Started the morning at water aerobics. The pool was c-o-l-d! They had added water since Wednesday, and it hadn't had time to heat by today (so I figure they added the water yesterday). We wondered why they added water, since the college will be out on spring break next week, but we supposed that swim teams must be meeting there while the students are away from campus.
After I got home and ready for the day, I baked a lemon cake for Mother's birthday celebration tomorrow. I'll cook lemon pudding and make meringue for it tomorrow morning.
Sis came about 11 a.m. Nephew, who has a birthday today, came too, along with a friend of his. But they didn't stay long. He'll return tomorrow evening or Sunday to pick his mother up (there's a shortage of operational autos in the family right now). The first thing I noticed is that Sis has lost a lot of weight. She said she is exercising portion control to shed the pounds.
After lunch, Mother, Sis, and I went for a stroll at the college lake. A pink magnolia bush was in bloom, as well as daffodils. Ducks, hoping for a handout of bread, greeted us as we started down the walking path. Mother and I have not gotten into the habit of feeding the ducks, because if we did, they'd never leave us alone.
I took my camera along to snap pictures of the flowers and the log cabin, as well as several of Mother and Sis on the bridges.
While we were gone, Hubbie went down a country road near our house and picked lots of daffodils growing along the ditches. After Mother, Sis, and I got back from our walk, I arranged the daffodils in a white teapot. Then Sis and I set the table for tomorrow's lunch. We used my unmatched pink and blue floral-bordered China (bought over the years at yard sales and flea markets), set on a white tablecloth, with white napkins in silver rings, and clear stemmed glasses. It's not grand, but it's pleasingly spring-looking.
This evening, we had supper at a local catfish restaurant. Mother loves catfish, so it's a once-a-year birthday treat for her. We first stopped at our favorite catfish restaurant, but discovered it is out of business! We've passed by that business almost every day without realizing it was closed.
At the restaurant where we ate, we asked when the other catfish place had closed, and were told it shut its doors right after Christmas (a sign of the times). I guess we never noticed, because we haven't been eating out much in the year since my heart episode.
Tonight, I tried to eat as healthy as a catfish restaurant will allow. I passed on the pinto beans, which were super salty, as well as the pickled tomatoes and the deep-fried hush puppies. And I ordered grilled catfish, with a request for only a dusting of seasoning. I also had a baked potato instead of French fries. But I did eat the slaw, and a little margarine and sour cream on my potato.
We all ordered the senior dinners, which were served on very small plates. I got one small fillet, and a small baked potato on mine. The others got two pieces of battered and fried fish with their baked potatoes. We've noticed that the buffet restaurants we've gone to lately are using smaller plates, too.
While we were out, we intended to drop by a grocery store and pick up some brown and serve rolls, but of course we forgot. So when we got home, Hubbie and I turned right around and went back to the store.
Mother and Sis spent the evening at her house, and Hubbie and I settled into our usual routine, including an hour of quiet time to read, followed by watching the news and Wheel of Fortune that I'd recorded on DVR, and then a couple of favorite one-hour shows.
It has been a lovely day, with a temp in the high 70s, but with a southerly hair-rearranging wind. Another very warm day is predicted for tomorrow.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Thursday, March 5
It was an ordinary day. Slept late, exercised on the treadmill, took care of household chores. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands to the pharmacy and to the WDCS.
When we got back home, I baked an apple pie for Sis. For several years, I've made one for her January birthday, but somehow, I let it slip my mind this year. Since she's going to be here this weekend for Mother's birthday party, I decided it's a good time to give her one. Better late than never.
For supper, I fixed stirfry, using leftover Cajun turkey, which gave the dish an unusual, but tasty spicy-hot flavor. I had planned to use the new electric rice cooker today, but in reading the instructions, I learned I needed to both rinse and soak the rice ahead of time, and it was too late in the day for that process, so we just had minute rice with the meal.
There was enough pie crust left to make a small cobbler for supper, too, which was pretty good with low-fat ice cream. I ate a very small portion of the apples and skipped the crust, though.
After supper, I visited with Mother at her house for a while, and then joined Hubbie for our quiet hour. He finished his novel tonight, and I continued mine.
