We awoke to a very cool morning, and it stayed cool all day. I began my day with a treadmill session and resistance exercises after breakfast. After getting ready for the day, I pressed clothes I'll need for the weekend, and then set to work putting things into the camper for our trip tomorrow.
After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the Catholic Church to request a Mass for Niece's husband, to the post office to mail photos to family, to the WDCS for last-minute groceries for the trip, and to the gas station to fill the truck with diesel. We also looked for the roadside vendor, where I hoped to buy tomatoes to take on the trip, but the vendor wasn't there today, drat it.
When we got back, we continued doing tasks for the trip. Later in the afternoon, I got a tray of sliced tomatoes, lettuce, and sliced Vidalia onions ready to take to a Master Gardener picnic at 6 p.m. this evening. Members are assigned foods to bring to the picnic, and our assignment was the salad stuff for hamburgers.
The picnic was held at the home of one of the Master Gardeners. She has a lovely, shaded yard, but the thunderstorm yesterday made her leery of setting up tables and chairs out there, so she set up in her double garage instead.
We enjoyed touring her pretty gardens, abloom with several varieties of lillies and other flowering plants. The picnic food was good, too...hamburgers, hot dogs, deviled eggs, veggie salads, veggies with dip, etc. Desserts included chocolate cake with mint flavored seven-minute icing, brownies topped with whole walnuts, white cake and fluffy icing, and a couple of fruit-based creamy dishes.
Mother went with us to the picnic. She hasn't gotten her strength back, yet, so we didn't dally long after we'd eaten, and left the gathering about 7:15.
After we got back home, we put last-minute stuff into the camper and then settled in to relax and watch TV for a while.
When I checked the eagle nest, the baby was alone. He is getting darker in color, and growing more feathers, but he still totters a bit unsteadily on his legs. The mother returned after a time, bringing a fish with her, which she promptly tore into bits to feed the baby.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Wednesday, June 3
We were up by 7:30 this morning, and after breakfast I did a treadmill session and weight exercises. I'm nearly back to capacity again. Once I was ready for the day, I checked on Mother, who is doing much better, though is still not quite up to par.
After that, I threw some clothes in the washing machine, and then checked my computer e-mail. There was a message from Niece, who lives in New York. She said that her husband passed away in his sleep last Saturday night. Her husband was only 48 years old. She didn't mention what the cause of death was. I only met Niece's husband one time, several years ago, but the news of his death is still a shock.
I spent the rest of the morning in routine household chores. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the post office, to the pharmacy, to a department store (where I looked for either white or tan dress slacks, but had no luck), and then on to the WDCS, where we picked up photos from last weekend's family gathering, and where I actually found a pair of tan dress slacks in my size (there was only one pair in my size, as it turned out).
I needed the slacks to wear with a new blouse to church this weekend when we travel to the northeast part of our state to visit Hubbie's family. The problem, of course, is that the slacks are too long, so Mother is hemming them for me (she insisted on doing this, though I'm perfectly capable of doing the job myself).
Later this afternoon, I put veggies in the steamer to cook...new potatoes, and the zucchini and yellow squashes I bought from the roadside vendor yesterday. I added an onion to the squashes, and let both layers of veggies steam until tender. I served the veggies unseasoned, and they were delicious with nothing but a dab of margarine and a sprinkling of pepper added at the table. Hubbie made a small batch of corn muffins to have with the meal, though Mother and I passed on those.
While the veggies were steaming, a thunderstorm popped up. I fervently hoped that the storm wouldn't knock out the power before our veggies cooked, and thankfully it didn't.
After Mother came over following lunch, she spent the afternoon relaxing in the living room rocking chair and looking through the new scrapbook books I bought at the dollar store in another town yesterday.
She went back home after supper, and we settled in to watch TV. Saw a couple of strange ones tonight. The first was called "Noise," starring Tim Robbins. This R-rated movie (for language, violence, and adult situations) centers on a man who is super-sensitive to the noise pollution where he lives in New York. He finally takes action by smashing cars, disconnecting car alarms, and other alarm systems, etc. , causing him problems with the law, his job, and his marriage.
The second movie we saw was "The Happening," starring Mark Wahlberg and also rated "R," for violence. In this movie, neurotoxins carried on the breeze cause people to commit suicide. Where the neurotoxins come from, nobody knows.
Note re: cooking spray stains on my favorite sandals and a pair jeans...the Dawn dish liquid treatment took the oil stains out of both items.
After that, I threw some clothes in the washing machine, and then checked my computer e-mail. There was a message from Niece, who lives in New York. She said that her husband passed away in his sleep last Saturday night. Her husband was only 48 years old. She didn't mention what the cause of death was. I only met Niece's husband one time, several years ago, but the news of his death is still a shock.
I spent the rest of the morning in routine household chores. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the post office, to the pharmacy, to a department store (where I looked for either white or tan dress slacks, but had no luck), and then on to the WDCS, where we picked up photos from last weekend's family gathering, and where I actually found a pair of tan dress slacks in my size (there was only one pair in my size, as it turned out).
I needed the slacks to wear with a new blouse to church this weekend when we travel to the northeast part of our state to visit Hubbie's family. The problem, of course, is that the slacks are too long, so Mother is hemming them for me (she insisted on doing this, though I'm perfectly capable of doing the job myself).
