Sunday

My elderly (93 yrs) friend could not talk when I called. But. she did say that she was going to the doctor and her father who lives with her now, would take her to the doctor. Of course, her father is not still alive and husband who she lives with does not drive. So, lots of changes with her.

Tommy was washing the dishes after 1:30 am. He will not leave dishes. The kitchen is cluttered but has clean counters, stove, and sink. I hate not to be more help. 

My sleep was a little off last night, but I did get up to watch Meet the Press this morning. I was not going to miss it. I only took a one-hour nap today, so that won't affect my sleep tonight. 

The sun is streaming through the glass door. It is great until a certain point until it blinds me! My legs liked the heat and sun. 

Right now, Tommy is peeling carrots and potatoes. I will put bscb and boneless, skinless thighs into a cooking bag with the potatoes and carrots, maybe some broccoli. At any rate, we can eat protein for about ten days. The vegetables won't last that long as we have few potatoes and carrots. I should have bought more this last week. 

Ten new wildfires are in Alabama today! At least we will have rain midweek. 

I talked with Tommy's cousin who is not coming to Birmingham anymore. We did go out to eat once in a while at Bright Star, but he has not come in two years. His wife ventured out and fell into a blackberry bush. So, he and I talked falling about. She is clumsy, he said. But, neither of us have ever broken a bone. Well, unless you count the little toe I broke when I hit a chair. 

We both had chicken with bbq sauce on a bun. We both had about two helpings of slaw. It was delicious! I had blueberries and strawberries.

I missed the first episode of Grosse Point Garden Society. It was replayed Saturday night. Tonight, the second episode is coming on tonight. Are you watching this? 

"The Americas" is on, narrated by Tom Hanks. Are you watching this series? This is the fourth episode of ten episodes.

Do you have friends or relatives whose cognition is failing? 

Back in land of living

 It's been a journey. Now, I feel like I have finally crawled to the last leg--recovery. I called the doctor Monday morning, early. At 6:30 pm I finally got meds and picked them up at 7 pm. We had to drive in the dark. Luckily, there were so few cars on the road. Took them at 7:30. Now, Monday morning, the side effects show up with relief. My elbows and other joints hurt along with my skin. I can handle all this to be well. I took a couple of doses of Azo for the pain. I had chills and sweats for three days. I staggered about lots and banged into things. I read blogs and commented on few.

Sunday or Monday, I don't remember, Tommy peeled carrots, potatoes, I cut an onion left from my last batch of Vidalia. I put it all in a cooking bag on my lap. I managed to get the pork loin inside without getting it all over me or my chair area. I sprinkle onion powder and garlic powder generously over the vegetables. I put water in the bag, closed the tie, and cut slits. Tommy carried it to the kitchen and put it in the preheated oven. 

Less than an hour later, he took it out! and turned off the stove! I don't know why. So, he put it back in and turned on the oven for 30 more minutes. I think it would have been a bit more tender if he had left it in. 

But, it was delicious. Next morning, I called neighbor who met Tommy at mailbox when he went out. He was raving about the chicken I gave him last week. He was happy to receive pork loin. Oh, I cooked on Sunday and Tommy gave it to him on Monday. Now, I remember. Monday night, we made spaghetti. I ended up choking on that but not the pork loin. 

I had to cancel my cardio doc for Monday morning. Today, I will get it rescheduled. I need to see him.

I have slept lots. I sleep two or three hours and watch tv for an hour. Then I repeat it all. Monday night, I went to bed at 8pm, eventually got up at 5 am. That was solid sleep with only getting up and going straight back to bed after bathroom. Now, at 9 am, I feel like I need a nap, a long one. 

After watching travel news, I am so happy I have no reason to fly or drive anywhere. 

This morning, I checked the sneak peek at Publix. I have about 30 items. It is a long list, and I still don't have the other two stores on the list. 

I missed two events. At one, I told Tommy to just go home. I missed The Pig tasting event. Oh, well. 

Sporadically, the rain is really coming down hard. Otherwise, it just sprinkles. We won't be leaving for anywhere today. Tommy may go out to wash my clothes. I doubt it. 

I am pushing for car shopping, as I fear the tariffs will raise all car prices. There are other things I intend to get that I will get now rather than later.

How are you feeling about tariffs? 

Do the people who want lower food prices think the new regime will lower prices? 

Musk said there will be hardship? How are you with that?

Car Safe Once Again

 When I awoke from a nap around 3 pm, I went to living room. Tommy was not in his chair, so I wandered to the kitchen. He had not gone to the bathroom and had missed me. Then, I went back to the living room and discovered his walker was here. So, I assumed he had gone to get the car from the shop. Thirty minutes later, he came in. 

He had the car fixed and left over $1500 there. The problem was indeed wheel bearing problem, plus some sort of control arms. I have no idea what those are. Neither does he. But, since the front seems more stable and they cost so much, they are probably important. The car does not rattle so much or grind on turns.

He also had the tires rotated, front end alignment, and oil change. At any rate, the car seems safe to drive now. 