Later, we watched a movie I'd recorded on DVR..."Wise Blood." It's a 1980 PG movie based on a novel by Flannery O'Conner about religious quackery, and deals with some very quirky characters and strange situations...definitely not a family movie.
When we got back home, I baked an apple pie for Sis. For several years, I've made one for her January birthday, but somehow, I let it slip my mind this year. Since she's going to be here this weekend for Mother's birthday party, I decided it's a good time to give her one. Better late than never.
For supper, I fixed stirfry, using leftover Cajun turkey, which gave the dish an unusual, but tasty spicy-hot flavor. I had planned to use the new electric rice cooker today, but in reading the instructions, I learned I needed to both rinse and soak the rice ahead of time, and it was too late in the day for that process, so we just had minute rice with the meal.
There was enough pie crust left to make a small cobbler for supper, too, which was pretty good with low-fat ice cream. I ate a very small portion of the apples and skipped the crust, though.
After supper, I visited with Mother at her house for a while, and then joined Hubbie for our quiet hour. He finished his novel tonight, and I continued mine.
Later, we watched a movie I'd recorded on DVR..."Wise Blood." It's a 1980 PG movie based on a novel by Flannery O'Conner about religious quackery, and deals with some very quirky characters and strange situations...definitely not a family movie.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Wednesday, March 4
Today is Mother's 87th birthday. Happy Birthday, Mother!
Last night was one of those times when morning came in the middle of the night...I awoke in the wee hours of the morning and couldn't go back to sleep. Despite that, I got up at 6:30 a.m., so I'd be ready in plenty of time to go to water aerobics by 7:45.
It was cold outside this morning, and the water in the pool was br-r-r , but I still enjoyed the workout, as well as visiting with the other ladies. Sixteen of us showed up for aerobics.
Mother came over later this morning and opened a birthday gift from me. It's a retractable cane. She always has trouble with her regular cane when we go out to eat, or when she needs to ride in a wheelchair at museums, because there is never any convenient place to put the cane where it doesn't fall over or stick out to trip folks. The new cane folds, so she can put it on the seat beside her in restaurants, or tuck it away in a canvas tote on other occasions.
The only problem with the new cane was that even when Hubbie adjusted it to it's shortest point, it was still too tall for 4' 9" Mother. So Hubbie drilled another hole in the handle to shorten the cane another couple of inches. Now it works fine. It's still a little taller than her old one, but not uncomfortably so.
For lunch, I fixed Ziplock bag omelets, using egg substitute for Mother and me, and regular eggs for Hubbie. I sauteed fresh mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers to add to the eggs, plus leftover spinach from last night's supper, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese. I sealed the mixture into the bags and boiled them in water for about 20-25 minutes, until the eggs were set (no longer runny). Along with the omelets, we had low-fat cottage cheese, toast, fresh oranges and prunes, a choice of strawberry preserves or peach preserves for the toast, and a choice of hot coffee or hot tea.
After lunch, I took Mother shopping...to the other discount store, where she bought a throw for one of her chairs, and then to the WDCS, where she shopped for incidentals and groceries. While there, we met a man that I worked for many years ago in our capital city, where I was a secretary at an agency for the blind. He is totally blind, and he and his wife, and their three-year-old grandson were also shopping. We vowed that we would get together for lunch soon...before he and his family go back to Alabama (he lives in a town near us, but winters in Alabama).
Mother also met and chatted with a friend of hers. She and her friend used to attend the same weight loss group years ago.
So it was a very nice shopping trip for both of us. We didn't get back home until around 3 p.m. Hubbie had stayed behind to sweep the fall leaves off the roof of the house. We never do anything before it's time around here. He also raked leaves away from the crocus and other low-growing plants that are blooming now.
Later, we took Mother to a chicken restaurant for supper, because she has a lifetime get-dinner-free-on-your-birthday card that she wanted to use. Now, a few hours after the meal, I'm thirsty...a sure sign the meal was too salty for me.
Back home, Hubbie and I spent an hour of quiet time reading between 6 and 7 p.m. At 7 p.m., we listened to the radio as our favorite basketball team once again took a loss, this time in overtime play. As has been their history this season, they came on strong in the first half, getting a wide-margin lead by halftime, but then fell apart in the second half. Boo-hoo.
