Saturday, September 19, 2009

Saturday, September 19

We were up around 7 a.m. to get ready to go shopping at the annual county-wide yard sales. The sales started at seven, but by the time we all got ready, took care of Shih Tzu's morning needs, and spruced the bathrooms and bedroom for a visit from the pest control guy, it was after eight before we set out.

As expected, things were pretty picked over by the time we visited the first sale. But I did find an audiobook on CDs. As we went along from sale to sale, we found a good card shuffler (our old one is getting cranky and doesn't work very well anymore). I also found a "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book. I have a collection of these books, but did not have this one. At another sale, Mother and I found lots and lots of 12"x12" scrapbook paper and cardstock, packages of handmade paper, and vellum. The folks hosting the sale were ready to get rid of it, so they said we could have these at ten cents a sheet if we bought 40 or 50 sheets. I bought 50.

The only thing Mother bought was a chambray shirt at one of the sales.

We were back home by noon. After lunch, Hubbie commented that he thought he must have written the appointment for pest control on the wrong date, because he was sure the business didn't schedule for Saturdays. He tried calling the business, but there was no answer, confirming his suspicion.

So, since we didn't expect anyone this afternoon, we decided to go back to the yard sale that had the scrapbook paper and pick up the rest of it...120 sheets...which we can use to make greeting cards for Caring Hands Hospice, as well as for personal projects. The folks threw in a template for making envelopes, a stack of scrap papers, and some stickers.

From there, we visited a few other sales, but found nothing we wanted. By this time, it was raining pretty hard, so we came back home. Mother stayed home while we were gone. The trek out this morning tired her enough that she wanted a nap.

Supper tonight was leftover spaghetti, garlic bread made from whole wheat hamburger buns, and salad.

Later, we watched a movie called, "Flash of Genius," starring Greg Kinnear, and Alan Alda. This PG-13 film is based on a true story about the Detroit physics professor, Bob Kearns, who invented the intermittent windshield wiper. The blueprint patents for the invention are infringed upon by the Ford Motor Company, which proceeds to manufacture and install the mechanisms on their cars. A legal battle ensues. Good movie.

After the movie, we watched our favorite college football team play to a disappointing loss in their first SEC game. I had recorded the game on the DVR, while we watched the movie, so we ddn't start watching the game until 9 p.m., and even with fast forwarding past commercials, the game still ran on until midnight.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Friday, September 18

The sun was shining this morning, but turned to liquid sunshine by the afternoon, then back to sunshine by supper time. We got up at 6:30 so that I could get ready to go to the pool for water aerobics. The water felt nippy, but was fine once I go used to it. Thankfully, the dressing room wasn't frigid today.

Back home, once I was ready for the day, I went shopping. No one went with me this time. Before I visited the stores, I stopped by the college to see an exhibit by an art instructor from Rochester, New York. I was born in Rochester, but my family left there when I was only three or four years old. The artist and I also have the same first name. Those two things attracted me to the exhibit, though I try to see most of the art exhibits at the college.

The artist used wooden shadow boxes and plaques in which, or on which, she mounted found objects to make statements. One shadow box was titled "How I Learned to Keep My Mouth Shut," or something like that. In the box were glued the names of famous women of history and of current times, along with other objects. I don't know what the artist meant to portray, but to me it said that these powerful women have important messages to impart to us, if we'll be quiet and listen.

Another box of gold gilding had tiny portraits of the Rockefeller family attached to the outside. Inside, behind a barely cracked door, is housed what looks like a chalice. The word "old" is attached to the top. Meaning: old money, wealth, a family as an almost religious icon in this country? Whatever the meaning, it makes the viewer think and puzzle.

One of the plaques that struck me was called "Pig in a Poke." A toy pig head is mounted on a small box covered with an American flag. A triangular red sign above the pig's head has the word MINES printed in large letters on it. I interpreted this to be a political statement about our country's precarious and vulnerable standing in the world.

Other viewers might look at these works and come away with entirely different interpretations, but I think trying to figure out what the artist intended is less important than to ponder the pieces for our own meanings.

From the art exhibit I went to the greeting card store to take advantage of a 20% off coupon. I bought a small scented reed diffuser that will probably become an exchange gift at Christmas. Then I went to the new department store to see if there was anything I could use a 25% off coupon for. I didn't find anything for myself, but I did find a cute gray cape with collar and button-up front for Mother. I brought it home for her to try, and she likes it. It'll be nice and warm for upcoming crisp fall days.