Since I wanted to see how it sounded, seemed to be under control, We were going to drive around the neighborhood. But, we picked up a few groceries. 

I made meatloaf which Tommy put in oven. When we came home, I made meatloaf, enough for today, tomorrow, and small one for freezer. Dinner was delicious even though I forgot to put onion and Bell pepper in the meatloaf. We had meatloaf, broccoli, green beans, cauliflower. 

Since I had to cancel medical appointment today, I also was able to reschedule for this week. Yay!

The Greek Festival is this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, so we have that this week.

After dinner we watched Antiques Road Show, one of our favorite shows. I was surprised Tommy loved it, too. 

The day was cloudy and bright all day. No rain, no wind. I lived 60 miles from Asheville, NC. I am shocked at the continuing pictures of the devastation. 

The day has been tranquil in every way possible. It was wonderfully boring.

How are things with you?

False Information and Decluttering Again

 

From the CDC:

“You cannot see, smell, or taste the toxin that causes botulism. But taking even a small taste of food containing the toxin can be deadly.”

I know one blogger lately has said she trusts her nose and taste. Not good advice. 

This morning, I rose early and made four doctors' appointments.  Then, I was stymied because some offices are closed on Friday. That schedule does not work for me. 

Today, we had an appointment. Tommy moved about, getting things and himself ready to go. Finally, he asked me when I wanted to leave. I listened to him, hurried about and we left almost 30 minutes past the time we should have. Or, so we thought. No, we were an hour early! So, we sat in the car. It was pleasant watching the clouds move about and some change to dark, ominous looking clouds. We listened to our bird songs/calls CD.

Cleaner came and helped declutter room and all of table next to me. Things are more organized. Still, she did not do all I wanted done. She wanted to leave because of the weather, but she had been here for 3 hours. 

I received another eBay item of clothing, identical to one I bought five years ago. Now, I have a blouse to wear and not worry about ruining the older one which has matching black pants. My everyday going out clothing has been elevated. A blouse that originally cost $50+ was now $7. As I looked it over carefully, I could not tell it had been worn. It was not shabby at all, no picks and no deodorant stains. 

As you may have suspected, I went in for a nap. Five hours later, I feel only a little rested, not much. 

Tommy put some meat into refrigerator to thaw for cooking this next week: bscb, pork roast, two other meals cooked and stored, two hamburgers. The pork roast will be cut into meal portions once it is cooked, and it will be refrozen for future meals. 

Saturday should be another rainy day, so no grocery shopping even though we made a list from the three stores. I do hope we can hit one of two stores where we need to make returns. Those are the only plans. 

Do you have plans for this weekend? 

Even though the decluttering of paper is not complete, I feel better? Are your decluttering bouts take longer than you think they will? 

Do you ever buy clothing from eBay?

Do you depend on taste and smell to find botulism?

Better Friday

 Why do I watch the weather forecast? The see what the weather will the next day. Well, it seems like the weather is not listening to the forecast. I expected some rain today, and so far have see nary a drop. That has happened several times lately. That's okay, but my plans were thwarted. 

Today, I am not dizzy. I don't have vertigo. I am just wobbly when I walk. I did not realize how ill I was until I got over it. Yesterday, even glancing up at the TV or moving my eyes caused a massive whirl in my head. Once I was sitting still, the inside of my head felt like it was whirling. 

My nose is not drippy, but all day I have been sniffling. That is a firm win! Since I felt so much better, I went into Publix today.

I almost knocked over one of the tiny light tables they put displays on near the door. I was so embarrassed, but two employees caught the table so it did not fall. My milk was marked down to $4.49/half gallon. I really needed more at that price, but I bought one. We have until Tuesday to get that price. Activia yogurt was bogo, so bought four 4-packs. Strawberries were 3 packages for $10. I found one package of good green grapes. We have a bag of peaches, one orange. I needed celery, but it was not on sale, bought it anyway. 

We have a couple of dozen green apples, and about four dozen red delicious. So, we are not low on fruit. I never did cook the Granny Smith apples, so maybe I can get that done. 

Tommy broke several branches off the purslane. I broke one. We managed to break off all the stems with flowers! That was yesterday, so today I went out to rescue them. I only found one of the four. Maybe Tommy can find the others. Other succulents are easy to transplant, so maybe this will work for purslane. 

The dead-ish knockout rose looks 100% better. I revive things from Lowe's all the time and for years. Some days, I look at the reduced plants and wonder why the employees don't use water and maybe one minute of time, pruning dead stuff. I am not talking about intensive care. Any thoughts on that? 

I got another tomato from Lowe's. I had permission. 

My dinner tonight--basically a cheeseburger--chopped ground beef on a bun, cheese, tomato, plus helping of slaw and grapes, apple later. All this is stuff in the refrigerator. I won't cook or prepare anything, just have leftovers and the fruit. Tommy will do the same--choose what he wants. Okay, he had a chicken sandwich, slaw, salad with tomato. 

