We were up by 7 a.m. this morning, to get ready to go to the town where we got the pressure washer. In reading the manual for the washer, Hubbie discovered that it was not suited to our well, which would not provide enough pressure farther away than a 30-foot garden hose will reach from the well house.
So we exchanged the washer (which was electric) for a gas powered one. However, this one is restricted to a 50-foot hose, which is still not enough to reach the camper. Now, Hubbie is faced with a dilemma...either install another faucet near the camper, or take the unit back to the store. He's very frustrated and disappointed.
Oh well, we had a nice trip to the other town, anyway, and the weather was pleasantly cool, so Mother and Shih Tzu were able to travel with us. Before we returned home, we stopped at $1 and $5 shops, where we found a package of scrapbook paper and a package of stickers, and an audio book on CDs. Spent $3.50 altogether.
We were back home by 11 a.m., when I added noodles to chicken broth for lunch. After lunch, Hubbie and I (guess what) ran errands...to the sports store, again, to check on shorts to wear over my swimsuits. I found what I needed this time, and since they were buy one and get a second pair half price, and they were inexpensive, I bought two pairs. There were a lot of customers in the store today. I guess everybody realized that there was new stock in, much of it on sale, and they wanted to shop before everything got picked over.
From there, we went to the bank, and then to the WDCS for several grocery items for this week's menu, including slaw mix to go with leftover Spanish rice for supper tonight, and dried pinto beans to soak overnight and cook tomorrow for lunch.
Not much happened for the rest of the day. We spent the evening watching forgettable TV.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Friday, August 28
Started the day with water aerobics, where the pool was cool but not intolerable once I got in it. But the dressing room was frigid in the extreme. I guess the college keeps the area cold to reduce bacteria, but it sure is uncomfortable when we enter it in our wet swimsuits.
Back home, after I got ready for the day, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the new department store again, where I found an off-white cotton shirt with embroidered flowers in the same color and three-quarter length sleeves. I used my 20% off coupon to buy it.
Then I checked at the sports store for nylon shorts to wear over my swimsuits, and though they had gotten an order in, they hadn't unpacked it yet. So I'll need to check back tomorrow, maybe.
From there, we went to a grocery store to pick up more frozen veggies, and to get a free copy of a regional newspaper insert that features the photos I took of the kids at the puppet-making workshop. They were published yesterday, but I didn't know it until the ladies at the pool told me they'd seen the snapshots.
At home again, Hubbie and I finished the leftover stew for lunch, and then at 1 p.m., I took Mother to the hospital for a 2 p.m. echo cardiogram procedure. We arrived early, but she was taken back right away, so the test was completed by 2:20, and we were on our way home again by 2:30.
We won't know the results of the test until the middle of next week. As for the X-ray, the doctor said Mother has an enlarged heart, which is not unusual for a person her age, and there is calcium buildup in some arteries, which is also not unusual. It'll be a few days before we get the results of the blood work-up.
This afternoon, after I'd uploaded photos to my blog (see previous blog), I checked an online auction to see if I'd won the bid for a vintage cookbook Mother wants, and I did. The book should be here in about a week, and I'll put it away for Christmas. She had a cookbook like this for many years, and has often spoken fondly about it, but it disappeared. I spent a few weeks looking for this edition, so I'm very pleased to finally find one.
For supper tonight, we had homemade white gravy to which we added chopped boiled eggs, served over wheat toast, with cantaloupe on the side. We used light margarine, olive oil, and fat free milk to make the gravy. Still, this is not a meal we would have very often, since it is not the most heart-healthy choice.
Later, we watched "The Legend of Lucy Keyes," a Liftetime Movie Network film that we've seen before. In 1775 a young girl named Lucy goes missing and is never found. Now a young family, which has also suffered the loss of a child, has moved onto the farm where the girl disappeared. The youngest daughter of this family, also named Lucy, becomes tuned in to the spirits of the dead. This is a fictional story based on an actual event.
Back home, after I got ready for the day, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the new department store again, where I found an off-white cotton shirt with embroidered flowers in the same color and three-quarter length sleeves. I used my 20% off coupon to buy it.
Then I checked at the sports store for nylon shorts to wear over my swimsuits, and though they had gotten an order in, they hadn't unpacked it yet. So I'll need to check back tomorrow, maybe.
