Rested well last night and slept late this morning. Did a treadmill session and resistance exercises after breakfast. Doing laundry and ironing clothes took care of the rest of the morning.
Nothing special happened for the rest of the day. It was the first really hot, humid day of the season, so we holed up in our air conditioned house and watched TV for part of the afternoon.
We were disappointed when the new mama cat moved her three kittens off of Mother's porch today. But it's in a cat's nature to frequently move her litter...I guess as a means to make sure predators don't find them. Only thing is, she has moved them where we can't find them, either, drat it.
Seems like it has been a day for animals. Daughter called today to say a Pomeranian mix dog wandered into Granddaughter's yard. Granddaughter's dogs didn't take kindly to the invader, so Daughter was anxious to find the wanderer's owners. She spent much of the afternoon going around the neighborhood, and finally found the owners about a block away. Daughter was afraid she was going to have to deliver the dog to an animal shelter, so we were all relieved when she found its owners.
In other animal news, we think our Shih Tzu has developed a bladder or urinary tract infection, because she is leaking on the floor, and frequently begs to go outside. Naturally, she would have this problem on the weekend when there is no vet available.
Supper tonight was turkey bacon, lettuce, tomato, and Vidalia onion sandwiches, with Parmesan potatoes. Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie invited me to take a walk around the yard with him.
"I have to catch you when I can," Hubbie said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"When you're not on your laptop."
"Oh, I can quit any time I want to," I laughed.
After that it was back to watching TV (and playing on my laptop). I do spend a lot of time while watching TV keeping up with family activities on a social networking site.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Friday, May 21
Today is Great-Granddaughter's third birthday. Happy Birthday, Great-Granddaughter!
Wakeful last night...the last time I looked at the clock, it was 3:30 a.m. Needless to say, I was practically catatonic when we got up at 7:30 this morning. Skipped my exercises. Just didn't feel up to it.
Got some paperwork done, and did household chores before lunchtime. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the bank, to a grocery store, and to the Extension Office to pick up fair books, and then to the WDCS for groceries. Here, I had to stand in line two forevers to get deli turkey and cheese. I always dread having to visit the deli. There is usually only one lady working back there to serve a line of impatient shoppers. No matter what day of the week, or what time of the day I visit the deli, there is invariably a line waiting to be served.
Lately, I have hated shopping at the WDCS anyway, not only because of inadequate staffing, but because the store has eliminated many of my favorite food brands in favor of their house brands. The house brands are admittedly less expensive, but they are also sometimes inferior in quality. We have decided to try the house brands, and if we're not satisfied, we'll search for our favorite brands at other local grocery stores. We are already buying quite a few things at other stores. I'm all for saving money, but I'm also interested in getting a quality product, even if it costs a little more.
Later this afternoon, I made a quadruple batch of whole wheat pancake batter. Hubbie did the honor of cooking the pancakes. We had some for supper, and then bagged the rest for the freezer. They do nicely when heated in the oven. We have enough of a supply for a few months now. We had the pancakes with sugar free syrup, scrambled egg substitute, and turkey bacon.
Mother went home after supper, and Hubbie and I did our usual TV watching. Started with the movie, "80 Minutes," a 2008 R-rated film. A guy is waiting at home to celebrate his birthday with his girlfriend, Instead, an old friend, from whom he borrowed $15,000, grabs him and ties him to a chair. He is injected with a poison, and has 80 minutes to come up with the money, in order to get the antidote. Figured this one out before we were very far into the movie.
Wakeful last night...the last time I looked at the clock, it was 3:30 a.m. Needless to say, I was practically catatonic when we got up at 7:30 this morning. Skipped my exercises. Just didn't feel up to it.
Got some paperwork done, and did household chores before lunchtime. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the bank, to a grocery store, and to the Extension Office to pick up fair books, and then to the WDCS for groceries. Here, I had to stand in line two forevers to get deli turkey and cheese. I always dread having to visit the deli. There is usually only one lady working back there to serve a line of impatient shoppers. No matter what day of the week, or what time of the day I visit the deli, there is invariably a line waiting to be served.
