Saturday, October 3

Slept late this morning, but got a treadmill session and resistance exercises in anyway.

It was a routine day of household chores after that. Mother came over and stewed some of the last tomatoes from the garden, and then started cleaning what she thought were sweet banana peppers for the freezer. But she soon began having a burning sensation in her nose, so she asked me to take a bite of one of the peppers. Wow! It was hot! We won't be able to use them, so they will be given to whoever in the family might want them (first come, first served).

Mother bought the pepper plants last spring, while we were touring a garden at a private home in the town where Hubbie's daughter lives. She was told the peppers would be sweet. So we're disappointed.

Hubbie worked in the yard most of the day, including re-potting plants to be brought into the sun room for the winter. He wanted to get this chore done before predicted rain comes in tomorrow (and sticks around for most of the week). He also picked the last of the green tomatoes from the garden, to be sliced for the freezer. We love fried green tomatoes with a beans and cornbread dinner, or served with chicken and white gravy. When we "fry," though, it's with small amounts of olive oil.

Hubbie also mowed the yard today. While he was doing that, I spent time in the yard with Shih Tzu. These days, she is inactive ninety-nine percent of the time, so I try to encourage her to exercise a little. Even though she is nearly blind and deaf, she still seems to know where she wants to go. Today, no matter how many times I picked her up and headed her toward the center of the yard, she kept circling around and heading toward the road. You'd think she had a magnet on her nose, or something.

Later, I arranged the pumpkins, pots of mums, etc., on and in front of the bale of straw near the front porch. This morning, when we got up, Hubbie noticed that all of the cats and kittens were piled on top of the straw bale, so he grabbed a camera and went out to take pictures of them.

The cats didn't let a little thing like decorations on top of the bale stop them, though, because this evening, we noticed they were back up there, cutely arranged among the scarecrow, pumpkin, and pot of mums.

For supper, we had bagel pizzas, with sauteed potatoes, using leftover baked potatoes, and salad.


Later, we attended a symphony concert at the college. This orchestra is from the northeast delta region of our state, and they were very good. I had won the bid for two tickets to the concert at the silent auction of the arts council fundraising event during the summer. So we bought one more ticket tonight for Mother, and split the total cost of the tickets three ways, making the price of each one very inexpensive.

Tonight's program included several rousing pieces, including "Fanfare for the Common Man," by Aaron Copeland. The composition uses only French horns, trumpets, trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, and gong.

The orchestra also played the music of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, who is noted for the popular composition, "Scheherazade." Tonight's piece, "Capriccio Espagnol," evoked mental images of gypsy and Spanish dancers.

Following intermission, the orchestra played Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture. For "The Pines of the Appian Way," by Ottorino Raspighi, an organist performed on the huge pipe organ housed in the fine arts auditorium. The composition is described as "approaching somewhat ominously, with bass clarinet and low bass sounding fragmentary phrases of military fanfares."

The orchestra's encore number was one of the Olympic themes.

After such thunderous and uplifting music, we were wide awake when we got home to watch our favorite college football team play an exciting game to a much needed win. I had recorded the game on the DVR, but since we didn't get home from the concert until 9 p.m., it was nearly midnight before the game was over.

Surprisingly, despite our stimulating evening, I was able to fall asleep quickly and sleep soundly all night.

Friday, October 2

We were up at 6:30 a.m. on this sunny but nippy morning, so I could go to water aerobics. There weren't many at the pool when I arrived, even though I got there a little late, thanks to sitting in the driveway forever before I dared get on the road.

Others drifted in as the time for aerobics neared, until finally about 25 of us were gathered. Our regular lifeguard (a coach at the college) was not available today, so he engaged a student for the duty. The only problem was, the young man...head down on the table in front of him...snoozed through most of the session. At one point, we decided to send up a loud cheer during one of our exercises, just to startle him awake.

Back home, once I was ready for the day, I peeled and sliced the pears we bought yesterday and stewed them with a little sugar substitute, because they were a bit crisp for eating raw. We had dishes of them with fig cookies and hot tea for a snack this evening.

Before I started working on the pears, I got a call from my brother, who is retired in Florida.
We are derelict about keeping in touch with each other. It usually takes a holiday or a family tragedy to prompt a phone call.

