Today is Great-Granddaughter's birthday. Happy Birthday, Great-Granddaughter!
Up at 7 a.m., but skipped my exercises so I could get ready to go to the art gallery downtown to conduct a graham cracker cookie Christmas house workshop. Daughter, Granddaughter, and Great-Grandkids arrived in time to follow us downtown to the gallery.
Eleven kids created houses at the morning session, and seven showed up for the afternoon workshop. As much icing and candy went into the kids as went onto the houses, I think. But there were some pretty creative results, and the kids obviously enjoyed themselves. Great-Granddaughter's creation turned out to be the best of either session.
Once two-year-old Great-Grandson had completed his "very creative" house, Daughter brought him home, because he was getting bored, and we were afraid that in his romping around the gallery, he'd knock a breakable artwork to the floor.
After the morning session, we realized we needed more supplies for the afternoon session, so we made a quick trip to a grocery store and to the WDCS.
Back home, Mother had heated the potato soup, salmon chowder, and 11-bean soup, along with the barbecue, for lunch. We didn't tarry over our lunch, since we needed to be back at the gallery by 12:45. Great-Granddaughter opted to stay home with her brother and grandmother this afternoon, but Granddaughter went back to the gallery with us to help out. I was grateful for the extra hands, since Mother wasn't up to it this year.
At home afterward, we visited for the rest of the afternoon. Granddaughter is interested in doing some crafting sessions with her children, neighbor kids, and others during Christmas break from school, so I gave her several handmade ornaments simple enough for young children to make, as well as some burned-out light bulbs for Daughter and Granddaughter to make Santa and Mrs. Claus ornaments with.
They also took some milk cartons and candies, etc., leftover from the Christmas house workshop, so they can make more houses at home during Christmas break.
Around 4 p.m., Daughter and family left for home. For supper, we heated more of the potato soup, which we had with toasted hamburger buns. Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie and I watched TV, including the 2010, R-rated movie, "The Informant!" starring Matt Damon, and Scott Bakula. Based on a true story, Matt Damon plays whistleblower, Mark Whitacre, at the agri-industry giant, Archer Daniels Midland, who erroneously fancies that he'll get a big promotion for championing the common man. The movie becomes comic as it follows Whitacre's bipolar dysfunctionalality that befuddles his company, the FBI, and his wife.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Salmon Chowder
This is the recipe for the delicious salmon chowder we had for supper tonight:
2 tbsp. butter or margarine
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
3 tbsp. all purpose flour
2 and 1/2 cups milk
1-8 oz. can tomatoes
1 can 7 and 1/2 oz. salmon, drained and with skin and bones removed and flaked
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 tsp. crushed dill weed
1/2 tsp. salt (I omitted this)
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions: In a medium sauce pan, heat butter until melted. Add onions and garlic; cook stirring occasionally until tender, about 5 minutes. Blend in flour. Stir in milk, tomatoes, salmon, corn, dill wee, salt and pepper. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally and boil and stir one minute. Add cheese, stirring until melted. Serves 4. I doubled this recipe to have enough for company.
2 tbsp. butter or margarine
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
3 tbsp. all purpose flour
2 and 1/2 cups milk
1-8 oz. can tomatoes
1 can 7 and 1/2 oz. salmon, drained and with skin and bones removed and flaked
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 tsp. crushed dill weed
1/2 tsp. salt (I omitted this)
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions: In a medium sauce pan, heat butter until melted. Add onions and garlic; cook stirring occasionally until tender, about 5 minutes. Blend in flour. Stir in milk, tomatoes, salmon, corn, dill wee, salt and pepper. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally and boil and stir one minute. Add cheese, stirring until melted. Serves 4. I doubled this recipe to have enough for company.
Friday, Dec. 3
Today is Granddaughter's birthday. Happy Birthday, Granddaughter!
Up at 7:30 this morning, but skipped my exercises so I could get ready to go to a local branch bank, where Caring Hands Hospice staff and volunteers gathered to light a Christmas tree in memory of deceased hospice patients, friends, and family. For a $10 donation, we could buy a beautiful pewter snowflake and then write the name of our loved one on a big, white snowflake to be added to the tree. I bought one in memory of my father. Last year, I bought an angel in memory of my brother. Hubbie bought one in memory of an uncle.