From there, we went to a grocery store to pick up more frozen veggies, and to get a free copy of a regional newspaper insert that features the photos I took of the kids at the puppet-making workshop. They were published yesterday, but I didn't know it until the ladies at the pool told me they'd seen the snapshots.
At home again, Hubbie and I finished the leftover stew for lunch, and then at 1 p.m., I took Mother to the hospital for a 2 p.m. echo cardiogram procedure. We arrived early, but she was taken back right away, so the test was completed by 2:20, and we were on our way home again by 2:30.
We won't know the results of the test until the middle of next week. As for the X-ray, the doctor said Mother has an enlarged heart, which is not unusual for a person her age, and there is calcium buildup in some arteries, which is also not unusual. It'll be a few days before we get the results of the blood work-up.
This afternoon, after I'd uploaded photos to my blog (see previous blog), I checked an online auction to see if I'd won the bid for a vintage cookbook Mother wants, and I did. The book should be here in about a week, and I'll put it away for Christmas. She had a cookbook like this for many years, and has often spoken fondly about it, but it disappeared. I spent a few weeks looking for this edition, so I'm very pleased to finally find one.
For supper tonight, we had homemade white gravy to which we added chopped boiled eggs, served over wheat toast, with cantaloupe on the side. We used light margarine, olive oil, and fat free milk to make the gravy. Still, this is not a meal we would have very often, since it is not the most heart-healthy choice.
Later, we watched "The Legend of Lucy Keyes," a Liftetime Movie Network film that we've seen before. In 1775 a young girl named Lucy goes missing and is never found. Now a young family, which has also suffered the loss of a child, has moved onto the farm where the girl disappeared. The youngest daughter of this family, also named Lucy, becomes tuned in to the spirits of the dead. This is a fictional story based on an actual event.
How High is Heaven?
News in our little town is that a van belonging to a local funeral home was pulled over in another state for a traffic violation. The police who stopped the driver had reason to search the van, where they found a substantial amount of marijuana inside a casket.
The Drug Enforcement Agency summoned the funeral home co-owner, who is also county coroner. He insisted he didn't know why he was being summoned, but he thought it might have something to do with his report of a stolen van. Nevertheless, the coroner and others were indicted by a grand jury as being involved in the distribution of marijuana.
In the meantime, someone has created a new slogan for the funeral home, which is rapidly flying around town: "We might not be able to get you all the way to heaven, but we'll get you as high as we can."
The Drug Enforcement Agency summoned the funeral home co-owner, who is also county coroner. He insisted he didn't know why he was being summoned, but he thought it might have something to do with his report of a stolen van. Nevertheless, the coroner and others were indicted by a grand jury as being involved in the distribution of marijuana.
In the meantime, someone has created a new slogan for the funeral home, which is rapidly flying around town: "We might not be able to get you all the way to heaven, but we'll get you as high as we can."
Gardens
The first photo shows Mother holding a basket of grape tomatoes from the garden. The tomato vines seem to have gotten a second breath and are producing another crop. These tomatoes are sweet and delicious. The second photo is of a long banana pepper. It looks like a bell pepper, but it will grow longer and will be suitable for stuffing with a hamburger and rice mixture, or any other mixture, and baking. The third photo is of dwarf zinnias. They are beginning to be a little worse for wear, but are still pretty. The bottom photo is a painterly version of fall crocus that are blooming in front of our house.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Thursday, August 27
We were up by 7 a.m., so I could get ready to take Mother for a 9:30 doctor appointment. She has been complaining of being tired, and gets exhausted after walking only a short distance. The doctor ran a battery of tests, including an EKG, an X-ray, blood work, and urine specimen. She also ordered an echo cardiogram, scheduled for 2 p.m. tomorrow.
While we were at the clinic, we learned that the regular flu shot was available, so Mother and I got vaccinated, and I called Hubbie, who dropped by and got a shot, too, before going on to his dental appointment at 11 a.m.
Poor Mother, she and needles just don't seem to get along. Today, the nurse who drew blood, needed two vials of it, but Mother blew a vein before the nurse could get the second vial, so she had to draw that one from her other arm. I guess now Mother will have bruises on both arms, as well as the upper arm where she got her flu shot.