After shopping at this store, I headed home. Unfortunately, I ran into a traffic jam, created by an accident. By the time I got into the line, I could see a tow truck loading a vehicle, while a guy hurriedly swept glass off the road.

In order for the tow truck to get to the vehicle, which was in a ditch, it had to be parked sideways on the highway, completely blocking both lanes of traffic. After about ten minutes, the vehicle was loaded, and traffic resumed.

Apparently, this was a head-on collision between a van and a sedan. Any injured passengers, and there must have been injuries, were taken to the hospital before I got into the line of traffic.

I got back home a little after noon. I didn't do a lot other than read my novel before going to the hospital for a 3:15 appointment for mammograms. The lab now has a new digital machine, so although the test is still not my favorite thing to do (even with soft pads on the metal screen), it was a whole lot faster today. It took only minutes to do the screening, the results of which promptly came up on the computer, instead of having to wait for x-ray films to be developed. I was in and out of the lab within fifteen minutes.

While I was involved with all this, Mother prepared a salmon loaf and baked sweet potatoes for supper, which we had with a side of English peas. Mother looks forward to salmon loaf, since she is a fish lover and gets to take any leftovers home with her. Tonight, she took half of the salmon loaf, since Hubbie and I don't care for leftover fish.

We spent the evening as usual, watching TV.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Thursday, September 17

We awoke this morning to scattered sunshine with a threat of rain. I think we have had eight straight days of rain so far, with no sign of a letup in sight. The southern part of our state got the real soaking today, while we had a dreary overcast day, but just a sprinkling of rain.

I slept really late, until after 8 a.m. Hubbie was already up by the time I came downstairs. I did a treadmill session after breakfast, despite the lateness of the hour. It was going on 11 a.m. before I was ready for the day, though, so I didn't get a lot accomplished this morning.

Mother came over at noon, and after lunch, we gathered materials to complete some of the screen door Christmas cards we put together this week (see previous blog). Just before 1 p.m., we went to the Extension Office for our scrapbook meeting. One other member came...the one who yesterday said she would not attend if it rained today.

The other member did not come. She called this morning to let me know that she had an obligation for a project at her church that had been postponed from Monday to today. She said that if it rained she would come to the scrapbook meeting, but if there was no rain, she would be at her church. I don't know what project at her church required a no-rain day.

So-o-o, since there was one member who would not attend if it rained, and one who would not attend if it didn't rain, we went to the Extension Office. When we arrived, there was a group of men in the conference room, but when we spoke with the secretary, she said they were scheduled to vacate the room at 1 p.m., so we went on in and spread our stuff out. Presently, the men left.

The meeting lasted a couple of hours, and we were back home a little after 3 p.m., when Hubbie and I decided to go to the pharmacy to collect the overcharge from Mother's prescription that we picked up yesterday. I just went along for the ride, to keep Hubbie company. What with my being away from home for water aerobics, meetings at night, and the scrapbook meeting, Hubbie has spent a lot of hours at home alone this week, so he has enjoyed my company when running errands.

As we were leaving the house, we noticed two of the kittens were making themselves at home in a planter of Texas petunias (see previous blog), so I hurried back indoors to grab my camera. I was afraid the kittens would hop out of the planter before I got some snaps, but they didn't.

Supper for Hubbie and me (Mother went home for supper) was more split pea soup, with PB&J sandwiches. I added a cup of hot, light, cranberry juice to mine, and Hubbie ended his meal with a small dish of banana pudding. It hasn't been a really chilly day, but soup and a hot drink still felt good on this dismal, damp day.

After supper, Hubbie and I watched TV, as usual, but we didn't have very good luck with it...right at the crucial point of a movie we were watching, it suddenly stopped. The DVR failed to record the last several minutes of the movie. Then we watched a one-hour cop show that ended with a cliff hanger, which means I need to remember to record the second part next week. I hate when that happens.

Screen Door Christmas Cards


These are cards Mother and I completed at our scrapbook club meeting this afternoon (Thursday, September 17).

Kittens


The kitten on the right appears to be sniffing a flower, while her litter mate snoozes beside her in a pot of Texas petunias. These are two of the cute kittens we have yet to find homes for. Their antics keep us entertained, though.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Wednesday, September 16

I've had a fairly busy day, starting with water aerobics this morning. It was very rainy this morning for walking to the gym. And of course, I had to park way up by the student union.