Later this afternoon, I put veggies in the steamer to cook...new potatoes, and the zucchini and yellow squashes I bought from the roadside vendor yesterday. I added an onion to the squashes, and let both layers of veggies steam until tender. I served the veggies unseasoned, and they were delicious with nothing but a dab of margarine and a sprinkling of pepper added at the table. Hubbie made a small batch of corn muffins to have with the meal, though Mother and I passed on those.
While the veggies were steaming, a thunderstorm popped up. I fervently hoped that the storm wouldn't knock out the power before our veggies cooked, and thankfully it didn't.
After Mother came over following lunch, she spent the afternoon relaxing in the living room rocking chair and looking through the new scrapbook books I bought at the dollar store in another town yesterday.
She went back home after supper, and we settled in to watch TV. Saw a couple of strange ones tonight. The first was called "Noise," starring Tim Robbins. This R-rated movie (for language, violence, and adult situations) centers on a man who is super-sensitive to the noise pollution where he lives in New York. He finally takes action by smashing cars, disconnecting car alarms, and other alarm systems, etc. , causing him problems with the law, his job, and his marriage.
The second movie we saw was "The Happening," starring Mark Wahlberg and also rated "R," for violence. In this movie, neurotoxins carried on the breeze cause people to commit suicide. Where the neurotoxins come from, nobody knows.
Note re: cooking spray stains on my favorite sandals and a pair jeans...the Dawn dish liquid treatment took the oil stains out of both items.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tuesday, June 2
We got up around 7:30 a.m., and after breakfast I did a treadmill session and resistance exercises. Then I visited with Mother to see how she was feeling this morning. She said she slept well last night, and her throat isn't sore today. She is still coughing, of course, but she seems to feel better. I left my cell phone with her, so I could touch base with her while we in the capital city.
At 10:30 a.m., we headed south. We took Shih Tzu with us, since Mother is under the weather and wasn't up to feeding and walking her. It was a nice, sunny day for traveling, though the temperature got into the high 80s by the afternoon. Along the way, we saw a turkey vulture dining on carrion by the side of the rode. Yuk.
Also along the way, there is a cedar tree adorned with Christmas ornaments and a silver garland. It's been there since last Christmas, and I see it every time we travel that highway. But until today, Hubbie never saw it. Mother has missed it, too, each time we've passed it. I'm surprised that the garland and the colorful balls continue to remain on the tree, undisturbed by animals or windy weather. I wonder why someone went to the trouble to decorate it at all...it's just a little tree tucked among many trees, and seems to be nowhere near a house.
We stopped at a town about an hour away, so I could go to a dollar store to buy six booklets on scrapbooking and card making. I also found some stickers and letters that we can use in our projects.
After that, we bought lunches at a fast food store...grilled chicken and a salad for me, and a hamburger and salad for Hubbie. We took the lunches to a local park. I didn't have the foresight to take along a picnic tablecloth, so we used a new fleece throw to cover the table. It was pleasant eating in the park, where the picnic tables surround a water feature.
From the park, we stopped back by the fast food restaurant to buy soft serve ice cream, which we ate as we traveled to the capital city. We arrived at the dental surgeon's office about 15 minutes early for my appointment, but I went into the office anyway, hoping to see the dental hygienist, and I did. Hubbie entertained Shih Tzu in the clinic yard, which was shady.
I was done with my appointment in about 30 minutes, and we were back on the road home again by 3 p.m. On the way home, we stopped at a discount warehouse. We left the van running so there would be air conditioning for Shih Tzu, and I stayed with her while Hubbie shopped for a few items, like fresh fruits, dried cranberries, egg substitute, etc.
We were back home around 5 p.m. For supper we had leftover chicken noodle soup and bowls of fresh strawberries. Afterwards, I uploaded photos to a one-hour service, and then checked on the eagle's nest, where it's business as usual. I noticed that the number of viewers to the site has dropped from about 300 to only 91 tonight. That's probably because nothing exciting seems to be happening. I want to keep track of it, though, because I don't want to miss it when the eaglet fledges.
At 10:30 a.m., we headed south. We took Shih Tzu with us, since Mother is under the weather and wasn't up to feeding and walking her. It was a nice, sunny day for traveling, though the temperature got into the high 80s by the afternoon. Along the way, we saw a turkey vulture dining on carrion by the side of the rode. Yuk.
Also along the way, there is a cedar tree adorned with Christmas ornaments and a silver garland. It's been there since last Christmas, and I see it every time we travel that highway. But until today, Hubbie never saw it. Mother has missed it, too, each time we've passed it. I'm surprised that the garland and the colorful balls continue to remain on the tree, undisturbed by animals or windy weather. I wonder why someone went to the trouble to decorate it at all...it's just a little tree tucked among many trees, and seems to be nowhere near a house.
We stopped at a town about an hour away, so I could go to a dollar store to buy six booklets on scrapbooking and card making. I also found some stickers and letters that we can use in our projects.
After that, we bought lunches at a fast food store...grilled chicken and a salad for me, and a hamburger and salad for Hubbie. We took the lunches to a local park. I didn't have the foresight to take along a picnic tablecloth, so we used a new fleece throw to cover the table. It was pleasant eating in the park, where the picnic tables surround a water feature.