We put chicken cutlets in oven to cook and chicken cutlets in skillet to cook and put two more packages back into refrigerator. All packages are cutlets, so Tommy will be happy to be making chicken sandwiches with these very thin cuts of chicken. I will slice it up and put mine in Mediterranean Pasta.

I just had an unspeakable accident. I am not prepping, but I think I could be ready for the colonoscopy. Now, I have to clean carpet. Now, I am so weak, but not dizzy or having vertigo!

Has it seemed the weather forecast has not been happening for the last two weeks? 

Do you ever transplant purslane from broken stems?

Sunday This and That

 

Somehow, the link yesterday did not match the article. Did anyone else notice that? I will put it in another day and see what happens. 

Tommy said the next-door neighbor's St Augustine grass spread from her yard to his driveway. He cut off the sprigs trying to go over his driveway and dug little holes in his front yard and planted the sprigs. He now has a full yard of St. Augustine, except for one place. It is the little area where sidewalk to front door curves to the driveway. He did this thirty or forty years ago. I wonder why this little section has now become devoid of St. Augustine grass. 

We have eaten without cooking for the whole week. Tommy found cooked chicken breasts and thighs in the freezer, opened cans, ate leftovers, and salads. The frozen, cooked breast was from Jan 23. It was fine, no bad taste or anything. Tommy thought it was okay, too. I saw it in the refrigerator right after he moved it from the freezer. There was absolutely no freezer burn. 

Tonight, I put two chicken breasts, more than one pound of baby carrots and celery in the cooking bag, all seasoned with garlic and chives from the Concord pouch for seasoning. Since we put this in after dinner, it will be done late and refrigerated. 

Tonight, Tommy has been a trial, raising my ire at least a dozen times. If I say 'right.' it is 'left' to him, saying he did not understand me or did not hear me. I asked him to bring me a scant cup of water to chair to put in bag of food to cook. He brought the cup measure less than half full. And, it was very hot water. I don't ever want to use water from hot water heater to cook. He has been told 'heavy metals' and still forgets why. He wants to save water by not running it cold. He figures it is already heated so why not help the cooking along without heating water again. He drives me to distraction with his cheapness. Yet, he is not cheap or thrifty or parsimonious where it would really count and not threaten our health. 

Yes, we do have the hot water discussion several times each week. He uses the front porch light most days even though he says he does not need a light. When I moved here, he did not have one extra light bulb. When I brought a dozen new ones from my storage several weeks later, he claimed he did not need light bulbs. 

He can be good as gold and very kind and spend money, yet his penny-pinching ways that gain so little make me irritable. 

It seems he managed to eat what and when he should and kept himself lucid while I slept today. So, that is great. He seems to be remembering he has to eat more often than he thinks. For that I am so happy. Maybe I can get more sleep tonight. Well, I have not slept at all for the last few nights. 

We have not gone to Lowe's to check on hanging baskets for Mother's Day. So, we must do that this week. Certain flowers are on sale until the 8th. Thinking aloud--We need to go to Publix, Lowe's, and make a return elsewhere. We will need to dodge rainy part of the day. 

I got lucky, I suppose. The cleaner that lives up near Cullman and wants to buy my car is coming on Thursday. The new woman is coming Tuesday.  Mower is coming sometime since he missed last Thursday. He never calls before he misses or afterwards, just shows up. At least he shows up sometime.

Tommy only knew the word ballast and knew nothing about the starter on a fluorescent fixture. Now, we have to get someone to remove the tube, removed the starter, and after we go get a new starter, we need someone to put starter and tube in fixture. Only then can we determine if we need a new ballast. I am all for replacing the fixture with one that takes bulbs. Of course, he disagrees. I do not want to stand under fluorescent and he wants to save the cost of electrician. His motto seems to be to never protect health, just money. 

There were four ladybug succulent planters (4.5") in my trunk--1 hot pink, 2 cherry red, and another less pink one. Each has a plastic terra cotta colored pot with lots of drainage. So, now I need to do something with these because they are so cute. Maybe I will sell three on Etsy and keep one for myself. These are $12.95 on Amazon. I did not pay that much but think I can get $5. 

We are binging on Randolph Scott movies tonight. It is a lovely way to waste time. 

Do you ever watch cowboy channels? We get INSP and GRIT. Oh, he just said we get others. 

Do you think these ladybugs would bring $5 on Etsy? 

Little to See Here Except for Surgery Results

 Friday, I decided to go to a food giveaway. There is always good food we don't want. However, we never waste it. We took the food we did not want to a store and stopped someone in the parking lot and gave it to her. The person was grateful. 

I could not tell if it was a man or woman. The figure was very tall and inordinately thin. The figure was rather androgenous. However, the tall soft boots with a stacked heel led me to believe it was a woman. The person had a very long scarf around the neck. 

This was shocking as we drove closer. The person had most of the lower jaw missing, numerous scars, and still little clue to gender. There was a round plastic piece, about the size of a nickel on the jaw. I supposed it held things together. At the time and in retrospect, I assumed this was one of the drastic jaw surgeries that occur after cancer, usually caused by tobacco. I have seen the aftermath of these surgeries on TV but never in person. I fest for her. I was also thankful I never smoked. Of course, smoking may have had nothing to do with her condition. 