Today, he was responding to the death of Granddaughter's partner. We talked for quite a while, ending by promising to mend our ways and touch base more often. My brother doesn't do computers, texting, or the like, so the telephone and snail mail are the only ways to contact him. However, his daughter (my niece) has e-mail, so we are in contact fairly often.

After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands, while Mother stayed home and cut up bell peppers for the freezer. First we went to a grocery store for cottage cheese, on-sale coffee (for which we also had cents-off coupons), and on-sale fifteen pound bags of red potatoes.

Then we went to another grocery store for pork loins and no-boil lasagna noodles. At the meat counter, we searched and searched for pork loins and couldn't find them. Finally, Hubbie asked a meat cutter if there were any loins in the back. She marched him to a case full of them, located right across the aisle from where we were standing (we hadn't noticed it, because our backs were turned to it...sort of like the monoliths we couldn't find near the bridge last week).

We were pretty embarrassed, and grinned sheepishly at a lady also shopping for meat. She laughed and said she's been guilty of similar things. Then she launched into a discussion of her ill husband, who apparently isn't doing well following a heart attack. I don't know how I managed to elicit this information from her, but it happens frequently at stores that strangers feel the need to confide in me. I must just have one of those non-threatening, motherly, faces.

From there, we went to a home improvement store to check the price of potted mums. We bought one purple one. I wanted a yellow one and a red one, too, but the ones at this store are already in full bloom, which will fade soon.

So we went on to the WDCS, where I bought the colors I wanted, as well as a bale of straw. We also shopped for groceries to satisfy the menu for next week.

Back home, we didn't accomplish much else before we got ready to go at 5 p.m. to a local middle school for their fall festival, where we bought barbecue sandwiches, served with coleslaw, potato chips, chocolate chip cookies, and cold drinks. I ate the sandwich and coleslaw, with a cup of water.

The festival included a silent auction, which ended at 7:30. We think we got the bids on several items, but won't know for sure until someone from the school calls on Monday.

We were back home about 8 p.m., and watched TV for the rest of the evening.

Thursday, October 1

Wow! October already. The months are whizzing by.

We slept late this morning, until 8 a.m. After breakfast, I did a treadmill session and weights exercises. After that, I uploaded photos to the one-hour service. I didn't accomplish much after that.

At 1 p.m., Mother and I went to the art gallery to help put tags, ribbons, and hangers on sun catcher Christmas ornaments. We were the only two to show up for the project, so we spent two hours working on it. I bought one of the multi-faceted clear ornaments for our white tree.

We also took four of the screen door Christmas cards that we made, to be offered for sale during second Friday events next week. This will be a trial. If the cards sell, we'll make more. The art council director commented that folks may not be willing to buy a card for $2.75 and then pay postage to send it. But I think folks might want to do what we'll do...use the cards as part of local organization exchange gifts, or to send to special people. I think they'd be nice as teacher's gifts from kids, too.

While we were at the gallery, Hubbie attended a Master Gardener nominating committee meeting. As is the case with most organizations around town, no one wants to take an officer position in the Master Gardener local club. So not much was accomplished today. I guess they'll have to resort to begging folks to take the reins.

After we got back home, Mother went to her house, and Hubbie and I drove down to a roadside vendor to buy pumpkins, pears and butternut squash. Tomorrow, we'll look for a bale of straw and pots of mums to use in decorating the yard.

For supper, I made fajitas, using whole wheat tortillas, slices of deli turkey, sauteed mushrooms/onions/bell peppers/tomatoes, black bean dip, green chilies, salsa, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese. I rolled and wrapped these in foil and heated them in the oven, and then served them topped with sour cream, and a side of fresh tomatoes, onions, bell pepper, and slivered baby carrots.

After that, it was business as usual...watching TV.

Wednesday, September 30

We were up at 6:30 this morning, and I was at the swimming pool by 8 a.m. It took a while for me to leave our driveway, though, thanks to a combination of the vegetation that obstructs my view of the curve in the road to the east, and the early morning sun, which shone so brightly that it blinded me from seeing in that direction. Fortunately, I was able to get on the road safely, despite those obstacles.



