We got up around 7 a.m., but I skipped my exercises, because we wanted to visit some of the yard sales in a county-wide yard sale event. We started on Main Street, where there were only three sales set up.
We didn't find much, so we scouted around the downtown area looking for others. Nothing there. We decided to check out another part of town, where we had more success. I bought several hardback novels for fifty cents each, and a 713-page volume of "The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm," for twenty-five cents. Because they are fascinating, I'll read the tales myself and then pass the volume on to a family member.
I also found a few scrapbooking items, including a pair of decorative scissors, a Christmas themed rubber stamp, and a heart-shape punch.
One of the sales was at the home of a now retired Extension Services agent (she retired to become caretaker to her elderly and ill mother). We were glad for the opportunity to visit with her, and we promised that we would call her in a couple of weeks to make a lunch date.
Most of the items she had for sale were child or teen related (her daughter is now grown and working in Branson, and her son is a freshman in college), but she did have a large, beautiful book on flower arranging, entitled "Flowers, The Book of Floral Design," by Malcolm Hillier, published in 2000, that she priced at only one dollar. The book begins with a history of flower arranging dating back to ancient Egypt and Japan, and proceeds to basic equipment and container information, followed by floral designs for every season and occasion. It's such an attractive book that it'll join others in my living room, so I can refer to it often.
Hubbie bought a few items, including planters and a ramp for loading the lawnmower onto a trailer when he needs to take it for repairs. He got the ramp for three dollars, because it was late in the morning, and the guy running the sale was ready to pack it in. So when we walked away, having bought nothing, he said that he would make us real good deals on anything we wanted, and Hubbie wanted the ramp.
Mother went with us on our yard sale excursion, but she only got out of the van twice, despite the fact that it was actually her idea to go to the sales. She just doesn't have enough strength in her legs to frequently climb in and out of the van, or enough energy to do a lot of walking.
When we were done with the sales, we decided to have lunch at a newly remodeled restaurant. Older Niece used to work at the restaurant. Now it has been renovated to look rustic, with wood siding, a wrap-around porch, and heavy oak tables and chairs both in the dining room and on the porch. The menu features several specialty items like Reuben, club, and Philly steak sandwiches. Mother and I chose the club sandwiches, but Hubbie just went with the monster burger. The lunch was Mother's treat.
We stopped at a couple of more sales on the way home, but didn't find anything else of interest. At home, I fixed a made-from-scratch banana pudding, using skim milk, sugar substitute, and egg substitute. When the pudding cooled, I layered the pudding with reduced fat vanilla wafers, and bananas we'd bought on sale yesterday.
Later, Hubbie and I watched our favorite college football team play to an amazing win with a touchdown in the last forty-eight seconds of the game. While we watched the game, Mother fixed Parmesan potatoes for the oven.
We had the potatoes for supper, with pork barbecue sandwiches, and corn on the cob. Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie and I settled in front of TV. We saw the 2009, PG-13, movie called "Obsessed," starring Idris Elba, Beyonce Knowles, and Ali Larter. An office temp becomes obsessed with her boss to the point of threatening his relationship with his family (sound familiar?).
Note: Mother is beginning to show some forgetfulness. Today, after I'd made the pudding from a recipe in a very old cookbook that belongs to Mother, I mentioned I needed to copy the recipe for my files. She said she thought I had already done that, and she went through three binders of collected recipes and finally found it. Later, as she was leaving for her house, cookbook in hand, she commented that she needed to find the copy of the pudding recipe for me. I asked if she'd forgotten that she already did that today. She thought about it and then laughed and nodded.
I'm forgetful, too...after all, I forgot I'd already copied the recipe, but I'd done that a long time ago. If enough time passes, I forget a lot of things, but usually not something I've done on the same day.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Friday, Sept. 17
Up at 6:30 this morning to go to water aerobics. Lovely morning. The recent rain greened the grass on the small college campus, a campus that is beautiful anyway, with attractive buildings nestled among trees. This morning, as usual, I was greeted with the dulcet tones of carillons chiming the hour. On the walk to my car after aerobics, the sound of bagpipes filled the air, as pipers practiced somewhere on campus.
Br-r-r, the water was cool in the pool this morning. Twenty-three of us shivered as we braved the water. Got used to it after a few minutes, though, and enjoyed the session.