Lately, I have hated shopping at the WDCS anyway, not only because of inadequate staffing, but because the store has eliminated many of my favorite food brands in favor of their house brands. The house brands are admittedly less expensive, but they are also sometimes inferior in quality. We have decided to try the house brands, and if we're not satisfied, we'll search for our favorite brands at other local grocery stores. We are already buying quite a few things at other stores. I'm all for saving money, but I'm also interested in getting a quality product, even if it costs a little more.
Later this afternoon, I made a quadruple batch of whole wheat pancake batter. Hubbie did the honor of cooking the pancakes. We had some for supper, and then bagged the rest for the freezer. They do nicely when heated in the oven. We have enough of a supply for a few months now. We had the pancakes with sugar free syrup, scrambled egg substitute, and turkey bacon.
Mother went home after supper, and Hubbie and I did our usual TV watching. Started with the movie, "80 Minutes," a 2008 R-rated film. A guy is waiting at home to celebrate his birthday with his girlfriend, Instead, an old friend, from whom he borrowed $15,000, grabs him and ties him to a chair. He is injected with a poison, and has 80 minutes to come up with the money, in order to get the antidote. Figured this one out before we were very far into the movie.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Thursday, May 20
We awoke about 3:30 this morning to very loud thunderstorms that dumped about two and half inches of rain. The power went out a couple of times, but came back on in a few minutes after each outage. We managed to go back to sleep after the storms passed, and then got up at 7:30.
Naturally, Hubbie was not able to get the TV in the den to work, so I fiddled with it until I finally got it back in order again.
I did a treadmill session and weights exercises after breakfast, as usual, and then did this and that for the rest of the morning.
Mother came over after lunch, and we waited for another member of the scrapbook club to arrive. This lady does not like to drive in town, so she rides with us. We got to the Extension Office at the appointed 1 p.m. hour, and the other member arrived within minutes.
We had a pleasant meeting and accomplished quite a bit. I finished four scrapbook pages and made three greeting cards for Caring Hands. Mother completed one scrapbook page and made a birthday card and a "thinking of you" card for Caring Hands. For my cards, I used prints of flower photos that I shot in our yard. They make pretty backgrounds.
One of the members brought a flyer she'd received in the mail, announcing a senior citizen center weight loss program. The program is free to anyone at least 10 lbs. overweight and 60 years old or older.
"Of course, you wouldn't be eligible," she said to me, "since you aren't 60 years old yet."
I laughed, "Oh, I'm old enough," I said, "I'm 68."
She was surprised, saying she had no idea I was that old. The Extension Services agent who was present also said she wouldn't have guessed I was that old.
I hugged them and told them that they had made my day. This is the second day in a row that I've been told I don't look my age. My hairdresser, when I told her I would be attending my 50th class reunion next week, also was surprised to learn I'm that old. She thought I was about 50. Wow! Could a person be any more flattered? Especially, since my mirror tells me I look every day of my age.
We were back home around 3:30. Mother went home, and later I fixed a supper of whole wheat bagel pizzas, potatoes with onions and bell peppers sauteed in olive oil, sodium-free cream style corn, and salad.
Tonight's TV fare included the movie, "The Take," an R-rated film about a hard-working Hispanic man with a family, who drives an armoured truck. On this day, his truck is hijacked. The hijackers kill his co-workers and then shoot him in the head. He is left for dead, but survives on the operating table. He suffers damage to his right frontal lobe that changes his personality. He becomes bent on exacting revenge on the hijackers.
Naturally, Hubbie was not able to get the TV in the den to work, so I fiddled with it until I finally got it back in order again.
I did a treadmill session and weights exercises after breakfast, as usual, and then did this and that for the rest of the morning.
Mother came over after lunch, and we waited for another member of the scrapbook club to arrive. This lady does not like to drive in town, so she rides with us. We got to the Extension Office at the appointed 1 p.m. hour, and the other member arrived within minutes.
We had a pleasant meeting and accomplished quite a bit. I finished four scrapbook pages and made three greeting cards for Caring Hands. Mother completed one scrapbook page and made a birthday card and a "thinking of you" card for Caring Hands. For my cards, I used prints of flower photos that I shot in our yard. They make pretty backgrounds.
One of the members brought a flyer she'd received in the mail, announcing a senior citizen center weight loss program. The program is free to anyone at least 10 lbs. overweight and 60 years old or older.
