Pepper Place Visit

We got up early, at 10 am and left by 11 am. I think the produce market closed at noon, not sure. 

 Pepper Place

"Adjacent to the historic Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, Pepper Place is the link between the redevelopment of downtown Birmingham to the west and revitalization of the old “streetcar suburbs” of Avondale and Crestwood."

The other markets that take the SFMNP card sort of faded early. So, I had $35 left on my card and was determined not to lose the benefits left--$35. I researched all the markets, large and small. I decided to go the Pepper Place. 

Oh My Gosh!  

It was like a huge carnival. There were guys playing music, stalls with handmade items. food booths, produce booths, just everything. I sent Tommy out with my card and his walker. I was in an apartment parking lot on the periphery of the Pepper Place. 

I did get the benefit of sights and sounds of a tiny bit. I was lonely when Tommy left. I cracked the window and heard wonderful music. People were out in hordes carrying away just a tiny, decorated pumpkin to huge bags of produce and bunches of flowers. This spurs me on to get a scooter to ride on. I called a friend who lives in Birmingham and had a great visit. 

He came back and he did shop, not just pick up stuff at one booth. He brought 1 lb. raw, unfiltered honey, 1/2 pint blackberry jelly, 1/2 pint pepper jelly, and six beautiful tomatoes. He threw in $1 because my card ran out. As we drove away, he commented that there were a "hell of a lot of persimmons." I would have wanted some of those. Yes, I will get a scooter soon. I had told him get whatever at the booths,, just get tomatoes. So, he did both. 

Next January I will apply again. This program is in almost all 50 states. 

He brought back a brochure with something about disability services from one booth. Tommy said they wanted to talk with him. He told them he was so tired that he just wanted something to take home and read. So, they let him go without further talk. He did bring me the pamphlet. 

We stopped by Publix for milk for both of us, bananas, and something else. I took a nap when we got home. 

About 6 pm, we installed the skeleton into a lawn chair in front of the ramp. I tied skeleton and chair to ramp. Tommy put his hand into the air, waving at passersby. His red glowing eyes are on until we turn them off. I would love a remote! 

He had dinner and now is having pepper jelly spread on bread.  I will have a very small amount on cracker and cream cheese--one cracker only. Tomorrow, I might have some blackberry jelly on toast and butter. 

Overall, it was a great Saturday. I did wake stuffy and hurting in sinuses. One Hall's Mentholyptus took care of all the congestion and pain. It appears I will make it through the worst month of the year for my sinus health. It makes me deliriously happy.

The weather was beautiful, high 80s, sunny, and, of course, dry.

 Edit: Tommy was amazed there were a few thousand people instead of a few dozens. He was amazed there was so much for eating right there--sandwiches, homemade popsicles, pastries, etc.There were even dish tubs with water and ice cubes for dogs. 

Thanksgiving Gone, Christmas Music Here

 

I thought I started a new post. That must have been in my head! I had something to write about, but it has left my brain. Maybe if I ramble along, it will come back. I snoozed in my chair during the news. 

 All the Thanksgiving food is gone except for part of the turkey breast. I still have the thawed turkey in a pot in the refrigerator, so it will be baked tomorrow. Thankfully, Tommy is willing to take the meat off after I rip off the breast. I made such a little bit of gravy that I may make more gravy. However, coleslaw and green beans will be eaten instead of Stove Top and green bean casserole. 

My goal was to get Thanksgiving/Fall put away the day of Iron Bowl, Saturday, but I wanted Tommy to help. I did it myself. It is all gone and in two orange Rubbermaid type boxes. Now, to tackle the red boxes. 

I just cannot bend to dust. Sunday he used the Libman duster. It needs to be longer. When I pointed out he missed a table top, he said it was stuff stuck on. I think it was the residue that gas heat leaves along with dust. This is the dustiest place ever. So, I took a wet cloth and finally got it off. 

Saturday night, I told him what to do to six-foot long bookcase that is less than three feet tall. Useless piece of furniture! Sunday, before I got up, he had cleared one end off but did not dust it...??? There is junk on the end nearest him. 

Monday night late, after dark he covered up the plants outdoor with two sheets. I took the Libman duster out to shake and whack on the ramp railing. When he came in he said it scared him. I suppose I should have said something first. But, the duster is ready for him to dust the top of the bookcase which I cannot reach because of his junk in the floor! 

I noticed when I put out Halloween decorations on the bookcase near the door, a little short bookcase, too, but not long, he started suddenly to sort and clean off the bookcase. So, I may put out Christmas on his two bookcases and let him clean around them. 

The uti lingers. I have had an earache for a year or so, better some time than others. Okay, it has been two years. Now, it is almost unbearable! Plus, my back and kidney still ache. The fall did not help me at all. It might have contributed to the earache becoming so unbearable. I did land on the left side and barely hit my head. 

Today, I found out that my primary care doctor got a wheelchair. Yay!