Back home afterward, once I was ready for the day, I did this and that around the house until lunch time. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran a few errands...to the post office, and then to the farmer's market, where we picked up tomatoes, apples, and a big box of sweet potatoes. We will bake most of those for the freezer, and keep some aside to prepare fresh. I really wanted some peaches, and the vendor said she would have some later today, and gave us her cell phone number to call in the afternoon.
From there, we went to the WDCS for groceries, and then visited the gas station before coming home.
At home, Mother spent time reading e-mails and blogs on my laptop. Around 4 p.m., Hubbie called the farmer's market vendor and learned she had peaches, but not a lot of them. So we went immediately to get some. The vendor said these would be the last of the season.
Then we stopped by a grocery store to pick up food items that were not available at the WDCS. I also got some on-sale bananas and some grapes. I miss the abundance of local fruits that were available all summer.
While we were gone, Mother prepared and simmered canned navy beans with onion, banana peppers, and spices. Had those with sauteed cabbage and sweet potatoes from the freezer, and sliced tomatoes and coleslaw (yes, I know, we had cabbage prepared two ways). Mother and Hubbie had cornbread muffins from the freezer, and I had a slice of sourdough bread. It was a really tasty meal.
Mother went home after that, and then it was TV time for Hubbie and me. We saw the 2008, R-rated movie, "Righteous Kill," starring Robert Di Nero and Al Pacino. Liberal use of THE word, as two grizzled cops, jaded by so many bad guys getting acquitted of their crimes, go on the trail of a serial killer who takes out the low-lifes and leaves poems after each kill. Can one of these cops be the killer? Di Nero and Pacino are great actors, but they are too old for these parts. Particularly, Di Nero is too old to be the believable lover of the young and beautiful Carla Gugino.
A "well-phooey" moment: Hubbie decided to fix us popcorn to munch on during the movie. He likes to pop his, and then bake it for a while in the oven. Tonight, he mistakenly set the oven for broil, and while I was munching on my popcorn, I began to smell something burning. Hubbie checked the oven. As soon as he opened the door, smoke boiled out. He quickly closed the door to the hall, since that's where the smoke alarm is located, and opened both doors in the den to allow the smoke to escape to the outdoors. After that, he and I shared my popcorn...he was in no mood to try another batch.
Br-r-r, the water was cool in the pool this morning. Twenty-three of us shivered as we braved the water. Got used to it after a few minutes, though, and enjoyed the session.
Back home afterward, once I was ready for the day, I did this and that around the house until lunch time. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran a few errands...to the post office, and then to the farmer's market, where we picked up tomatoes, apples, and a big box of sweet potatoes. We will bake most of those for the freezer, and keep some aside to prepare fresh. I really wanted some peaches, and the vendor said she would have some later today, and gave us her cell phone number to call in the afternoon.
From there, we went to the WDCS for groceries, and then visited the gas station before coming home.
At home, Mother spent time reading e-mails and blogs on my laptop. Around 4 p.m., Hubbie called the farmer's market vendor and learned she had peaches, but not a lot of them. So we went immediately to get some. The vendor said these would be the last of the season.
Then we stopped by a grocery store to pick up food items that were not available at the WDCS. I also got some on-sale bananas and some grapes. I miss the abundance of local fruits that were available all summer.
While we were gone, Mother prepared and simmered canned navy beans with onion, banana peppers, and spices. Had those with sauteed cabbage and sweet potatoes from the freezer, and sliced tomatoes and coleslaw (yes, I know, we had cabbage prepared two ways). Mother and Hubbie had cornbread muffins from the freezer, and I had a slice of sourdough bread. It was a really tasty meal.
Mother went home after that, and then it was TV time for Hubbie and me. We saw the 2008, R-rated movie, "Righteous Kill," starring Robert Di Nero and Al Pacino. Liberal use of THE word, as two grizzled cops, jaded by so many bad guys getting acquitted of their crimes, go on the trail of a serial killer who takes out the low-lifes and leaves poems after each kill. Can one of these cops be the killer? Di Nero and Pacino are great actors, but they are too old for these parts. Particularly, Di Nero is too old to be the believable lover of the young and beautiful Carla Gugino.