"Of course, you wouldn't be eligible," she said to me, "since you aren't 60 years old yet."
I laughed, "Oh, I'm old enough," I said, "I'm 68."
She was surprised, saying she had no idea I was that old. The Extension Services agent who was present also said she wouldn't have guessed I was that old.
I hugged them and told them that they had made my day. This is the second day in a row that I've been told I don't look my age. My hairdresser, when I told her I would be attending my 50th class reunion next week, also was surprised to learn I'm that old. She thought I was about 50. Wow! Could a person be any more flattered? Especially, since my mirror tells me I look every day of my age.
We were back home around 3:30. Mother went home, and later I fixed a supper of whole wheat bagel pizzas, potatoes with onions and bell peppers sauteed in olive oil, sodium-free cream style corn, and salad.
Tonight's TV fare included the movie, "The Take," an R-rated film about a hard-working Hispanic man with a family, who drives an armoured truck. On this day, his truck is hijacked. The hijackers kill his co-workers and then shoot him in the head. He is left for dead, but survives on the operating table. He suffers damage to his right frontal lobe that changes his personality. He becomes bent on exacting revenge on the hijackers.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Wednesday, May 19
Up just before 8 a.m., and did a treadmill session and resistance exercises after breakfast. After that, Mother came over and put color in my hair in anticipation of getting a haircut this afternoon.
Spent the rest of the morning on my computer. After lunch, I went to the beauty shop. There, my hairdresser, who said she hosted an election watch party at her house last night, told me who won the local contests. We went to bed before the results were in. Everyone we voted for was either elected, or will be in a runoff election in June. A couple of candidates we voted for on the state level will also be in runoff contests.
Back home, I didn't do a lot beyond a few household chores and laundry. Later, we had a supper of barbecued pork chops and brown rice. The pork chops, baked with barbecue sauce mixed with carrots, celery, and onions, is a favorite dish. The brown rice, cooked to perfection in an electric rice cooker, and topped with the veggie/barbecue sauce, was yummy.
For some reason, when we plan our menus, we tend to have similar meals all week. This week we started with barbecued pork sandwiches Sunday, and had baked potatoes topped with the leftover barbecued pork on Monday. Then today, we had pork chops topped with barbecue sauce and veggies. Next week, we'll have meatloaf, leftover meatloaf, and then spaghetti and sauce loaded with leftover meatloaf. There will also be more barbecued pork for family who visit us while we are at camp.
Mother went home after supper, and Hubbie and I watched TV, including episodes of "Lark Rise to Candleford," and "Foyle's War," from the public channel.
Spent the rest of the morning on my computer. After lunch, I went to the beauty shop. There, my hairdresser, who said she hosted an election watch party at her house last night, told me who won the local contests. We went to bed before the results were in. Everyone we voted for was either elected, or will be in a runoff election in June. A couple of candidates we voted for on the state level will also be in runoff contests.
Back home, I didn't do a lot beyond a few household chores and laundry. Later, we had a supper of barbecued pork chops and brown rice. The pork chops, baked with barbecue sauce mixed with carrots, celery, and onions, is a favorite dish. The brown rice, cooked to perfection in an electric rice cooker, and topped with the veggie/barbecue sauce, was yummy.
For some reason, when we plan our menus, we tend to have similar meals all week. This week we started with barbecued pork sandwiches Sunday, and had baked potatoes topped with the leftover barbecued pork on Monday. Then today, we had pork chops topped with barbecue sauce and veggies. Next week, we'll have meatloaf, leftover meatloaf, and then spaghetti and sauce loaded with leftover meatloaf. There will also be more barbecued pork for family who visit us while we are at camp.
Mother went home after supper, and Hubbie and I watched TV, including episodes of "Lark Rise to Candleford," and "Foyle's War," from the public channel.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Tuesday, May 18...Primary Election Day
Up at 7:30 on this rather cool, mid-May day, and did a treadmill session and weights exercises after breakfast. Was on the computer for a while before lunch. Mother came over around 11 a.m.
After lunch, we went to our polling place to vote in the Primary Election. Hubbie registered as number 99 at the poll, which is a fair turnout for this little polling place. It shows that folks feel very strongly about this highly contested election.