I explained where we got it, how we did not want it even though it was frozen and good. "Would you please take it, and if you don't want it share it with friends or family or neighbors? And, if you don't want it, feed it to cat or dog or chickens. Please help us out."

She said in the softest voice, "You are kind. You are kind." I was moved. I could never have imagined I would have seen a person with this problem when I left the house. 

What we kept: Three pounds of ground beef, 4 pounds of honey-baked ham (not the real stuff), slices of ham from deli, package of six bscb, loaf of rye bread, and4 nice rolls that just fit the deli ham slices, fresh greens stuff for sandwiches. All was frozen, so the ham is in the freezer. I will cook the bscb Monday or Tuesday. Tommy is enjoying the deli ham on the rolls. 

I slept well on Saturday night, considering I did not sleep until 7:30 am. Today, not much has happened. I burned my grilled cheese! That is so annoying. Tommy cooked and chopped the ground beef with the onion I chopped. Now, I will make spaghetti. 

Today, we started late for a ride. We checked to see if the guy in Bessemer had tomatoes to sell from his front yard. We may have gotten there too late. Then, we went to Publix to get Lysol wipes bogo and Finish. I think we drove through the park. Anyway, we came home and watched the news. So, nothing much happened today. 

Hopefully, I will cut his hair tonight. He needs it desperately. Tommy is so funny. He needed to go to CS to get a rain check. He said he stood in line. Well, then he talked about too many people being in line and going away and coming back...still too many people, so he left and came back. No wonder he could not get to the CS desk!

We have nothing planned for the week because it will be rainy. 

How did your weekend go?

What plans in or out of the house do you have for this week? 

Leprechaun Gnomes and Tommy is Amazed

 

Leprechaun Gnome

Last night, I used a blueberry cupcake mix and two cups of very juicy blueberries to make a goody. There was more than a half a quart jar of blueberries and lots of juice, probably half and half. About a month ago, I put 4 lbs of frozen blueberries in a pot with third cup or less of sugar and boiled for a bit. I have been eating on this since then. When I ate some with cottage cheese on Monday night, the taste was like blueberries going to vinegar. So, I decided to use them. 

Tommy watched as I mixed a half cup of milk with the dry mix. He put melted butter, 2 T, in a pan. I poured the wet mix, made according to muffin recipe. Then, I poured the blueberries and juice on top. It was really more juice than I thought was in the quart jar. He watched as I did all this, stood right by me and seemed to watch my every move. 

After we ate some, he said he was amazed how the mix was on the bottom and then came to the top. I explained leavening, how cakes and muffins rise. He amuses me with what amazes him, especially about kitchen affairs. There was almost zero cooking in his house after he was ten. I doubt he ever watched closely what a girlfriend cooked. His aunts probably shooed him out of the kitchen or out of the way. 

Putting the blueberries on the top was my idea. I modified a blueberry muffin mix. It was not a recipe. 

I explained that it was like a cake or muffin rising. I also told him that some dishes called for fruit on the bottom. He listened like he was interested and learning. 

A few weeks ago, I paid for McAfee. All the popup ads ceased. NOW, I am getting popups that cover half the page from McAfee saying my system is safe. Then I have to X them out. They keep reappearing right after I get rid of them. I called today, furious that these were blocking half the screen. Now, I have nothing popping up. Thank you, McAfee. I am never sure it is legitimate, anyway. I told them I would call them if I needed them. That has been sooo annoying. 

Today, I called my doctor's office again, asking about the specimen for uti. A nurse finally called back and it was clear. I suspected that. I asked if they sent it off. No, just tested it in the office. So, why so long telling me, I wonder. However, another condition has arisen. But, he has no emergency appointments because he just lets patients who call have those. So annoying. I called my gastroenterologist and secured an appointment with him. I would have gone to AFC, but they cannot order tests. I did not want to go to ER. So, I have to be up early for gastro appointment. Yuck!

A little bit ago, Tommy was coming from the kitchen when I heard an AH! that sounded like something bad happened. I asked him what happened since he was not in sight yet. He said this broke. What? I wondered. The walker! The legs cross and go up to handles. One of these broke. I had him go get mine from the car. This will go back tomorrow. This was never a good walker. He put pieces of Glad Wrap wrapped around a screw or bolt or something that kept coming out. The cable for the brake is always hanging on something. So, back it goes. He only weighs 190lbs. This is not a really heavy person breaking a walker.

A little decluttering occurred tonight. I need a piece of notebook paper. Tommy started digging around to find me a piece. Then, he went off to the kitchen where recycling stays. He threw some out and recycled the rest. The shelf looks less cluttered. 

I put what needs recycling on the edge of the table near me. I always tell him to get it and he rarely does. It annoys me to have to keep saying it because I hate to nag about something so trivial. Then, pieces of paper fall off. I retrieved a wastepaper basket we do not use. I put it near something I could reach, and he could, too. I toss/drop crushed water bottles, prescription bottles, receipts, all manner of things that need recycling. This is not for trash. Well, it has been there for about four days. Tonight, he finally picked the wastebasket up and emptied it. We just needed a system. We have it now. I never mention recycling now. 