A "well-phooey" moment: Hubbie decided to fix us popcorn to munch on during the movie. He likes to pop his, and then bake it for a while in the oven. Tonight, he mistakenly set the oven for broil, and while I was munching on my popcorn, I began to smell something burning. Hubbie checked the oven. As soon as he opened the door, smoke boiled out. He quickly closed the door to the hall, since that's where the smoke alarm is located, and opened both doors in the den to allow the smoke to escape to the outdoors. After that, he and I shared my popcorn...he was in no mood to try another batch.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Thursday, Sept. 16
Up around 7:30 this morning, and did a treadmill session and resistance exercises after breakfast. Once I was ready for the day, I loaded our scrapbooking supplies into the van, and then ironed the clothes I'll need for an upcoming trout fishing trip.
Mother stayed at her house this morning, but after lunch came over to our house so we could go to the scrapbook club meeting at 1 p.m. Just before 1 p.m. the lady who rides with us arrived.
Four of us gathered today. Mother worked on pages of Niece's wedding, and I planned pages of my 50th anniversary high school reunion. I cropped photos, but did not mount them on pages, because I'm not satisfied with the colors of the card stock I chose. Our school colors were purple and gold, and I turned up purple paper that works just fine, but the gold I chose is too bright. I need to find a subtler tone.
The meeting lasted until 3 p.m., and we were home before 3:30. Mother went back to her house to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening.
Since I had a little time to kill before supper, I decided to make a small apple crumble dessert in order to use a couple of apples that were getting wimpy. Later, I heated "the week in review" leftovers for Hubbie's and my supper.
After that, it was an evening of TV. Tonight we watched a couple of one-hour season finale shows, and the premiere of another.
Mother stayed at her house this morning, but after lunch came over to our house so we could go to the scrapbook club meeting at 1 p.m. Just before 1 p.m. the lady who rides with us arrived.
Four of us gathered today. Mother worked on pages of Niece's wedding, and I planned pages of my 50th anniversary high school reunion. I cropped photos, but did not mount them on pages, because I'm not satisfied with the colors of the card stock I chose. Our school colors were purple and gold, and I turned up purple paper that works just fine, but the gold I chose is too bright. I need to find a subtler tone.
The meeting lasted until 3 p.m., and we were home before 3:30. Mother went back to her house to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening.
Since I had a little time to kill before supper, I decided to make a small apple crumble dessert in order to use a couple of apples that were getting wimpy. Later, I heated "the week in review" leftovers for Hubbie's and my supper.
After that, it was an evening of TV. Tonight we watched a couple of one-hour season finale shows, and the premiere of another.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Wednesday, Sept. 15
Up at 6:30 to go to water aerobics. There was a nip in the air again this morning, and I noticed that some of the trees are tinged with color, getting ready for a fall display.
Parking spaces were at a premium, as usual, so I had to walk down the hill to the gym. There is a parking lot directly across from the gym, but I've always avoided that one in order to leave spaces open for the ladies who have trouble walking. But today, I noticed many of the spaces now have names on them...recently (since last Monday) reserved for staff members, I assume. There are only two handicapped spaces on that lot.
The pool was really chilly this morning. Girded my loins and dipped down into it anyway. Once in it, I got used to the water and enjoyed myself.
Back home, after I was ready for the day, Mother came over, and we gathered stuff for Thursday's scrapbook club meeting. I also called our Extension Service office to ask the agriculture agent if he knew anyone who grows pumpkins. He gave me the name of one person.
At last night's arts council meeting, there was a discussion about decorating pumpkins for sale as a fundraiser, and the council director asked me to check with the agent to help locate someone who might be willing to donate or make us a deal on a bunch of pumpkins.
There is a lady who will be holding a workshop in October to lead artists who want to decorate pumpkins. She has several stencils to work from...the wicked witch's legs from "The Wizard of Oz," a raven with the word "Nevermore," a haunted house with the word "Boo", etc. She said she already has orders for some of her designs.
Received an invitation in the mail from my Alma Mater college about an upcoming 20th anniversary reunion, with an R.S.V.P. request, so I acknowledged it with an acceptance.
While I was doing these things, Hubbie went to the camper to check on the refrigerator, and found a couple of soft drink cans had frozen and burst. He turned the fridge off, cleaned it, and waited a while to turn it back on, hoping the thermostat would correct itself. Right now, it seems to be working again, but we'll know for sure in another day or so.