Tonight, we had chicken/rice/broccoli from before Thanksgiving. We added green beans. I should have had some slaw, too. This weekend I put the package of chicken breasts in the crockpot on high and they were done so I could freeze them. These were the ones for which we paid $1.99/lb. When I have baked chicken, I can take it with me in the car so I don't get hungry and eat fast food. I had Tommy tear me off a piece, I sliced cheese and he put in one of the brown and serve rolls. That beats a cheeseburger for my health and is cheaper, too, although he never minds the cost. 

The next time the temp gets up to 70F, and it will, the lemon tree will spend the day outdoors. I am going to buy a grow light for the two citrus trees. Maybe I will just leave it inside and hurry to get a gro-light

Right after Halloween, Tommy found Christmas music on 96.5 FM here in Birmingham. So, I have been enjoying that on the run up to Halloween. The holidays will be gone too soon, it appears. 

I broke down and bought store-packaged pecans and they are good, not all dried out. I bought South Georgia Pecans at Publix for right at $10/lb. That is actually cheap. The ones at the flea market were almost that much for a sandwich bag full. These are great for a healthy snack.  Now, I will make a pecan pie and make the pecans unhealthy. I have not made or eaten pecan pie in over five years, maybe more. I won't gobble it down and will severely restrict other carbs! As of today, I am going to more actively try to lose weight! They may have been bogo. Maybe not. I cannot find the receipt right now.

Are you on a weight-loss journey?

Have you found a station to listen to Christmas music?

Have you decorated yet for Christmas? Or, maybe started?

Can music cause you to consume unhealthy choices?

It appears grocery stores and restaurant can cause people to buy and consume more calories from less healthy food choices.

Saturday: Drug Take Back, Sorghum, Country Music

Saturday morning, I dropped off nearly a full bag of shredding fodder. That was a relief to get rid of that mess. I usually rip my name from all sorts of junk mail and drop that into a bag for shredding. I take the rest of that item and put it into the regular trash. However, some envelopes are full of personal information and identifying numbers, so that goes whole into recycling.

This is the third shredding event that I am aware of. I missed the first one and forgot about the second. So, I was hyper-vigilant for the last month, keenly aware that their semi-annual event should be happening soon. I suppose the next event will be in October.

Since this will happen in six months, and today's event is in my day planner, I will be ready. They also had a drug take back today, along with an old electronics collection for destroying these items, and a food drive for one particular food bank. The Lion's Club and police were out in full force.

I didn't realize the Farmer's Market would happen today. I stopped and got a pint of sorghum for $7. Of course, I had to have a taste as soon as I arrived at home. The taste was a taste from my childhood. I think Mama sometimes cooked with sorghum. Or, I had it on buttered biscuit. I don't remember having it often. Maybe I had it at my Mississippi great aunt's house. It will be better the next taste because I had just swallowed the last of a chocolate cookie when I tasted it today.

This afternoon, I got my prescriptions filled and picked them up at WM. I could barely find a parking place and got the last electric cart. I had to wait a long time at electronics to get help with my internet payment. It seems I was late with a payment when I put it on auto-pay. I don't think so, but I cannot imagine what actually happened. Then, they just take a payment from my account and I still have a charge which generates another late payment. So, I paid the late payment and the regular payment will come out of my bank account with auto pay.

It was impossible for me to use my phone to talk to anyone at AT&T because 611 or any of the payment numbers generated a voice that tells me I am up to date when they find the account attached to the phone number I am using. Then, the little automatic voice tells me goodbye and hangs up.  No, I am not up to date. So, that was fixed. Now, I really am up to date.

Tonight, I went to an event for those over 50 from 6 pm to 9 pm. A country band played. People danced. Admission was free as were all concessions--hot dogs and fixings, cookies, chips, brownies, tea, water or coke. There were two door prizes, all without having paid for admission. There was a donation jug. Another jug was there for a dollar with your name written on it to be deposited. The person whose dollar bill was pulled from the jug got half of what was deposited in that jug. The non-profit got the other half.  The winner tonight got $24. I did not participate because I had to the dollar what I needed to pay a bill Monday.

The music was not all old country but it was excellent. The band was very tight. Someone requested "Wipe Out" about 8:30, and the band did a great job. One woman did the best dance I have seen to this tune. I thought she was going to hurt herself with all the shimmy and swim she performed along with other steps and moves.

I will be going back. Hopefully, the guy who had not bathed and wore the grimiest Alabama hat I have ever seen--all.night.long! will bath next time.

A guy sitting near me asked me if I danced. I laughed and told him that I used to dance a lot and well, but now I would have to use my walker.

One guy came in with a leather or leather-ish bag. I wondered if he had brought something to flavor his Coke. He unzipped it and took out his dancing shoes. So, did his wife--nude with stacked heel and two straps. I have seen about four of these couples present tonight, all excellent dancers, at other dances.

That was my so busy Saturday, and I am exhausted.

Do you ever buy or use sorghum? How? Did you eat it as a child? Do you like old country music well enough to go hear it free? Would you dance?