Do you have a husband or grown person who is amazed at the cooking process? 

Do you have McAfee or another protection on your computer that annoys you with notices in the form of pop-ups?

Do walkers last or break for you or anyone you know who uses one?

Does a decluttering session ever break out unbidden in your house?

What We Did Today--Important, But Not Much in the Grand Scheme of Things

 

We manage to do a bit each day, somedays more than others. Today was not a stellar day for getting things done. However, I am pleased. 

Since I went to bed at 9 pm last night, I was awake at 12:30. I still felt ill. But, somehow felt better before I went back to sleep. By the time I woke at 11:30 am, I felt like I was well. I suppose it was a delayed reaction the covid vaccine. However, I did have Tommy get the specimen cup from the doctor, and we returned that to the doctor. I may still have a uti.

He made a return for me. I looked for a battery for his flip phone. I called a cell store and found a $25 battery for his $29 phone. Instead, I ordered one for $10 from Amazon. So, he won't have a phone until Saturday. I wondered why he kept his phone plugged up so much. Now, I know. 

I sent him into Publix for carrots and Lysol wipes. Publix sent me an email saying to clip a coupon and pick up a free Salsa bouquet. I did. He did. It is very pretty, festive, cheerful. 

My back is hurting worse today. His little finger has a huge, infected pocket behind the moon. He said he knew he hit his finger, but only until the day after did it hurt so much. Of course, then he looked at it and showed me. I will doctor it until tomorrow and lance it, clean it, medicate it with mupirocin, bandage it. I know it really hurt if he showed me and submitted to my ministering to it. Those things always hurt.

Tonight, I put six boneless, skinless thighs and six bone-in and skin-on thighs into a cooking bag with a whole pound of carrots and four huge potatoes and celery. The potatoes were cut into round pieces about an inch thick. Everything was seasoned with garlic powder and onion powder. I will freeze most of the meat, two thighs at a time for Tommy. We will just eat the vegetables and not freeze them unless Tommy wants some in with each of his thighs. He said he wanted potatoes and carrot in with each thigh, so he will have six meals in the freezer. 

If he has meat and vegetables, I can eat a grilled cheese sandwich for supper rather than cook. But, I won't offer one to him. When I offer him less than meat and vegetables, he sounds so sad but agrees to it. He is always willing to cheerfully help me to cook. Of course, something like taco soup that does have meat is okay with him. 

Just now, he searched for frozen chicken breast for me. He found enough for three meals for me. Plus, he took out two packages of raw, frozen breasts. So, I will cook those Saturday, probably alone. There is enough for meals for three days, protein and vegetables, but I will get this done, so it does not have to be done later. 

Sunday, when it is raining and we have nowhere to go, we have decided to try and sort part of the freezer and the little freezer in his refrigerator. We will get two boxes, one on his walker and the other next to freezer on the counter. I can pull it out. We hope to separate cooked meat from frozen meat. There is no way we can work on the lower two thirds of the freezer. We still need someone to get that out. 

I was looking in the freezer a few days ago, poking around and found two slices of bread frozen. I took that out and Tommy ate it. This was from back when the freezer was new and empty and I froze loaves of bread. Any bread I find will come out. Protein is more important! 

Just now, I remembered I have a huge package of ground beef that needs to be cooked. So, that will happen tomorrow. I really want spaghetti. I cook the meat with chopped onions. Tommy is really happy when he finds frozen package of ground beef. He eats it for several meals. I will freeze small packages for him and larger for spaghetti. Maybe I will make a healthy meatloaf. 

Last night, we put away a bit more Christmas. Little is left, just a small pile. 

Sign up for club Publix and click for coupon for Salsa bouquet. 

There were no grand plans or accomplishments today. It does work to keep us fed and not get too far behind. 

What are your plans for food this week or tomorrow? 

Are there any good ads in your area?

Anyone still have Christmas decorations out still?

Sleep Reversal

 

Sure, this is a great storage box for my wreath. It is for a 24' wreath. I suppose mine is that size since it fit the Sterlite container. However, the was the hardest thing I have tackled in a long time. If I did not have it on my lap, it would have been easier. Since I left the velvet poinsettia leaves clipped onto the wreath, I had to make sure they were all inside and would not get squashed in the two pieces of the storage. I am certainly glad I paid $6 instead of $19.95. I do have a wreath in storage with the perfect sized cardboard box. 

There is still a stack of Christmas stuff, a small stack that needs to be tackled. Maybe before Valentine's Day, I can get it done.

Tonight, we had the pork chops and potatoes I was going to freeze. I cannot eat the potatoes and enjoy them as they have such a sharp taste that it makes my jaws hurt. Tommy says they are not a problem. So, I had the chop, a few bites of potato, and a salad. He ate my potatoes with his potato and pork chop.