The poll workers all know us by name, so it is amusing that they still must see our ID's before we can vote. We have voted at this polling place for many years...so long that on the rare years we have gone downtown for early voting, our poll workers have inquired later why we didn't show up. There have been years that they practically cheered when we walked in the door, so slim was the turnout.
The electronic voting machines certainly make the process convenient and fast. Mother, though, is intimidated by the machines, so I accompanied her while she voted to make sure she didn't get confused by the functions.
Today, we also flew our American flags in the yard in recognition of Election Day. Hopefully, when people drive by and see the flags they will be reminded to go to the polls. God Bless America, and the freedom to express our choices with our votes.
After we got back home, Mother and I walked around the yard, inspecting the raised veggie gardens and her container herb beds. I snapped several photos of the plants (see previous posts).
Then, before supper, Mother joined me in reading e-mails, blog posts, and FB family conversations on my laptop. Supper was leftover lasagna, salad, cottage cheese, and green beans.
Mother went home after that, and Hubbie and I settled in front of TV. We watched a couple of one-hour shows, followed by "Dancing with the Stars," and "Lost." After that, we tuned in to state election results on TV, as well as our county's results at our local newspaper's website live streaming video from City Hall.
After lunch, we went to our polling place to vote in the Primary Election. Hubbie registered as number 99 at the poll, which is a fair turnout for this little polling place. It shows that folks feel very strongly about this highly contested election.
The poll workers all know us by name, so it is amusing that they still must see our ID's before we can vote. We have voted at this polling place for many years...so long that on the rare years we have gone downtown for early voting, our poll workers have inquired later why we didn't show up. There have been years that they practically cheered when we walked in the door, so slim was the turnout.
The electronic voting machines certainly make the process convenient and fast. Mother, though, is intimidated by the machines, so I accompanied her while she voted to make sure she didn't get confused by the functions.
Today, we also flew our American flags in the yard in recognition of Election Day. Hopefully, when people drive by and see the flags they will be reminded to go to the polls. God Bless America, and the freedom to express our choices with our votes.
After we got back home, Mother and I walked around the yard, inspecting the raised veggie gardens and her container herb beds. I snapped several photos of the plants (see previous posts).
Then, before supper, Mother joined me in reading e-mails, blog posts, and FB family conversations on my laptop. Supper was leftover lasagna, salad, cottage cheese, and green beans.
Mother went home after that, and Hubbie and I settled in front of TV. We watched a couple of one-hour shows, followed by "Dancing with the Stars," and "Lost." After that, we tuned in to state election results on TV, as well as our county's results at our local newspaper's website live streaming video from City Hall.
Squash and Flowers
The top photo is of squash plants in one of Mother's and Hubbie's raised gardens, and the bottom photo shows a pretty bed of flowers Mother planted at the back of her house.Veggies and Herbs
Here are snapshots of Mother's and Hubbie's raised veggie gardens, and Mother's container herbs. The top photo shows large pots of a variety of tomato plants with unusual or exotic names, like Mexico, Striped German, Hillbilly, Early Wonder, First Prize, Bella Rosa, Giant Belgium, and Ruby Green. We bought these plants at this year's Master Gardener plant sale, and we're anxious to see what the various tomatoes will look like. The middle photo shows a bed of bell pepper plants and tomato plants (the names of which we don't know, since the Master Gardener selling them didn't know). Of course, the bottom photo is of various herb plants. Mother also has a couple of herb plants in hanging pots.Monday, May 17, 2010
Monday, May 17
Up at 8 a.m., again, and did a treadmill session and resistance exercises after breakfast. Didn't do a lot after that beyond playing on the computer and calling the members of the scrapbook club to remind them of our meeting Thursday.
Mother came over mid-morning and gathered some things to finish scrapbook pages and make greeting cards on Thursday.
After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the bank, to a roadside vendor to pick up another flat of strawberries, to the hydroponic farm for tomatoes, to a farm store for birdseed, to the WDCS for groceries, to the other discount store, where I didn't find what I wanted, to a home improvement store for impatiens for Mother, and finally to a grocery store for fat-free ice cream and whipped topping, plus several grocery items that were either free or were discounted with store coupons.
