How Time Feels in My Head

 The only thing of note to day was the cancellation of my oncologist appointment. HE cancelled. His nurse who rescheduled said he was in the hospital or had been in the hospital. He is such a nice and caring man. So, that is pushed more than a month out. I am not happy, but what can a person do? 

I had a really long talk with two women and that made my day. The first was a friend of a friend. I have never met her. The second woman was the sister of the friend. We talked about how we had all known each other for 43 years and agreed that was a long time, but the time actually seemed like no time at all. Have you ever looked back at decades long memories and thought how the time did not seem so long? 

The friend here in Birmingham has dementia. I said he might not remember me. She assured me he lived in the past and probably did. The talk with his sister revealed some things about their past family history that I had forgotten. And, the talk found her in seemingly good health although she must use a walker even in the house. I am fighting that. I take nothing that causes me dizziness or lightheadedness, she does for pain. I am fighting the use of pain pills, too. I just won't have them around. 

The funny thing is that I know almost as much as anyone does about her family history as I was good friends with friends and relatives of her family. They are sometimes shocked I know their history. 

For the last week or so, I have started dinner early so we could watch whatever was coming on TV at 7 pm. Often there are movies we want to watch or PBS programs like history or nature documentaries. It makes me grumpy to be starting dinner at 7 pm. Tommy never pushes me, so I am pushing us both. He peeled potatoes, and I cut the eyes out. We put the pork loin, potatoes, carrots, and celery in a cooking bag and dinner was done earlier than usual. There was leftover cabbage from the night before. I also got my three fruits in for the day--banana, strawberries, and apples. He is eating the oranges two at a time, sometimes three at a time.

When I eat potatoes, I only eat about two bites hot. Then, I let the rest cool completely before I eat them. So, don't think twice about my potato eating when I am diabetic. 

Sunday night, I slept four hours, and I took a four nap today. So, I suppose I am caught up on the sleep today. I told Tommy to wake me at three pm, but I awoke when he brought my phone to me at four pm. He said I moved and made a noise at three, and he thought I was getting up. I don't even remember. 

My plants will stay covered for tonight and then there is no more frost. We left the lettuce out last night instead of bringing it in, so I don't know if it will recover. 

Do long ago events when you think of the number of years seem like not so long ago as far as the memory? That is convoluted. I met my friend and relatives 43 years ago which is a long time to me. Yet, it seems like we met just yesterday and interacted. Do you ever have these feelings about events? 

Mug Cake

 Before people advised me what to do, I had already looked at all possibilities to fix my laptop brightness and color.  I tried again. Then, this morning I opened up the old, screaming laptop on the off chance that my vision had failed between laptops, I compared them and had Tommy look at the screen. He agreed about the sharpness and color. The old laptop had better color and sharpness. 

So, I called the guy and will get a new laptop. He said it was something that I forgot. So, that will happen when he gets one in. At least my vision is not the problem!

Thursday night, I slept well and awoke at 10:30 am. We went to The Pig with the express intent of getting an ad and left. I can and do look at them online, but it is so tedious. The electric carts there are left on the sidewalk, so if I can hobble to the cart, I am good. 

Oksana, the woman who cleans, called me today and asked if she could come on Sunday. She is so humble, asking for permission to work for free. And, to think I have had to beg people to come here and work for $18/hr even when they asked for $12/hr. Since I did not want anyone for 8 hours a day, I wanted them to be happy with their pay. 

Today, when we were out, it was drizzly on and off and very cold feeling and gloomy. Today's 50F and drizzle was cold after yesterday's 80F and dry and sunny.

I don't know whose blog I was reading, but the thought was ug cakes. When I first read about those, I was interested. But, when I realized how I would still have to get out all the ingredients for a cake and measure Tablespoons instead of cups, I was less interested. So, one day I had a sale chocolate cake mix. Then, I only had to put about a 1/2 cup of the cake mix in the mug. Then, I added milk, stirred, and microwaved. I don't remember how much milk, but it all worked out to be a hot, edible chocolate treat. Very tasty!