From the park, we stopped back by the fast food restaurant to buy soft serve ice cream, which we ate as we traveled to the capital city. We arrived at the dental surgeon's office about 15 minutes early for my appointment, but I went into the office anyway, hoping to see the dental hygienist, and I did. Hubbie entertained Shih Tzu in the clinic yard, which was shady.
I was done with my appointment in about 30 minutes, and we were back on the road home again by 3 p.m. On the way home, we stopped at a discount warehouse. We left the van running so there would be air conditioning for Shih Tzu, and I stayed with her while Hubbie shopped for a few items, like fresh fruits, dried cranberries, egg substitute, etc.
We were back home around 5 p.m. For supper we had leftover chicken noodle soup and bowls of fresh strawberries. Afterwards, I uploaded photos to a one-hour service, and then checked on the eagle's nest, where it's business as usual. I noticed that the number of viewers to the site has dropped from about 300 to only 91 tonight. That's probably because nothing exciting seems to be happening. I want to keep track of it, though, because I don't want to miss it when the eaglet fledges.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Monday, June 1
We were up around 7:30 a.m., and after breakfast, I called the doctor to make an appointment for Mother. She said she had fever last night, and I wanted to be sure her chest cold wasn't turning into pneumonia.
I had time to do a 30-minute treadmill session before her 9:45 appointment. I haven't been on the treadmill in over a week because of my cold. But even though I'm still coughing a little, I felt well enough to exercise today. I didn't tread at my usual speed, however. I'll build back to my normal speed over a few days.
Mother and I arrived for her appointment about 9:30, and we were taken back to an exam room within a few minutes. The doctor listened to Mother's chest and suspected she is suffering from bronchitis, but she ordered an X-Ray to make sure. No pneumonia, thank goodness, but she noted that bronchitis can develop into pneumonia, so she prescribed a couple of medications. If Mother does not improve in a few days, we are to see the doctor again.
From the doctor's office, we went to the pharmacy, and then were home by around 11:30 a.m. Mother went to her favorite rocking chair in the living room and napped, while Hubbie and I washed, capped, and sliced strawberries. After a lunch of pimento cheese sandwiches, I put a pot of chicken on to stew to use in making chicken noodle soup for supper. I figured the soup would help Mother feel better.
While the chicken was stewing, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the roadside vendor to pick up tomatoes and yellow and zucchini squashes, to the grocery store that carries my favorite brand of cottage cheese, to the newspaper office to pick up last week's editions, to the cable company to get instructions for how to more conveniently program my DVR, to the bank, to the WDCS, and finally to the gas station.
Back home, I did this and that until suppertime. After supper, Mother went home, Hubbie went out to mow the yard, and I showered, washed my hair, gave myself a manicure, and ironed an outfit to wear tomorrow when we go to the capital city, where I have a dental appointment.
I had time to do a 30-minute treadmill session before her 9:45 appointment. I haven't been on the treadmill in over a week because of my cold. But even though I'm still coughing a little, I felt well enough to exercise today. I didn't tread at my usual speed, however. I'll build back to my normal speed over a few days.
Mother and I arrived for her appointment about 9:30, and we were taken back to an exam room within a few minutes. The doctor listened to Mother's chest and suspected she is suffering from bronchitis, but she ordered an X-Ray to make sure. No pneumonia, thank goodness, but she noted that bronchitis can develop into pneumonia, so she prescribed a couple of medications. If Mother does not improve in a few days, we are to see the doctor again.
From the doctor's office, we went to the pharmacy, and then were home by around 11:30 a.m. Mother went to her favorite rocking chair in the living room and napped, while Hubbie and I washed, capped, and sliced strawberries. After a lunch of pimento cheese sandwiches, I put a pot of chicken on to stew to use in making chicken noodle soup for supper. I figured the soup would help Mother feel better.
While the chicken was stewing, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the roadside vendor to pick up tomatoes and yellow and zucchini squashes, to the grocery store that carries my favorite brand of cottage cheese, to the newspaper office to pick up last week's editions, to the cable company to get instructions for how to more conveniently program my DVR, to the bank, to the WDCS, and finally to the gas station.
Back home, I did this and that until suppertime. After supper, Mother went home, Hubbie went out to mow the yard, and I showered, washed my hair, gave myself a manicure, and ironed an outfit to wear tomorrow when we go to the capital city, where I have a dental appointment.
Camping Trip, Day Five
Sunday, May 31:
We were up around 6:30 this morning. Once I was ready for the day, I prepared quick breads, bagels, and fresh fruits for breakfast. At 8 a.m., Daughter, Granddaughter, Great-Granddaughter and Great-Grandson came to join us for the meal.
We broke camp about 9:30 a.m., and were ready to head home. We arrived back in our town around noon, had a lunch of cold meatloaf sandwiches, and then unpacked the camper, washed clothes, and generally put things back in order.
I checked on the eagle's nest, where it was business as usual. It looks like the eaglet is beginning to get feathers on his back.
Supper tonight was hamburgers, and microwave baked potatoes. Then we watched TV, though there was nothing much of interest on, and we ended up napping in front of it.
Tonight my left ear is red and swollen...something must have bitten me in the middle of the night last night. I look like I have cauliflower ear, and it itches. I've applied bug bite medicine, so I hope it goes away soon.