It was around 3 p.m. before we got back home. I spent the next hour or so gathering more stuff to work on at the scrapbook club meeting, and doing several card stock pages of rubber stamp greetings.
Supper tonight was loaded baked potatoes, topped with leftover pork barbecue, sauce, and cole slaw, plus shredded Monterey Jack cheese. We served sliced tomatoes with this, and Hubbie and I also had leftover corn on the cob. That one pound of free pork barbecue yielded about ten servings for us. Not bad.
Later, at 7 p.m., we went to a Japanese puppet program at a local college, sponsored by the area arts council. It was what is called a Wood and Strings Theatre of folktales, using life-size puppetry. Admission was free, though donations were taken as a fundraiser for a memorial scholarship in honor of a valued community theater member, who died of injuries from an automobile accident several years ago.
It was an interesting program, where the puppeteers were covered from head to toe in black outfits, and operated the large puppets against a black backdrop. Each puppet was operated by two puppeteers...one that moved the head and right arm, and one that moved the left arm and feet. The puppets included two male figures and a female figure, all dressed in very ornate and authentic-looking clothing. There was also a large, colorful sea dragon, a Punch and Judy scene, and shadow puppetry.
After the program, I went down to the stage to inspect the puppets more closely. I was told that they weigh about 8 lbs., the heads and hands of which are constructed of wood chips and some sort of molding material. The dragon, which the puppeteers operated in an undulating motion, as if it were swimming in the ocean, was constructed in part from a dryer hose. The kids who attended the show loved the dragon best and were clustered around it so they could touch it.
The story portrayed by the puppets is about a humble fisherman, who falls in love with a girl above his station. The girl loves him, too, but the father disapproves and turns the fisherman into a sea dragon. The dragon goes on a journey of self-discovery, and when he returns, the father turns him back into a fisherman. The fisherman is now brave and strong and asserts his right to marry the girl. All ends happily.
The program lasted about an hour, and we were back home a little after 8 p.m. , when we enjoyed angel food cake with strawberries and ice cream, while we watched "Dancing with the Stars." Mother went home after that, and Hubbie and I watched a one-hour program before the 10 p.m. news.
Mother came over mid-morning and gathered some things to finish scrapbook pages and make greeting cards on Thursday.
After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the bank, to a roadside vendor to pick up another flat of strawberries, to the hydroponic farm for tomatoes, to a farm store for birdseed, to the WDCS for groceries, to the other discount store, where I didn't find what I wanted, to a home improvement store for impatiens for Mother, and finally to a grocery store for fat-free ice cream and whipped topping, plus several grocery items that were either free or were discounted with store coupons.
It was around 3 p.m. before we got back home. I spent the next hour or so gathering more stuff to work on at the scrapbook club meeting, and doing several card stock pages of rubber stamp greetings.
Supper tonight was loaded baked potatoes, topped with leftover pork barbecue, sauce, and cole slaw, plus shredded Monterey Jack cheese. We served sliced tomatoes with this, and Hubbie and I also had leftover corn on the cob. That one pound of free pork barbecue yielded about ten servings for us. Not bad.
Later, at 7 p.m., we went to a Japanese puppet program at a local college, sponsored by the area arts council. It was what is called a Wood and Strings Theatre of folktales, using life-size puppetry. Admission was free, though donations were taken as a fundraiser for a memorial scholarship in honor of a valued community theater member, who died of injuries from an automobile accident several years ago.
It was an interesting program, where the puppeteers were covered from head to toe in black outfits, and operated the large puppets against a black backdrop. Each puppet was operated by two puppeteers...one that moved the head and right arm, and one that moved the left arm and feet. The puppets included two male figures and a female figure, all dressed in very ornate and authentic-looking clothing. There was also a large, colorful sea dragon, a Punch and Judy scene, and shadow puppetry.
After the program, I went down to the stage to inspect the puppets more closely. I was told that they weigh about 8 lbs., the heads and hands of which are constructed of wood chips and some sort of molding material. The dragon, which the puppeteers operated in an undulating motion, as if it were swimming in the ocean, was constructed in part from a dryer hose. The kids who attended the show loved the dragon best and were clustered around it so they could touch it.