After that, we watched an episode of "Lost."
Last night was one of those times when morning came in the middle of the night...I awoke in the wee hours of the morning and couldn't go back to sleep. Despite that, I got up at 6:30 a.m., so I'd be ready in plenty of time to go to water aerobics by 7:45.
It was cold outside this morning, and the water in the pool was br-r-r , but I still enjoyed the workout, as well as visiting with the other ladies. Sixteen of us showed up for aerobics.
Mother came over later this morning and opened a birthday gift from me. It's a retractable cane. She always has trouble with her regular cane when we go out to eat, or when she needs to ride in a wheelchair at museums, because there is never any convenient place to put the cane where it doesn't fall over or stick out to trip folks. The new cane folds, so she can put it on the seat beside her in restaurants, or tuck it away in a canvas tote on other occasions.
The only problem with the new cane was that even when Hubbie adjusted it to it's shortest point, it was still too tall for 4' 9" Mother. So Hubbie drilled another hole in the handle to shorten the cane another couple of inches. Now it works fine. It's still a little taller than her old one, but not uncomfortably so.
For lunch, I fixed Ziplock bag omelets, using egg substitute for Mother and me, and regular eggs for Hubbie. I sauteed fresh mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers to add to the eggs, plus leftover spinach from last night's supper, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese. I sealed the mixture into the bags and boiled them in water for about 20-25 minutes, until the eggs were set (no longer runny). Along with the omelets, we had low-fat cottage cheese, toast, fresh oranges and prunes, a choice of strawberry preserves or peach preserves for the toast, and a choice of hot coffee or hot tea.
After lunch, I took Mother shopping...to the other discount store, where she bought a throw for one of her chairs, and then to the WDCS, where she shopped for incidentals and groceries. While there, we met a man that I worked for many years ago in our capital city, where I was a secretary at an agency for the blind. He is totally blind, and he and his wife, and their three-year-old grandson were also shopping. We vowed that we would get together for lunch soon...before he and his family go back to Alabama (he lives in a town near us, but winters in Alabama).
Mother also met and chatted with a friend of hers. She and her friend used to attend the same weight loss group years ago.
So it was a very nice shopping trip for both of us. We didn't get back home until around 3 p.m. Hubbie had stayed behind to sweep the fall leaves off the roof of the house. We never do anything before it's time around here. He also raked leaves away from the crocus and other low-growing plants that are blooming now.
Later, we took Mother to a chicken restaurant for supper, because she has a lifetime get-dinner-free-on-your-birthday card that she wanted to use. Now, a few hours after the meal, I'm thirsty...a sure sign the meal was too salty for me.
Back home, Hubbie and I spent an hour of quiet time reading between 6 and 7 p.m. At 7 p.m., we listened to the radio as our favorite basketball team once again took a loss, this time in overtime play. As has been their history this season, they came on strong in the first half, getting a wide-margin lead by halftime, but then fell apart in the second half. Boo-hoo.
After that, we watched an episode of "Lost."
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Tuesday, March 3
We slept late this morning, and then after an 8-grain hot cereal breakfast (which is what I imagine cattle feed might be like, but which is supposed to be good for me), I hopped on the treadmill, and then did a weights workout. Tomorrow, I will most definitely get up and go to water aerobics.
I spent the rest of the morning sprucing the house, ironing tableclothes, etc...getting ready for family who will be here this weekend for Mother's 87th birthday party. So far, Sis will be here Friday and stay overnight, but will need to go home sometime Saturday. Son and Daughter-in-Law will come Saturday and stay overnight. My other son and daughter-in-law, and my daughter have not yet nailed down their plans for the weekend.
This afternoon, Hubbie attended a Master Gardener meeting, where plans were made to organize a community garden. The garden spot has to be approved by various city authorities, and then the space will need to be cleared and prepared, so the garden will not be operational
until spring 2010. When it is ready, folks who do not have space at their homes for a garden will be able, for a small yearly fee, to use assigned spaces in the community garden.
I spent the afternoon continuing household tasks. Later, one of the professors at a local college, who was in charge of props for the recent collaborative play between the college and the community theater, brought our ladder back chairs back. I began to wonder if they were going to return them at all, so I e-mailed and also left a voice mail to remind the professor that I hadn't gotten them back yet, and that I needed them for a gathering this weekend.