Before I left the driveway, a warning came up on my dashboard that the gas cap was missing. Hubbie checked, and sure enough, there was no gas cap...we guess when he filled the van yesterday, he dropped the gas cap at the filling station. As it happened, he had a spare cap....the one that originally came with the van. The one we lost was a lock cap, purchased some months ago.



At the pool, the water was chilly, but felt good once I got used to it. The lady I usually stand beside while doing aerobics was not there today. I learned that her granddaughter, a student at the college, passed out in one of her classes, and is today in our Capital City children's hospital. I hope there is nothing seriously wrong with her.



Back home, I got ready to go, along with Hubbie and Mother, to another town for the memorial service of Granddaughter's partner and father of her children. The service was at 2 p.m., and we arrived about 1:30. In tribute to how well the young man was thought of, there was standing room only at the funeral home where the service was held. Family, of course, had reserved seats.

The service included a slide show of the young man from his birth (1981) to the current time, as well as testimonies from many of the people attending, who related pleasant memories and funny stories of their association with him. It was obvious that he will be sorely missed. We were privileged to be in his company only a few times, but our hearts are wrenched for Granddaughter and the two children, our great-granchildren. It's tragic that this young man's life was cut so short (only 28 years old).

Folks were invited to Son and Daughter-in-Law's house for a reception, but since it was obvious that there would be a large crowd at their small home, we opted to head back home. We stopped at a town about 30 minutes away so that Hubbie could pick up items at a home improvement store.

Then, since it was near supper time for us, and we hadn't eaten since 11 a.m., we decided to eat at a buffet restaurant. We got to the restaurant a few minutes before the prices went up for evening meals, and we left in time to get home before dark.

We were amused with Mother at the restaurant, where I carried her plate while she chose the foods she wanted. She started with baked fish and lots of macaroni and cheese.

"What else would you like?" I asked.

"I suppose I should have some vegetables," she sighed.

Okay. How about glazed carrots? No.

How about green beans? No.

Steamed broccoli? No.

Boiled cabbage? No.

Corn? No.

Salad? No.

What then?

"Well....," she said. "Maybe some fried okra, and (despite the fact they looked sort of dried out) some Lima beans."

We didn't have nearly as much problem choosing at the dessert counter, where she opted for a slice of lemon meringue pie, and piles of M&Ms and chocolate covered gels.

The day was mild, with low humidity, so Shih Tzu was fine in the van. In fact, a cool breeze blowing in the open windows, kept the vehicle comfortable for her. But by late afternoon, she was getting antsy to come home.

Back home, we did the usual...watched TV. It was a long day.

Tuesday, September 29

Even though we didn't have anywhere to go this morning, we still got up around 7 a.m. After breakfast, I did a session on the treadmill, followed by resistance exercises. While I was doing this, Hubbie went to the barber shop.



Once I was ready for the day, Mother came over, and we finished decorating the house for fall. I'd decorated the mantel on Sunday before we went camping on Wednesday. Now all that remains is to put a display in the yard, but that can wait until later in the week.



After lunch, Mother and I went to meet our haircut appointments, while Hubbie attended a Master Gardener committee meeting. When we got back home, I uploaded photos to the one-hour printing service, and caught up on blogs.



Mid-afternoon, Hubbie took Shih Tzu to the vet, because she is coughing. It seems like she coughs a lot after every camping trip. I don't know if she is affected by allergies from strange vegetation at the campgrounds, or what. Anyway, the vet checked her out and prescribed a cough medicine. But he also said she has a heart murmur and is "wearing out." We know this, though we don't want to think about it.

Supper tonight was pork chops, cooked in apple juice, onions, and spices, served with sweet potatoes and black eyed peas. Later, Hubbie and I watched TV, including "Dancing With the Stars."

Monday, September 28

We arose at 6:30 a.m., and I went to water aerobics, as usual. Back home, Mother put color in my hair for Tuesday haircut appointments. I called Daughter-in-Law to get more information on the memorial service for Granddaughter's partner, which I passed on to other family members via e-mail. I also called the florist to order a plant for the memorial.

After that, I spent the rest of the morning, and a couple of hours after lunch, making phone calls. First I called the other ladies of the scrapbook club to arrange to meet at my house the Thursday following our usual meeting date, because we plan to be in Branson on the usual meeting date week.