I asked Tommy if he had ever had a mug cake. I expected not. He said he seemed to remember having one. Then, he said, "Oh, yeah! Mississippi Mud Cake." I said, "Mug, mug, MUG until he understood. He is so funny sometimes. We had a good laugh. 

We brought in the Romaine from its daylight excursion. I am going to get grow lights so I can keep it indoors all the time. Keeping it on the front porch will just cause it to bolt sooner. I am looking at this BULB or this CLIP ON.  I am not sure of what I need to get and if there is something I should not get. Any opinions?

Have you ever made a mug cake with cake mix? Is that even a thing?

Another Good Day

 First of all, it was 80F today with higher temperatures in cities nearby. It was unbelievable that no storms and tornado weather followed the heat. Birds are out and about. One sat preening on my shepherd's hook out front. 

I am writing this about 5 pm. and yawning. However, I slept well last night/today. Wednesday night, after little sleep for two nights, I went to bed about 9 pm. I could not sleep, so I got back up for news. I finally went to bed about 2 am, slept three hours, got up and on laptop. I think I went to bed at 7 am and slept until 12:45 pm. I did get over 8 hours sleep. The sleep deficit has not been mitigated, but I am happy.

We went into the bedroom with food and brought things out--Miracle Whip, bbq sauce, jar of Newman's Own spaghetti sauce, canned chicken, freezer and storage bags. These bags were Christmas designs bought on sale after Christmas 2021. I put back the boxes of light bulbs where I replaced bulbs. 

Because I bought so many cans of Campbells cream of soup on sale, we need to use one each month this year in order to consume them before the best by date. When I need two cans for a recipe, I will have Tommy make white sauce and use that instead of the second can. 

We won't need storage and freezer bags for years. This could be a lifetime supply...lol. 

My laundry is ready for Tommy to take it to washing machine. That will happen Friday.

My laptop has color problems that I cannot figure out how to solve.  The screen is too dim and the pink of my blog is a sickening pale color. Other than that, I have figured out the few things different from my last laptop. The screeching sounds are not missed!

Tonight, since we took freezer bags to the kitchen, I will freeze the baked breasts. And, I will shred or chop enough chicken for a casserole of Stovetop Stuffing, chicken, soup. I wish I had dried cranberries to put in it, but I have a can of jellied cranberry sauce. My dried cranberries are better than Craisins. And, they have no sugar or oil. I am going to put the mix in a colander in order to stir it and get the salty seasoning out. 

Dinner--Stove Top Stuffing casserole with chicken, green bean, carrots in it, and either slaw or salad. 

The SS casserole was delicious. I used the white sauce Tommy made instead of a can of soup, along with a can of soup and some of the chicken broth left in the bowl. I added no canned chicken broth. There were carrots that did not get soft enough for me. So, I mashed the carrots roughly with a fork and added that. I think there was as much shredded chicken as there was SS. It was delicious with cranberry sauce and salad. The SS casserole had a less strong taste because I added no spices to the white sauce. And, I added no water to the casserole. 

At 10 pm it is still 72F. Amazing. There was no wind part of the day, thankfully. Only a breeze later in the afternoon even stirred the trees.

Do you have stored food from which you add to kitchen stores? 

Pineberry and Free KFC For You

 

                                                     

                                                              Pineberry - Wikipedia

We purchased a container of these. They are delicious and pricey. 

Until March 12, KFC will give away a free 6-piece bucket of chicken when you order on the app the first time.  The article said "this week," But according to another article, it will last longer.

Today, I bought a few things, foodstuffs, more exactly snack stuffs. I told you I had bought the  Ghirardelli bag of dark chocolate raspberry that I wanted. It was turned over to Tommy to protect it from my maurading ways. Well, I don't kill people, just chocolate, and I don't steal things except hidden chocolates that are paid for and are rightfully mine. 

