Spooky Halloween

My photo that won a white ribbon at the Fair a few years ago. Do not copy this picture or anything on my blog without permission. You know to whom I am speaking.

Terror here--Flames in the kitchen

Earlier in the night on Monday night, I boiled eggs. I put the hot pot of eggs near the sink instead of in the sink because the crock was in there. I used a round potholder I made to shield the counter from the hot pot.

At 3 am, I brushed my teeth and was ready for bed, but the boiled eggs needed to go into the refrigerator. Done. Then, I decided to heat water on the stove. I put water in the pan, put pan on burner, and turned on the eye. I had to wipe up water where I spilled it on the counter, so I did. Seconds after I turned on the stove eye, I looked over and the whole pan was covered with flames.

Besides being utterly shocked, I was confused. This was a pot full of water! On fire!? I picked up the pot and was going to move it to the sink. As I did, the burner/eye was on fire and so was the bottom of the pot. Bits of fire were floating above my head and starting to float around the kitchen. That frightened me more than the flames from the pot bottom and the eye!

I finally figured the potholder had stuck to the bottom of the pot and was still there when I transferred it to the stove and turned on the stove. AND, flaming bits were flying around when I moved the pot.

It has been thirty minutes and my heart is still pounding in my ears. Although I am terrified of fire since I witnessed our house burn to the ground when I was four-years-old, I am calculating when dealing with fire. Even though my instinct is to panic, I do keep calm and do the right thing so as not to spread fire.

One thing--a piece of potholder fell to the hot eye, still with burning potholder on the eye. I took a pointy knife at hand and shoved the fabric off the eye/burner, still holding the flaming pot. Then, I speared the remnant and put it in the pot of water.  I was well aware I had on a sweat shirt on and did not catch it on fire!

Now, I keep guard, making sure the little embers do not burn the house down. The embers probably went out. I cannot see them. No fire, nothing smoldering. This potholder is obviously not the smoldering type as it flamed up immediately.

About 30 years ago, I did the same thing, so I do not have much of a history with starting fires in the kitchen!

It was about 5:30 the last time I looked at the clock, and I got up at 9 am. So, I am beat.

And, this is just another reason not to leave things on in the kitchen!

Have you had an accident in the kitchen? How much damage?

Losses

For some reason I made my semiannual trip to FB this weekend. As I read one friend's posts, I noticed she never said anything about her SO. When I guessed what happened, I googled his obit. He died two years ago.

Missing events on FB is okay, but this is the third friend I have lost that took me two years to figure it out. These were people I saw all the time until I sort of disappeared due to disability. He moved away.

Since they lived on St. George's Island off the Florida coast, I wonder how she made it through Michael.

My friend was a professor at UAB as was her SO. I never had her for a prof but at the end of my UAB experience, I took an education class from him. People were in awe that I knew professor so well as we discussed his apartment and things she owned, and got me to ask him if we could have a take-home test. He allowed it.

They lived in a loft, one of the first in downtown Birmingham. He died so young. All my friends die young! He was two years older than I.

I tried to hang clothes on the line this weekend, but due to wreck injury, I could not. Same with washing dishes--large things. The dryer takes so much electricity. However, since neither the heat nor ac are running, this month should be an all time low energy use month, I will be happy.

Although I have said I was going to plant onions, I did not until today.

I still have more garbage in the back yard to pick up. This activity calls for disposable gloves. When the garbage is strewn, I cannot get it all up at once.

Do you or did you ever have animals drag your garbage all over? I have a picture somewhere of my neighbor's garbage all over their yard, my yard, and the street. I cleaned my yard and street in front of my house. Neighbor's garbage stayed in their yard until time and weather and the wind made it appear less. Of course, the wind put lots of it in my yard, so I picked up neighbor's trash forever as it became my trash.

One Million +

As of Saturday this blog has had 1,021,069 page views. That is over 1 million! This blog debuted in mid 2010 and has been here off and on until now, 2018. I spent a solid year not blogging and a few months another year. That is about six years of solid blogging.

I think over a million page views is success. Of course, other blogs have reached a million views in less time.

Chicken Oysters?

Did you know chicken oysters are delicious? Have you ever eaten chicken oysters? Have you ever heard of chicken oysters?

I have eaten chicken oysters. I knew they were delicious even though I had never heard of them.

When I first heard of chicken oysters, I was thinking "Rocky Mountain Oysters." I knew this part was removed from chickens in the dressing of chickens. So, I was confused. Of course, I have never dressed a chicken, so I was not sure.

This VIDEO explains how to cut a roasted chicken and where the oysters are located. Do you throw this part out? Make soup with the oysters?

I like saying and typing "chicken oysters."

Invasive Plants and Potatoes

At a church lunch, a couple in their late 80s related their adventures in yard work. They were clearing out wisteria and a plant that was also invasive. They did not know what the plant was, but it had many sharp thorns. They complained how bad the thorns hurt! Their daughter had dug it up for them to take home several years ago.