Then I called the several theaters in Branson where we have tickets for shows and made reservations. Lastly, I called our ophthalmologist to make appointments for Mother and me. Those will be at the end of October.


While I was doing all this, Hubbie was helping the guy who came to install our new sliding glass door leading from the den to the sunroom. I feared that the door might not blend well with the rooms, but it does. I dreaded that I would have to redecorate two rooms around that door, and am relieved that it won't be necessary.

Later in the afternoon, after I'd planned the week's menu, Hubbie and I ran errands...to a grocery store to get cottage cheese, to the bank, to a gas station to fill the van, and then to the WDCS for groceries.

Back home, we had a supper of leftover hamburgers/turkey burgers, and potato patties made from leftover mashed potatoes. Then Hubbie and I settled in for an evening of TV. For the past couple of nights, we've been watching new shows..."The Forgotten," "Flash Forward," "Fringe," "The Good Wife," and "Eastwick." We're undecided about which of these we will continue watching, though we certainly liked some better than others. Tonight, we watched "Dancing With the Stars," which is a favorite program for us.

Sunday, September 27

Terrible news this morning. Daughter-in-Law called, and I could tell by her voice that something was very wrong. She said that Granddaughter's partner and father of her two children was killed in a one-vehicle accident Saturday night. It was a horrific accident that just stunned us all.

Of course, I wanted to know if there was anything we could do, but there was nothing at this point. So we packed up to return home.

We arrived around lunchtime, unloaded the camper, and completed our usual Sunday routine.

Granddaughter and Great-Grandbabies occupy our minds.

Saturday, September 26

Once again, we were up early, this time to go to the zoo. We wanted to be there by 9 a.m., opening time, so we could get the tour done by around noon or 1 p.m. and get back to camp to take care of Shih Tzu.

We arrived at the parking lot right across the street from the entrance to the zoo a few minutes before 9 a.m. But family who were to join us didn't arrive as early as we hoped. Some time after 9, I called to see what the problem was and learned that they had run into a Race for the Cure event and were detoured. Somehow, they ended up in one of those residential areas that are mazes and difficult to exit.

Finally, though, they arrived, and we began our zoo tour. Mother rode in the wheelchair, with Hubbie, Daughter, and I taking turns pushing her. Hubbie manned the chair for uphill pushes.
Granddaughter and her husband brought along a wagon for the two little ones to ride in when they tired of walking.

We had a very good time at the zoo, but I was disappointed at how many exhibits either no longer contained animals, or were roped off for repairs or painting. Many of the animals one would expect to see were there...elephants, giraffes, zebras, gorillas and other primates, rhinos, lions and tigers, deer and antelopes, reptiles and birds, etc. But there was a lack of bears, no hippo, no peacocks and secretary birds, no giant tortoise. Or if these animals were there, they were hidden or were in one of the barricaded areas being repaired or reconstructed.

I was amused at the tiger exhibit, when a little boy being held by his grandmother, assured her that he would protect her from the big cats, so they wouldn't "eat you all gone."

At the another exhibit, two young women with children stood looking out over a grazing area. "Look," one young woman exclaimed to a child, "there's a cantaloupe!"

The other young woman looked at her, puzzled. "Those aren't cantaloupes," she said. "They're antelopes."

"Oh," the first young woman said.

The zoo also featured a farm animal section that the kids enjoyed, as well as a train and carousel that they rode on. So it was a worthwhile family outing. As the morning progressed, it became warmer, and by noon, we were all very thirsty. So we stopped for tall Styrofoam cups of lemonade made with freshly squeezed lemons and sugar. I would have preferred sugar substitute, but I was thirsty enough to not quibble.

Then, while the kids waited their turn at the carousel, we returned to camp to prepare a lunch of microwave baked potatoes, and steamed hamburger/turkey burgers, along with sliced tomatoes and sweet onions. Dessert was a variety of homemade, store bakery made, and Girl Scout cookies.

Actually, we had pre-cooked the potatoes while we were getting dressed and ready this morning. Once they were done, we wrapped them in foil and put them into a heated dutch oven, which we then put in Sis's car to keep them warm until lunch. At lunch, Sis added a litte water to the pan, and steamed the potatoes until they were hot again.