I bought two of the tiny bags of chips that are 2/$0.98 to use on top of the Hot Chicken Salad I love. I meant to get a tiny bag of the kind Tommy likes. The amount of chips I use is about 1/10  of what the recipe states. But, I don't need a half inch of crushed chips on top of the dish. Then, I was bad and  bought a bag of Lindor's Irresistibly Extra Dark Chocolate Truffles. Tommy hates dark chocolate. I told Tommy as I went into Publix not to eat anything in the other bag which held the chips. 

Before I went into second store, he said in a quiet voice, "Is there anything in these bags I can eat?" I really felt bad. In Publix I bought him some sort of corn chip, Fritos, I his request, and a Valentine box of candy.  He seemed happy with the chips and has not seen the heart box. I also bought two jars of peanuts, thinking he was out and two jars of of peanut butter, both bogo.  So, he has snacks. 

Before I went in Publix, I leaned toward him puckered up and said thanks for the flowers. He leaned to me, but we could not lean far enough to kiss, so I just wrapped my hand around his head and pulled us together. He sits lower in the car than I do, so I kissed him at the top of his forehead. We had a good laugh over silly kissing. 

Celery was around $1.19 last week and $3.98 this week. But, I need it. Kraft Medium Cheddar Chunk, 8 ounces. However, I found 16 ounces for $5.48, so I was happy. 

Each day, I work on my list, but add to it each day, so I just copy the remaining calls and other items on the list. I love a list because I don't have to look up numbers or remember who to call or what to do. Tommy was looking it and questioning what some things meant. I just put a word or two to remind me. 

I may need a new computer! I hate that. 

We are having chicken breast cooked with broccoli and goat cheese. It should be delicious. We have baked vegetables and the slaw left over, so plenty to choose from and eat. 

The temperature was 73F when we went out at 2 pm, very warm, sunny, and pleasant. My temperature has finally fallen to normal, so I am feeling better and can enjoy living. Tommy no longer has to get me everything. I do believe I was keeping him healthy since he walked so much getting stuff for me...lol. 

Today was a good day here. How about your day? Have you priced celery? It must be a Valentine favorite. 

Cleaner's Background

 Today was busy. We both had an appointment with the podiatrist. She hurt me. The first and last time, she did not. Boy, was it cold (38) today with a bit of wind that made it seem colder. We grabbed a hamburger and then went shopping for fruits and vegetables. I forgot to get bread, but we may have two more slices and we can get bread ends from the freezer. 

Tommy ordered a meal with fries! I was on the phone and did not realize what he ordered!  I always tell him "no" that we don't need it. He was sneaky today, plus I told him to get whatever. He knows what I like and don't like, so I did not need to tell him. However, he knew I did not mean fries. Well, we both tossed most of the fries. 

When I got up this morning, I washed my hair. It was mostly dry by the time I got to my appointment. Wet hair made me feel a bit chillier, too. No, wet hair/head will not make me sick. 

Back at home, we barely got anymore decluttering done. I did wrap Lynda's gift. Now, I have two things to wrap for Tommy. I know I have ribbon but must find it. 

It is 9:30 pm, and we will do more tonight. He just does not know it yet. I have some party dishes to wash. Plus, I need to empty the dishwasher, handwash party dishes, other little chores I do not want to leave until Wednesday.  

The young woman who cleaned has a Russian name, so I asked her about the origin, how she came by her name. It turned out she was adopted from Russia when she was five, she and her half-brother. We talked about her experiences in Russia, in US, and about her take on her adoption, and the Russian orphanage. She was forthcoming with information and cheerfully answered my questions. No, I did not pry; she had a lot to say without any questions. 

It is 9:30 now. We will move more boxes from the living room. 

Dinner: I cooked in a cooking bag the beef that is thinly sliced for sandwiches, carrots, broccoli, and celery from a snack box that had a dip. We tossed the dip. Plus, we had a frozen, deli-type mac n cheese. It was a delicious and free dinner. Plus, there are leftovers for tomorrow.

Are you getting frigid weather this weekend? Have you finished shopping? Wrapping? Is anyone making a handmade gift? Toys for children? In the past, I baked, crocheted, did needlepoint, and sewed for my siblings, mother, children, niece. 