We were up around 6:30 this morning. Once I was ready for the day, I prepared quick breads, bagels, and fresh fruits for breakfast. At 8 a.m., Daughter, Granddaughter, Great-Granddaughter and Great-Grandson came to join us for the meal.
We broke camp about 9:30 a.m., and were ready to head home. We arrived back in our town around noon, had a lunch of cold meatloaf sandwiches, and then unpacked the camper, washed clothes, and generally put things back in order.
I checked on the eagle's nest, where it was business as usual. It looks like the eaglet is beginning to get feathers on his back.
Supper tonight was hamburgers, and microwave baked potatoes. Then we watched TV, though there was nothing much of interest on, and we ended up napping in front of it.
Tonight my left ear is red and swollen...something must have bitten me in the middle of the night last night. I look like I have cauliflower ear, and it itches. I've applied bug bite medicine, so I hope it goes away soon.
Camping Trip, Day Four
Saturday, May 30:
We were up by 6:30 a.m. so we could be ready by the time family arrived. Mother was under the weather with a cold that had settled in her chest, so I insisted that she should be off duty for the day and just relax outdoors in the warmth of the sunny day.
Daughter and Granddaughter, with Great-Granddaughter and Great-Grandson were the first to show up around 9:30. Sis arrived shortly after. Daughter-in-Law called to say she and Older Son would not be able to make it, because her rheumatoid arthritis had kicked up and her hands were badly swollen, and Son was suffering from a toothache. She said that Granddaughter might come with Great-Grandson. But as it turned out, no one from Son's family showed up today.
Since gnats and mosquitoes were out in force this weekend, I decided that Hubbie and I should go to the WDCS to fetch some repellant, and while we were out, we should go get another flat of strawberries. We picked up two flats...one for Sis at her request.
By lunch time, there were only eight of us to enjoy mountains of barbecue, hot dogs, potato salad, macaroni salad, and baked beans, followed by a choice of chocolate or white cupcakes and fresh strawberries with dollops of whipped topping later in the afternoon. Usually, 30 to 40 family members are in attendance, but today, several of them had to work, and others were ill.
After lunch, Daughter and Granddaughter and I took the kids to the playground, where all of us enjoyed swinging on the swings. Swinging is still a pleasant experience, even in my advanced age. When Granddaughter was very young, I remember her saying, "Grandma, I didn't know you knew how to swing!" I guess to little kids, adults seem too ancient to play.
About 2 p.m., though, Younger Son, Daughter-in-Law, and Grandson came, and we brought food out of the fridge and prepared a late lunch for them. Later, another granddaughter and four-year-old stepson arrived. Much later in the afternoon, Nephew, his wife and five children came. They were not able to stay long, because Nephew had worked all day and was tired, but they did fix plates of food to take home with them.
So ultimately, about half of the family came, and we were very glad to see them. We especially enjoyed year-old Great-Grandson, who entertained us by grinning and making funny faces, and toddling around, with his mother chasing right behind him. Of course, the newest baby is always the center of attention. Watching this Great-Grandson made me miss my other great-grandson, who was born on the same day in June last year. I had hoped to get snapshots of the two together.
By around 9 p.m., the family left for their own homes, taking with them plastic storage bags of salads. We let Snoops out of her cage, so she could run around the RV for exercise before we retired. At one point, Hubbie swept the floor and cracked the door open to sweep the dirt out. After that, we couldn't find Snoops. We looked everywhere...around the bed in the bedroom, in the shower stall, etc. But she was nowhere to be found. We feared she had scooted out the door when Hubbie cracked it. So he got the flashlight out and prepared to go out to look for her. Just then, Snoops came out from behind the couch, which had been opened out to make a bed for Mother. Apparently, she'd been hiding in the couch's storage area. And since she doesn't respond when she's called, she just came out when she got good and ready, but not before she'd given us all anxiety attacks!
We were up by 6:30 a.m. so we could be ready by the time family arrived. Mother was under the weather with a cold that had settled in her chest, so I insisted that she should be off duty for the day and just relax outdoors in the warmth of the sunny day.
Daughter and Granddaughter, with Great-Granddaughter and Great-Grandson were the first to show up around 9:30. Sis arrived shortly after. Daughter-in-Law called to say she and Older Son would not be able to make it, because her rheumatoid arthritis had kicked up and her hands were badly swollen, and Son was suffering from a toothache. She said that Granddaughter might come with Great-Grandson. But as it turned out, no one from Son's family showed up today.
Since gnats and mosquitoes were out in force this weekend, I decided that Hubbie and I should go to the WDCS to fetch some repellant, and while we were out, we should go get another flat of strawberries. We picked up two flats...one for Sis at her request.
By lunch time, there were only eight of us to enjoy mountains of barbecue, hot dogs, potato salad, macaroni salad, and baked beans, followed by a choice of chocolate or white cupcakes and fresh strawberries with dollops of whipped topping later in the afternoon. Usually, 30 to 40 family members are in attendance, but today, several of them had to work, and others were ill.
After lunch, Daughter and Granddaughter and I took the kids to the playground, where all of us enjoyed swinging on the swings. Swinging is still a pleasant experience, even in my advanced age. When Granddaughter was very young, I remember her saying, "Grandma, I didn't know you knew how to swing!" I guess to little kids, adults seem too ancient to play.
