Got Rid of TelemarketersI Yardsale

 The guy promised me my bed today. Today, I talked to him and he guaranteed I would get it sometime this weekend. I am annoyed. 

After I went to my graduation from therapy, I hit the sale across the street. I bought a curio cabinet for $35. It is small, about 7 feet by 20 inches wide, lights 5 or 6 shelves, mirrored back, glass shelves--the usual. It is sitting right next to front door, blocking Tommy getting to his chair. He is not happy. I am trying to get mower to move things around in the house. He is not answering his phone. Just now, half the pieces of glass clattered to the bottom, breaking most of it....grrr!

I also got an old walker that I intend to keep outdoors, about 50 books in tote bag, green square saucer. Plus, there was a plastic box of least $200.00 worth of cards with envelopes and gift bags. The cards are for many occasions. I won't need to buy Christmas cards for many years. Most of the gift bags are new and all sizes, especially smaller. There is beautiful tissue in Christmas designs. I found magnetic clips that are Christmas clothes pins to place on refrigerator where you can clip pictures, cards or whatever. 

Tommy managed to spill the whole thing in the hall. He picked up enough to come back down the hall. I told him to do so. Now, I am picking them up a handful at a time. He cannot bend so far, so he would have to pick them up with a reacher. 

I spent a total of $60 today. 

I was being driven crazy by telemarketers. Finally, when one would ask for me, I said, "she is dead.?"

IT WORKED. Now, I will probably have to fight tooth and nail to prove I am not dead. 

Yard Sale Purchase

 Thursday was a very good day. Finally, I feel much better. We bought groceries today. Tommy made a return for me. 

We bought the largest pot of mums, tall and very full, lavender. I have a huge pot that I will fill with small pots and sit the mums in their original pot on top. It needs to be raised.

Coming from Publix, I saw a yard sale. Well, the guy was putting things out. We went back and there were two iron beds. Tommy purchased the queen-sized one for me. The guy only wanted $60! Someone will deliver it tomorrow. The design is beautiful. It is finished to look rusty, not my favorite finish. But, it can be painted. 

We stayed out until almost dark. Of course, dark comes earlier now. He suggested having KFC for me and for him Captain D's. They are next door to each other, so we shopped at both for dinner. 

I have bought my own pt equipment, small things. In addition to the three things I bought, they gave me the elastic bands for strength. I will have my own little gym soon. I suppose Tommy will use all this after his hip replacement.

Since the guy across the street was buried, his family is preparing for a yard sale tomorrow. I left a note, saying I needed a queen-sized bed frame and a bookcase. I suppose I will go over with my walker and see how long I can look, rather stand. I left the note before I found the iron bed. We may keep and use both if they even have one. 

After almost a month of no rain, we finally had a whole day of rain, almost 2.5 inches. We needed it. And, the temperatures are a little less hot and humid. How has rain and temperature been where you live?

 

Sweet Potatoes and a Yard Sale

 Saturday, we went to Cullman to the Festhalle Farmer's Market. There were few vendors left when we got there about 11 am. But, my sweet potato farmer was there. His 40 lb boxes of sweet potatoes were not there, just 32 lb boxes. I got the last one. Maybe I will go out to his farm for another box. This won't be enough. 

He also had a $5 container of really tiny squash, bred for their thin skins and smaller seeds. Good. The squash I bought at the grocery store were tough as leather and had huge seeds. 

The whole day was warm and downright bright! The blue skies were so bright! I must get prescription sunglasses. I was blinded all day. The day was very warm, so I decided I should get out something summery and wore my striped outfit, the one with a floral print, too. The red t-shirt I was going to wear will be appropriate all winter long, but the summery one won't. 

We drove another 15 miles out in the country for a sandwich from the Mennonite store, Dutch Oven Bakery. We shared a sandwich that had turkey breast slices 1/2 inch thick. The slices were thin but stacked high. It was delicious and plenty. We both had a peach fried pie, hand-pie. It was awful. First of all, there was dribbled over it an icing of powdered sugar. Plus, the pastry was flaky like store bought goods. The filling was thickened, very thick, lacked peaches but had too much sugar. I never did find peaches, so quit eating. 

They sell wrapped candy by the piece. I had pecan in caramel dipped in chocolate. I chose peanut butter filling dripped in chocolate for Tommy. These went up from 3/$1 to 60 cents/each. We sat under a tree and ate in the car. We could get out and eat at a picnic table, but the wind was very rough. 

The store where I bought Double Luck green beans for $0.69 still had plenty. Five cans came home with me. I should have bought another 10 cans. 

At the PO I had a huge package, dishes I ordered from Belks at a great sale price. I hate them, so they are still in the car to return them. They are they type dishes that have the scuff marks on the pieces like they are old and scuffed. Nasty looking. 

On the way back from the bakery, I wanted to go to the orchard to get apples. But, Tommy passed it. Usually, I would have him turn around and go back. But, today, I told him we could go there next time. I had assured him he should stop at a yard sale we passed on the way out and told him not to stop. But, at the first yard sale I spotted on the way in, on the way out we did stop. 

I found books for a quarter apiece. I purchased a workbook, the kind with pages to copy for children. The activities were all early childhood lessons and the first part was reading readiness. If my back had not been hurting so, I would have shopped more. As I was digging around in my purse and came up with only three fivers, she said to just forget it. Okay. 