The story portrayed by the puppets is about a humble fisherman, who falls in love with a girl above his station. The girl loves him, too, but the father disapproves and turns the fisherman into a sea dragon. The dragon goes on a journey of self-discovery, and when he returns, the father turns him back into a fisherman. The fisherman is now brave and strong and asserts his right to marry the girl. All ends happily.
The program lasted about an hour, and we were back home a little after 8 p.m. , when we enjoyed angel food cake with strawberries and ice cream, while we watched "Dancing with the Stars." Mother went home after that, and Hubbie and I watched a one-hour program before the 10 p.m. news.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Sunday, May 16
Up around 8 a.m. this morning, then did a treadmill session and weights exercises after breakfast. I'm slowly getting back to my usual exercise level.
Didn't do much beyond routine Sunday activities of programming the DVR and reading the Sunday newspaper for the rest of the morning.
Lunch was barbecue pork sandwiches, with cole slaw, baked sweet potatoes, and corn on the cob. Mother went home afterward to relax for a while. She came back at 3:30, because we intended to go to a program at the museum about beekeeping.
But just as we headed to the van, the sky to the west darkened ominously. So we decided to come back inside and check the TV for storm advisories. Sure enough, our county was under a thunderstorm warning. High winds and hail were possible, so Hubbie rushed out and drove the van and the truck into the garage.
He also brought the newest mama cat and her three kittens from Mother's front porch into the sunroom. After a few minutes, though, the mama cat began moving the kittens under the hot tub. She only got one under there, though, before Hubbie noticed what she was up to. It was a challenge, but he managed to fish the kitten out with a long, plant hook. After that, he brought the cat and kittens into the den until the storm eased, when he took the lot of them back to Mother's porch.
Around 5 p.m., we decided to have dessert before supper, and enjoyed angel food cake with strawberries and ice cream. Mother went home after that, and Hubbie and I watched TV.
We saw the movie, "The Weight of Water," starring Sean Penn, Catherine McCormack and Elizabeth Hurley. This R-rated movie (for some nudity and brief sex), swings back and forth between a true-story 100-year-old murder on an isolated New England island, and the story of a group of four modern travelers to the island, who have come to investigate the murder. The lives of the modern group seem to intertwine with the characters in the 100-year-old story.
This afternoon, we watched the movie, "The Last Winter." The movie, starring Ron Perlman, is unrated, but it does contain some language, brief nudity, and a mild sex scene. A crew goes to Alaska to drill for oil, but strange, supernatural things happen, presumably caused by global warming.
Didn't do much beyond routine Sunday activities of programming the DVR and reading the Sunday newspaper for the rest of the morning.
Lunch was barbecue pork sandwiches, with cole slaw, baked sweet potatoes, and corn on the cob. Mother went home afterward to relax for a while. She came back at 3:30, because we intended to go to a program at the museum about beekeeping.
But just as we headed to the van, the sky to the west darkened ominously. So we decided to come back inside and check the TV for storm advisories. Sure enough, our county was under a thunderstorm warning. High winds and hail were possible, so Hubbie rushed out and drove the van and the truck into the garage.
He also brought the newest mama cat and her three kittens from Mother's front porch into the sunroom. After a few minutes, though, the mama cat began moving the kittens under the hot tub. She only got one under there, though, before Hubbie noticed what she was up to. It was a challenge, but he managed to fish the kitten out with a long, plant hook. After that, he brought the cat and kittens into the den until the storm eased, when he took the lot of them back to Mother's porch.
Around 5 p.m., we decided to have dessert before supper, and enjoyed angel food cake with strawberries and ice cream. Mother went home after that, and Hubbie and I watched TV.
We saw the movie, "The Weight of Water," starring Sean Penn, Catherine McCormack and Elizabeth Hurley. This R-rated movie (for some nudity and brief sex), swings back and forth between a true-story 100-year-old murder on an isolated New England island, and the story of a group of four modern travelers to the island, who have come to investigate the murder. The lives of the modern group seem to intertwine with the characters in the 100-year-old story.
This afternoon, we watched the movie, "The Last Winter." The movie, starring Ron Perlman, is unrated, but it does contain some language, brief nudity, and a mild sex scene. A crew goes to Alaska to drill for oil, but strange, supernatural things happen, presumably caused by global warming.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)