About 2 p.m., though, Younger Son, Daughter-in-Law, and Grandson came, and we brought food out of the fridge and prepared a late lunch for them. Later, another granddaughter and four-year-old stepson arrived. Much later in the afternoon, Nephew, his wife and five children came. They were not able to stay long, because Nephew had worked all day and was tired, but they did fix plates of food to take home with them.
So ultimately, about half of the family came, and we were very glad to see them. We especially enjoyed year-old Great-Grandson, who entertained us by grinning and making funny faces, and toddling around, with his mother chasing right behind him. Of course, the newest baby is always the center of attention. Watching this Great-Grandson made me miss my other great-grandson, who was born on the same day in June last year. I had hoped to get snapshots of the two together.
By around 9 p.m., the family left for their own homes, taking with them plastic storage bags of salads. We let Snoops out of her cage, so she could run around the RV for exercise before we retired. At one point, Hubbie swept the floor and cracked the door open to sweep the dirt out. After that, we couldn't find Snoops. We looked everywhere...around the bed in the bedroom, in the shower stall, etc. But she was nowhere to be found. We feared she had scooted out the door when Hubbie cracked it. So he got the flashlight out and prepared to go out to look for her. Just then, Snoops came out from behind the couch, which had been opened out to make a bed for Mother. Apparently, she'd been hiding in the couch's storage area. And since she doesn't respond when she's called, she just came out when she got good and ready, but not before she'd given us all anxiety attacks!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Camping Trip, Day Three
Friday, May 29:
We were up by 7 a.m., and had a breakfast of toasted bagels with cream cheese and jelly, and fresh fruit. While I got ready for the day, Hubbie and Mother chopped bell peppers, onions, and celery for potato and macaroni salad.
It's my job to put the potato salad together, but in so doing, I noticed that there was an inordinate amount of the chopped veggies, but I went ahead and mixed them into the boiled, chopped potatoes. Just as I finished, Mother asked if I had saved some of the veggies for the macaroni salad. Well, no, I hadn't, since it hadn't been mentioned that I should. So more veggies had to be chopped for the macaroni.
Once I had the salad dressing, mustard, dill pickles, and spices mixed into the potatoes, I separated two generous portions out...one for Sis, and one for me. For Sis, I skipped the boiled eggs, because she doesn't like them, and for me, I added no pickles or salt, but added no-salt seasoning, pepper and dried dill.
Macaroni salad is Mother's specialty, so she made that.
Afterwards, Hubbie and I went to the WDCS for last-minute groceries for the Saturday family gathering. At the store, just inside the door, a young man wearing a tiara, was seated on a toilet (a marble throne) up on a platform that was banked by flower arrangements. It was a fundraising effort for an organization serving children.
Sis came by before lunch, and she, Mother and I sat in the yard for a while, then went into the camper for a lunch of pimento cheese sandwiches and cottage cheese, plus pudding and cookies for dessert.
After lunch, Hubbie and I went to Older Son's place of employment to get a large cooler of crushed ice. Son, a supervisor, toured us through the plant, which manufactures industrial trash compactors. There was no one working today, since the business was having a week's forced vacation, due to the economy. It was an interesting tour...I'm amazed at how computerized and sophisticated the shop part of the business is.
Back at camp, I showed Sis a slide show of our Texas trip, and then completed a couple of days worth of blogs on my laptop. At 4:30, we put microwaveable potatoes in the microwave, plus meatloaf, and had this with salad.
Later, we went to a school program that Great-Granddaughter performed in with her preschool class, along with several other preschool classes. These three and four-year-olds were so cute in their colorful t-shirts. Each class wore a different color...red, orange, green, yellow or blue.
The children performed six songs, including "Itsy Bitsy Spider," and the "ABC Song." They played to a packed house (the high school gymnasium) and each song received thunderous applause, of course.
Before the performance, Great-Granddaughter was so overwhelmed by the large audience that she clung to her father and cried. I feared she might opt out of performing, but her teacher talked with her and cajoled her into going with her to be with the other kids backstage, and then if she decided she didn't want to perform, the teacher would bring her back to her parents. Backstage, her classmates surrounded her and hugged her, so she braved up and marched out with them. Once they got started singing and she saw how receptive the audience was, Great-Granddaughter warmed to the whole thing and enjoyed herself.
The performance lasted about 10 minutes, and afterward, we all went to the lunchroom for refreshments of a variety of fresh fruits, including chocolate dipped strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, grapes, and blueberries. There were also cookies and juice.
Each student received a "diploma" and a gift bag containing a bottle of bubble liquid, some stickers, and a little bead bracelet. The teachers had also put together a memory book of the children's drawings, their footprints, and their hand prints, which the moms, of course, were delighted with.
I took lots of pictures of the event, of course.
Sis had stayed at camp with Mother, who didn't feel up to going to the performance, since she began having symptoms of a cold today. It's a good thing she didn't go, because she never would have been able to manage the steep steps going down to the gymnasium seating area, or the walk down a long hallway to the lunchroom. Mother gets anxious in crowds, too, so she would have been very uncomfortable in the crowded lunchroom.
We arrived back at camp around 8:30 p.m. Sis left to go home shortly thereafter, and we got ready for bed.
We were up by 7 a.m., and had a breakfast of toasted bagels with cream cheese and jelly, and fresh fruit. While I got ready for the day, Hubbie and Mother chopped bell peppers, onions, and celery for potato and macaroni salad.