After lunch, we decided to take a little road trip to a town near us. We'd received promotional fliers in the mail from a car dealership. The fliers had keys attached and code numbers for a chance at winning a car, $100, or $2 bills. Our expectations were low, but it was such a beautiful day that we felt like getting out.
We got exactly what we expected...$2 bills, one for us and one for Mother. Since we were in the area, we visited a new package store. We learned they were giving a 15% discount today, so I called our arts council director to alert her. She said she already had an order there for wine as part of the refreshments for a musical concert Sunday afternoon, and since we were there, could we pick up the order and bring it back to the gallery. We agreed.
From that town, we traveled a few miles to a state park to take a look at a paddle wheeler boat that sprung a leak last winter and sank. This boat has sunk before and been raised and repaired. This time, the damage was too great to repair. All that is left of it is the paddle wheel, the black smokestacks, and the inner workings on the steel base. The cabin and wheelhouse are gone. It's a sad sight.
Disturbing, too, is that two guys were accused of sinking the boat (police officials found their footprints in the snow on the ramp leading to the boat) and arrested them. They were in jail for months before being proved innocent.
Back home, we stopped by a grocery store to pick up a couple of loaves of bread, then drove by a house to see a yard full of red spider lilies. I'd seen them last evening on my way to the community theater board meeting, and wanted Mother and Hubbie to see them. They are spectacular, and I'd like to have some in our yard. But Hubbie says the bulbs are too expensive.
We delivered the order of wine to the art gallery before returning home. Relaxed for the rest of the afternoon, and then had leftover chili for supper. Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie and I settled in to watch TV.
We saw the movie, "Brideshead Revisited," a 2008, PG-13 film based on the 1945 best-selling novel of the same name, by Evelyn Waugh. Starring Emma Thomson and Michael Gambon, the story is about a middle class young man who is invited to the estate of a wealthy family, where he is caught up in the opulent lifestyle, in which his friend desires a relationship with him, even as he becomes attracted to the friend's sister. His life is further complicated by his friend's mother, a bitter, unyielding, fanatically religious woman, whose husband has for years been living with his mistress in Italy.
Parking spaces were at a premium, as usual, so I had to walk down the hill to the gym. There is a parking lot directly across from the gym, but I've always avoided that one in order to leave spaces open for the ladies who have trouble walking. But today, I noticed many of the spaces now have names on them...recently (since last Monday) reserved for staff members, I assume. There are only two handicapped spaces on that lot.
The pool was really chilly this morning. Girded my loins and dipped down into it anyway. Once in it, I got used to the water and enjoyed myself.
Back home, after I was ready for the day, Mother came over, and we gathered stuff for Thursday's scrapbook club meeting. I also called our Extension Service office to ask the agriculture agent if he knew anyone who grows pumpkins. He gave me the name of one person.
At last night's arts council meeting, there was a discussion about decorating pumpkins for sale as a fundraiser, and the council director asked me to check with the agent to help locate someone who might be willing to donate or make us a deal on a bunch of pumpkins.
There is a lady who will be holding a workshop in October to lead artists who want to decorate pumpkins. She has several stencils to work from...the wicked witch's legs from "The Wizard of Oz," a raven with the word "Nevermore," a haunted house with the word "Boo", etc. She said she already has orders for some of her designs.
Received an invitation in the mail from my Alma Mater college about an upcoming 20th anniversary reunion, with an R.S.V.P. request, so I acknowledged it with an acceptance.
While I was doing these things, Hubbie went to the camper to check on the refrigerator, and found a couple of soft drink cans had frozen and burst. He turned the fridge off, cleaned it, and waited a while to turn it back on, hoping the thermostat would correct itself. Right now, it seems to be working again, but we'll know for sure in another day or so.
After lunch, we decided to take a little road trip to a town near us. We'd received promotional fliers in the mail from a car dealership. The fliers had keys attached and code numbers for a chance at winning a car, $100, or $2 bills. Our expectations were low, but it was such a beautiful day that we felt like getting out.
We got exactly what we expected...$2 bills, one for us and one for Mother. Since we were in the area, we visited a new package store. We learned they were giving a 15% discount today, so I called our arts council director to alert her. She said she already had an order there for wine as part of the refreshments for a musical concert Sunday afternoon, and since we were there, could we pick up the order and bring it back to the gallery. We agreed.