This is just the type book I would have bought to use at the daycare. Many of the pages were ripped out, but still stuffed into the book. Okay, I am ready to go. Oh, this table also had about a dozen tiny, blunt scissors. This sale would be great for a mother, home-school teacher, or a teacher. I didn't ask the woman what the setting of the teaching was. Now, I wish I had looked for manipulatives.

The best part of the day was getting home to a nap. Well, having a meal ready for after the nap sure helped my happiness. 

Decluttering--I found the top to one of Tommy's Tupperware canisters. He says he bought these at a five and dime. No! I also salvaged and put into the dishwasher another one of my Tupperware bowls and lid, something I sent home with food. One lid from a cheap container is in the trash. I will probably work on this box intermittently for the rest of the evening and tomorrow. Hopefully, the box is empty by Sunday night. We will have even more walking room in the kitchen when I finish. Yay for decluttering! 

We had leftovers: pork roast with bbq sauce, rest of squash and zucchini for Tommy, salad with grape tomatoes for me. 

After dinner the microwaved peach fried pie was better, sort of. At least there were peaches in this half but not many. Still, the pastry part was like a fresh glazed doughnut, not what I was hoping. It was still too sweet. And, strangely, the gelled part did not get softer when heated. 

How did your Saturday play out? What is on the agenda for Sunday? Do you like fried pies?

Saturday Missionaries Visit & Linda Goes Yard Sale-ing

 It has been a busy morning here. I was going to get up at 9 am but since I awoke at 7:30, I could not sleep or rest knowing they were coming. 

One brought in the ladder from the carport at Tommy's request. We gave them masks to wear in our house. They emptied cabinets of all contents. Now, we have boxes of stuff stacked in the kitchen. Thankfully, all cabinets at the ceiling were empty. Easily, the most tedious task of all was peeling off the stick-on shelf paper. Strangely, only the three sets of cabinets to the left of the sink had shelf paper. The set of cabinets with glass doors had shelf paper on the sides of the cabinets. The paper from the first two cabinets peeled off easily. The shelf where I put spices, vinegar and general foods was hardest to remove and required a knife to peel it up to finally start it peeling. They used ample soapy water and a brush after the shelf paper was finally off. 

We had more than enough empty boxes to put the contents into for storing on the floor until we can empty them back into cabinets or the trash. ugh. Thankfully, Tommy stayed out of the kitchen since he could not get in there anyway. So, Sunday when the shelves dry, we can put down shelf paper. Now, we can throw out these boxes. There are still numerous boxes here, so these can go. 

Yes, they did find parts of dead roaches. At least, that is what they said they were finding. And, I assured them that the stuff they were wiping out was roach poop! They did not know what roach poop looked like. Now, they do!

There is shelf paper here that I bought for something else, sort of white and gray marble. I need light in these cabinets, so it will work. I really want to start today, so stuff will be available to use to cook. However, I have leftovers--pork loin, carrots, potatoes, and green beans. And, there is a pair of hamburgers thawed for tomorrow. 

The hummingbirds have not come back since the initial sighting. The sugar water was old that day, so I wonder if she told everyone not to come here. My friend has seen no hummers, either, other than the one Tommy saw at her house. I need to change the nectar again as soon as the new batch is cool. 

Since I put up the shepherd's crooks last year, I have seen a bird or two land on them. But, since I hung the baskets of flowers, birds are flocking here. I love it. Of course, there is now bird poop on the rail of the ramp. Thankfully, they don't land and poop on the side I use. 

One day, I saw a mockingbird pecking the inside of the Wave Petunias. I wonder what was he pecking? Eating a bug he saw? 

The dogs next door barked at 6:30 and had dozens of dogs all over the neighborhood barking for thirty minutes! Of course, I could not go to sleep again. 

One missionary was 18 and the other 20. One was from Colorado and the other from Wyoming. A car and an apartment is supplied. That is all I know...lol. 

I went to the yard sale and sat out front in the car, looking it over. I feel bad when I do this. It feels like I am judging and not giving them a chance. But, I cannot get out the spare her feeling. We left.

Then, we went to another part of town. It looked like a great sale. It was when I got out. But, there was no clue as to the price on anything at all. I glanced around and asked who knew the prices. Someone said the woman sitting down. Well, customers were surrounding her. Besides, I don't easily turn. She came over and could not hear me. No one complains I am not loud enough! Well, it turns out she has a hearing problem. Besides, she was a bit passive-aggressive. When I held something up and said, "What is the price?" she asked me what I said. I held the item up more and yelled. "PRICE?" She said, "Do you want to know the price?" I nodded and said, "YES, PRICE?" She finally deigned to give me the price. 

When I was looking at her books, she brought me a box to put them in. I told her I could not carry a box of books. She volunteered to carry the box for me when I filled it with books. Well, I carried 3 books to the table and decided I only wanted two. So, like an idiot, I gave her two quarters. The books were 50 c each! I was embarrassed and apologize and handed over another two quarters. I bought Conscious Classroom Management and Much Ado About Nothing. 

As I turned to leave, I saw a pretty blue and white striped, canvass tote/purse. So, I spent another $1 for a total of $2 at this yard sale.  

Before we left for the garage sale, I had to get together some money. Tommy gave me $7 and I came up with $2 and 10 quarters. So, I spent none of his money at yard sales, so I need to repay nothing, thankfully.