It's my job to put the potato salad together, but in so doing, I noticed that there was an inordinate amount of the chopped veggies, but I went ahead and mixed them into the boiled, chopped potatoes. Just as I finished, Mother asked if I had saved some of the veggies for the macaroni salad. Well, no, I hadn't, since it hadn't been mentioned that I should. So more veggies had to be chopped for the macaroni.
Once I had the salad dressing, mustard, dill pickles, and spices mixed into the potatoes, I separated two generous portions out...one for Sis, and one for me. For Sis, I skipped the boiled eggs, because she doesn't like them, and for me, I added no pickles or salt, but added no-salt seasoning, pepper and dried dill.
Macaroni salad is Mother's specialty, so she made that.
Afterwards, Hubbie and I went to the WDCS for last-minute groceries for the Saturday family gathering. At the store, just inside the door, a young man wearing a tiara, was seated on a toilet (a marble throne) up on a platform that was banked by flower arrangements. It was a fundraising effort for an organization serving children.
Sis came by before lunch, and she, Mother and I sat in the yard for a while, then went into the camper for a lunch of pimento cheese sandwiches and cottage cheese, plus pudding and cookies for dessert.
After lunch, Hubbie and I went to Older Son's place of employment to get a large cooler of crushed ice. Son, a supervisor, toured us through the plant, which manufactures industrial trash compactors. There was no one working today, since the business was having a week's forced vacation, due to the economy. It was an interesting tour...I'm amazed at how computerized and sophisticated the shop part of the business is.
Back at camp, I showed Sis a slide show of our Texas trip, and then completed a couple of days worth of blogs on my laptop. At 4:30, we put microwaveable potatoes in the microwave, plus meatloaf, and had this with salad.
Later, we went to a school program that Great-Granddaughter performed in with her preschool class, along with several other preschool classes. These three and four-year-olds were so cute in their colorful t-shirts. Each class wore a different color...red, orange, green, yellow or blue.
The children performed six songs, including "Itsy Bitsy Spider," and the "ABC Song." They played to a packed house (the high school gymnasium) and each song received thunderous applause, of course.
Before the performance, Great-Granddaughter was so overwhelmed by the large audience that she clung to her father and cried. I feared she might opt out of performing, but her teacher talked with her and cajoled her into going with her to be with the other kids backstage, and then if she decided she didn't want to perform, the teacher would bring her back to her parents. Backstage, her classmates surrounded her and hugged her, so she braved up and marched out with them. Once they got started singing and she saw how receptive the audience was, Great-Granddaughter warmed to the whole thing and enjoyed herself.
The performance lasted about 10 minutes, and afterward, we all went to the lunchroom for refreshments of a variety of fresh fruits, including chocolate dipped strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, grapes, and blueberries. There were also cookies and juice.
Each student received a "diploma" and a gift bag containing a bottle of bubble liquid, some stickers, and a little bead bracelet. The teachers had also put together a memory book of the children's drawings, their footprints, and their hand prints, which the moms, of course, were delighted with.
I took lots of pictures of the event, of course.
Sis had stayed at camp with Mother, who didn't feel up to going to the performance, since she began having symptoms of a cold today. It's a good thing she didn't go, because she never would have been able to manage the steep steps going down to the gymnasium seating area, or the walk down a long hallway to the lunchroom. Mother gets anxious in crowds, too, so she would have been very uncomfortable in the crowded lunchroom.
We arrived back at camp around 8:30 p.m. Sis left to go home shortly thereafter, and we got ready for bed.
Camping Trip, Day Two
Thursday, May 28:
We slept until around 8:30 this morning, and then had a breakfast of quick breads, cream cheese and jelly, and fresh fruit. Once I was ready for the day, Hubbie and I went shopping. Mother opted to stay at the campground.
We stopped first at a department store, where I found only one item, a gray fleece jacket that I thought Mother could wear. At the next department store, I found knit shirts...button-up with collars, and short-sleeves that are long enough to cover my upper arms. I bought four - two in brown, two in periwinkle blue, and one watermelon pink. It's amazing how difficult it is to find clothing suitable for a woman my age. If I find the right colors, the garment will have cap sleeves, or a plunging neckline, or will be bulge-revealing snug. Most garments are hideous in design and pattern and unflattering to anyone who wears them other than pencil-thin teens.
On the clearance rack at another department store, I found a lightweight long-sleeved shirt that features a tiny green print design overall on a tan background. This will be great to wear in cool stores and restaurants in the summertime.
Before we headed back to camp for lunch, we stopped at a roadside vendor and picked up a flat of strawberries...a bargain at $10.
After lunch, Hubbie and I went back to town. This time, we went back to the store that carries decent knit shirts to see if they had them in petite sizes for Mother. They did, so I picked up four for her...one in periwinkle blue, one navy blue, one white, and one blue and white patterned.
Then we went to the pet store that allows animals to shop. We didn't buy anything, but we enjoyed petting people's dogs...a Cavalier King Charles, a Yorkie, and a Shih Tzu, among others.
Then we went to the store that sells all sorts of home decorator items, where we didn't buy anything, either.
From there, we went to the hobby and craft shop, where I bought several sheets of scrapbook paper, before moving on to a big discount store, where we didn't find anything we wanted. Then we crossed town to a home building supply store, where Hubbie priced pressure washers, but only bought a spray nozzle for Mother's garden hose.