He was very apologetic when he brought them, noting that the young college student who was given responsibility for gathering and returning props dropped out of the program at the last minute, without tagging items. So the professor is struggling with identifying what belongs to whom.
To his credit, the professor brought my nicked and scarred chairs back in better condition than I sent them...he'd added a stain to them that makes them look a lot better. I'd told the young man who picked them up that the chairs are not precious, and they could do whatever they needed to make them fit their needs. Good for me!
For supper tonight, Mother devised a great recipe for a salt-free Salisbury steak, which we had with leftover mashed potatoes, spinach, and Lima beans.
Later, Hubbie and I spent our quiet hour between 6 and 7 p.m. reading. Then we watched a movie I'd recorded on DVR..."Camilla." This 1994, PG13 Encore movie stars Jessica Tandy in one of her last screen performances as an elderly lady who claims to have once had a grand career as a concert violinist.
This is a comedy/drama/love story about a young woman musician/songwriter (Bridget Fonda) whose husband, a graphic artist, keeps telling her that her music is "just a hobby." Tandy's and Fonda's characters take an adventurous road trip to attend a Brahms concert without letting the husband and the old woman's son know where they are going. Fans of Jessica Tandy (as we are) will like this movie. Tandy's real-life husband, the late Hume Cronyn, had a cameo role in the film.
I spent the rest of the morning sprucing the house, ironing tableclothes, etc...getting ready for family who will be here this weekend for Mother's 87th birthday party. So far, Sis will be here Friday and stay overnight, but will need to go home sometime Saturday. Son and Daughter-in-Law will come Saturday and stay overnight. My other son and daughter-in-law, and my daughter have not yet nailed down their plans for the weekend.
This afternoon, Hubbie attended a Master Gardener meeting, where plans were made to organize a community garden. The garden spot has to be approved by various city authorities, and then the space will need to be cleared and prepared, so the garden will not be operational
until spring 2010. When it is ready, folks who do not have space at their homes for a garden will be able, for a small yearly fee, to use assigned spaces in the community garden.
I spent the afternoon continuing household tasks. Later, one of the professors at a local college, who was in charge of props for the recent collaborative play between the college and the community theater, brought our ladder back chairs back. I began to wonder if they were going to return them at all, so I e-mailed and also left a voice mail to remind the professor that I hadn't gotten them back yet, and that I needed them for a gathering this weekend.
He was very apologetic when he brought them, noting that the young college student who was given responsibility for gathering and returning props dropped out of the program at the last minute, without tagging items. So the professor is struggling with identifying what belongs to whom.
To his credit, the professor brought my nicked and scarred chairs back in better condition than I sent them...he'd added a stain to them that makes them look a lot better. I'd told the young man who picked them up that the chairs are not precious, and they could do whatever they needed to make them fit their needs. Good for me!
For supper tonight, Mother devised a great recipe for a salt-free Salisbury steak, which we had with leftover mashed potatoes, spinach, and Lima beans.
Later, Hubbie and I spent our quiet hour between 6 and 7 p.m. reading. Then we watched a movie I'd recorded on DVR..."Camilla." This 1994, PG13 Encore movie stars Jessica Tandy in one of her last screen performances as an elderly lady who claims to have once had a grand career as a concert violinist.
This is a comedy/drama/love story about a young woman musician/songwriter (Bridget Fonda) whose husband, a graphic artist, keeps telling her that her music is "just a hobby." Tandy's and Fonda's characters take an adventurous road trip to attend a Brahms concert without letting the husband and the old woman's son know where they are going. Fans of Jessica Tandy (as we are) will like this movie. Tandy's real-life husband, the late Hume Cronyn, had a cameo role in the film.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Monday, March 2
Since it was bitterly cold this morning, I opted out of going to water aerobics. I feel fine, but I didn't want to risk a relapse or worse by getting chilled in the pool and cold air. Predictions are that the temp will moderate by Wednesday, so I will go back then. I miss swimming and water aerobics when I can't go.