The receipts from grocery trip are somewhere I cannot find. However, I bought 4 bags of frozen broccoli florets bogo, one onion, halos. I picked up the bag of Halos and was shocked at how heavy the bag was. Plus, I was puzzled as to why Halos kept coming. Now, I had emptied a little box. I was so tired that an empty box puzzled me. When I got home, I realized that I had bought five pounds of Halos, more than I had ever bought. The box should have come with me. I only bought one onion because the last bag I bought was full of onions that were green inside with no clue when I bought the bag. The florets were as cheap as fresh broccoli with no chance of going off before I can use them.

Tommy assured me he won't be helping me eat the Halos. I have seen him eat three at a time. I have no idea why he is not going to eat these, too. I only bought one navel orange for me and ate it as soon as I came home. It was just starting to dry out! But, the pith was delicious. 

Thursday, Tommy browned a package of ground beef and drained it. I put on an 8 oz. package of large elbow macaroni, and opened two cans of unsalted chopped tomatoes. One had basil and two other herbs. I combined the ground beef, elbow macaroni, and two cans of unsalted tomatoes--Goulash. We ate it with shredded cheese. I have not made this in 30 years. It was so delicious. We still have leftovers for one person. 

I bought squash to make a squash casserole and cannot remember the recipe. I found some online that had everything but the kitchen sink. Not what I want. One day, I tried to remember, and the result was awful and dry. I think I used the wrong kind of cheese. So, I bought different cheese.

Good news! Friday night, after having been out of the house for six hours, I went to bed at 10:30 pm. Of course, I awoke at 4:30 am, got up and went back to sleep in my chair at 9 am. Then, I awoke at noon and figured I had seven hours sleep. Good deal. I know it is not an ideal sleep pattern, but at least I am not awake all night and asleep all day.

My sleeping problem? I need to watch something funny to relax. So, I am going to get a cd of Third Rock and a cd player. We can watch this early instead of my waiting until 2 am. Laughter relaxes me. I might get Frasier and Mike and Molly, too. Tommy has boxes/cases of VHS tapes and no tape player. We need something to play those, too. 

We went to the pharmacy to pick up two meds, one for each of us. My prescription was ready. So was Tommy's. He was just going to pay for it when I reminded him to ask the price--$70 for his insulin. This is the third time he has discussed this at the pharmacy. He almost went ballistic, and he is never upset with people. Well, he keeps it under control except about this. He was punching his finger toward the tech behind the window as he fussed. I told him to have her get a pharmacist. It went better after that. Finally, it was $35. His doctor refuses to write it so he gets the lesser price. So, pharmacist has to adjust the amount dispensed to make it $35. This is an ordeal. 

Next week will be a good week because the temps are about 50F and it will be dry. We have had to use the ac this week. 

What's happening with your weekend?

Do you like goulash? 

Good Things Gone Wrong Then Great

 The cleaner was supposed to be here at noon. I called her number about forty minutes early and asked her to wear a mask. Well, this was the number of the woman who referred her to me. Sooo, she did not find out early enough and had to go to the original woman's house for a mask. Cleaner said she did not use a mask because of her health. She has asthma and cannot wear a mask. I told her I wear a mask because I do have asthma. I wear it for my health. I have no idea where this will lead us. 

She finally showed up at 1:30. I had gotten up at 11 since she assured me she would be here at noon. So, I was exhausted by the time she arrived. Now, at almost 6 pm, I am nodding. 

The first thing I needed help to do was to assemble the deer family and help run the extension cord from the deer to the utility room. We worked on that from 1:30 until 3:30. Those deer could not be assembled in ten minutes for all three as one guy on video said! No way! 

She needed to get home to her eleven foster dogs, so Tommy paid her $30 for two hours. There was no cleaning, but that is okay. He was okay with it. He was dreading putting the deer together. He went shopping for us. She will be back at three o'clock on Friday. 

He bought the four things I wanted, all bogo. However, the size on bogo was not in the store. The manager gave him two of the smaller size free. That was a surprise. He also got two other things we need that he had reminded me to get and forgot.So, he did well. 

Tommy peeled sweet potatoes yesterday for a sweet potato pie. I trimmed them and he put them in a pot with a bottle of water. Then, we let them burn! I stupidly poured water into the pan of badly scorched sweet potatoes, and, of course, everything then tasted burned, even the parts that were only barely scorched. Soooo, tonight, we will do it all over again. I was so disgusted that I did something I knew better than to do. 

The lights are set with a timer to come on at 6 pm. It is 5 pm and pitch dark out, so I am antsy to see them deer lit. Tomorrow, we will reset the timer to come on at 5 pm. 

On Wednesday, I tried to spray flea killer in the bathroom. It sprayed me in the face. Yes, it was not pointed at me! I kept trying and sprayed me and everything I was not trying to spray. So, that goes back and I complain to the company. 

Thursday night, we went out after dark to see my deer family from the street. They are so beautiful and bright. Then, we checked out our neighborhood lights and a subdivision across the big road. It was fun until I could not stand Tommy driving into the opposite side of the street, almost into yards. I needed to come home...lol. The deer look great but lonely. 