We went to Bessemer and looked at the homes. Some have burned, one to the ground, most partially gutted by fire, some historic homes are in seemingly perfect conditions. Some homes, ancient and others fairly new, are becoming shabby. 

We then stopped at a place that had something about "hope" in the title. It was a strange place. The signs all said "3 free with $5 donation." I bought a Mounds Bar to share with Tommy. As I left, I saw a supplement the doctor told me to take. It was in date. I wanted the last three boxes. Well, most things only had 6 or less boxes. 

Each bottle costs me $16.88 elsewhere. So, for $5, I bought $50.64 of merchandise. That is a savings of $45.64! I will go back there again! Someday, when I am fresher and less worn from the day or previous walking, I will visit this place again. Plus, this woman showed me where her sister has a liquidation store. YAY!

About two blocks from the entrance to our neighborhood, it started to rain, big fat drops. Finally, at the house, it was smaller drops. When I came in, I put the half dead wave petunias in the rain. The thing perked right up. It just wanted rain. The other two hanging baskets fluffed right up even after Tommy had watered it this morning. Plants like rain better than hard water with fluoride! 

At 5:45 pm, I saw a hummingbird, drinking long at one of the feeders. Now, I am quite sure they are back! The weather was beautiful all week long, as Anne noted. About 7:15, a hummer came back and spent a long time here. 

Saturday was excellent, happy all the way. 

What did you do that was interesting, fun, unusual, or frugal?

Friday--Not Much

 This day was a success, too. Things happened as planned. So, that is two our of five days that went as planned. 

The food giveaway was skimpy, but that is okay--a jar of peanut butter, a jar of chicken, and 7 small packages of cheese chips. Both Tommy and I received one. Sometimes, there are four nice packages of meat. Other days, six bags of salad greens. LOL...no guarantees. It is okay. 

We did not make the returns. I was just too tired. I have been tired every minute of Friday, even after a nap. However, I did go to Publix and get the pork loins that were two for $9.99. Both are in the oven with carrots, potatoes, Vidalia onions, and garlic. One bag is for us and the other is for the missionaries.  I was going to give it to them fresh from the oven. But, they have somewhere to be and must leave here at 11:30. So, their meal will be cooked and refrigerated tonight. I don't want these guys leaving it in the car and get sick from eating hot food left in the car. 

In a bit, I need to bake a pan of brownies or a cake for them. I figure a 9x9 pan of brownie or same size iced cake will work. And, I will offer them a  banana to eat here or later. We have plenty of drinks of different sorts and bottled water. 

I would feed them here, but there is no table to use and only one chair. So, there! I have been storing boxes for them to put items from the cabinets. Then, I can throw the boxes away! 

Tommy took his ladder from the utility room and hosed it off this morning. I thought he wanted to bring it in here like it was. The dirt would have bothered me, but the spiders more. 

I stopped reading The Salt Wars and started reading Hillbilly Elegy. Both are great reading but I may finish Elegy before I go back to Salt. Soon, I will need more books.  

I am planning to attend at least one yard sale. Well, I drive by and see if I can get in the yard or is it not level. Does it look like all children's clothing? Is a dog running loose? Can we park safely? Is it too far to walk? I remember the day when I would pop out of the car, hurry around or stroll, walking down in ditches if that's what it took...lol. Now, it is an ordeal.

What are your plans for this weekend.

Saturday Doings

As DST ends,  the realization that it will be a long few months hits me. During the summer, we could be out at 7:30 pm and still not be driving in the dark. Some days, the sky was light until almost 8 pm. Now, we try to get home by 4:30. Starting tomorrow, we will have to home an hour earlier, 3:30 pm. The prospect is soul-cringing. Thankfully, some politicians are pushing for year-round DST. I am for it. 

 Earlier in the week,  I spotted a dime on the pavement at a store, forgot which one. Yay, for the dime. I need to take a stroll every time I get on an electric cart so I can search. Just kidding. 

While in a store, I bought the only Kodak camera they had. I was thrilled it was so cheap. A few days later, I was opening the box. It uses AA batteries instead of lithium. Grrrr. It is going back. 

For the last week, Tommy has been very compliant about the dishwasher issue. Only, he never moves. He is agreeable to all my statements, but never moves. On Friday late afternoon, I asked him to empty the dishwasher. by himself. There were only about eight articles in the dishwasher, including utensils. 

At 11:50, he asked me if I wanted us to load the dishwasher. I figure he thinks I might ask him to load it alone. I know he hates dishes at midnight because I wanted help at night and he refused, saying he was relaxed. So, for him to want to work late and mention it was a big deal. I was shocked and got up. The dishwasher was loaded. 

This morning, he washed the sink because I did not want him running water when the dishwasher was running last night. He also cleaned the skillet I used for burgers and want to use for scrambled eggs today. He has gotten everything I wanted since I awoke at 11 am. 

We went out and are now  back. Tommy and I both had calls in to our respective doctors for prescriptions. And, no one called his meds or mine to different pharmacies. We both had to get and emergency supply in order to have meds!  Friday, I needed to pick up 6 meds. They had four. One of those was wrong--a med I am allergic to. Right, I ended a sentence with a preposition.  Then, I went  back on Friday and got the right med. Still, I am missing a critical med, thus the emergency supply. Tommy's med is even more critical. This all started with the failure of doctors, not an employee or a supply chain. 