We got back home around 11:30, and I fixed cold boiled chicken sandwiches for lunch, which we had with grape tomatoes from the garden, cottage cheese, and a choice of pretzels or corn chips, and mixed fresh fruit for dessert.
After lunch, about 1 p.m., Hubbie and I traveled to another town, about 45 minutes away, to shop for a sliding glass door unit for the den. We found one at the other home improvement store, in a suitable color, at a much better price than the one at the home improvement store in our town.
Once Hubbie had finished the paperwork for the unit, we searched for a pressure washer. We found one at a sale price, and Hubbie had enough gift cards given him last Christmas and for his birthday to buy the washer. I expect that he'll be wanting to wash everything in sight now.
Mother stayed home with Shih Tzu while we were gone, and I called her as we were leaving the other town to be sure all was well. It was. We got back about 4 p.m. Mother went home, and Hubbie and I had a supper of leftover stew from last night. Then we went to the WDCS (mustn't let a day go by without going there!), to pick up a few items, including kitten food.
Speaking of kittens, this morning Hubbie went out to the garage and found the gray kitten there. "What are you doing way out here?" he asked, as he picked it up and brought it to the back porch, where the other kittens were.
But when he started to set the kitten among the others, he saw that the gray kitten of the litter of six was already there. "Who are you?" he puzzled, looking at the kitten in his hands. Taking it back to the garage, he realized that the kitten he held actually belongs to a young, black, female from Mama Cat's first litter.
While we were at the clinic, we learned that the regular flu shot was available, so Mother and I got vaccinated, and I called Hubbie, who dropped by and got a shot, too, before going on to his dental appointment at 11 a.m.
Poor Mother, she and needles just don't seem to get along. Today, the nurse who drew blood, needed two vials of it, but Mother blew a vein before the nurse could get the second vial, so she had to draw that one from her other arm. I guess now Mother will have bruises on both arms, as well as the upper arm where she got her flu shot.
We got back home around 11:30, and I fixed cold boiled chicken sandwiches for lunch, which we had with grape tomatoes from the garden, cottage cheese, and a choice of pretzels or corn chips, and mixed fresh fruit for dessert.
After lunch, about 1 p.m., Hubbie and I traveled to another town, about 45 minutes away, to shop for a sliding glass door unit for the den. We found one at the other home improvement store, in a suitable color, at a much better price than the one at the home improvement store in our town.
Once Hubbie had finished the paperwork for the unit, we searched for a pressure washer. We found one at a sale price, and Hubbie had enough gift cards given him last Christmas and for his birthday to buy the washer. I expect that he'll be wanting to wash everything in sight now.
Mother stayed home with Shih Tzu while we were gone, and I called her as we were leaving the other town to be sure all was well. It was. We got back about 4 p.m. Mother went home, and Hubbie and I had a supper of leftover stew from last night. Then we went to the WDCS (mustn't let a day go by without going there!), to pick up a few items, including kitten food.
Speaking of kittens, this morning Hubbie went out to the garage and found the gray kitten there. "What are you doing way out here?" he asked, as he picked it up and brought it to the back porch, where the other kittens were.
But when he started to set the kitten among the others, he saw that the gray kitten of the litter of six was already there. "Who are you?" he puzzled, looking at the kitten in his hands. Taking it back to the garage, he realized that the kitten he held actually belongs to a young, black, female from Mama Cat's first litter.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Wednesday, August 26
We were up at 6:30, as usual on water aerobics days. Again I was later than I wanted to be getting to the pool, thanks to some sort of road equipment that poked along at 20 miles an hour down the two miles to the four-way stop. I was right behind the machine, and a long line of traffic, as far as my eyes could see, piled up behind me. A long line of traffic stalled in the other lane, too, with drivers wanting to turn onto the drive leading to the college a mile or so from our house.
At long last, though, I finally arrived at the other college where the swimming pool is. Since the college is in session, the parking lots were pretty full, and the only space I could find was up the hill, near the student union. Of course hiking up and down that hill was good for my health, but delayed my getting to the pool.
Br-r-r, the water was pretty cool, too, but felt good once I was in it for a while. Stories from the pool included one lady telling me that Shreveport, Louisiana, was named after an ancestor of hers. Another lady, the wife of a doctor, told me all about their medical mission trip to Peru. A contingent of doctors, dentists, ophthalmologists, etc. went, as well as wives and children. All were expected to work for the ten days they were there.