After lunch, we all visited for a while, before Daughter, Granddaughter, and Great-Grandkids had to leave for home. Sis, who was due at work by 6 p.m., left shortly thereafter. Daughter called to say that Daughter-in-Law wanted to know if we had Internet access. We didn't. So, I called her phone to leave a voice mail that we would be around camp if they wanted to visit (they live in a nearby town) . But I didn't hear back from them, and they didn't come by the camp. I figured they got busy and couldn't get away.

So Hubbie, Mother, and I were alone to play Skipbo tonight. I think I won a couple of games this time, but I don't really remember. I must have been too tired to care.

Friday, September 25

We were up early to get ready to tour the new Heifer International building, and hands-on exhibits. Today, once again, there were buses and buses of school children...this time unloading them onto the grounds of the facility, where tents and booths were set up in celebration of International Day.

We nearly despaired of being able to access the parking lot of the Heifer International building. A lady who was directing traffic advised of a route to the parking lot, and we followed her directions, which brought us right back to our starting point. This time, though, another person directing traffic waved us through to the street leading to the parking lot.

We found a handicapped space, but it was some distance from the building we wanted to visit. With Mother in the wheelchair, though, we had no problem walking to the building. Attendants outside the building ushered us right in, past waiting kids and teachers.

We enjoyed the many exhibits that explained how the organization operates to provide, with the help of monetary donations, animals and training to help families in poverty build sustainable livelihoods. As a condition of receiving animals and training, these families agree to share animals with other families in need, as a "pass it on" way of helping combat poverty.

One of the docents gathered a group of adults for a tour of the office building, which is one of the "greenest" buildings in the nation. It uses less than half of the energy of other buildings its size. The layout of the building allows for natural light, and LED lights are used in places like elevators. Restored wetlands around the building collect rainwater for irrigation.

The flooring in the building is of quick-growing bamboo, which is a rapid renewable resource, unlike slow-growing trees. The carpeting in halls is of recyclable materials, and is laid down in squares that can be removed and replaced as necessary one at a time.

The building itself is constructed in such a way that it can reflect or deflect sunlight for lighting, heating, and cooling the structure. Mechanical systems are under the floor and easy to access.

Once we had completed our tour, we returned to camp for lunch. After lunch, we went to a bicycle/pedestrian bridge, touted as the longest of its kind in the world, and the only one built into a dam. The bridge connects 14 miles of trails, and rises nearly seven stories above the river. It is lighted at night, but we failed to go back and see it while we were camped.

Today, though, we walked halfway across, to the center of the span. Hubbie pushed Mother in the wheelchair, since a good bit of the first part of the bridge is uphill. The day was warm, with a spectacular blue sky, and the river was gorgeous viewed from the center of the bridge.

Along the north and south side of the bridge stand huge concrete monoliths. These were cut from the dam when the bridge was constructed. Rather than being discarded, they were placed on the plaza as artistic reminders of the story of the bridge.

Somehow, we walked right past these monoliths without noticing them, and had to search for them upon reading about them on a plaque.

"I remember seeing some concrete blocks somewhere," I said.

"Maybe they're part of the bridge," Sis said, scanning the structure for clues.

"Aren't those tall things behind you the monoliths?" Mother asked.

We turned around, and sure enough, there stood six giant triangular shaped blocks. I suppose the blocks I thought I saw were the ones on the other side of the river. We had a good laugh about this, and then Mother, Sis, and I stood in front of one of the monoliths while Hubbie snapped our photo.

After we left the bridge, we stopped by a national historic site visitor center to see exhibits about the struggle for civil rights in the 1950s. Sis was only a child in those days, but I was in high school, and Mother and Hubbie were adults. So the three of us remember television reports of the crisis, segments of which were played on TVs throughout the exhibit.

Visitor center closing time was 4:30, so we left just a few minutes before that to go back to the campground.

Tonight, we had whole wheat pancakes, scrambled egg substitute, and a choice of turkey bacon or link sausages. I opted out of the sausages, of course. Later, we played Skipbo again, with basically the same results. I won the first game, but snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the rest. Just as I'd get down to within one or two cards of winning, one of the other card sharks would swoop in for a victory. Oh, well.