I went to the church yard sale and just asked the woman to come to the car. She is the one who said she could help me in the house. Still, I wait. Tommy offered to stop for another half dozen yard sales. But, I was too shaky on my feet and felt weak. 

Just now, he brought me the sweet potatoes, washed, for me to prepare. Now, I need to go in there and see what meat I put out. No? He is searching for the meat I want. Okay, we are chicken soffrito and brussels sprouts along with the sweet potato. 

I really feel awful, but I slept for two hours. No fever or other symptoms at all. Was today good yard sale weather at your place? It was 

Lamp and Aquarium Glue

 The time I would have spent on a post today was spent talking to the new friend I made down the street. Her name is Linda and her  birthday is four days before mine. She turned 74 while I turned 75. She is a schoolteacher, too. 

We were on our way to the bread store. But, we sat in front of her house for an hour and a half, talking.  I felt bad we were keeping her and she said she was keeping us. I was not bored and we each spoke equally long and long-winded...lol. 

The lamp Tommy had beside his chair was cute, sort of an Arabian Nights look. Someone gave it to him. He used it without a shade and with a curly bulb for years. Since I sit facing it, I was having eye pain. The eye doctor told me with my eye problems I should not use a curly bulb or any kind of fluorescent bulb. So, I bought a new white shade for his lamp. The lamp did not have a harp or a way to affix one the the lamp. 

That lamp shade would not stay straight because every time he turned it on and off, he tilted it. Then, the light in my eyes was intense. I told him I was buying a new lamp for him. He did not disagree. I also told him it might be from a yard sale. 

Well, I found one at a yard sale last weekend or maybe it was the week before. It is white ceramic, sort of an amphora look with a little brass base with legs. It also had a good LED bulb and a bell-shaped shade. The shade is fabric, looks like slub silk, but we know it is not silk...lol. It is not white, maybe an oatmeal color. He likes it, so that is good. The size works so much better than the stubby little lamp he had for five years. 

I was surprised, but he started to put it on his table. I suggested he let me wash if first. He said he would wash it and took it straight to his table. I was surprised he wanted it put on his table right away...lol. I think he washed it after he plugged it in. So, he has a lamp with a more powerful light than he had, the shade does not tilt, so it does not blind me. He likes it!

It was a good deal for $4. Usually, the shade needs to be replace on yard sale lamps. Not this one. 

For a project I needed aquarium glue. The easiest on my back was Amazon. It was cheap and came today. On the box there was not one word of English or any language with which I am familiar. I suppose it was Chinese. I have no idea what are the ingredients or if it is toxic.  Have we come to this? 

My favorite lamps are yard sale lamps. The only new lamps I have ever owned were bought in 1967. Since 1985 or so, I have bought antique lamps at yard sales or junk stores and had them restored. I made the shades. 

Do you like antique lamps? Yard sale lamps? Floor lamps? Have you gotten anything where all the label was in Chinese or other language?

For a mere $4, we are both satisfied. I love the little lamp, but I suppose I will donate it or sell it. 

Three Dozen Yard Sales

But first...

I KNEW THIS MAN

 https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/family-of-an-alabama-man-who-died-after-being-turned-away-from-  

He suffered a cardiac event and had to go to Mississippi for treatment. 

By the way, I received a shipment from Amazon with Tommy's gift on Friday, yet he still was nasty on Saturday!

Last Saturday, we passed at least three dozen yard sales and Tommy was willing to stop, but I was too tired! Or, the terrain looked too steep or rough for me. Or, nothing looked good from the car...lol. The only real purpose to my stopping at a yard sale would be to get more purses for my pink purse project. I only have two, so that may be all I fill. 

Unlike what I said I was going to do, I didn't sort a box of patterns each night. Tommy gets out of the mood to help me. I feel like working after midnight, but he wants to sleep! Imagine that. I think I am keeping 30 or so of the second box and getting rid of about 40. I don't remember. At any rate, I sorted two boxes, total. 

These are more salable. Or give-able. There are costumes, infant patterns, coats, mother-of-the-bride, sweats, newborn to size 18. If anyone would like any of these, I can list them all in one post and people can claim what they want. I will not sell them, just give them away for postage. How does that sound? Most of these patterns have not been cut, never used or removed from the envelope. Or, if you live in or near Birmingham, you can meet me somewhere and choose all you want from the box. 

I still have more boxes of patterns, so I will work on a list and post the patterns all at once. 

Maybe I will go across the street and buy the $1000 bedroom suite. Yeah, not doing that.

Who is interested in patterns? I guess I mean who is interested in patterns after I post the pattern numbers? 

Commotion Friday

 Friday morning, I lay down for one hour, just to rest my back. Then, Friday afternoon, I was tired after only getting four hours sleep Thursday night. I lay down a little after 5 pm and told him to wake me at 7 pm. I fully expected to sleep. 

Well, less than an hour later, I heard a big noise. I ran out and he said he dropped what he was holding--a paper plate with the leavings of three oranges he had eaten. So, I still have not asked him what made the big noise.  I just went back to bed! 

About 30 minutes later, I heard lots of noises, seemingly coming from the kitchen. I went in there and he had knocked a coke off the refrigerator shelf and it rolled about and something else. He had all the little crates (3) of cheese and such on the counter and was sorting them. Well, I got the coke from the floor and whatever else fell. 