Cleaner is coming tomorrow at 3 pm. Tommy wants to take me to a jewelry store on Friday! 

He cooked three pounds of ground beef while I chopped onions to cook with it. Then, I put one bag in refrigerator and two in freezer. 

I am waiting to see the deer lights go off at midnight. I am like a little kid that way. 

Does it bother you when workers don't show up when they say they will, especially if you will lose sleep getting up early? Plus, we had something to do and she thwarted that. 

Does a day ever start off with things going sideways and then, to your surprise, straighten out?

Do you know how bad burned sweet potatoes smell and taste?

Just My Toenails and Christmas Cards

Addressing Christmas cards continues, just a few cards at a time. It will get done eventually. I love cards but refuse to buy full price. I bought more stamps, some Christmas and others just to use. They are flowers in the snow sort of thing. 

The last time we had appointments with the podiatrist, I did not go because I was ill. Same with the time before. Even though I slept less than three hours on Tuesday night, I got up, bathed and got dressed. My toenails had gotten so long that they caught on my pants legs when I put on pants. I lay down for a nap afterwards and could only sleep one hour. So, I am fading fast tonight. 

I finally got a package into a box and taped up. Yay for me. 

Tommy brushed me again last night. I am now wondering if that is enough. It helps my swollen legs and feet. Maybe twice would be better?

Dinner was Stove Top Stuffing, cranberries, and turkey casserole. I put the SS into a colander and shook out all the powdered spices, ALL. I put cranberry sauce and brown meat turkey in it. That and vegetables were dinner. I left of the soup. It was okay, not a winner, but turkey roasted after Thanksgiving is gone. 

Tommy pulled out two 1-pound chubs of ground beef. I am thinking spaghetti and a meatloaf. Maybe soup? Who knows? Planning ahead, he will pull out a package of bscb to cook with vegetable. I want to watch for a cheap turkey breast, too, and buy several for the freezer for next year. However, bscb is fine for my taste.

Plus, I am in the mood for steak. I love round steak. It is tasty, thin and easy to mash out all the juice, dry it out. I know others don't care for my method of grilling steak, but I love it. 

Remember stamps go up in January or February, forgot which. I will buy more Christmas stamps since I bought the last pane/sheet.

Okay, time for my brushing.

What cut of steak do you like?

Anyone love round steak like I do?

I get so hungry! Yard mowed! Wisteria destroyed, I hope!

I am just not up to cooking in crock pot or in the oven. I can lift to do neither, especially a pan of food into and out of the oven. So, I don't feel like I am getting the nutrition I need. Even getting a sandwich out is expensive after a couple of weeks. I need a balanced diet.

Plus, since I hurt my hands and wrists in the wreck, slicing and peeling is difficult. Even using the cane or walker causes my wrists and hands to hurt.

Well, don't ask me what came over me. Sunday, I put out four meats to thaw. The ground pork will go into the crockpot for Taco Casserole, but it comes out like soup and is delicious. I have 4 small filets of chicken breast that I think I can get into the oven and out without dropping them or burning myself.  The bag of boneless center pork chops will get cooked somehow. I haven't figured that out yet. A small package of turkey lunch meat has been eaten.

Cooking on top of the stove involves too much standing! ugh!

THEN, I thawed four hotdogs and ate all four of them. I know!

This is not just about pain; it is about hunger. Two different days I just lay in bed in pain and finally ate my first bite around 5:30.

Exbf never cooked for himself. So, he is useless on this point. Although, he does take me out to eat when he is here. When he got a package of ground beef, he cooked the whole thing at once so he would not have to wash the pan more than one time. Of course, he cannot stand to do that now.

I am writing this Sunday night at 10 pm. I might boil eggs tonight. Thankfully, I love salad, so I can buy the greens for that.  Although I love pbj sandwiches, I will not be the old lady who just eats sandwiches.

Saturday was an especially good day since my yard was mowed. Plus, the guy pulled up and killed with poison the wisteria. I am afraid to walk to the chickens' pen when I get them because of the tendrils of wisteria. Next year, I am going to get one of the fire things that burns the roots. I will not use it, but he can.

I know that is an excessive number of exclamation points in the title.

Has anyone used the fire thing that kills weeds and roots? Any thoughts on it?

It's Monday night and tomorrow is a church lunch. Yippee! I need to get into the kitchen and cook! Ugh! I still hurt. Have you ever felt like you had rather starve than get up and cook when you were in pain? Oui and strawberries are on the counter to eat while I cook.

Snow, Flu, Food

It was not much, but it was snow.

I used the ac Wednesday night, wore a summer nightgown and thin throw over me. When I left to go to the ER, I forgot to turn off the ac. It was 61 F yesterday, so the ac was needed but not all day long while I was gone. Last night, once again, I used just the throw, the $2.50 kind from WM.

Today, I wore a spaghetti strap blouse and light cardigan with nylon jacket over that. It was just right outside.

The became fierce and I saw tiny pebbles of snow dancing around the streets, on the ground and on my windshield. It was a wild and beautiful sight. It made me really happy. Of course, since I am getting better, regaining my health. Nothing stuck even a little bit.