She said that hundreds of people traveled many miles, and stood in line for hours, to be served by the doctors. The dentist, for instance, did some 400 extractions. Though there was little time for touring, a group of them did go up a mountain, where her husband got altitude sickness, and she got a raging headache. Her husband also caught a bug and got severely dehydrated to the point she had to take him to the emergency room as soon as they returned home.
It was the wee hours of the morning when she took him to the ER, and her exhausted sons were asleep. Unfortunately, she failed to take the house key with her, and when she returned home, she couldn't rouse her sleeping sons to let her in. That's when she discovered she didn't have her cell phone with her. So, exhausted herself, she went to the nearest service station to locate a phone. None there. At this point, in frustration, she sent up a prayer..."Lord, I could use just a little bit of help here!" At the second filling station, there was a phone to call her sons and have them unlock the door. We agreed that this was a time when a public telephone would have been handy, but in this cell phone age, public phones seem to have become a scarce as dinosaurs.
Back home, Mother came over and put color in my hair for a 1 p.m. appointment at the beauty shop. Mother opted out of having her hair cut this time, saying it hadn't grown much in a month.
Hubbie went with me to the beauty shop this time, since we both had errands to run. He dropped me off and went to the bank, then came back and picked me up. We went from there to the new department store. I have a 20% off coupon, but didn't find anything I wanted today. I also went to the sports store, hoping to find shorts to wear over my swimsuits, but there was nothing suited to me. I was told they will get another shipment in a couple of days, though, so I'll check back then. After that, we went to a grocery store that is having a sale on frozen veggies...10 packages for $10...as well as fat-free ice cream, and fruit (bananas and grapes).
While we were running around, Mother fixed a pot of stew...beef, with carrots, onions, potatoes, celery, onions, and cabbage in a seasoned beef broth. We had this with biscuits and honey for supper.
Hubbie and I went for a walk after supper, along the street on the other side of the highway. A lady we used to work with stopped in her car to chat a while, and then met us at the end of her driveway as we approached her house. She insisted that we stop and talk, so we did. She talked at length about her physical ailments, which are many, including diabetes, an enlarged heart, and failing kidneys, and about her husband's skin cancer.
At last, we were on our way again, walking to the end of that road and then back. It was nearly 8 p.m. before we got back home. We were gone an hour and a half.
Once we'd cooled off with a glass of ice water, we watched a movie..."Cassandra's Dream," starring Colin Farrell. This is a PG-13 movie, written and directed by Woody Allen. Two guys get into money troubles and prevail on their wealthy uncle to bail them out. He agrees, in exchange for their doing him a favor.
At long last, though, I finally arrived at the other college where the swimming pool is. Since the college is in session, the parking lots were pretty full, and the only space I could find was up the hill, near the student union. Of course hiking up and down that hill was good for my health, but delayed my getting to the pool.
Br-r-r, the water was pretty cool, too, but felt good once I was in it for a while. Stories from the pool included one lady telling me that Shreveport, Louisiana, was named after an ancestor of hers. Another lady, the wife of a doctor, told me all about their medical mission trip to Peru. A contingent of doctors, dentists, ophthalmologists, etc. went, as well as wives and children. All were expected to work for the ten days they were there.
She said that hundreds of people traveled many miles, and stood in line for hours, to be served by the doctors. The dentist, for instance, did some 400 extractions. Though there was little time for touring, a group of them did go up a mountain, where her husband got altitude sickness, and she got a raging headache. Her husband also caught a bug and got severely dehydrated to the point she had to take him to the emergency room as soon as they returned home.
It was the wee hours of the morning when she took him to the ER, and her exhausted sons were asleep. Unfortunately, she failed to take the house key with her, and when she returned home, she couldn't rouse her sleeping sons to let her in. That's when she discovered she didn't have her cell phone with her. So, exhausted herself, she went to the nearest service station to locate a phone. None there. At this point, in frustration, she sent up a prayer..."Lord, I could use just a little bit of help here!" At the second filling station, there was a phone to call her sons and have them unlock the door. We agreed that this was a time when a public telephone would have been handy, but in this cell phone age, public phones seem to have become a scarce as dinosaurs.