He had emptied and sorted the whole refrigerator! It looked really good! But, I never got a nap or any more rest. So, that leaves me now, at 9 pm, reeling from exhaustion. At least dinner was easy. 

I took two deli rolls and halved them. I had thawed leftover pizza sauce still in the jar, almost. I thawed meatballs in the microwave. I put pizza sauce on the rolls rather heavily, sliced the meatballs in three pieces each, put those on the pizza sauce and topped it with mozarella cheese, sliced, not grated. Then, it went under the broiler. A salad of Italian blend greens and tomatoes and Italian dressing topped off the meal. I only ate one half of my roll and ate the toppings off the other half.  Ah, easy dinner. There is enough pizza sauce for another meal. 

He was really helpful but I needed sleep! Of course, I am not irritated, just exhausted. I don't think he did it on purpose. 

About a month ago, I spotted  a new rake in a tree on city property. I doubt anyone was coming back for it. And, it certainly was not city property. So, I struggled and extracted it from the tree. I doubt I was stealing or I would have left it. 

The children across the street liked the Easter eggs in the tree in front of Tommy's house, as I have said. Now, I am planning what to hang in the tree for May. Maybe I will hang blue stars and red and white ribbons. If we put it up the middle of May for Memorial Day, it can last until the 4th of July. 

Saturday, we went for my two things on the list--look for the Food Truck Corner activity and see if the church is having a yard sale. Nothing was happening on the corner and the church was having a yard sale. I could barely walk, so stayed about three minutes. I found another large purse for my Pink Purse Project and only paid $1. 

I managed to wash a few more dishes and Tommy dried. The lamp I bought to illuminate the dining room a bit was finally plugged in. It took both of us. And, I finally found one of the hundreds of bulbs, 60 watt, that I bought before the production was banned. I am not sure why the old bulbs were on sale, but I purchased them cheaply,  Westinghouse, 130V. 

Now, I am going to take a nap before dinner.  Since I had no nap due to Tommy's commotion, I slept little again on Friday night.

Saturday Wind Up on Sunday

I screamed. Tommy was startled and asked me what was wrong. I somehow erased the whole post! I hate that. 

Saturday, he paid $10 for someone to vacuum the back end of the Rogue where we had two bags of sweet potatoes placed. I could taste dust in the front seat. He does not have an extension cord long enough for his little house vacuum to reach out there. Neither of us can vacuum at a commercial place. It is clean anyway! 

Dinner was so delicious, if I do say so myself--pork loin roast with bbq sauce on it, carrots cooked in the pork juice, green beans. Between the two of us, we finished off the whole can of beans. I froze a dinner portion with pork and half the pound of carrots that I cooked. There is enough pork in the refrigerator for two more meals. 

Also, at the yard sale, I found a fabulous, white, oval tablecloth 64" x 100". It was appliqued and embroidered. And PINK. I paid $1 for it and could sell it for a pretty penny on the internet. I am torn. 

In a big Tupperware bin, I am collecting things for my Big Pink Purse project for 2021. I bought 12 cosmetic bags for a quarter each. They still have a $6.99 price tag. From now until next year, I will collect things at a low price, but nice, new things. Except for the purses or backpacks, nothing will be used or limiting. 

If I win one of Sluggy's giveaways, I will add those to my Pink Purse stash. Well, I will have to eat the chocolate. 

Kathy, your prize is on the way! I mailed it Saturday morning. 

Saturday, I bought 4 books for Tommy, a bird book, a tree book, an insect book, and a wildflower book. I know he will like all of them. Later, I will buy a cd for bird songs. He will love that. I am going to give half of these for his December birthday and the other half for Christmas. He has binoculars bought by one of my followers. Well, she provided money to buy something for him. 

Tommy always asks me, "What kind of bird/tree/flower is that?" Most of the time I know. He knows lots of birds, too. When I was in hs, I had a tree book and an insect book. We had to have a leaf collection, an insect collection i biology. So, I learned a lot. I suppose I have forgotten lots, too. I really hated sticking pins in insects! Did you have to stab insects for an insect display?

He doesn't know it yet, but he is getting me books for Christmas. I will put a wish list on Amazon or someplace for him to choose.  He can do that and that way he will get me something I want and need...lol. 

Sunday is slipping away as he watches lots of movies, and, of course, I am lured by them.  I work during commercials. Of course, I cannot work steadily if it involves standing. 

My seat on my walker came loose and parts were lost. I did get parts to attach the seat. So, that needs to be done today. It is 65F at 2:30, and very nice out. 

I am still placing things on the kitchen shelves! It never ends since I can neither work fast nor for too long. Today, I may bake an apple pie, maybe not. If so, I will freeze for Thanksgiving.   Don't hold me to anything...lol. Today or tomorrow, I will bake the turkey.   

Have you started Thanksgiving cooking?                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Almost Free Halloween Decorations on Friday and Football

 In November 2019, I bought a huge duffle bag of what I assumed were Halloween items. I just unzipped it and saw a safety green jack o lantern. Well, today, we took the duffel bag outdoors and took everything out. It was a treasure trove of Halloween stuff for $3!