As I lay on the bed without changing my clothes, I felt chilly. Finally, after fighting the cold for an hour. I realized it was 24 F degrees. Needless to say, a sweatshirt replace the spaghetti strap top.

I am actually going to cook tonight instead of just eating a sandwich or going out to get something. The injection last night and meds today have worked miracles on me. I have actually picked up stuff from the house. For a month, I just have let things go.

On the news tonight, I heard that flu can live on door handles for 24 hours. I hope scientists can guess better next year to formulate a vaccine that will work on the strain that comes next year. Because of this ordeal for a month, I will become that paranoid person who wipes, sprays, and never touches anything in order to avoid the flu.

Now, to go cook. I will put beans on, cook pasta for a jar of bought pasta. I want to cook potatoes, too. I may cook the potatoes first, then the beans. I hope I don't give out before I get three easy dishes done.

All the Christmas candy has been separated from the trash of the wrappers I discarded in the bag of candy. I can share this tomorrow with some teens.

SHE RENTS SHEETS! and What I Found

I am seventy-one-years old and did not know you can rents sheets. Where have I been?

Too late for me to do anything about it, I learned she needs pillows and sheets so she won't have to rent them again. They pay $20 a week for two pillows, set of sheets, and one blanket. That is just outrageous.

When they rented the room, they spent the night there. I wondered if they slept on the mattress. ewww. But, I did not ask.

Today, I called her. I have two pillows they can have. They were pillows I bought in about 1977 or a bit later, not sure. I think I used them until a few years ago. They are flat, need washing and have drool stains. I am going to wash these for her and dry them and hang in the sun to finish drying.

She can borrow the old top sheet that covers my plant, and I will wash that, too.

But, I gave her ideas for living with no bedding at all, or at least no pillows. Fold up some of the really large pieces of fabric I gave her. Sleep in more clothes. Cover herself with some of the really large pieces of fabric and her coats. It ain't pretty, but it also saves $20 each week.

She told me that in jail she had used rolls of tp for a pillow or folded up her towel. So, she has seen the ugly.

They were so eager to have "their own place" that they put down a $20 for bedding to do so. Did they not consider all this as they made plans for 13 months to move out?????

The plan come here Tuesday morning. Actually, have her bf to drop her off at the library and wait about an hour until I am ready. THEN:

sign up at one food bank
go to place that will give her some of this stuff she needs
go to one of the lunches
go back to 1st food bank where we will be in line by signing in
get food for both of us
get sheets if not gotten at first one
try to stuff all our freezer stuff in my half-full freezer
put the rest of refrigerated stuff in one of my crispers
take her to free clinic (more later in post)

Whew! I will be dead.

The surprise is that she will help me around here for the help I have given her. There is always something to do that I cannot manage. Besides, bf cannot get her until 5:30.

While she was pulling out the electric skillet, she pulled out a vintage popcorn maker--Mirro, aluminum. I will sell that. There is also a deviled egg plate, new. I bought it because it was dirt cheap on clearance and Easter cute! There is another vintage serving piece, a bunny or something, holding corn on a plate with three round serving dishes around that. Maybe it is a burro. It looks perfect for cinco de mayo. Maybe I forgot what it looks like...lol.

When I talked to her today, she surprised me. Yesterday, I had corn meal I was not using and knew it would spoil. I asked her if she could use it. She was thrilled, saying now she could make cornbread. She asked if it was possible to make it in a crockpot. I knew it could be done but had no recipe. Today, she said she made cornbread in the crockpot and it was perfect.

She is a good cook. At least, she lets nothing deter her and is willing to try different things to make a meal. She is going to open a can of beans and eat it with cornbread. Bf cannot stand beans but will eat the juice over the cornbread. He prefers grocery shopping for what he wants at the moment.

I think she has native intelligence. But, gumption is missing some times. I know it is her rotten meth teeth that partly hold her back because she said Saturday that she is so ashamed of her appearance. I have made suggestions about that. But, Tuesday, I am going to make her go in the free clinic, get papers to fill out, and watch her do it whether she wants to or not. You have to qualify to go to the free clinic. The first visit takes about two weeks to come about.

I am going to encourage her to buy a set of sheets with the $20. Years ago, someone said a set of sheets was $10 at Dollar General. I am not willing to do much driving and searching. DG is about four blocks from my house. Well, I suppose there is a DG close by most places. Well, we can go to the thrift store, first. She may not find any to be gotten for free.

Lest you assume I am pushy, let me assure you I am. When I taught GED, I called people long after they dropped out of my class "just to see how you are doing and did you get your GED?" One brother and sister did get a GED and told me it was because I kept encouraging them. She thanked me profusely for continuing to show I cared. Oh, I told these people I called/haunted that they did not have to come to my class if they preferred another teacher. No ego involved, just genuine concern.

Read the post just before this about--Are Old People Sleeping Wrong? I posted this just a few hours after posting it.

Your turn
Did you know a person could rents sheets, blankets?