Storms, Hummers, and Booklight

 Thursday was a stormy day, lots of torrents of rain, thunder and lightning. We stayed in and I took a nap unwittingly. I had gone to the bedroom to make three calls, not to sleep. It seems when I see the bed a nap kidnaps me. 

We stayed inside except for Tommy's trip to the trash outside the door near the porch. It has to stay there in order for Tommy to reach it with trash. Plus, the neighbor who takes it to the road and bring the empty can back for Tommy. 

Tuesday, I brought the hummingbird feeders in and cleaned them with Clorox. I had read that they can smell the dishwasher detergent and will avoid the sugar water. For weeks now I have had no problems. But, the video pointed out that mold can grow in the feeders. I knew that from the time I had a feeder out years ago and attracted only large carpenter ants. 

I had Tommy put the feeders out about noon on Wednesday. Well, the birds did not come for a while. When they did come back, they drank little and traffic was light the rest of the day. I realized that I did not get all the Clorox out completely since I could still smell it. Soooo, I took them down on Wednesday and rewashed with Dawn and rinsed thoroughly. 

Today, Thursday, traffic improved. My main problem is that the reservoir cannot be opened to clean it. I need feeders that I can take apart. sigh.... So, if you buy a feeder, make sure to get one that can be opened to get mold out of the reservoir. When I bought these, it was not evident that the feeder would not come completely apart. Both feeders come apart into four pieces, but the reservoir will not open. We both tried to pry it open and had no luck. 

When I read in bed, it appeared to booklight was getting dimmer. I was madder than a wet hen. Then, I realized that it pulled apart and had a USB to recharge the light. I knew this but forgot when I was sleepy. My laptop is the only thing in the house with a USB port, so it lived there for a bit today. Now, I can read once again. I think reading at night and in bed helps me sleep. I've missed reading. 

Dinner tonight--salad with baked chicken from the freezer. It took less than ten minutes from the time I walked to the kitchen to having dinner on the plates. I love easy meals!

Will your hummingbird feeder completely disassemble? What is the quickest meal you put on the table? Are you having storms, fires, or other adverse conditions? Maybe fair skies?

Blue Skies, Attitude, Free Wood, Groceries, Stocking Up

 Does a beautiful day make you as happy as it does me? I feel very light and carefree. Any problem seems like it can be easily solved. At least, I feel like I have the will, stamina, desire to take on whatever I must do to accomplish my goals. The lack of sunshine adversely affects my attitude. 

How about you?

Today, the sky was almost clear of clouds and the clear blue sky gave way to clear and darker blue skies. We went to Cullman where I had  a good day. I picked up some woodwork from my carpenter. My friend, James, gave me wood for chair bottoms. I have nice cedar boards for bird houses and more 2x6 boards for another project that the carpenter will hew for me. James is building a house and I am welcome to any scraps of wood that I want. 

At a store I found a sale of Suddenly Salad--5 for $5. I bought 6. Last year, I bought enough for one box each month.  But, I have not been eating it that often. Cheese has not been on sale forever! Today, I felt lucky to find Kraft Chunk Medium Cheddar for $2.99. I only bought one, hoping for a better sale later on. 

I spent $9. 

I think I broke a record today--5 hours in the car and in and out for chores, and I did not have to go to the bathroom! I hope this is not a bad thing right now. My feet are not as swollen as they usually are when we spend any time in the car.  Could the exercise be paying off?

Dinner tonight--meatballs, Suddenly Salad, green beans, and carrots. Tommy said that since we were having SS, we only needed one other vegetable. HUH? He said he thinks of pasta salad as a vegetable, so we only need either carrots or green beans. Suddenly Salad is  "bread" to me. We had a bit of lettuce and tomato on our Whopper Jr. at lunch. Suddenly Salad does not have enough vegetables to make even one helping for one person, and we leave the peas out since I cannot eat them. 

Okay, I need to get Tommy at least one of the 4 pounds of carrots in the refrigerator and a carrot peeler. I need to get 128 meatballs on one tray and into the oven. 