From that town, we traveled a few miles to a state park to take a look at a paddle wheeler boat that sprung a leak last winter and sank. This boat has sunk before and been raised and repaired. This time, the damage was too great to repair. All that is left of it is the paddle wheel, the black smokestacks, and the inner workings on the steel base. The cabin and wheelhouse are gone. It's a sad sight.
Disturbing, too, is that two guys were accused of sinking the boat (police officials found their footprints in the snow on the ramp leading to the boat) and arrested them. They were in jail for months before being proved innocent.
Back home, we stopped by a grocery store to pick up a couple of loaves of bread, then drove by a house to see a yard full of red spider lilies. I'd seen them last evening on my way to the community theater board meeting, and wanted Mother and Hubbie to see them. They are spectacular, and I'd like to have some in our yard. But Hubbie says the bulbs are too expensive.
We delivered the order of wine to the art gallery before returning home. Relaxed for the rest of the afternoon, and then had leftover chili for supper. Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie and I settled in to watch TV.
We saw the movie, "Brideshead Revisited," a 2008, PG-13 film based on the 1945 best-selling novel of the same name, by Evelyn Waugh. Starring Emma Thomson and Michael Gambon, the story is about a middle class young man who is invited to the estate of a wealthy family, where he is caught up in the opulent lifestyle, in which his friend desires a relationship with him, even as he becomes attracted to the friend's sister. His life is further complicated by his friend's mother, a bitter, unyielding, fanatically religious woman, whose husband has for years been living with his mistress in Italy.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Tuesday, Sept. 14
Slept late this morning, until around 8 a.m., then did a treadmill session and weights exercises after breakfast.
Later, I took Mother to the beauty shop for a haircut. Her appointment was for 11:30, but we arrived about ten minutes early. We didn't have to wait, so we were on the road back home by 11:40. Doesn't take long to trim Mother's thinning hair.
After lunch, I prepared vegetables and herbs in the food processor for tomato soup and set them to simmering. The soup is for our upcoming trip.
Then Hubbie and I went to the WDCS to pick up a couple of grocery items. While there, we ran onto a clearance sale going on in the main aisle. Hubbie found two pairs of shoes marked down half of half (they were already clearance marked), which he got for $3.75 a pair. I found two pairs of flats with sparkling details for $1.25 each pair.
In the garden center, Hubbie found ten-inch plant pots for $1.25 each. He bought four, but then returned to the store later and bought eleven more.
At home, Mother sliced steak, onions, and bell peppers to saute' for supper. She cooked those and baked potatoes while I was at an art gallery meeting. We usually have supper around 5 p.m., but on gallery meeting nights (once a month), we wait to eat until I get back a little after 6 p.m. Then I have to hurry to a 7 p.m. community theater board meeting.
My gallery and community theater meeting nights are Hubbie's unfavorite...he grimaces when I go, because he doesn't like spending the evening alone. He'd rather I'd be here to watch him reclined in his chair, a juvenile kitten or two on his chest, snoring through TV programs.
I was back home around 9 p.m. following the community theater meeting, and watched a one-hour show on TV before news and bedtime. Busy day.
Later, I took Mother to the beauty shop for a haircut. Her appointment was for 11:30, but we arrived about ten minutes early. We didn't have to wait, so we were on the road back home by 11:40. Doesn't take long to trim Mother's thinning hair.
After lunch, I prepared vegetables and herbs in the food processor for tomato soup and set them to simmering. The soup is for our upcoming trip.
Then Hubbie and I went to the WDCS to pick up a couple of grocery items. While there, we ran onto a clearance sale going on in the main aisle. Hubbie found two pairs of shoes marked down half of half (they were already clearance marked), which he got for $3.75 a pair. I found two pairs of flats with sparkling details for $1.25 each pair.
In the garden center, Hubbie found ten-inch plant pots for $1.25 each. He bought four, but then returned to the store later and bought eleven more.
At home, Mother sliced steak, onions, and bell peppers to saute' for supper. She cooked those and baked potatoes while I was at an art gallery meeting. We usually have supper around 5 p.m., but on gallery meeting nights (once a month), we wait to eat until I get back a little after 6 p.m. Then I have to hurry to a 7 p.m. community theater board meeting.