A young woman sang two songs in honor of the occasion..."Mary, Did You Know," and...well, I've forgotten what the second one was. But she has a very pleasing singing voice and we enjoyed hearing her.
The event included a variety of refreshments, including donuts, chocolate cupcakes, a cheese ball and crackers, and veggies with dip. I indulged only in a small glass of punch, made with equal parts pineapple juice, cranberry juice, orange juice and 7-up. I liked it, though Hubbie was ambivalent about it.
Mother didn't go with us this morning, since she's still feeling puny. She just can't get her energy back, and her appetite is very low. If she doesn't perk up pretty soon, we'll be off to the doctor again.
Since we were out, we decided to run errands...to the everything's a dollar store, where I got red "grass" for a food basket to be used at the "dirty Santa" gift exchange during the "Water Babes" Christmas party at a local restaurant next week; to a new pet store, where we bought a thick coat for our elderly Shih Tzu to wear on cold winter days; to a vet's office for dog food; and to a grocery store for few food items.
Then we stopped by a fast food restaurant to get a couple of cups of chili for lunch. We brought them home to eat. After lunch, Mother came over, and we prepared two kinds of soup...potato and salmon chowder. Before we could do either one, though, we found we needed carrots, ground dill weed, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese. So Hubbie headed back to the grocery store to get these items.
Mother sat at a table to chop onions, celery, and carrots for the potato soup, while Hubbie peeled potatoes and sliced them in the food processor. In the meantime, I made the salmon chowder (see recipe in an upcoming post). Once the potato soup veggies were cooked, Mother finished that soup. I would have done it, but she insisted on doing it herself, though by the time she was done, she was plenty ready to sit and rest in a rocking chair.
Done with kitchen duties for a while, we decided to watch the Christmas movie, "Polar Express," for the rest of the afternoon.
For supper, we had helpings of the salmon chowder, with the last of the yeast rolls. Mother went home afterward, and I baked a couple of chocolate fruitcakes, using a Weight Watcher's recipe.
We'll serve the potato soup, salmon chowder, and 11-bean with Rotel, for lunch tomorrow, along with barbecue sandwiches, when Daughter, Granddaughter, and two Great-Grandchildren come to attend the graham cracker cookie Christmas house workshop at the art gallery.
Television fare tonight included the movie, "A Walk in My Shoes," on a prime time channel.
Note: We never did receive the slow cooker we ordered online, so yesterday Hubbie called the online store and reached a very nice lady who checked with Fed Ex and learned that they somehow lost the cooker. So, of course, we will not be charged for it. Since it didn't arrive before Thanksgiving, we bought one at the WDCS, but we feared if the one we ordered ever did arrive, we'd have to pay $20 or so to send it back. Glad it all worked out in our favor.
Up at 7:30 this morning, but skipped my exercises so I could get ready to go to a local branch bank, where Caring Hands Hospice staff and volunteers gathered to light a Christmas tree in memory of deceased hospice patients, friends, and family. For a $10 donation, we could buy a beautiful pewter snowflake and then write the name of our loved one on a big, white snowflake to be added to the tree. I bought one in memory of my father. Last year, I bought an angel in memory of my brother. Hubbie bought one in memory of an uncle.
A young woman sang two songs in honor of the occasion..."Mary, Did You Know," and...well, I've forgotten what the second one was. But she has a very pleasing singing voice and we enjoyed hearing her.
The event included a variety of refreshments, including donuts, chocolate cupcakes, a cheese ball and crackers, and veggies with dip. I indulged only in a small glass of punch, made with equal parts pineapple juice, cranberry juice, orange juice and 7-up. I liked it, though Hubbie was ambivalent about it.
Mother didn't go with us this morning, since she's still feeling puny. She just can't get her energy back, and her appetite is very low. If she doesn't perk up pretty soon, we'll be off to the doctor again.
Since we were out, we decided to run errands...to the everything's a dollar store, where I got red "grass" for a food basket to be used at the "dirty Santa" gift exchange during the "Water Babes" Christmas party at a local restaurant next week; to a new pet store, where we bought a thick coat for our elderly Shih Tzu to wear on cold winter days; to a vet's office for dog food; and to a grocery store for few food items.