My ears perked up. "Is it a vine with glossy leaves" "Yes" Are the leaves dark green?" "Yes." "Are the leaves longish and sort of heart-shaped?" "Yes."

I informed them their daughter had dug up thorns and they introduced them to their yard! They were a little shocked.

Rule of thumb--when anyone offers you a plant and guarantees it will be hardy and not die on you, beware because you are being given an invasive plant that will be almost impossible to eradicate.

When thorns invaded my yard, they could not be eradicated by cutting or pulling. Just before I quit battling the thorns, I dug and pulled them from underground. Eventually, I pulled a very tough root exposing a giant root about 10 inches long and 3 inches in diameter, shaped sort of like a sweet potato. The huge root was ten or more inches below the surface. The vine I was pulling on was half an inch in diameter and strong as a any rope. I was much stronger then!

Thursday, I meant to plant potatoes in pots in order to take advantage of the afternoon rains predicted. But, I was too cold and tired. In order to avoid watering with a hose, the rain would have been perfect. I am not worried about the amount of water I use raising my bills, since I use about half the minimum anyway. I just think rainwater is better for plants than water treated with chlorine and whatever else is in the hose water.

Have you ever transplanted an invasive plant or have grown them from seed? Has anyone ever given you a plant for your garden and assured you it will thrive without much help?

The Orthopedist Office Made Me Cry

When I was talking on the phone to the person making  appointment, she was talking x-rays. I emphatically told her I was not having x-rays, just MRI because I had had cancer and doctor did not want me to have x-rays. She challenged me and said, "Did the doctor say that??" She said I could not have MRI until I had x-rays because that is the way it is done. I felt like I was going to cry.

I told Tommy I wanted him to come in the exam room on Monday. He agreed. I felt like I would get respect for my decision if a man were there. I also felt like they would not pressure me.

As I sat in a wheelchair in the waiting room, a woman called my name and I raised my hand. She asked me if I were ready to come. I said I would if someone pushed me. She mentioned something about my friend pushing me. I told her it would be hard for him to use a walker and push my wheelchair. He was struggling to get to his feet. He definitely did not move like a man who could push me.

She came over and talked to me in a high voice like I was either mentally incompetent or a child. (I suppose the wheelchair gave me away.) In a high voice she said, "Okay, let's get you back here and get x-rays." I started crying and talking in a loud, whiny/shrill voice at the same time--"No, No, I am not getting x-rays. I have had cancer and do not want to get it again" Or, something like that. She was going to try to convince me, and I shrieked, "NO! I have had cancer. I cannot have x-rays!" And, tears flowed copiously again.

When we got out of this huge waiting room, she started in again, telling me the guy, forgot his name, a nurse practitioner would "talk to you about the x-rays." I started crying again, saying, "No, he won't talk to me about x-rays!"  This time I was in another huge room with nurses at desks where they check out patients, make appointments and schedule surgeries. Surely someone must have asked about my crying. If she had to say anything that made it about my choice, she should have said I could talk to him. But, no, he was going to talk to me!

I made sure Tommy was coming and could see where they took me. We went into the exam room, sat, and waited. I told Tommy he could speak up at any time anyone wanted me to have an x-ray. The physician's assistant very wisely said they would schedule an MRI.  Oops, I still need to do that. Tommy did interrupt him to say something, but I forgot what it was.

On Saturday or Sunday I was talking long-distance to one of my followers, a retired nurse, saying I was afraid I would cry if they kept pressuring me to have an x-ray. She said it might be good if they saw some emotion (think that is what she said) about my need. Well, I did not plan a cry or wailing. I cannot cry on command.

So, Monday was a traumatic day for me. But, Tommy stopped and got me my favorite Quizno's sandwich. Still, I was drained when we arrived home. Well, my home; he still had another 1.5 hours to home.

(I did have uterine cancer and had it removed two years ago. In 2003 I had half my thyroid and a huge growth removed. The growth was the kind that always becomes cancerous eventually. This is what the doctor told me, I was also told at that time to avoid x-rays. Since then when an x-ray was scheduled, I made them give me something to cover my thyroid, usually a glove. My refusal  of x-rays and wariness is not a new thing. But, no one has ever pressured me to have one. They back off.

I suspect that some of you have had to deal with the emotions of trying to protect yourself. Sluggy has one wild story of a bad doctor, but I am not sure how emotional she had to get to protect herself from a doctor who almost killed her.  I felt like I was being killed with all the x-ray talk. Seriously.

I still cannot open all blogs on my blog roll.

Okay, got a story to tell?

Learning More Spanish, Lunch, Crying

My goal is one word a day. I can and often do learn more. I have a process for learning.

Monday, I saw the word "Insurance" with the word "Seguro" underneath. When I got back to my computer, I looked it up to see if the word was correct. It was. Then, I read all the sentence examples and read the sentences aloud. There is a little button that, when pushed, has a native speaker repeat the word each time the button is pushed.