My gallery and community theater meeting nights are Hubbie's unfavorite...he grimaces when I go, because he doesn't like spending the evening alone. He'd rather I'd be here to watch him reclined in his chair, a juvenile kitten or two on his chest, snoring through TV programs.
I was back home around 9 p.m. following the community theater meeting, and watched a one-hour show on TV before news and bedtime. Busy day.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Monday, Sept. 13
Had trouble going to sleep last night. The last time I checked the clock, it was 3 a.m. But I got up at 6:30 nevertheless to get ready to go to water aerobics. Fortunately, this morning, the trip to the pool was without incident...no traffic jam due to road workers paving an intersection.
There was a nip in the air, though, and I might have enjoyed a light jacket and fleece pants or shirt instead of the t-shirt and shorts that I wore. But by the time I left the gym to come home, the weather was quite pleasant for the walk up the hill to the parking lot.
At home, once I was ready for the day, Mother came over and started a pot of chili while Hubbie and I took a stack of area rugs to a laundromat to wash. I preferred washing them in one of the large heavy-duty machines designed for such tasks rather than putting them in my home washer.
While they washed, we went to the store that is going out of business. Nothing much left of interest, but I did get a bottle of strawberry ice cream syrup, and Hubbie picked up a package of root beer hard candies (not my favorite).
At home, we scrounged around for lunch....I decided to finish off the leftover veggies, while Hubbie chose a Mexican TV dinner, and Mother opted for Ramen noodle soup.
Afterward, we hit the trail again...this time to get more tomato sauce for the chili, and kitten food, at the grocery store, and a couple of more plastic totes at a dollar store.
Wasn't paying attention to the cans of tomato sauce, though, and failed to get the no-salt variety. So Hubbie hotfooted back to the store to exchange it. While he was gone, I filled a tote with crafting supplies for the closet shelf. As I was doing this, I heard a bump, and Mother called from the other room that she had fallen.
I rushed to her aid and tried, unsuccessfully, to help her back to her feet. Fortunately, she had fallen on the carpet near the stairway, so with my help, we got her rolled over onto her knees, and she was able to lift herself enough to sit on a bottom step, then scoot to the next step. From there, she was able to grasp the railing, and together, we got her to her feet.
I asked her how she came to fall like that, and she said her feet just stopped and down she went. The soles of her shoes are rubber, and I think because she shuffles rather than lifting her feet when she walks, she becomes unbalanced. I suggested she start using the walker we got for her, but she just doesn't want to. So I suggested she must not walk anywhere in our house or her house without her cane, then.
A similar incident happened to one of the ladies at the pool over the weekend. Seems a bottle of liquid laundry detergent fell from a shelf in her laundry room, opened, and spilled onto the floor. The lady was cleaning it up and went to an adjoining bathroom to fetch more towels. Either the liquid seeped to the bathroom floor, or the lady had it on her feet, but either way, she slipped and fell into the bathtub. She wasn't able to stand up, and of course her cell phone had flown to a far side of the room.
Her husband was away, so for about an hour she tried to get the phone by snapping a towel at it. She finally got it close enough to grasp so that she could call her neighbors, who immediately came to her aid. Fortunately, like Mother, the only thing this lady injured was her pride.
Later, for supper, we enjoyed steaming bowls of chili...the first of the season. Soups, stews, and chili, are favorite meals at our house as the weather cools.
After that, we spent time in front of TV watching one-hour programs.
There was a nip in the air, though, and I might have enjoyed a light jacket and fleece pants or shirt instead of the t-shirt and shorts that I wore. But by the time I left the gym to come home, the weather was quite pleasant for the walk up the hill to the parking lot.
At home, once I was ready for the day, Mother came over and started a pot of chili while Hubbie and I took a stack of area rugs to a laundromat to wash. I preferred washing them in one of the large heavy-duty machines designed for such tasks rather than putting them in my home washer.
While they washed, we went to the store that is going out of business. Nothing much left of interest, but I did get a bottle of strawberry ice cream syrup, and Hubbie picked up a package of root beer hard candies (not my favorite).
At home, we scrounged around for lunch....I decided to finish off the leftover veggies, while Hubbie chose a Mexican TV dinner, and Mother opted for Ramen noodle soup.