Safety green jack-o-lantern for trick or treat

orange jack-o-lantern that plugs in...works

very bat girl dress, size 3-5

mask with beating heart on tube...yikes

three-pumpkin plaque to hang on door...hung now

Happy Halloween banner written in blood

Jason hockey mask

4 yard stakes with lights

Dracula cape--large

hanging skeleton with white drape/skirt 

hanging pumpkin head with black drape/skirt

tombstone still in package

6 hanging ghosts

hanging inflatable pumpkin with streamers

cute pumpkin tin box--9"x9"

and....

dried up Degree deodorant--thrown out, naturally

bubbly Christmas light--waiting to see if it works

Most of these items were still sealed in their packages or had price tags on them. I doubt if we will make anything else and we certainly won't buy anything! I will let Tommy put things up as he seems to enjoy it. 

and

That makes 15 usable Halloween items and one for Christmas. Each item was $0.19. The adorable tin is the only thing I mig

Tommy has been watching the Auburn game on TV. Later, he will watch the Alabama game...sigh. I never complain or sigh. This will dominate for several months.  

Some days, Tommy is anxious to please me with TV shows. He gives me my choice instead of turning on what he wants. THEN, the next day or the next weekend, he announces matter-of-factly that he is watching whatever football game...lol. I think he is setting me up for his watching without me objecting or needing to go somewhere. Funny! Do you have someone who becomes very easy to get your way so he can watch a game? 

How are your decorating efforts coming along? Have you bought Halloween costumes or decorations at yard sales? 

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. 

Yard Sale Weekend

Saturday, we went to Cullman and did a few things. Tommy asked what else we needed to do when I thought I was through. There is a church that sporadically has a food bank. So, we checked before we left. Yes! It was a pickup, so no problem and fast. 

The best thing was a tray of eight Parmesan chicken breasts. We each had one for dinner Saturday night. I sautéed vegetables to eat, too. 

Plus, I received a can that I had thought was been discontinued. Margaret Holmes Collard Greens with good date. MH has had a full line of vegetables that were delicious. However, they now only have "MH Whatever Southern Seasoning" for the last few years. Now, I know to keep looking and maybe contact a grocery distributor. This good news makes me very happy because now I can find the turnip greens, too, that have no salt or other seasoning. 

My friend who fell out of her chair twice, was hospitalized, had surgery, was in rehab for these last several weeks is home. I went by her junk store and she was back in her room there. Someone was helping her out of bed and getting her dressed. We talked to her son out back and left. This is someone I know only from going to her store, but I still worry about her and call her "my friend." I still don't know what kind of surgery she had. The guys I talk with around her place just say something about her neck and touch their neck. 

I did see two yard sales. The first was just clothes, it appeared, lying flat on a table. I passed on that one. The one next door was better. However, prices on some things were just too high. Breadmaker--$15 and used? I paid $3 for new in box. $10 for well-used dehydrator? Nope! I paid $4 for a used one that looked better. 

However, I found a book and a basket. The basket is about 14 inches in diameter and has 8 inch sides. I intend to use it for the million little envelopes of stuff in the kitchen that fall all over the place. The book was EVERY WOMAN OF THE BIBLE.  I have no intention of reading it. This is a reference book. This will keep me from having to go to a lot of trouble and reading to find the person I am reading about or trying to determine who she was. Tommy grabbed it and was looking over the book for quite a time. I spent one whole dollar, fifty cents each. 

Twice, in my PO box I have found an In Style magazine that I did not order or pay to get. I give that to the woman and her teen daughter next door. It has my name on the printed magazine label.  I wish it were something I am remotely interested in reading/perusing.

I read and saw that I need to wash out the freezer before use, so I am still not loading it with food. Yesterday, my right foot was so swollen that I finally had to lie down and elevate it. I suppose I will press doctors again for the reason and resolution. The swelling is slowing down things I need to do. 

Saturday night, I cooked the Parmesan Chicken breasts in the oven and sautéed onion, a whole Bell pepper and a half of a huge tomato for Tommy. He ate it all and was still talking about how good the pepper was this morning. I ate half a tomato with my piece of chicken. 

The freezer needs one more shelf. Maybe I will buy another. There are places where the shelves can be moved to get the right amount of space. I like the fact the shelves are adjustable even if I never get another shelf. The freezer will be clean and loaded by Sunday night. 

Tommy sprayed fungicide on my two squash plants. If the little baby squashes are being eaten by squirrels I will fix that. I can buy Dollar Tree mouse traps and place around the squash plants. I know I won't catch a squirrel but maybe the traps will scare them away when they trip a few traps. I do wonder if a bunny would come up Tommy's ramp to eat squash. ??? 

Trying to ward off slugs, I bought copper wire. Slugs cannot cross it, I hear. Is this true? 

I bought 2 zucchini seedlings for the back yard garden and a grape tomato for the front porch. I think Tommy will enjoy picking a tomato to eat as he walks by. 

It is noon Sunday and I have things to do.  

By the way, the rubber snake works to keep birds away. My table, chair, and porch are free of bird poop. So, no birds will eat my tomatoes! I move it around every day.

Saturday Yard Sale and Other Stuff

We left by 7:30 am this Saturday morning when the temperature was below freezing. Brrr! But, my bare toes were not a problem.

The sides of the roads are entirely of rock in places, cut or blasted out for the road. Along the roadside and on the rocks were dripping frozen icicles. It was very pretty and served to remind us of how the road was cut into the rock and how rocky this area is. The interstate to Cullman up 65 was quite hilly until the tops of the hills were cut off to even up the drive. Well, 65 follows what was 31 most of the way.