This word was easy to learn and will not have to be repeatedly practiced. From Spanish in ninth grade, I think, we had a phrase repeatedly used in the text book.

"Para estar seguro" was a section in each chapter. "In Order to be Sure." It was a weekly exercise, a practice.

I don't watch a lot of Spanish TV, and I should. Maybe I can ramp this up.  I really want to grow and stretch my brain.

Tuesday, I went to church dinner. Tommy did not come since he had taken me to the doctor, putting about 220 miles on his car and body. He was very tired. A guy who wanted me to help him with a job was coming with me. But, this is the fourth time he has not showed up, so I was not surprised.

Lunch was Chicken and dressing, peach slice with cottage cheese or sour cream and shredded cheese, pickle spear, and unsweetened tea. Dessert was an assortment of pies, cakes, and cupcakes. Two tiny cupcakes were at my plate and brought home. Each person had a little Halloween bag with various candy inside.

The lunch was a good chance to socialize.  For some reason, ATT has been not receiving payment as my bank sends back the autopay request. So, my internet is going to be turned off. I can get part of my blog and part of various things on the internet. I have no idea why my bank would be returning the autopay request. I will have to deal with that this afternoon. There is no reason to pay again and for whatever reason to have it rejected once again!

So, I will not be reading blogs or commenting. I cannot open them or comment. When I can blog again, I will tell you about crying at the orthopedist's office about 4 or 5 times.

My New Comforter

I had no intention to buy anything. However, when I saw this comforter reduced to $8, I was sold; at home, I was not thrilled with the construction. However, there is a lot of fabric in this item for only $8.

As I pulled it from the zippered bag, I could feel clumps of batting and could see right through the front and back! The ruched areas are not connected to the back. However, the only thing that holds the front and back together is stitching in a two-inch diameter circle which are between the ruching. 

My plan: purchase batting for the inside of the comforter. Remove all the little sewn circles. Take out stitching from about a foot, maybe more, of one of the four sides, borrow a cutting table in a shop to put batting inside. Use a safety pin to hold the circle where stitching was front and back. Straight pins will not stay in place as this is moved about. 

When it all is smooth and reattached with batting in between, I can hand-stitch the circles of stitching. I may have to remove stitching on all four sides to attach the batting to the back of the comforter. 

I could not believe the batting shifted even before it was washed! This will only be difficult because of the size. The technique/process is easily done. 

Why won't the picture not center when I clicked on "center?"

This comforter is such a pretty color. I bought a comforter last year, took it out of the packaging, and put it right inside a garbage bag and returned it. It was pretty but not so pretty. The batting was loose just like this one. When I returned it, one of the employers claimed it as hers and put it away to purchase.

Until it is really cold, I can use it. It's soooo pretty. When I get through, I will have less than $30 in the comforter. 

Have you ever undertaken this sort of project to make something you bought usable?

Making Cheese

A great deal of the evening and part of the night was spent watching videos about how to make mozzarella cheese. One man made cheese using dried milk. Another woman called her definitely- pitted aluminum pot "stainless steel."

When I read or view something that is ancient but with modern things that did not exist, I begin to wonder how they did it. How did Romans make cheese without stainless steel pots? Were their pots non-reactive? What did they use instead of going to Kroger to get rennet tablets? I already knew the answer to the last question, but have no young calf freshly slaughtered.

Then, I found an article that tells where in the Iliad that Homer mentions fig branches curdling milk. I suppose I was too young to notice that passage the several times I read the Iliad. At any rate, the ARTICLE was enlightening.

Maybe I will make some cheese...at least once.  I am not hung up on making mozzarella as that was just what was in the list of videos.

Have you ever made cheese? What kind? What kind of milk did you use? Do you have any tips or recipes you have tried?

Unbelievable

The second doctor I went to wanted to up dosage on a med. So, he "increased" a dosage of 850 mg three times a day to 1000 mg twice a day.  ???

850 x 3 is 2550 mg
1000 x 2 is 2000 mg

So, he is actually reducing the dosage!

And, he forgot to give me a meter for finger pricks.

Nice man, good bedside manner.

I certainly do not want to be unconscious with medical people making medical decisions for me.

Two huge tubes of blood were drawn. It took one woman to not find a vein, a second to show a third where to stick me.  It is very hard to find my veins.

Friday, I had to go to salon to get my hair washed since I cannot wash my hair due to shoulder issues from the wreck. When I described what was happening, the nurse practitioner said these were classic whip lash complaints, and yes, they do show up months later. I thought I was over the worst of the repercussions from the shoulder injury. And, they are talking surgery!

I immediately felt much more healthy after my hair was washed. I felt run down and depressed before my hair was clean. It has been over a week since I could wash it.

Nuts are going to be the death of me. Do you ever slide along after stepping on acorns on concrete? Now, the hickory nuts are falling, nuts larger than a golf ball. Sometimes, squirrels bring pecans from the neighbor's yard. My yard is a hazard area for me. Tommy always picked them up for me, but now it is hazardous for him and he cannot pick them up.