Today there was a new person at the pool. I didn't recognize her at first, but when she introduced herself, I realized that her mother had worked as a secretary in the same office I did years ago. This young woman now has two children and one on the way, and she is taking classes at the college. This semester, she is required to take a physical education class, and since she's expecting, her instructor suggested she do water aerobics to fulfill her course requirement.



The other story from the pool was that one of the ladies, who recently had knee replacement surgery, fell while mopping her kitchen floor, hurting her knee and hitting her head on a counter. She had an MRI on her head, and fortunately, she is fine. We wondered where she was all last week, and now we know.



Back home after aerobics, I did this and that after getting ready for the day. After lunch, and once the vehicles from the accident were cleared away (see previous blog) Hubbie and I ran errands. Rain or shine, we musn't miss a day of errand running. Today, we went to a grocery store to get cottage cheese (we need to buy this stuff by the gallon). Then we went to the pharmacy for a prescription for Mother, and on to the WDCS for several grocery items.



When we got back home, we realized that the pharmacy had overcharged for Mother's medication. She's been getting this med for $2.40, but today she was charged $24.00. Hubbie called the pharmacy, and the mistake is being corrected so that Mother will be reimbursed for the overcharge.



This afternoon, I made banana pudding, since I remembered to get vanilla wafers at the store today. The pudding is made with skim milk, sugar substitute, and egg substitute, but is very good with the bananas and wafers.



Later this afternoon, Mother and I went to a baby shower at a local church. This was a drop-in shower, so Mother and I arrived about 4:30, stayed long enough to visit the honoree and others we know, eat a small amount of refreshements (choices of fruity punch, cookies, and chocolate cake), and then we came on home.



Mother and I dressed in nice, but casual slacks and blouses, which we thought appropriate for a shower at a church, but several women wore jeans and capris, including the honoree. Anything goes these days.



At home, I changed back into jeans and t-shirt for supper, which was split pea soup, with cold sliced Cajun turkey sandwiches.



This evening, we watched watched the movie, "Hidden Evil." Based on a true story, a Canadian social worker investigates a cult headed by a Charles Manson type, where eight wives and lots of kids live in a commune. This is a very disturbing movie of an abusive and very violent madman, and the women who feared him, but were too cowed to leave him.



Today, we got a very sweet thank you card from our friend who recently celebrated her 80th birthday. She thanked us for a handmade birthday card we sent her. The card she sent was printed by a photo center, and the front features a sepia tone picture of our friend when she was three or four years old. The back of the card features a small color snapshot of her cherished toddler grandson. She despaired of ever having a grandchild, so she is naturally head over heels about this one.

Another Accident






Once again, the magnet on the road in front of our house was active today...at noon, a young woman rear-ended a car near the west end of our yard. She was uninjured, thank goodness, but she messed up her car, the front bumper of which was flung into our yard.
The top photo shows the bumper in the yard and the squashed front end of the woman's car. The second photo shows a member of the sheriff's department directing traffic. And the bottom photo is of the tow truck hauling the wreck away.



Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Tuesday, September 15

Got up late this morning, but did a treadmill session anyway. Mother came over while I was treading and started a pot of split pea soup cooking. We won't have this until tomorrow, but we want it to sit in the fridge overnight to meld the flavors.

Before lunch, Hubbie and I ran our daily errands...to pick up prescriptions at the grocery store pharmacy, and to the WDCS for groceries we forgot yesterday. At the pharmacy, we learned that Mother's doctor had failed to FAX a prescription for her, so I called the nurse right then and there to ask her to have the doctor do so ASAP, since Mother's current prescription runs out on Thursday.

I wish I'd thought to pick up a package of vanilla wafers, because at the grocery store, I found bags of bananas for 39 cents a pound. They are ripe and need to be used soon, so I'd like to make a recipe of from-scratch homemade banana pudding (because packaged vanilla puddings have yellow dye in them, which I'm allergic to). Guess we'll pick up the wafers tomorrow when we get Mother's prescription.

After lunch, Mother and I continued working on the screen door cards, this time cutting designs from old Christmas cards to use as decorative elements. Then I typed holiday greetings for the insides of the cards. We'll finish working on this batch of cards during our scrapbook club meeting Thursday afternoon.

Supper tonight was spaghetti, green beans, and sliced tomatoes topped with cottage cheese. Later, we watched a movie..."The Neighbor," starring Matthew Modine and Michele Laroque. Rated PG-13, this is a romantic comedy about an artist, who lives in the apartment above a woman, who works in real estate. The man is having a hard time accepting his ex-wife's plans to remarry, and the woman is trying to convince herself that her fiance' is "perfect" for her. The man wants to attend his ex-wife's wedding (uninvited) with a date; the woman downstairs agrees to go under certain conditions...and, well, you can guess how it turns out. It's an entertaining enough movie with some comedic moments.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Monday, September 14

Started the day with water aerobics this morning. It was a drizzly day, so my fleece wear felt good. The dressing room was frigid, as usual, and the water was cool but felt good once I was got used to it.