It was about 4 p.m. before we got back to camp. Mother had spaghetti sauce in a pan ready to cook, but she couldn't operate the butane lighter, so she had to wait until we returned. So we had to wait for the sauce to simmer a while before cooking the spaghetti. We had this with sliced tomatoes and Vidalia onions, topped with cottage cheese, and fresh strawberries for dessert, of course.
Younger Son and Daughter-in-Law dropped by around 5 p.m., but weren't interested in having supper. They stayed about an hour, and we had a good visit. They brought me a Mother's Day gift...an absolutely beautiful 500-page photogrpahy book, titled "In Focus," which is a volume of National Geographic greatest portraits. I'm anxious to get some quiet time to sit and absorb it. It's one of the nicest and most thoughtful gifts I've received.
We talked about the kids, of course, particularly Grandson, who spent this week on an exciting school trip to San Antonio, where the students visited Sea World. Today, Grandson was on his way home by bus, and he called his parents several times while they were visiting us to regale them with stories of his adventures.
Daughter-in-Law related a funny story to us: seems a large snake appeared in the driveway of their home, and Son, who abhors snakes, was anxious to dispatch it. But Daughter-in-Law wanted to get a picture of it first, so she grabbed her digital camera and got a shot.
Then she wanted to upload the photo to her computer, which required that she search for her card reader in a drawer in another room. Taking her memory card with her, she passed through the kitchen on the way, where she decided to grab a handful of cheese nips.
From time-to-time as she searched the drawer, she popped a cheese nip in her mouth. But when she bit down on the last cheese nip, she found it to be too hard to chew...a stale one, perhaps? When she spit it out, she found that she'd absentmindly popped her memory card into her mouth, rendering it unreadable.
Later in the evening, after supper, Mother and I went out to sit in the yard again for a while, but it was still pretty cool. The gnats and mosquitoes were out in force, too, and finally drove us back to the refuge of the camper, where we played several games of Skipbo...Hubbie won two games, and I won one.
We slept until around 8:30 this morning, and then had a breakfast of quick breads, cream cheese and jelly, and fresh fruit. Once I was ready for the day, Hubbie and I went shopping. Mother opted to stay at the campground.
We stopped first at a department store, where I found only one item, a gray fleece jacket that I thought Mother could wear. At the next department store, I found knit shirts...button-up with collars, and short-sleeves that are long enough to cover my upper arms. I bought four - two in brown, two in periwinkle blue, and one watermelon pink. It's amazing how difficult it is to find clothing suitable for a woman my age. If I find the right colors, the garment will have cap sleeves, or a plunging neckline, or will be bulge-revealing snug. Most garments are hideous in design and pattern and unflattering to anyone who wears them other than pencil-thin teens.
On the clearance rack at another department store, I found a lightweight long-sleeved shirt that features a tiny green print design overall on a tan background. This will be great to wear in cool stores and restaurants in the summertime.
Before we headed back to camp for lunch, we stopped at a roadside vendor and picked up a flat of strawberries...a bargain at $10.
After lunch, Hubbie and I went back to town. This time, we went back to the store that carries decent knit shirts to see if they had them in petite sizes for Mother. They did, so I picked up four for her...one in periwinkle blue, one navy blue, one white, and one blue and white patterned.
Then we went to the pet store that allows animals to shop. We didn't buy anything, but we enjoyed petting people's dogs...a Cavalier King Charles, a Yorkie, and a Shih Tzu, among others.
Then we went to the store that sells all sorts of home decorator items, where we didn't buy anything, either.
From there, we went to the hobby and craft shop, where I bought several sheets of scrapbook paper, before moving on to a big discount store, where we didn't find anything we wanted. Then we crossed town to a home building supply store, where Hubbie priced pressure washers, but only bought a spray nozzle for Mother's garden hose.
It was about 4 p.m. before we got back to camp. Mother had spaghetti sauce in a pan ready to cook, but she couldn't operate the butane lighter, so she had to wait until we returned. So we had to wait for the sauce to simmer a while before cooking the spaghetti. We had this with sliced tomatoes and Vidalia onions, topped with cottage cheese, and fresh strawberries for dessert, of course.
Younger Son and Daughter-in-Law dropped by around 5 p.m., but weren't interested in having supper. They stayed about an hour, and we had a good visit. They brought me a Mother's Day gift...an absolutely beautiful 500-page photogrpahy book, titled "In Focus," which is a volume of National Geographic greatest portraits. I'm anxious to get some quiet time to sit and absorb it. It's one of the nicest and most thoughtful gifts I've received.
We talked about the kids, of course, particularly Grandson, who spent this week on an exciting school trip to San Antonio, where the students visited Sea World. Today, Grandson was on his way home by bus, and he called his parents several times while they were visiting us to regale them with stories of his adventures.
Daughter-in-Law related a funny story to us: seems a large snake appeared in the driveway of their home, and Son, who abhors snakes, was anxious to dispatch it. But Daughter-in-Law wanted to get a picture of it first, so she grabbed her digital camera and got a shot.
Then she wanted to upload the photo to her computer, which required that she search for her card reader in a drawer in another room. Taking her memory card with her, she passed through the kitchen on the way, where she decided to grab a handful of cheese nips.