Do nurses have a difficulty finding your vein to draw  blood? Do you have nuts that cause walking to be hazardous?

A few things forgotten

I had something to say, but I forgot it in a little nap. I went to doctor yesterday who denied I knew what was wrong with me--written instructions were go to ER or doctor. !!! That was less than helpful.

I saw a different doctor in same office who did not want to hear about the last doctor, but I just kept telling him. He denied also, but gave me meds for the bladder infection and diagnosed a big problem. sooo, now I am referred to another specialist.

After coming home exhausted and napping, I forgot what I really wanted to say. So, this will have to do.

A few things and so cold and wet

First of all, Oui comes in very strong glass pots. I dropped a bag of groceries while I was trying to transfer the bags from one hand to the other. I heard the Oui land with a crack on the concrete step. There seemed to be no doubt that it had broken. Nope. Those glass pots are sturdy.

Then, I took a can of tuna from the shelf and dropped it right on my big toe that was hurting anyway. The can of tuna landed right at and above the cuticle. That hurt SO. A few days later I dropped something else on the exact same spot. Yes, it is very much discolored. I was going to a podiatrist anyway, but it will be fine.

No, I don't drop so much. But, dropping the Oui reminded me of my dropping things on my toe.

Yesterday, we went to another free lunch. We had a beef patty with delicious gravy, huge sweet potato, green beans and two very thin slices of buttered bread, unsweetened iced tea, and cookies.

We also brought a meal home. Tommy was glad to get a meal for home, especially since I cooked nothing for dinner.

I went to Publix and WM and bought a few things. I left the milk in his car and my car for six hours. It was still cool when I brought it in from my car. Tommy told me I left it in his car, so I went out to get it and put it in my car while I helped him. Then, I forgot it in there. No, I did not forget it. I was cold, just hurting so much and went to sleep.

He called me shortly after I got back in the house after putting food in his car. His car would not start since he left the lights on when he came into the house. I think my lights go off after a bit.

It rained all day, sometimes a drizzle and sometimes steady rain. So, I was already feeling damp. I went to Auto Zone to borrow jumper cables. Of course, I am drowning and my sandaled feet are cold and wet. He had to use two canes while hooking them up. He had on a rain jacket, socks and shoes which I did not! Then, I had to take the cables back. I was so exhausted I was dizzy.

Jumper cables are something I used to have. Where did they go? They are a case of something someone asked to borrow, promising to bring them back. NO! The person would not give them back.

Cold and wet? Yesterday I was the wettest I have been in ages. Since the weather was around sixty, it was numbing. Remember, it was in high 80s two days ago.

This past week, I have finished my Christmas shopping. Of course, every last thing was reduced. So. that is a bit of good news for me.

Does anyone have one of those things to keep to jump off a car without needing cables and another car? Have an opinion of how they are to use?

Dictionary Day--October 16th

When I was a child, I liked to read the dictionary. It was as fascinating as any book.

Even now, if I were to look up a word in the dictionary, hours later I would still be looking around for words, just to read and for no other reason except to learn something new.

Being able to look up words on my laptop is much easier than have to pick up and handle a dictionary.

One site lists WORDS added to the dictionary the year in which you were born. The other lists weird new words just added to the Oxford English Dictionary.

I have fond memories of dictionaries and using them. Books are like friends. Well, books are friends.

There are several dictionaries left in my books. They were not a part of the 800 I purged.

What is your relationship with dictionaries? Do you, like I, have fond memories of reading the dictionary? Even with the internet available widely, do you keep a dictionary on your bookshelves?

Coughing is Difficult

Coughing is important when you have Chronic Bronchitis! Now, I have to hold back when I cough because it hurts my shoulder so much. And, my back/spine and arm. My chest is getting tighter and congested!

I called the doctor and complained I had not had an MRI of shoulders. Well, I left a message. The doctor did not call. The nurse practitioner did not call. A nurse with whom I have never spoken called. She said the doctor will look at the MRI tomorrow. He thinks my shoulder and back pain is coming from neck.

This all annoys me.  I can barely get out of the bed. But, I do. I ate cereal all day long. When have you ever heard me say that? I ate cereal all day Friday, too. Or, was it Saturday? Saturday night, I found a can of mini ravioli and ate that.

To top things off, I have lost the remote again.

The mail is still in the box. And, I don't care!

Where is Autumn?

I went to Birmingham twice this last week and then north about 25 miles plus two little trips out in the county. There is absolutely no change in foliage. A couple of trees might have been fading a bit but still green. There is not a tree in town that is any color but green.

I love the heat, but right now, it comes and goes. I have yet to wear a sweater, but I have felt a bit of chill that almost calls for a sweater. As far as I am concerned, this warm weather could go on another two months or more. It just needs to be a bit colder for Christmas.

I do miss the vibrant colors of the trees!