Afterward, we hit the trail again...this time to get more tomato sauce for the chili, and kitten food, at the grocery store, and a couple of more plastic totes at a dollar store.
Wasn't paying attention to the cans of tomato sauce, though, and failed to get the no-salt variety. So Hubbie hotfooted back to the store to exchange it. While he was gone, I filled a tote with crafting supplies for the closet shelf. As I was doing this, I heard a bump, and Mother called from the other room that she had fallen.
I rushed to her aid and tried, unsuccessfully, to help her back to her feet. Fortunately, she had fallen on the carpet near the stairway, so with my help, we got her rolled over onto her knees, and she was able to lift herself enough to sit on a bottom step, then scoot to the next step. From there, she was able to grasp the railing, and together, we got her to her feet.
I asked her how she came to fall like that, and she said her feet just stopped and down she went. The soles of her shoes are rubber, and I think because she shuffles rather than lifting her feet when she walks, she becomes unbalanced. I suggested she start using the walker we got for her, but she just doesn't want to. So I suggested she must not walk anywhere in our house or her house without her cane, then.
A similar incident happened to one of the ladies at the pool over the weekend. Seems a bottle of liquid laundry detergent fell from a shelf in her laundry room, opened, and spilled onto the floor. The lady was cleaning it up and went to an adjoining bathroom to fetch more towels. Either the liquid seeped to the bathroom floor, or the lady had it on her feet, but either way, she slipped and fell into the bathtub. She wasn't able to stand up, and of course her cell phone had flown to a far side of the room.
Her husband was away, so for about an hour she tried to get the phone by snapping a towel at it. She finally got it close enough to grasp so that she could call her neighbors, who immediately came to her aid. Fortunately, like Mother, the only thing this lady injured was her pride.
Later, for supper, we enjoyed steaming bowls of chili...the first of the season. Soups, stews, and chili, are favorite meals at our house as the weather cools.
After that, we spent time in front of TV watching one-hour programs.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sunday, Sept. 12
Slept late this morning, until around 8:30, then did a treadmill session and resistance exercises after breakfast. Mother came over while I was getting ready for the day and put a pot of chicken on to stew.
After I programmed the DVR for this week's shows and movies, I spent the rest of the morning finishing my project of cleaning and organizing the closet in the spare bedroom. Everything is now neatly contained in clear plastic totes...Christmas flowers and other decorative items, silk flowers, homemade paper making supplies. Now, if I get in a mood to craft, I'll know exactly where my supplies are. Nothing discourages me more from starting a project than not being able to readily turn up the supplies needed.
For lunch, we had the stewed chicken with leftover steamed potatoes (which Mother had sauteed), squash, coleslaw, and sourdough bread.
Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie went out to the yard to mow the lawn, while I photographed flowers (see previous blog).
Later, we watched the 2002, R-rated, movie, "The Badge," starring Billy Bob Thornton, Patricia Arquette, Sela Ward, and William Devane. A Louisiana sheriff with a prejudice against gays investigates the death of a transsexual, and finds high ranking officials might be involved.
After I programmed the DVR for this week's shows and movies, I spent the rest of the morning finishing my project of cleaning and organizing the closet in the spare bedroom. Everything is now neatly contained in clear plastic totes...Christmas flowers and other decorative items, silk flowers, homemade paper making supplies. Now, if I get in a mood to craft, I'll know exactly where my supplies are. Nothing discourages me more from starting a project than not being able to readily turn up the supplies needed.
For lunch, we had the stewed chicken with leftover steamed potatoes (which Mother had sauteed), squash, coleslaw, and sourdough bread.
Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie went out to the yard to mow the lawn, while I photographed flowers (see previous blog).
Later, we watched the 2002, R-rated, movie, "The Badge," starring Billy Bob Thornton, Patricia Arquette, Sela Ward, and William Devane. A Louisiana sheriff with a prejudice against gays investigates the death of a transsexual, and finds high ranking officials might be involved.
Fall Flowers
Spent some time this afternoon roaming the yard looking for interesting things to photograph. The fall crocus (top photo) is in bloom, as well as a variety of clematis (middle photo) which, to me, smells like honey. In the bottom photo, a caterpillar munches on a blossom of a hyacinth bean plant.
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