Then we stopped by a fast food restaurant to get a couple of cups of chili for lunch. We brought them home to eat. After lunch, Mother came over, and we prepared two kinds of soup...potato and salmon chowder. Before we could do either one, though, we found we needed carrots, ground dill weed, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese. So Hubbie headed back to the grocery store to get these items.
Mother sat at a table to chop onions, celery, and carrots for the potato soup, while Hubbie peeled potatoes and sliced them in the food processor. In the meantime, I made the salmon chowder (see recipe in an upcoming post). Once the potato soup veggies were cooked, Mother finished that soup. I would have done it, but she insisted on doing it herself, though by the time she was done, she was plenty ready to sit and rest in a rocking chair.
Done with kitchen duties for a while, we decided to watch the Christmas movie, "Polar Express," for the rest of the afternoon.
For supper, we had helpings of the salmon chowder, with the last of the yeast rolls. Mother went home afterward, and I baked a couple of chocolate fruitcakes, using a Weight Watcher's recipe.
We'll serve the potato soup, salmon chowder, and 11-bean with Rotel, for lunch tomorrow, along with barbecue sandwiches, when Daughter, Granddaughter, and two Great-Grandchildren come to attend the graham cracker cookie Christmas house workshop at the art gallery.
Television fare tonight included the movie, "A Walk in My Shoes," on a prime time channel.
Note: We never did receive the slow cooker we ordered online, so yesterday Hubbie called the online store and reached a very nice lady who checked with Fed Ex and learned that they somehow lost the cooker. So, of course, we will not be charged for it. Since it didn't arrive before Thanksgiving, we bought one at the WDCS, but we feared if the one we ordered ever did arrive, we'd have to pay $20 or so to send it back. Glad it all worked out in our favor.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Thursday, Dec. 2
Up at 7:30 on this very chilly morning. Before I did my exercises, I did a little Christmas decorating, including placing the ceramic nativity set on the couch table, that I'd moved against a wall.
Mother came over right after we had our breakfast, so she could put together a graham cracker cookie Christmas house to use as an example at the cookie house workshops Saturday. The art gallery director called today to say there will be nine participants for the morning workshop, and seven for the afternoon session.
Mother is not feeling very energetic, but she really wanted to do the Christmas house, and since she could sit to do it, she just took her time playing with it. I gathered all the necessary materials and ingredients that she needed.
In the meantime, I did a treadmill session and resistance exercises, and Hubbie took the van to an automobile dealership in a town about 45 minutes away (where we bought the vehicle) to have a recall part on the brakes replaced.
While he was gone, and I was getting ready for the day, I heard a loud crash and an outcry from Mother. I rushed downstairs to find that my nativity set was smashed to smithereens on the floor. Mother said the male cat had pulled the table runner off the table, bringing the set down with it. I should have known not to use the runner, which was just too tempting dangling there over the edge.
Needless to say, I was quite distressed, and since it was Hubbie's favorite cat who did it, I decided to call him to report the disaster. But to my further aggravation, he didn't have his cell phone on. So I called the dealership office and the receptionist called him to the phone.
Once Mother had finished the cute Christmas house she went home. She usually stays home on Thursdays to pursue her own activities, but broke with her routine to enjoy herself creating the Christmas house.
I spent the rest of the morning putting a few more Christmas touches around the house. In the process, I dropped a metal candle holder on my toe. Ouch.
Hubbie came back home just before noon, and immediately cleaned up the shattered nativity set.
After a sandwich lunch, I continued decorating. Hubbie found a large nativity three-piece set packed away with some other decorations, and I put it on the couch table. This is a very heavy, stone-like set that would be difficult for the cats to knock over. I'd forgotten about having the set, which we bought on sale at a hobby store a few years ago with the intention of using it on the top of the well house. When we decided not to use it outdoors, it went into storage.
In the storeroom, I found a large wooden angel that matches the stone set, so I placed it with the other figures. The angel is not quite as large as the other figures, but we agreed that angels don't have to be exactly human size. The set is not as colorful as the ceramic one was, but it'll do for this year. Maybe I'll find an indestructible one on sale after Christmas to use next year.