Back home, Mother came over and put color in my hair for a 1 p.m. appointment at the beauty shop. Mother opted out of having her hair cut this time, saying it hadn't grown much in a month.
Hubbie went with me to the beauty shop this time, since we both had errands to run. He dropped me off and went to the bank, then came back and picked me up. We went from there to the new department store. I have a 20% off coupon, but didn't find anything I wanted today. I also went to the sports store, hoping to find shorts to wear over my swimsuits, but there was nothing suited to me. I was told they will get another shipment in a couple of days, though, so I'll check back then. After that, we went to a grocery store that is having a sale on frozen veggies...10 packages for $10...as well as fat-free ice cream, and fruit (bananas and grapes).
While we were running around, Mother fixed a pot of stew...beef, with carrots, onions, potatoes, celery, onions, and cabbage in a seasoned beef broth. We had this with biscuits and honey for supper.
Hubbie and I went for a walk after supper, along the street on the other side of the highway. A lady we used to work with stopped in her car to chat a while, and then met us at the end of her driveway as we approached her house. She insisted that we stop and talk, so we did. She talked at length about her physical ailments, which are many, including diabetes, an enlarged heart, and failing kidneys, and about her husband's skin cancer.
At last, we were on our way again, walking to the end of that road and then back. It was nearly 8 p.m. before we got back home. We were gone an hour and a half.
Once we'd cooled off with a glass of ice water, we watched a movie..."Cassandra's Dream," starring Colin Farrell. This is a PG-13 movie, written and directed by Woody Allen. Two guys get into money troubles and prevail on their wealthy uncle to bail them out. He agrees, in exchange for their doing him a favor.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tuesday, August 25
Finally, I slept well last night and late this morning, not getting up until nearly 8 a.m. After breakfast, I got on the treadmill and did weights exercises. It was pretty late by the time I was ready for the day, so I didn't accomplish much beyond doing a few tasks around the house.
Mother came over about 11 a.m., and we fixed turkey bacon, tomato, lettuce, Vidalia onion sandwiches for a noon lunch. After lunch, Hubbie and I did the usual...running errands. We stopped at the bank first, then went to a couple of grocery stores to pick up canned goods on sale at one, and to get cottage cheese at the other. We'd picked up cottage cheese yesterday, but unfortunately, when Hubbie brought in the groceries yesterday, he failed to retrieve the cottage cheese from the hot/cold bag in the van. So when he brought the carton in today, it was unusable, of course. However, the cats ate it like it was a treat.
From the grocery store, we went to the new department store to exchange a pair of slacks Mother had bought there. The slacks were too snug, she said, and she wanted a size larger. Then we went to the WDCS for a few items, including picking up a photo mug for Mother for Christmas. It features her cat and cat's name on it. I'd ordered this same mug earlier, but was dissatified with it.
We stopped by another variety store for a couple of things before returning home, and then didn't accomplish much else for the afternoon. Mother started a pot of chicken stewing while we were gone, and we had boiled chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and whole kernel corn for supper.
Later, Hubbie and I went for a walk, across the highway and down another paved road this time. This is a residential area, with both old and new homes. Many of the homes included dogs that barked at us as we walked by, but did not approach. I guess they thought their duty was adequately discharged by simply sounding an alert.
Back home, we watched a Masterpiece Mystery that I recorded from the public channel. During the evening, I had a wonderful long talk with Niece, who caught me up to date on her own and her children's very busy lives. The reason for tonight's call was that Great-Nephew was conducting a survey for a class project, in which he was to interview 50 people about their soft drink preferences. I gave him my preference, as well as Hubbie's and Mother's.
Mother came over about 11 a.m., and we fixed turkey bacon, tomato, lettuce, Vidalia onion sandwiches for a noon lunch. After lunch, Hubbie and I did the usual...running errands. We stopped at the bank first, then went to a couple of grocery stores to pick up canned goods on sale at one, and to get cottage cheese at the other. We'd picked up cottage cheese yesterday, but unfortunately, when Hubbie brought in the groceries yesterday, he failed to retrieve the cottage cheese from the hot/cold bag in the van. So when he brought the carton in today, it was unusable, of course. However, the cats ate it like it was a treat.