Our leader was a little glum this morning, because a lady friend of hers, in her 80s, died over the weekend. Our leader is in her sixties, my age. She is a retired teacher, as was the lady who died. Mother and I met the lady a couple of times at "water babes" luncheons.

It was lightly raining when I left the gym after water aerobics, just enough to need my umbrella as I climbed the hill to my car, but the temperature was moderately warm, and there was no wind, so the walk was quite pleasant.

Back home, after I was ready for the day, I planned the menu for the week, and then went upstairs to my computer, where I printed out information about attractions in our capital city for when we camp there next week. While I was doing this, Hubbie ran errands.

Mother stayed at her house until after lunch. When she came over, we continued working on the screen door Christmas cards. We now have eleven of them ready for decorations and greetings.

Around 2 p.m., Hubbie and I ran errands...to the Post Office, to the health food store, to a dollar store for greeting cards (where I buy two-for-a-dollar generic ones for those extra people on my birthday card list), to the other discount store (where I bought a stack of word search magazines for Mother for Christmas), and to the WDCS for a few grocery items.

It was 4 p.m. by the time we got back home and time to round up supper, which was leftovers from yesterday...Cajun turkey roast, oven fried potatoes, crowder peas, grape tomatoes, plus biscuits with cherry preserves.

Later, we watched a Masterpiece Theater mystery from the public television channel.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Sunday, September 13

We slept really late this morning, not getting up until well after 8 a.m. I skipped my exercises...not because we got up late, but because I like to skip one day a week to rest my muscles.

Mother came over around 9 a.m. and put a Cajun flavored turkey roast into the slow cooker. Then, once I was ready for the day, I cut out more screen door cards from card stock, and Mother assembled them. I also did my usual Sunday routine, like programming the DVR for the week's shows and movies.

The turkey was good for lunch, served with oven fried potatoes, and fresh crowder peas that I cooked in beef broth, dried onions, sodium free seasoning, and pepper. After lunch, I read the Sunday newspaper and my novel until around 3 p.m., when I changed clothes so Mother, Hubbie, and I could go to the museum for a program about a five-year-old boy who shot a 445 pound black bear.

The boy, now seven years old, and his grandfather came from another town to speak to the gathering about this event, as well as other hunting episodes. The boy is a very skilled hunter (a deadeye, his grandfather says) and fisherman, who will no doubt make a good living from his skill when he's grown.

Davy Crockett is the 8th great-grandfather of the boy's grandfather, and the 10th to the boy. Recently, they attended a Crockett family reunion, at which the boy, naturally, was the star.

The boy has been interviewed on many TV and radio shows, but he is very shy in front of an audience, so his grandfather told his story today. The boy was proud to show photos of himself with his trophy bear, though.

The grandfather noted that they've gotten some hate e-mails, letters, and phone calls accusing the grandfather of training the boy to become a murderer through killing innocent animals. But the grandfather stressed that the boy, instead, is being well trained in the safe use of guns, respect for animals (killing them quickly and cleanly, taking them only in legal seasons, and not killing just for the joy of killing, but using the kills for food, and recognizing that if not harvested, non-endangered species can overpopulate and threaten people and property). This is not the same as torturing and killing household pets or small, non-food animals like birds, simply to watch them suffer and die.

He also stressed that in this day and age of a multitude of electronic diversions, children need more one-on-one time with adults, where they can talk about a range of topics. Many times, the grandfather and grandson spend several companionable hours in the woods without ever killing anything.

During one of those conversations, the grandson wanted to know what God looks like. "The Bible says that we are made in the image of God," the grandfather said. "So what do you think God looks like?"

"Well," the boy replied. "He's old, like you. And he has long black hair, and a gray beard." His grandfather, as it happens, is bald (but not so old...maybe in his fifties).

"By the way," the grandfather said, ending his talk, "it is doubtful that Davy Crockett shot a bear when he was only three. But this little guy (pointing to his grandson) really did shoot a bear when he was only five."

Later, after supper, we watched a couple of Jane Doe mystery movies from the Hallmark Channel. The Jane Doe series stars Lee Thompson and Joe Penny.