Then I decided to bring out some poinsettias-on-white-background placemats that I haven't used since I bought them a couple of years ago. Before using them, we had to remove the stubbornly adhered gummed tags from the fronts of the mats. Even using Goo Gone, getting the tags off required scraping with a knife. Just another one of the glitches of the day.
Once I'd hung the Christmas wreathes and wall decorations, I was finally finished with the decorating, and plenty ready to sit down and watch a few holiday shows like "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Shrek the Halls," followed by "Christmas in Rockefeller Center," and the thrilling PBS Christmas special, "Andre Bocelli and David Foster: My Christmas."
For supper, we had leftover spaghetti, with coleslaw, cottage cheese, and yeast rolls. Afterward, we continued to watching TV, including a PBS episode of a present-day Sherlock Holmes, and the animated feature, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," with the voices of Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney.
Mother came over right after we had our breakfast, so she could put together a graham cracker cookie Christmas house to use as an example at the cookie house workshops Saturday. The art gallery director called today to say there will be nine participants for the morning workshop, and seven for the afternoon session.
Mother is not feeling very energetic, but she really wanted to do the Christmas house, and since she could sit to do it, she just took her time playing with it. I gathered all the necessary materials and ingredients that she needed.
In the meantime, I did a treadmill session and resistance exercises, and Hubbie took the van to an automobile dealership in a town about 45 minutes away (where we bought the vehicle) to have a recall part on the brakes replaced.
While he was gone, and I was getting ready for the day, I heard a loud crash and an outcry from Mother. I rushed downstairs to find that my nativity set was smashed to smithereens on the floor. Mother said the male cat had pulled the table runner off the table, bringing the set down with it. I should have known not to use the runner, which was just too tempting dangling there over the edge.
Needless to say, I was quite distressed, and since it was Hubbie's favorite cat who did it, I decided to call him to report the disaster. But to my further aggravation, he didn't have his cell phone on. So I called the dealership office and the receptionist called him to the phone.
Once Mother had finished the cute Christmas house she went home. She usually stays home on Thursdays to pursue her own activities, but broke with her routine to enjoy herself creating the Christmas house.
I spent the rest of the morning putting a few more Christmas touches around the house. In the process, I dropped a metal candle holder on my toe. Ouch.
Hubbie came back home just before noon, and immediately cleaned up the shattered nativity set.
After a sandwich lunch, I continued decorating. Hubbie found a large nativity three-piece set packed away with some other decorations, and I put it on the couch table. This is a very heavy, stone-like set that would be difficult for the cats to knock over. I'd forgotten about having the set, which we bought on sale at a hobby store a few years ago with the intention of using it on the top of the well house. When we decided not to use it outdoors, it went into storage.
In the storeroom, I found a large wooden angel that matches the stone set, so I placed it with the other figures. The angel is not quite as large as the other figures, but we agreed that angels don't have to be exactly human size. The set is not as colorful as the ceramic one was, but it'll do for this year. Maybe I'll find an indestructible one on sale after Christmas to use next year.
Then I decided to bring out some poinsettias-on-white-background placemats that I haven't used since I bought them a couple of years ago. Before using them, we had to remove the stubbornly adhered gummed tags from the fronts of the mats. Even using Goo Gone, getting the tags off required scraping with a knife. Just another one of the glitches of the day.
Once I'd hung the Christmas wreathes and wall decorations, I was finally finished with the decorating, and plenty ready to sit down and watch a few holiday shows like "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Shrek the Halls," followed by "Christmas in Rockefeller Center," and the thrilling PBS Christmas special, "Andre Bocelli and David Foster: My Christmas."
For supper, we had leftover spaghetti, with coleslaw, cottage cheese, and yeast rolls. Afterward, we continued to watching TV, including a PBS episode of a present-day Sherlock Holmes, and the animated feature, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," with the voices of Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Wednesday, Dec. 1
November flew by, and now here it is December already. I thought I'd be done with my Christmas decorating today, but there's still more to do. Surely, I'll finish up tomorrow.
Up at 7:30 this morning, and did a treadmill session and resistance exercises after breakfast. Mother came over mid-morning, but didn't feel like doing much. So she relaxed while Hubbie and I finished decorating the Christmas tree in the sunroom, and added details to the Christmas village on the mantel.