As for the pain, it is strange and almost gone. After breakfast, I decided to lie down again. I always lie on my left side. The right shoulder, arm and back were hurting, anyway. As I lowered my body onto the left side, I felt and HEARD a rip between right shoulder blade and spine. The pain and ripping sound took my breath away. Most of the pain went away after the spooky event.

I still hurt, but not so much and not in such excruciating manifestations. Every footstep makes my shoulder and back hurt. It is weird, but no matter how lightly my foot touches the floor, there is excruciating pain. I suppose the shoulder bone is connected to the foot bone or something like that.

How are the temps where you live and where do you live? Does your weather suit you? I am in no hurry to have to wear a sweater, and  love my sandals!

Banking Change and Pain

When I wanted to pay the cell phone by AutoPay, I could not because I needed a bank card. Since I did not want a card, I had to decide if getting a card was worth saving $10 each month. I decided I wanted to save money.

Once I obtained a card and figured out how easy it was to slide the card, I feared I would be overdrawn since I never wrote down the purchase like I knew I should.

Plus, I still do not have my laptop back and did not want to put my banking info on someone else's computer. Therefore, I can never check my bank info like I have for years.

On TV there is a commercial about getting a card from an online bank. This service reports to your phone each time the card is used and gives you transaction amount and new balance.

Yesterday, I asked the drive up teller if my bank had this service. Since they do have the service, I hobbled inside and signed all the paperwork.

Now, I get texts with each transaction. There are problems with what I want and what I got.  The transmission about the transaction is not as immediate as I want. But, it works for me.

Right now, I am in so much pain, all from the wreck. When I swallow food, my back at lower shoulder blade hurts. Moving my left hand to type does not hurt, but moving my hand to mouth to cough is painful for arm and coughing. My shoulder was sore, but now it is unbearable.

The only thing I could eat on Friday was cereal. I ate a whole box. Eating anything like chicken or bread hurt my back so it was excruciating.  I figured that out on Thursday. I did eat a banana, but I knew I could neither cut or chew an apple.  It is weird to swallow and have my back at spine to shoulder blade to hurt. It feels like I am being stabbed.

Your turn
Does anyone have the feature on their checking account where the information is sent to your phone when you use your card? Does it report in a timely manner?

The Cat Two Doors Down Redeems Herself

This cat is a beautiful HUGE gray cat. Other than her size she is rather nondescript. When she first moved here, she would try her best to get into any car or house. I have had to shoo her away so many times she quit trying when she saw my door opened.

However, she has knocked a plant over so many times and spilled the dirt from the pot that the plant gave up. Before that, she knocked off huge pots of Hosta, one on each side of the path.  However, I think the rodents got those since all the Hosta in the ground was killed from the root up.

Last week, Tommy said that as he waited for me in his car  that this cat rubbed her head on all four corners of my trap set to catch raccoons. I suppose the raccoons smell cat since I have not caught a raccoon.

One morning this week, Tommy informed me that he saw her sitting and watching the shrubs. Then, she pounced and caught a ground squirrel, ground chipmunk, or whatever. She played with the capture for a bit, then set about eating it. He told the guy who lived next door who said he finds the carcasses all over his porch.

Hopefully, the cat can eat enough of these pests to make my Hosta safe. I have one on a table that these pests have not gotten to.

So, now I love the cat two doors down. Before, I just tried to avoid it. Of course, I still don't want it in my house or car. Now, I never shoo her away when she is sitting like a Sphinx facing the shrubs.  Would you?

Maybe she will kill rats, too. I don't like spending money on rat bait or traps!

Do you have animals around that eat pests or chase them away?

Spit in This.

After finding that I did not have breast cancer, I was relieved but in shock. She said I did not have breast cancer, that there was nothing wrong. She told me how happy people in the office right then would be if they got the news of no cancer. Well, she misread my reaction. I was working with two or three hours sleep.

So, I told her I was sooo happy, just could not figure it all out and was very tired.

She told me I was eligible for gene testing. Okay, will do it. I am not sure why she used the word "eligible."  Do you? Insurance will get the charge, and if not paid, I signed a paper to get a grant or something.

It took me over an hour of spitting to fill this tiny space that was about 1/2 inch high and less that a half inch across. It was in a round tube. I spit for ten minutes before I could see any in the tube! It was like I dried up! Have you ever had to spit in a tube for a gene test.

If I ever have to do this again. I am going to practice. Is there a technique to producing saliva when you cannot suck a lemon?

I was not all out spitting like you would spit a watermelon seed in a contest. I sort of held the tube to my lips and pushed it out. The woman warned me not to make bubbles. I did a double take. How do I know if I make bubbles. She said, "Well, not too many bubbles."

My lips hurt from pressing them against the tube. And, they were dry!

So, here I am trying to find spit in my mouth, trying how to make more form, and now I cannot make bubbles. It was a long, hard hour. Tommy laughed.



Have you ever had gene testing? Did you have to produce saliva and spit in a tube?