Freezing, Friend Found, Yard Sale, Weather, Covid

 Friday, Tommy showed me a yellow dandelion. The yard thinks it is spring. I am going to pick dandelion greens from other plants I saw. That will be a salad or part of a salad. 

I called the police department in Huntsville. They did a welfare check on Charlie and called me back. They got no response when they went to his home. The officer asked me if he had property on the other side of town. I told her he had about forty houses. She spelled his name wrong and asked me if that was right. She said he had called numerous times about problems. Yes, that would be my friend. People steal things like the sink and water heater when they move out of his rental properties. 

She had a different phone number and would not give it to me. She said she would call and call me back. A few minutes later he called and said, "I am not dead." He had gotten a new cell provider and could not carry his phone to the new provider. His home phone is not disconnected. He said he was pissed because he had been paying the bill. If his home phone had worked, he would have returned my call and would have given me his new cell number. So, I have it in my phone now. Whew! 

Three pounds of processed cheese are divided into six  bags. Five of them are in a larger bag, and the loose one is for Tommy to use. The other six little packages of cheese from the second 3-lb. bag are in the freezer. I realize this will not work for slices on a sandwich, but it can be sliced to use. It would just mold in the refrigerator since it will be months before we can use it all. I used gloves to handle the cheese as touching cheese is one thing that causes it to mold...eew. 

Likewise, the chicken chops are in little bags and in the freezer. I think it must have been previously frozen. Hopefully, it will not hurt us to refreeze it, thaw and eat. The four pound packages of unsalted butter are in the freezer. With what butter I have in the freezer already there will be no need to buy more. 

The four pounds of cheese are unsalted. I never use or buy unsalted butter. I can use 1/4 tsp of salt with each stick used in a recipe. Then, it will be the same as salted butter. 

Yesterday, I started researching and "collecting" recipes for my holiday favorites, and "editing" them where they are the ones I used for years. I cannot print at the moment, so I read the recipe to Tommy. He never minds writing things for me. It was easy to find a pumpkin bread that works since I eliminated all the ones that called for "pumpkin spice." eeew

I found a very large, pretty, scalloped  glass bowl at a yard sale last week. Plus, I found an ancient colander that is much like mine I had for over 50 years. This one is nasty, but is salvageable. It cost me nothing. The kid did not add it to the cost of the bowl, so both cost me $1 instead of $1.50. We were too far gone to give them the two quarters difference I owed. 

Last Sunday we passed sign after sign advertising yard sales for the Friday and Saturday before. So, we determined we would go out today looking for yard sales. Of course, this weather will prevent sales. 

So far, today, the bad weather is nowhere near us. Tornado watches are far enough south that they are no concern to us. Even the rain is just a bit. the clouds are allowing the sunshine through at times. So, not so bad, just conditions I don't want to be outdoors or on the roads. When I was younger, nothing deterred me...lol. Are you experiencing Delta caused  conditions at your house?

On Friday I talked to a woman who works at a business I have frequented. She had covid19. So, this is the first person I have actually known who was a victim. 

Do you use unsalted butter? Often? I have never used a recipe that called for it. 

Missing Vitamin and Tornadoes Forecast

When I first started taking melatonin, I used Natrol brand with B6 added. It seems over the years that the melatonin did not help me sleep as much as in the beginning. When I casually looked at the front of the bottle last week, I was shocked to see there was no B6 anymore.

After purchasing and taking a B6 every night with the melatonin, I have slept well. I wonder how long I have been taking melatonin that did not include the B6 vitamin. Without the vitamin, I had to take twice as much melatonin and then it took half or all night to go to sleep.

Hopefully, this new addition will allow me to fall asleep more easily from now on. B6 enhances chances of sleep.

Last weekend there were tornadoes with no deaths in Alabama but 30 deaths elsewhere in the South. This weekend the forecast is for more bad weather and tornadoes. GREAT! The chances here for tornadoes are slim, but Sunday is supposed to be bad, less bad right here.