I had to take cereal and milk in a huge cup since we left before I could eat, not enough time had passed. We also took cheese and bread, actually a hamburger bun. With the water we took, we did not have to buy food to eat out.

I went to Publix in Cullman and found Kraft Parmesan cheese in the shaker on sale at $6 for 2 canisters. AND, BESIDES THAT there was also a coupon for $0.50. It is good until 6/30/20. I have four more coupons to use between now and July. I actually thought I only got two more coupons until we were on the way home.

I forgot something and stopped at the Publix we pass by here and there were no coupons for the Kraft Parmesan Cheese even though the Parmesan was the same sale price, actually a bogo.  I wonder why? You might find these coupon pads in other stores in your area.

At the same store as last week, I got 3 more pounds of broccoli for $0.99/lb. Tonight is broccoli soup night. Broccoli does not last long, so I need to use it. I may blanch and freeze some of it. Finding it for $0.99/lb is wonderful.

We stopped at the permanent yard sale. I bought an orange watering can, one that was like the green one I got last week, a new Target item. I found a duffle bag that was over three feet long, black, and in great shape. Inside were Halloween items, pumpkins. I took out some of the stuff I did not want and will finish getting the rest of it out. Some Halloween items I do want. One of the things was a Jason costume. that will be sold or given away. At any rate, I paid $5 for the full duffle bag of Halloween items.

My yard is still there...lol. It feels sad to go there, yet I feel at peace when I am back on my "land." . I know those are contradicting.

The reason I felt so rotten this last week was the antibiotic. I was hoping to feel better soon, and I did--when I was through with the prescription. I am going to make a note of that and avoid it or just know I will feel rotten.

Cookie Fix

We went to Cullman today with a list of things to do. We left at 8am and got everything into Tommy's house by 5 pm.

I needed to go to doctor to try to get meds for diabetes. I thought I was getting a uti, so went to doctor for both.  He refused to help with meds, but diagnosed the uti. So, I will not be so ill and wait and get it diagnosed next week. I always deny I am ill, thinking if  got more rest, I will be okay. Silly me! An injection of antibiotics and a prescription should have me feeling better soon.

We went to two food banks. I do not know everything I got, but 4 lbs of navy beans and two lbs of potatoes were highlights...lol. There are other things. Oh, yes, there was cereal and saltines Tommy will love. I never eat saltines because, I will just eat them for sport, so I never get into them.

I needed a nail brush, so stopped into the neatest and cleanest Dollar General I have ever seen. Now, I will see if I can use the coupon where I buy $25 and get $5 off.

A friend's junk store was on the list of places to go. I found a Styrofoam type pot for $10 her son was selling. NO THANKS!  I did find a huge Corelle white casserole that I can use instead of a large 9x13 glass pan for casseroles. It had a lid and was $2. !!!

Then I stopped at the permanent yard sale on the way back to town. Remember, I got the 12 qt. stainless steel stock pot for $2?

This time, I purchased a concrete pot for plants, the kind with a pedestal for $2. He said $5 and I told him it was $2 last week. So, he gave it to me for $2. Then, I saw the cutest watering can, .45 gallon, green and heavy, good quality it appeared, new merchandise from Target. Forest green is not my cup of tea, but I am going to paint flowers on it. There was another green and an orange one, all for $2 each. Stupidly, I only got one. So, I spent $4 and got the concrete pedestal pot and the watering can.

At both places I spent $6 and got a casserole, pot for plants, and a watering can--$2 each.

I cannot lift and turn my hand with a larger can, so this works well. Plus the watering can had the long, curved, slender "snout" where I can aim where I want and not water the leaves if I don't want to.  I am quite sure I will only put a quart of water in this watering can.

At Publix None Such Mincemeat was $3.49 for 2, and the use by date is 2022. Godiva chcolate pudding mix was on sale for $1.25, a great deal.

Another store had nothing in the sale buggy, so I bought nothing.

Nothing interesting had been put in the PO Box. I saw a sign where a person with a box could sign up to be informed by email each day of the mail received. I will sign up.

The only thing on the list that I did not do was returning the skirt to Belk's. I felt too weak. I felt too weak last week, too. So, next time I will feel better.

I made chicken sandwiches for our lunch. Was I hungry and were they delicious? Yes.

When we come south to Hueytown, Tommy is much more amenable to going further on the interstate than he is when I want him to leave from his house.

When I mentioned Cookie Fix, he was all over it. Of course, it was easy to find since we both know the area. The line was out the door. The corner handicapped space was empty!  I claimed my spot at the end of the line and announced I had to sit on the bench right outside the door.

Of course, the chocolate, chocolate  chip cookie was sold out. And, Tommy wanted something with coconut--sold out. I got two chocolate chip cookies and was happy.  I also bought a 5" Lodge iron skillet. Hopefully, it will hold and cook one scrambled egg. We sat in the car and Tommy devoured his cookie; I had to bring half of mine home to finish. The cookies were about 2 inches high!!!

Altogether, this was a good day. Remember, I am easily amused and pleased. Besides, I love Homewood! I wish I could live there. I also love yard sales, getting things I need for cheap, chocolate and sunshine. The sun shone the whole day, even when it was colder this morning. I think it got up to 59F today.

Are you yard saling yet? Good buys you need? Got a list of things you will look for?

First Yard Sale of the Year

Today, Saturday, we went to Cullman. I was antsy to get my mail since I did not go at all last week. Plus, I shopped and went to a food bank.