From the grocery store, we went to the new department store to exchange a pair of slacks Mother had bought there. The slacks were too snug, she said, and she wanted a size larger. Then we went to the WDCS for a few items, including picking up a photo mug for Mother for Christmas. It features her cat and cat's name on it. I'd ordered this same mug earlier, but was dissatified with it.
We stopped by another variety store for a couple of things before returning home, and then didn't accomplish much else for the afternoon. Mother started a pot of chicken stewing while we were gone, and we had boiled chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and whole kernel corn for supper.
Later, Hubbie and I went for a walk, across the highway and down another paved road this time. This is a residential area, with both old and new homes. Many of the homes included dogs that barked at us as we walked by, but did not approach. I guess they thought their duty was adequately discharged by simply sounding an alert.
Back home, we watched a Masterpiece Mystery that I recorded from the public channel. During the evening, I had a wonderful long talk with Niece, who caught me up to date on her own and her children's very busy lives. The reason for tonight's call was that Great-Nephew was conducting a survey for a class project, in which he was to interview 50 people about their soft drink preferences. I gave him my preference, as well as Hubbie's and Mother's.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday, August 24
For a couple of nights, I slept pretty well, but of course since I needed to get up at 6:30 this morning to get ready to go to the swimming pool for water aerobics after being off for several weeks, I slept fitfully last night.
So I was drowsy all day. But the workout at the pool felt good, and the water temperature was tolerable. A lot can happen in a few weeks, though. One lady suffered shingles and is just now feeling better; another lady has been experiencing vertigo and underwent an MRI last Friday, but was at the pool today; one member suffered a stroke; one had arm surgery (rotator cuff, I think); another is scheduled for knee surgery this week.
I didn't get to the pool until after 8 a.m., because I had trouble leaving my driveway, thanks to heavy traffic on the highway in front of our house. There is a curve near our yard, around which cars speed. The highway department came last week and trimmed trees in our yard, as well as trees on the adjacent property, and for a while that curve was more visible. But now the leaves on the big limbs, which the highway department left laying along the shoulder, have drooped and compacted into a solid wall so that I can't see cars coming around that curve at all. So Hubbie called the highway department today to complain, but the guy he needs to talk to was out of the office, so I guess he'll have to try again tomorrow.
After I got back from the pool and ready for the day, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions; to a grocery store for cottage cheese; to the greeting card shop to use a coupon to get a free greeting card; to a sports store to look at nylon shorts that I could wear in the swimming pool over seen-better-days swimsuits; and lastly, to the WDCS for several items. I didn't buy the shorts. I'll go back when I have more time to try some on.
Except for a few minor household tasks, I didn't accomplish much for the afternoon. Mother came over after lunch and we visited, and then she started a skillet of Spanish rice simmering for supper. We had this with a fresh salad and bread and butter (light margarine, really).
Mother went home after supper, and since the weather was delightful today, Hubbie and I went for a walk down the mostly shady, paved, road on the west side of our property. We walked two miles in 45 minutes, past new homes with owners either mowing lawns or tilling flower garden spots, past a field of horses (a palomino, an appaloosa, a paint, and a red roan), past a field of cattle, some with calves at side. Along the way, four friendly dogs came out to greet us and sniff our hands in introduction.
August is usually very hot and humid, with little rain, in our state. The lawns are dry and yellowed by now, and the trees already show signs of wear and brittle brown leaves. But this August has been unusually mild, with quite a bit of rain. So the fields, the lawns, and the trees are still thriving and bright green.
Later, we watched a movie..."Separated by Murder," starring Sharon Gless as wealthy twin sisters who conspire to hire someone to kill the husband of one. Both are arrested and tried for murder. The movie is based on a true story.
So I was drowsy all day. But the workout at the pool felt good, and the water temperature was tolerable. A lot can happen in a few weeks, though. One lady suffered shingles and is just now feeling better; another lady has been experiencing vertigo and underwent an MRI last Friday, but was at the pool today; one member suffered a stroke; one had arm surgery (rotator cuff, I think); another is scheduled for knee surgery this week.
I didn't get to the pool until after 8 a.m., because I had trouble leaving my driveway, thanks to heavy traffic on the highway in front of our house. There is a curve near our yard, around which cars speed. The highway department came last week and trimmed trees in our yard, as well as trees on the adjacent property, and for a while that curve was more visible. But now the leaves on the big limbs, which the highway department left laying along the shoulder, have drooped and compacted into a solid wall so that I can't see cars coming around that curve at all. So Hubbie called the highway department today to complain, but the guy he needs to talk to was out of the office, so I guess he'll have to try again tomorrow.