Bugs/Insects/pests in the Grocery Store

Several times at Walmart, I have noticed pantry moths in the dog food and birdseed areas. One day, there were about 20 moths flitting around the dry dog food. Of course, these are being spread to other bags that did not have a moth problem. These will get into packages without food. Eventually, they can be in the grocery area of the store. GAH!

Have you ever noticed pantry moths in your store near dog food or anything?

Good News and Michael Traffic

Monday, I went to Gynecological Oncologist and was told my six-month visits could be moved to once a year because I am still cancer free two years later. YAY!

Today, I went to breast doctor and received good news--I do not have breast cancer. Double YAY! I was stunned when she told me that my problems were from my diet. 

Both days, Tommy came up from Hueytown and took me to the doctors. Then, he brought me home and went back to Hueytown. That is 220 miles each day. 

As we headed back, the interstate was congested in the northbound lanes. People are evacuating. It seems half the people on the road had tags from Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan. There were quite a few people from counties in South Alabama.  It took us an hour and a half to go 25 miles. I am about 4 hours from the coast. 

While heading northbound we watched as at least 30 utility trucks headed south. They will be at the ready and close by when they are needed after Michael hits. 

I told Tommy I would fix him a meal for Monday and he could take it home. Well, I was just too tired on Sunday. I gave him a package of hotdogs and wished him luck...lol. He said he had vegetables that I had frozen for him.

When I got here on Monday, I rested a bit and put a chunk of frozen ground round into the crockpot along with half a cup of water, dehydrated celery, garlic, salt and pepper. When the chunk of ground round was done, I put a can of Dawn Fresh Mushroom Steak Sauce over the meat. Around this I put carrots. When the carrots were done. I went to bed and left the crockpot on low. 

Tuesday morning, today, I put potatoes in the crockpot.  When he got here, I dished up beef, carrots, and potatoes for his lunch while he waited for me in the car. According to him, the meat was especially delicious. When we got to my house, I gave him enough for another three meals. Once again, I forgot to put in onion!

The crockpot will soon have carrots and potatoes for me, all cooked in the beefy juice and Dawn Fresh. 

A Chicken Breakthrough, Freebie, Farmer's Market

The first day when I brought the chickens home, they were so terrified of me and the whole situation. Then, having obviously witnessed the slaughter by a raccoon of their companion, they shrieked and ran for three or four days, maybe more.

I talk to them as I approach their pen. When I dump their food, I say, "Delilah" in a very high voice. They still ran to the farthest place, just not so panicky. Finally, on Friday, Cher came to the door to greet me. When I came in, she moved away a bit. Bette still moved far away, but not in a panic.

When I dumped their food, Cher stood back about one chicken step. It makes me happy to see them relaxed around me. They no longer display terror when I approach. Of course, I am The Bringer of Food, so would like me.

Sunday, they were very relaxed and did not wait for me to move away from their food. Monday. Cher came right to my feed, looked up and jumped and snatched food from my hand!

Friday night at the Freosk, I got a good freebie. A little package of Belvita chocolate cookies were dispensed. They were delicious. Plus, the little chocolate snack in the store kept me from wanting a snack to eat in the store or to bring home.

I cannot go to the Farmer's Market. Octoberfest activities are occurring, so the street it blocked off. I cannot walk two or more blocks to shop. Bummer.

The temperature reached the 90s Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with blue skies and little breeze. However, this has been a wasted Saturday for me. My head is still stuffy with aching eardrums. I feel crummy but it seems not to be worse.

A Great Deal

Do you remember when I bought the Veggetti Spiralizer? Well, I took it back shortly thereafter. After looking at the gadget, I decided that the handle to turn would keep me from using it. So, I returned it.

On the Internet I found the one that is electric powered (Veggetti Power) and set my sights on that even though it was right at $40. At Walmart  Saturday night I saw the electric one and decided to get it, leaving off something else.

At the register I used a card where I had returned something without  receipt--about $16 on the card. So, I did it. When I owed about $4 more, I asked the clerk how much the Veggetti rang up, I was surprised--$20, just a tad more than the manual one. I am pleased as punch that I found this. It was not even marked down! I got the last one.

I have carrots, potatoes, apples to try this out. Tomorrow, I can get zucchini and squash. I am excited and cannot wait to try this.

Do you do a Happy Dance when finding something you really want so cheaply? What good bargain have you found lately or ever?  Do you love a happy accident? Do the Happy Dance with me?

I don't understand the anger.

When I had my first baby, within three months, I weighed ten pounds less than when I got pregnant. So, I was almost 5'8" and weighed 130 lbs. I did nothing special, nothing. People did not like how fast I lost weight and was svelte again.

Okay, I lied. I ate these things like chocolate caramel to lose weight. I would eat a month's supply in a few days because they were delicious.  I quit that because it was expensive and would have caused me to gain instead of losing weight.

I sort of watched what I ate, but I was never starving. When we went out, I ate heartily. At church dinners, I did not hold back. I may have had one dessert in place of two. But, my plate was full. Okay, sometimes I had two desserts...lol.