Tommy woke me at 6:30 like I wanted. I did not sit for thirty minutes, waking up like I usually do. In 26 minutes, I was clean, had fixed my hair, dressed and had milk and banana ready to go. I have to wait an hour after taking first pill. He suggested we stop and get sausage biscuit. I already had oj for the day, and he got Senior coffee.

We first went to the food bank where I can choose from a sheet of paper what I get. There I chose a large package of premade burgers--4 nice size ones. I won't list all I got. I did choose paper towels instead of tp. I could get three breads. Tommy likes bagels. I also got two loaves of bread. There is always Coke and various 2-liter drinks and ice for the drinks plus sweets to enjoy while we wait. I took a slice of Bundt pan cake, light and with a not so sweet topping. It was so good that I took Tommy a piece. He loved it. I could not resist a chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting. I always drink water here. There was a bowl of bars; I got a Lara bar, still have it. I ate the cupcake later and dropped most of it, oh well.

I had clothing given to me that did not fit, so I took it with me and donated it. Also, I gave my coupons to a friend who works there who was happy to see coupons I always donate.

We passed a yard sale that I determined to stop at on the way back home. Belk's was the next stop. I went in and struggled the whole time. At the register I reached in the bag to give the skirt to the cashier. What did I find?--some of the things I was donating. Oh no! Did I give the friend the wrong bag? In the car I called her and she checked the contents. It seems I had put the clothes I wanted to donate into two bags! So, I had two used two tiny bags and put the little bit into them. Well, I was relieved. It turned out that the bag I meant to take into Belk's was in the car. I was hurting so that I said I would do it next week when we go back.

In another grocery store, the one where I won the $100 gift certificate for food, I found 8 pounds of russets of potatoes for $2.49. !!! Plus, for $0.99 I found a box of alfredo mac and cheese with bacon. It should be good and good for two meals. I bought a commemorative tin for Moon Pies--$5.99. I use tins for storing things. Inside were 12 single Moon Pies. So, now we have to NOT eat them. I will use this tin to store small packages of mixes that are falling all over the place. I paid for the Moon Pies and the tin was free. Well, that is how I look at it.

I got the mail, went to 278 to get a phone number off a construction sign, stopped in Publix, went into storage unit, and stopped by the lot, finally deciding to go back home. Tommy asked me if I wanted to get a burger before heading South.

As I said "okay," I saw a sign that said "Free Food." He insisted it was not really free, that we had to have our taxes done first. Well, with the Pepsi canteen set up, I doubted it. Finally, I convinced him to leave Burger King drive in and go across the street and check out the free food. We each got two hotdogs and a Diet Pepsi. well, I had to get out and choose all this. The only Pepsi product I like is Mountain Dew, and I sure did not need the sugar or caffeine. So, we saved $3.99+tax by eating free food. I brought home 3 of the foil sandwich wraps so I will not have to use foil for topping things I heat in the oven. We might just have our sandwiches wrapped in these clean pieces of foil.

When I asked the guy what we had to do to get free hotdogs, he said, "Nothing." I persisted and he finally told me they were collecting food and clothes. Well, I gave him the bit of clothing I had that been mistakenly been taken into Belk's. After we ate right there in the parking lot, we pulled around and the guy took a bag of food out of the car that I had not gone through. I only kept Peter pan pb, a very small can of carrots and peas for Tommy, and a huge can of peaches. I was happy because the man lifted the bag, it was out of the car and my house.

We went home the way we came so that I could go to the yard sale. I was surprised that this yard sale happens every day. It was in an open field with a little shed where the people were sitting inside. Nothing was priced. That so annoys me. I will not backtrack when I am hurting, but the woman told me to come show her what I was talking about. My back won't stand it. The mini Keurig was $40! Tommy would not pay that, so I did not ask him. I forgot to purchase new-in-the-package dish towels for $0.50 for two. Oh well.

I found a 12 qt. stainless steel covered stock pot for $2. I brought that pretty baby home. It still has the store sticker on the side, so it has never been used. A little Barkeepers Friend will have it shining. At least this is something that was not put into the dump. I only found aluminum when I looked for a stock pot in stores and wanted stainless steel. The aluminum stock pots are expensive, so I wonder how much this cost. The sturdy loop handles are attached with brads, so it will be safe to pick up. It even had a lid, nice and shiny and not dented.

On the way home, I had the bright idea to go to Sam's Club. Tommy was all for it. We sampled and sampled. After looking for Melatonin and folding lawn chairs, we left. Tommy bought bacon. One of the samples was interesting. Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches with "buns" that were eggs. Sausage was inside the eggs. They were actually good. I am not sure how good-for-you they were.

We just had a Moon Pie. ugh

I forgot--at Publix I bought Dove exfoliating body wash with pomegranate seeds and shea butter...yep, another thing that went to dump.

The day seems to have been non-stop eating. Tonight, dinner will be chicken and salad and Halos.

I have been telling Tommy we will be going to yard sales. I have a pair of sandals in the car for dew and mud.

We left the house at 7:30 am and arrived here at 3 pm. Since I could only sleep 3 hours last night, I am so happy I do not have to cook! I do know that tonight I will eat no junk! Now, I need to go wash my new stockpot.

I deliberately looked for money on the ground when out and about. No Luck!

Have you been to a yard sale yet this year? Do you like them?