I did walk on the treadmill and work out with weights this morning, though. While I was doing that, the plumber came to pump the septic tank...we had problems with a stopped up potty downstairs this past weekend, and didn't want there to be a problem this coming weekend, when family will be here to celebrate Mother's 87th birthday.
Mother came over around 11 a.m. and joined us for a chicken sandwich lunch, after which Hubbie and I ran errands....to the greeting card shop, the pharmacy, the bank, an everything's a dollar store, and then to the WDCS for a few grocery items.
Nothing much else happened today. We had leftover Cajun turkey roll, potatoes, and veggies for supper. Then Mother went home, and Hubbie and I turned the TV off and spent an hour in other activities...he reading his novel, and I looking up March movies on the encore and premium channels that I might want to set the DVR to record. I've found that it's easier to spend a little time checking schedule listings for a month than checking those channels day-by-day.
Tonight, we watched "Jesse Stone: Thin Ice" that I'd recorded on DVR. We like the actor, Tom Selleck, and look forward to the next episode in this series.
I did walk on the treadmill and work out with weights this morning, though. While I was doing that, the plumber came to pump the septic tank...we had problems with a stopped up potty downstairs this past weekend, and didn't want there to be a problem this coming weekend, when family will be here to celebrate Mother's 87th birthday.
Mother came over around 11 a.m. and joined us for a chicken sandwich lunch, after which Hubbie and I ran errands....to the greeting card shop, the pharmacy, the bank, an everything's a dollar store, and then to the WDCS for a few grocery items.
Nothing much else happened today. We had leftover Cajun turkey roll, potatoes, and veggies for supper. Then Mother went home, and Hubbie and I turned the TV off and spent an hour in other activities...he reading his novel, and I looking up March movies on the encore and premium channels that I might want to set the DVR to record. I've found that it's easier to spend a little time checking schedule listings for a month than checking those channels day-by-day.
Tonight, we watched "Jesse Stone: Thin Ice" that I'd recorded on DVR. We like the actor, Tom Selleck, and look forward to the next episode in this series.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Sunday, March 1
We awoke to a dusting of snow this morning, and though the sun was shining, the day was sharply cold. Towns east of us, where Hubbie's relatives live, got up to a foot of snow, with drifts up to 18 inches, but it was expected to melt as temps rose above freezing this afternoon.
Right after a hot cereal breakfast, I did a session on the treadmill. I feel 100 percent better today and hope to go to water aerobics tomorrow. Mother came over later in the morning and read the Sunday newspaper. I did my usual Sunday morning routine, which included programming the DVR for the week's movies and shows, and washing a couple of loads of clothes.
For lunch, we had Cajun style roasted turkey roll, prepared in the slow cooker, along with a potato recipe we especially like that is fixed with onions, olive oil, and seasonings, including dill weed, and then baked in the oven. As a side, we had Normandy veggie mix...carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini and yellow squashes.
Mother went home after lunch, and Hubbie and I became couch potatoes....he continued reading his novel, "Streets of Laredo," and I read the Sunday paper and then worked this week's and last week's Numbrix puzzles.
At 3 p.m., we watched our favorite college basketball team play to a win!! Yay!
Later, we had a supper of leftover tomato soup and cold meatloaf sandwiches, with bowls of fresh fruits for dessert, and then vegged in front of TV.
Right after a hot cereal breakfast, I did a session on the treadmill. I feel 100 percent better today and hope to go to water aerobics tomorrow. Mother came over later in the morning and read the Sunday newspaper. I did my usual Sunday morning routine, which included programming the DVR for the week's movies and shows, and washing a couple of loads of clothes.
For lunch, we had Cajun style roasted turkey roll, prepared in the slow cooker, along with a potato recipe we especially like that is fixed with onions, olive oil, and seasonings, including dill weed, and then baked in the oven. As a side, we had Normandy veggie mix...carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini and yellow squashes.
Mother went home after lunch, and Hubbie and I became couch potatoes....he continued reading his novel, "Streets of Laredo," and I read the Sunday paper and then worked this week's and last week's Numbrix puzzles.
At 3 p.m., we watched our favorite college basketball team play to a win!! Yay!
Later, we had a supper of leftover tomato soup and cold meatloaf sandwiches, with bowls of fresh fruits for dessert, and then vegged in front of TV.
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