seems to gather things. I have no idea how...lol. 

My car is finally back in the carport. It has been out since Tommy got hit. Then, when I put it back the other day, it was in wrong, so it needed to be changed. I have to put the car near the brick wall on the right so I can get out without feeling I might fall two feet to ground.  Plus, it must be parked where I don't hit the carport support and ruin the door finish. And, he needs to be able to push his walker beside it to washer in utility room to the front of the car. He said he can get by on the brick side. Well, that involves scraping my car! So, NO. 

In my optimistic head, I planned to call UHC today, but did not. I also needed to get new cell service. Did not. I should have put paper in the newly cleaned out drawers and I should have looked for my pink blanket. There is always tomorrow. I really was truly tired today since I need recovery days. 

Wow, it will be 70F here Tuesday and 72F on Wednesday. Tonight or tomorrow, I need to find my pink fuzzy blanket and Tommy needs to sort the items she took from his dresser drawers. 

In Tommy's sorting of his books, he is getting rid of five huge books, tomes (large and oversized), all about the Civil War. I absolutely did not encourage getting rid of these scholarly books. I will keep one as I need to know more about the subject. 

Dinner: baked chicken breasts and thighs, potatoes, and carrots. I will have an apple later. Dinner was delicious. Tommy added a chunk of bread to his plate. The chicken was very tough, but it was 195F inside, so I suppose it was safe to eat. Now is the time I wish for a pressure cooker. I will put the chicken back in the oven sans cooking bag and cook it more. I had four chicken breasts that weighed over five pounds for the pack. 

One chicken breast must have been nearly two pounds. Of course, I mean one side or half of the breast. I wonder how miserable that hen was before it was slaughtered. 

Okay, now I must put all the food away in freezer or refrigerator.

Is your energy at a level that causes you to need to rest after any exertion?  Does a portion of a day out of the house and in the car or at a doctor's office make you need two or three days to recover?