After I got back from the pool and ready for the day, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions; to a grocery store for cottage cheese; to the greeting card shop to use a coupon to get a free greeting card; to a sports store to look at nylon shorts that I could wear in the swimming pool over seen-better-days swimsuits; and lastly, to the WDCS for several items. I didn't buy the shorts. I'll go back when I have more time to try some on.
Except for a few minor household tasks, I didn't accomplish much for the afternoon. Mother came over after lunch and we visited, and then she started a skillet of Spanish rice simmering for supper. We had this with a fresh salad and bread and butter (light margarine, really).
Mother went home after supper, and since the weather was delightful today, Hubbie and I went for a walk down the mostly shady, paved, road on the west side of our property. We walked two miles in 45 minutes, past new homes with owners either mowing lawns or tilling flower garden spots, past a field of horses (a palomino, an appaloosa, a paint, and a red roan), past a field of cattle, some with calves at side. Along the way, four friendly dogs came out to greet us and sniff our hands in introduction.
August is usually very hot and humid, with little rain, in our state. The lawns are dry and yellowed by now, and the trees already show signs of wear and brittle brown leaves. But this August has been unusually mild, with quite a bit of rain. So the fields, the lawns, and the trees are still thriving and bright green.
Later, we watched a movie..."Separated by Murder," starring Sharon Gless as wealthy twin sisters who conspire to hire someone to kill the husband of one. Both are arrested and tried for murder. The movie is based on a true story.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Sunday, August 23
Got up late this morning and hit the treadmill after breakfast. After that, it was a usual Sunday morning...programming the DVR for the week's shows and movies, doing a couple of loads of laundry, and making a menu for the week.
For lunch, we had beef strips with bell peppers and onions, baked potatoes, and salad. Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie and I went to a home improvement store to check out sliding glass door units. The one leading into our sunroom is nearly impossible to open and shut anymore. We found a unit we liked, but it is white, which will not work in our den, where the walls are beige and the woodwork is dark brown.
We asked if the unit came in a beige color, and it does, but special ordering a unit adds about $600 to the price, while the white display unit at the store is $295. We thought that was outrageous, so we'll shop somewhere else.
After the home improvement store, we went to the WDCS to get the groceries needed for this week's menu meals. Back home, we relaxed. Hubbie read his novel, while I read the Sunday newspaper.
Later in the afternoon, we watched a movie..."Michael Clayton," starring George Clooney. This R-rated movie is a corporate thriller...a man tired of defending shady corporate messes tries to dig out the truth behind a cover-up and gets into all kinds of dangerous scrapes in the process. We'd seen this movie before, but had forgotten the plot.
This evening, we watched, "Irresistible," starring Susan Sarandon, recorded from Lifetime Movie Network. A woman becomes convinced that her husband's sexy co-worker is trying to steal her life, including her husband and kids.
For lunch, we had beef strips with bell peppers and onions, baked potatoes, and salad. Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie and I went to a home improvement store to check out sliding glass door units. The one leading into our sunroom is nearly impossible to open and shut anymore. We found a unit we liked, but it is white, which will not work in our den, where the walls are beige and the woodwork is dark brown.
We asked if the unit came in a beige color, and it does, but special ordering a unit adds about $600 to the price, while the white display unit at the store is $295. We thought that was outrageous, so we'll shop somewhere else.
After the home improvement store, we went to the WDCS to get the groceries needed for this week's menu meals. Back home, we relaxed. Hubbie read his novel, while I read the Sunday newspaper.
Later in the afternoon, we watched a movie..."Michael Clayton," starring George Clooney. This R-rated movie is a corporate thriller...a man tired of defending shady corporate messes tries to dig out the truth behind a cover-up and gets into all kinds of dangerous scrapes in the process. We'd seen this movie before, but had forgotten the plot.
This evening, we watched, "Irresistible," starring Susan Sarandon, recorded from Lifetime Movie Network. A woman becomes convinced that her husband's sexy co-worker is trying to steal her life, including her husband and kids.
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