One of my ex's college classmate said to my husband "your wife got her girlish figure back." In our group of friends, several had babies older than mine, and I was the only one not wearing extra weight. I was mindful of what I ate, but not obsessive.

While I was pleased with my weight, I never mentioned it to these other women, nor did I boast to others. Well, maybe to my mother. My form of "bragging" consisted of "I could get back into my white shorts today." Every day, I tried on all my clothing! Every stitch! This was not about how much weight I lost, I could not afford to buy anything to wear.

Now, I read condemnation of Kate Middleton in this Article. In other articles, I read complaints about women whose shape comes back easily. Well, that was me. Now, if I could just lose weight so easily...lol. Not happening.

After my third child was born on a Saturday afternoon, I decided on my own to walk to the nursery to see her. On the way back, I wondered why someone did not answer their phone. I realized it was mine and ran to my room and threw myself across the bed to answer the phone.

A nurse came in immediately. I complained of missing a call. She said that was my doctor calling to see how I was. "I told him you were running. He said to stop running." lol She could see me running from the nurse's station.

Early the next morning, I was up, showered, hair washed, dried and curled, and sitting on my bed. My doctor walked in and said I looked well, and why was I running.

On the Friday before, I had gotten out of the car and waddled through the lines of cars to talk to someone. On Monday, I delivered and picked up my daughter from dance lessons. I called one mother over to show her my baby. She was more concerned that she had seen me on Friday and now I was out driving. I told her I was in active labor on Friday.  She was shocked!

I do know women who almost died in labor and were not out running in the hall four hours later. Things happen that I did not experience. I also know the Duchess of Cambridge had people with her and around her to help look so great. I understand. But, why the anger?

Why the bad attitude of those women who do not recover so well. I cried in the hospital after my second child was born because I had gained 50 pounds and she only weighed 6 lbs.! But, I effortlessly lost the weight. Eating one sandwich instead of two and only eating one candy bar instead of a whole bag of candy just seemed logical instead of extreme dieting. Sometimes, I was a pig.  I exercised on the floor, but not often. I rode my bike but not often or far.

I must admit I faced outright hostility from people. That always puzzled me. During one of these pregnancies, my friend had a six month old baby when mine was born. Later, she would not go places with me because I had a three-month-old baby and was skinny while she had nine-month-old and had not lost one pound since it's birth.

Did you face hostility or complaints about losing weight after pregnancy? Or, maybe you faced hostility or complaints about having extra weight. What was your experience with post pregnancy weight? Did you have to try hard to lose the weight?

Accidental Purchases, Avoiding Food and Paper Waste

I wrote this in Spring 2018. I now have chickens, but this is what I did to avoid throwing food in the trash, ways I reused or recycled. 

Last Fall, I purchased Quaker Oats as I usually do. However, I got the quick cooking instead of the Rolled Oats. I detest quick oats. I managed to feed some of it to Dominique, and I accidentally poured some for me to eat. I had to gag it down. When I could not bear to eat it, Dominique liked the cooked oats.

I was not comfortable offering it to someone else to eat. It seemed like I would be demeaning them by offering opened food, especially if I did not know them well and they were poor.

Problem solved! I have a friend who has a large extended family. Plus, one daughter has chickens, goats, rabbits, pigs, dogs and cats. That is a good variety of animals with varied needs and appetites. So, she will take anything I have gotten that I do not want to eat. If any of her family will not eat it or a can has a horrible dent, it does not go in the trash. Plus, it is a good place to unload a box of oats that have been open for over six months, languishing in the kitchen. And, a large space is freed in the kitchen.

Of course, I have chickens now to consume things I will not eat.

When I go to the outside window teller at the bank, I always get a little envelope with money. I hate throwing away that envelope, so I use it for making a list or a note about something. When bills come, there is usually an envelope for returning the payment. I save that envelope for lists.

One time, I sent the envelope back to her and asked her if she would reuse it or throw it away. She said she would reuse it. GREAT! However, I forget to give it back every time.

When exbf is here, I give him a piece of paper (envelope) and a pen to make a list of things I want to give him. That way, I won't forget the carrots I cooked and froze for him, etc. I call out things as I remember them and he writes them down. It works. But, I do not use new paper.

I gave him food in canning jars and he brought them back in McD bags inside a plastic bag. He saves those bags folded neatly in a drawer and reuses them. They did cushion the jars so they did not clank together. I never thought of reusing a fast food bag.  Maybe it is because I get the inside dirty with food. He eats more fast food than I do.

But, I do keep the paper bag the pharmacy puts prescription in and staples shut. I use them to cushion things, also.

In the recycling bin, I can put newspaper. However, the newspaper cannot get wet for recycling. That is what I have read in the past. Well, just tonight, I asked a friend on the block how he puts out newspaper and keeps it dry. He just throws it in and lets it get wet! Remember, we have no lids on the recycling bin.