Thursday, September 24

We were up early to get ready for a day of touring the capital city. During the morning, we visited the new nature center. The center focuses on the state's bountiful fish and wildlife, and recreational opportunities. Here, we learned that the state is home to 215 kinds of fish, which surprised us. When we think fish, we think catfish, trout, bass, and other common sport and food fish. I don't know how many of the 215 are edible.

We were also surprised to learn that at one time a type of colorful large parakeet lived in the state. But, of course, humans killed the birds to extinction. Surprising, too, is how widespread alligators are. They can be found in about half the state, in counties ranging from the southern most part to the central sections. I had always considered this creature to be confined to the swampy southern counties.

The center includes aquariums, and lots of hands-on exhibits, as well as a theater that shows an educational film several times a day. Outdoors, there is a walking trail, though we didn't attempt it today. The entrance to the center is on the second floor, requiring a hike up a ramp to an elevator. Pushing Mother in a wheelchair up that lengthy ramp was enough exercise for the morning.

We were back at camp around noon. After lunch, we went to see an exhibit that a brochure says "explores the state's history of crime and punishment." There are some disturbing and rather creepy items here...which is why there is a warning that the exhibit is not suitable for kids. Included are a death mask, made after the execution of a young man in his 20s. There is also a replica prison cell, and two electric chairs, as well as a great variety of guns, badges, prisoner- made weapons, handcuffs, and such.

Our state was haven to some pretty famous criminals, including Bonnie and Clyde, Al Capone, Jesse James, and others, so there are HD televisions that feature narrative videos about these characters.

The horrors and improvements to the state's prison system are discussed in one video, and the progress of law enforcement is featured in another video.

Another exhibit at the same venu explained in detail the renovation of this very historic building.
There are several other rooms of exhibits, too, including one about politics in the state in the 20th Century, but we didn't have time to visit them. Hubbie left the building after we saw the crime and punishment exhibit to walk the four blocks to the truck, and bring it back to the front of the building to pick us up.

When we arrived at the building, we were stuck behind several school buses that were loading several hundred kids who had finished touring the exhibits (but not, I'm sure, the crime and punishment one). So we went in search of a parking space. The only one we could find was four blocks away, requiring me to push Mother in her wheelchair that distance. This was not a problem, except at points where there were trolley tracks. At those places, Mother got out of the chair and walked a few steps to the sidewalk.

Back at camp, we had a supper of hot meatloaf, with mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, and sliced tomatoes, along with whole wheat bread and butter. Then we played Skipbo again, and again, Sis, Mother, and Hubbie carried the night with wins, while Moi drug up the rear winning one game. Obviously, I'm no match for that bunch of card sharks!

Wednesday, September 23

Left town around 9 a.m., headed for the capital city. Arrived noon-ish. Sis arrived shortly afterward, and we all had a lunch of homemade pimento cheese sandwiches, with a choice of chips, pretzels, or sliced tomatoes topped with cottage cheese, and cookies for dessert.

Sis stayed with Mother during the afternoon, while Hubbie and I went shopping. We stopped first at the visitor center of a national historic site to obtain Senior Passes. These replace the previous Golden Age Passports for folks 62 years old and older. Hubbie had a Golden Age Passport in the past, but it disappeared when he lost his billfold a year or so ago. This is my first time to apply for the Senior Pass, which is good for discounts at campgrounds and other state and federal facilities that charge fees.

After that, we went to a camera/video store, where I purchased a digital camera upgrade. I only needed a camera body...one that would accommodate the lenses and flash unit on my old camera. I had researched cameras online, so I knew what I wanted, and the store had one on hand. Fortunately, the store offered a six-months-same-as-cash program, so that I can spread the camera purchase price over that period of time, and won't be pinched for cash during the upcoming holiday season.

Then we went to a wholesale club to shop for bulk groceries and other items, before returning to the campground. Upon our return, Hubbie and I decided to ride our bikes around the campground. Twenty or thirty minutes of riding was great exercise, and a lot of fun. The weather, overcast and mild, was great for riding, too.

Supper was corn chowder and cold meatloaf sandwiches. After supper, we played several games of Skipbo, with Mother, Sis, and Hubbie winning all but one game, which I managed to snag. During one game, I thought I was going to set some sort of a record when I had not moved a single card off my stack until near the end of the game.