When we went to Cullman, a mere 50 miles north, we saw damage on both sides of I-65 for about a mile, with trees snapped. Then, right before we got to the exit we took, there was another small area on both sides with more trees snapped.

I only worry that my garden will be damaged by hail. South of here, the weather will be worse. At least it is very warm. Hopefully, the basil, oregano, and rosemary will not blow off the porch since I transplanted them into really large, ugly pots from the junk pile. The pots they came in blew off unless I brought them in.

Today, I picked kale, red lettuce and Romaine for a salad. We are having spaghetti tonight as it is about all I can handle--just pour it out of the jar onto boiled pasta. Tommy is breaking up the salad greens for himself, drying them, too.

Tommy took red lettuce and Romaine to our neighbor next door. He mows our yard and picked up years of limbs and sticks. All the neighbors around here help Tommy with the yard and garbage. We will take some to the neighbor who is going to give us alligator meat he grills. He is the person who brings tommy's empty can back to the house.

I was only outside for about an hour and not active all the time. I have to go sit in the car when I am exhausted since there are NO chairs or steps to sit on. His ramp is over the steps.

Since I love spaghetti, dinner will please me. I went out and picked all three herbs. I dare not put basil in Tommy's bowl of spaghetti as he hates it will a passion....lol.

If you take melatonin, have you noticed it no longer has B6 in the tablets? Is it warm where you are and do you have a prediction of bad weather this weekend?

Onward to Thanksgiving

There was not much going on for Halloween. Tommy ate all the candy corn! We got candy in little bags at a church dinner. I am certainly not missing anything tonight since I am so ill. I think this is going into my lungs! The day I get through with this medicine, I am going back to the doctor if I am not 100% better. This feels like walking pneumonia.

Cooking anything for Thanksgiving will involve buying cooking utensils. There is nothing here, not even a measuring cup or a bowl for mixing. I need to make a list and see if I feel well enough to stagger into a thrift store. It is usually easy to shop for things like measuring spoons because they are in open containers. I will see.

Hopefully, I can find on sale all the foods I had in my stash, all ready for holiday cooking. Then, I have to figure out the recipes I had from Mama that I still enjoy. This still breaks my heart.

Okay, it IS cold now, in the 40s. I still don't have socks or closed shoes. I am wearing the light jacket over my nightgown. I am not cold when sleeping. I am not cold lying on the loveseat with a light, small throw over waist to legs.

Yesterday, I kept getting warmer in the afternoon. I thought my temp was rising. Finally, alarmed by the apparent state of my health, started discussing with Tommy the fact I was so hot and the furnace never cycled off. . Tommy said the heat would cycle off. He kept turning down the furnace thermostat, but it kept running. Finally, he turned the furnace off for about 10 hours. I have no idea what was going on nor does he.

There will be temps below freezing in the morning. That will not last long and will have no effect on us. Every day the heat will get a little higher until it is in 70s next Tuesday.

I think that Jimmy Kimmel's piece about parents telling children on video That the parent ate all the child's Halloween candy is very cruel. My children warned me not to eat their Halloween candy because they knew me well. Would your child that you had eaten all the Halloween candy for a joke? Have you seen this bit he does every year?

Since I have been here, I only bought a small package of chicken breasts. I am cooking all in his freezer instead of buying food so that I can put cheap turkey breasts in his freezer. I did buy two pork loins, one of which I will cook tomorrow.

Tonight, we had very spicy pork, gotten already cooked and from a food bank. So, pork, baked sweet potatoes, and Pict Sweet Crowder peas. Also, a halo.

Tomorrow, if it kills me, I am getting that dusty table and cpap machine cleaned. Both are behind the bed. Well, I am not cleaning the cpap, just dumping it in a plastic bag. That is my one goal. I cannot get behind the bed, so I will have to lie across it and work. The house looks so much more roomy with the projection television gone and all the other stuff in his room.

Someone is giving me a rollator like Tommy's. I will not use it often, but will at least have it. A guy at his church was donating it, so Tommy spoke up after I told him to claim it.

I want chocolate ice cream.

What is the weather like in your area?