From time-to-time as she searched the drawer, she popped a cheese nip in her mouth. But when she bit down on the last cheese nip, she found it to be too hard to chew...a stale one, perhaps? When she spit it out, she found that she'd absentmindly popped her memory card into her mouth, rendering it unreadable.
Later in the evening, after supper, Mother and I went out to sit in the yard again for a while, but it was still pretty cool. The gnats and mosquitoes were out in force, too, and finally drove us back to the refuge of the camper, where we played several games of Skipbo...Hubbie won two games, and I won one.
Camping Trip, Day One
Wednesday, May 27:
I slept better last night, since I didn't cough as much, so I felt better this morning. I still coughed during the day, but the sneezing and blowing has diminished.
We left home about 10 a.m., heading south to the campground. We stopped at the grocery store parking lot down the road from our house, because I discovered one of the storage doors on the camper was ajar and needed to be locked down. A lady was vending fruits and veggies from the back of her pickup truck behind the store, so I checked to see if she had strawberries, but she said they hadn't arrived yet. So we were back on the road again in a few minutes.
Snoops the cat was a much better traveler this trip...she hardly meowed at all, and just laid down and relaxed. She was also good after we arrived, when we put her in the cage in the camper. She might become a decent traveler, after all.
Around 11:30 a.m., we stopped at a truck stop and had a sandwich, and then traveled on to the campground. After setting up the camper, we had snacks of strawberries and cookies. Then Mother and I tried sitting in the yard, but we no sooner got out the lawn chairs and settled in than we heard thunder and the sky darkened. So we went back indoors. Soon the wind blew and a few drops of rain fell, but nothing more happened. Still, it looked stormy outside, so we decided to stay in for a while and amuse ourselves with puzzle books and novels.
Later, near suppertime, we wondered what we might want to eat, since we discovered that even though we were staying four nights, we'd planned only three main meals. Finally, we decided that some of the burgers that Hubbie grilled yesterday would be good, so we got them out of the freezer and put two turkey burgers and two hamburgers into the bun warmer to heat on the stove, while Hubbie went to a nearby convenience store to get hamburger buns. We had the burgers with salad.
The bun warmer I used is one that we've had for as long as we've been married, and it has come in handy several times, though not only to warm buns. It's a three-part unit...bottom, which holds water, insert with holes, and lid. I put just enough water in the bottom so that it does not seep into the insert, and then add the food I want to heat, and cover with the lid. Even though the burgers I put in the pan were frozen, they thawed and heated in no time, and were moist and juicy when served. In our early camping days, before we had the conveniences of our current RV, I even cooked a meatloaf in that bun warmer.
After supper, Mother and I tried again to sit in the yard, but a chill wind was blowing, so we only stayed out for a few minutes. Then it was back to our puzzle books and novels, or in my case, playing on the laptop. There was no Internet access at the campground, though, and I missed it.
Later, we played Skipbo. Lyle won two games, and Mother and I each won one. By that time, we were all ready to hit the sack.
I slept better last night, since I didn't cough as much, so I felt better this morning. I still coughed during the day, but the sneezing and blowing has diminished.
We left home about 10 a.m., heading south to the campground. We stopped at the grocery store parking lot down the road from our house, because I discovered one of the storage doors on the camper was ajar and needed to be locked down. A lady was vending fruits and veggies from the back of her pickup truck behind the store, so I checked to see if she had strawberries, but she said they hadn't arrived yet. So we were back on the road again in a few minutes.
Snoops the cat was a much better traveler this trip...she hardly meowed at all, and just laid down and relaxed. She was also good after we arrived, when we put her in the cage in the camper. She might become a decent traveler, after all.
Around 11:30 a.m., we stopped at a truck stop and had a sandwich, and then traveled on to the campground. After setting up the camper, we had snacks of strawberries and cookies. Then Mother and I tried sitting in the yard, but we no sooner got out the lawn chairs and settled in than we heard thunder and the sky darkened. So we went back indoors. Soon the wind blew and a few drops of rain fell, but nothing more happened. Still, it looked stormy outside, so we decided to stay in for a while and amuse ourselves with puzzle books and novels.
Later, near suppertime, we wondered what we might want to eat, since we discovered that even though we were staying four nights, we'd planned only three main meals. Finally, we decided that some of the burgers that Hubbie grilled yesterday would be good, so we got them out of the freezer and put two turkey burgers and two hamburgers into the bun warmer to heat on the stove, while Hubbie went to a nearby convenience store to get hamburger buns. We had the burgers with salad.
The bun warmer I used is one that we've had for as long as we've been married, and it has come in handy several times, though not only to warm buns. It's a three-part unit...bottom, which holds water, insert with holes, and lid. I put just enough water in the bottom so that it does not seep into the insert, and then add the food I want to heat, and cover with the lid. Even though the burgers I put in the pan were frozen, they thawed and heated in no time, and were moist and juicy when served. In our early camping days, before we had the conveniences of our current RV, I even cooked a meatloaf in that bun warmer.
After supper, Mother and I tried again to sit in the yard, but a chill wind was blowing, so we only stayed out for a few minutes. Then it was back to our puzzle books and novels, or in my case, playing on the laptop. There was no Internet access at the campground, though, and I missed it.
Later, we played Skipbo. Lyle won two games, and Mother and I each won one. By that time, we were all ready to hit the sack.
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