Today, I bought 3 newspapers, two from this week for the coupon inserts, and one from a past week for a section of the newspaper and coupon inserts. This week I start recycling newspaper instead of throwing it in the trash as I have always done.  Or, I might take the paper to Publix since they do recycle paper.

This is a new push for me.

Do you try to find new places to recycle different things that formerly you threw out in the trash?
How do you cut down on paper trash and reuse it? What do you do with paper?  Do you ever accidentally purchase the wrong food, something you do not like or wish to consume? Other than gagging it down, what do you do with it?--animals or friends/children?

Octoberfest Hay People

I love this! HAY PEOPLE!

It is a short two-minute video, not loud, but definitely has sound. Just a warning for those of you who do not want to make noise at all.

The couple who saw this and brought it to our town was a friend.

So, you can enjoy the VIDEO.  Bring this to your town.

Have you seen these about?

Maybe you think this is a silly thing to save?

It seems that mirrors are on many things, small mirrors. All sorts of makeup comes in compacts with a mirror--blush, foundation, and more.

While I don't buy many of these items with mirrors, I have a few that I save. These mirrors are not stuck in a box together. They are scattered about where I might need one.

In car right at my elbow in center console.
In table right at my elbow near my chair.
In my first aid kit.
In my little bag with meds.
In my alternate bag with meds.
In shelf in bathroom.
In a junk drawer in the kitchen.

All these are small and have been separated from the container of blush or whatever. I break the hinge! Of course, the items in my purse have their own mirrors, so there is not an extra mirror in my purse.

Somewhere, I received a mirror in a goody bag. It advertises a funeral home. I thought it was strange at first, but then I realized people cry and need to see what damage they have done to their makeup.

When I was younger and more mobile, I would go to the bathroom to look at my face. When in the car, I could use the mirror on visor. Now, I may need to get my face into the light, hence the mirror in console. I have a reason for each location!

Campers, hikers, survivalists all recommend a signaling device in the form of a mirror. Sooo, here you are, a free one. Use the one on a soon-to-be discarded makeup compact.

When you are through with makeup with a mirror, do you throw away the mirror with the product? Do you put the mirror or the whole makeup where you can use the mirror if needed?

Chicken Names; Who we can Shoot! Happy Birthday DIL

Today was free lunch Tuesday at the church with real plates and forks and knives. We had chicken pot pie with huge chunks of chicken. Unfortunately, it had peas, so I scraped off the sauce and ate the chicken. Huge pieces of leaf lettuce had a large square of Jello salad, the kind that is whipped with fruit in it. YUM! The yeast roll was scrumptious. The white cake square with lemon frosting I passed up after two little tastes of the frosting. Unsweetened tea topped it all.

The sheriff of our county spoke. It was all very interesting. We learned who we could shoot and kill and under what circumstances.

Finally, I decided on names for my two chicken: Cher and Bette, you know, like Middler.

Dinner was half of the little $3 salad, his half with chicken I cooked and dressing, my half with the chicken that came with it and some cheese. He did not want cheese, anyway. I am so tired I forgot to put tomato on the salad.

I finally got stamps, hobbled into PO, then lost her card. So, Happy Birthday!

We are still expecting 90s here.

I think I slept about three hours last night. UGH

Oui Jars for Canning Jelly

When jelly is canned using wax, several very thin layers of hot wax are poured over the cooling jelly. As the first thin layers cools, it pulls away from the jelly jar edges.
when you pour the second thin layer, you sort of rotate the high and low sides of the jar so that the wax goes into the empty edges. Layer after layer is poured so as to assure sealing the wax to the edge of the jar. Pouring a thicker layer just wastes wax and may not seal the jar.

This is not an approved method of canning or sealing jelly. However, it worked for years as the only method for some people. I hear it is not for long-term canning. But, I do know this was used for jelly for storage.This method would work for the Oui jars if you are canning jelly to give for gifts. This is one time you want firm jelly. You cannot can failed jelly and call it ice cream topping with wax on top.

WM sells the 1 lb, box of Gulf Wax for $3.12 (I checked), but I bought my Gulf Wax blocks for a quarter for one pound at yard sales. If you think it is dusty, just scrape the outside with a knife until you get to "new" wax,  You only need something to melt the wax in. I would put a cup in a pan of water to avoid melting wax in a pot and having it pop and catch on fire.

For the life of me, I cannot get a Oui jar photo to put on the blog that does not go right over the Gulf Wax photo. It must be a blog thing because  nothing works.

Gulf Wax is another memory from my early childhood. My family received jars of jelly sealed with wax. By rinsing the jelly covered wax, the wax can be reused to seal more jelly. When I first married, a woman gave me a regular glass of jelly sealed with wax.

Like I said, this is not an approved method. If you are just making jelly to give for Christmas, in my opinion this will be fine for a few months. I might even eat the jelly after many months.

Other repurposing of Oui jars is available if you do not want to can jelly.

Have you ever seen/used jelly sealed with wax? Have you ever sealed jelly with wax?