At 11:15, Hubbie dropped me off at the beauty shop, while he ran a couple of errands. Back home afterwards, we had a soup lunch that Mother had prepared while we were gone. Each of us had a different variety...Mother chose Ramen noodle, while Hubbie had leftover homemade tomato, and I had leftover homemade split pea.
Then Hubbie and I went to the WDCS for a few groceries. At home, I gathered and stored some of the regular living room and dining room decorations to make room for the nativity set, and other Christmas paraphernalia.
Around 4 p.m., I began preparations for a breakfast-for-supper meal of whole wheat pancakes and egg substitute scrambled with chopped ham, and steaming cups of fresh-made coffee. The meal was very satisfying.
Afterward, I accompanied Mother to her house, and then Hubbie and I settled in to watch our favorite college basketball team play to a win.
Funny: on our way to the beauty shop this morning, we pulled up behind an 18-wheeler stopped at a traffic light. On the lower left hand corner of the trailer was a sign with an arrow pointing left. It said "Passing side." On the right hand corner, with an arrow pointing right, a sign warned, "Suicide."
Up at 7:30 this morning, and did a treadmill session and resistance exercises after breakfast. Mother came over mid-morning, but didn't feel like doing much. So she relaxed while Hubbie and I finished decorating the Christmas tree in the sunroom, and added details to the Christmas village on the mantel.
At 11:15, Hubbie dropped me off at the beauty shop, while he ran a couple of errands. Back home afterwards, we had a soup lunch that Mother had prepared while we were gone. Each of us had a different variety...Mother chose Ramen noodle, while Hubbie had leftover homemade tomato, and I had leftover homemade split pea.
Then Hubbie and I went to the WDCS for a few groceries. At home, I gathered and stored some of the regular living room and dining room decorations to make room for the nativity set, and other Christmas paraphernalia.
Around 4 p.m., I began preparations for a breakfast-for-supper meal of whole wheat pancakes and egg substitute scrambled with chopped ham, and steaming cups of fresh-made coffee. The meal was very satisfying.
Afterward, I accompanied Mother to her house, and then Hubbie and I settled in to watch our favorite college basketball team play to a win.
Funny: on our way to the beauty shop this morning, we pulled up behind an 18-wheeler stopped at a traffic light. On the lower left hand corner of the trailer was a sign with an arrow pointing left. It said "Passing side." On the right hand corner, with an arrow pointing right, a sign warned, "Suicide."
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, Nov. 30
Up around 7:30 and did a treadmill session and weights exercises after breakfast. Mother was ready to come over this morning, though she's still suffering a bit of a tummy problem. Hubbie accompanied her to our house while I was getting ready for the day.
She finished her jigsaw puzzle, while I printed out some of my photos suitable to use in making Christmas greeting cards for Caring Hands, and rubber stamped a variety of greetings to use with the photos.
It was lunchtime by the time I finished, so I heated the remainder of the macaroni and cheese for Mother. Hubbie and I had sandwiches. After lunch, Hubbie and I strung the lights and garland on the Christmas tree in the sunroom, and then hung ornaments until we got tired....I have hundreds of them for this big tree that reflect our interests and activities. Miniature camping trailers and vehicles, fishing ornaments and fish, gardening tools, cameras, shih tzu dogs, travel souvenir ornaments (many of which are key chains), patriotic ornaments, a sudoku puzzle ornament, handmade ornaments, along with a hodgepodge of traditional snowmen, toy soldiers, angels, santas and the like.
I don't limit myself to manufactured ornaments. I find that most anything can become an ornament, like empty tea boxes from Harrods in London. They once held tea bags that Hubbie's daughter brought us from her trip to England. A friend gave us a tin of breath mints from her trip to Rome. They are on the tree unopened. A Korean figure refrigerator magnet, still in its cellophane package, brought to us by Hubbie's granddaughter following her trip to that country hangs on the tree. A snowman sticky pad from one of the kids is on the tree, as well as a note card featuring an old-fashioned printing press.
We'll finish decorating the tree tomorrow, as well as put out other holiday things, like the nativity set. It always takes us three days or so to get the house decorated. Every year, I comment that I think we're overdoing it, but Hubbie and Mother enjoy seeing it all and don't want anything left out.
Supper tonight was leftover spaghetti that I'd put in the freezer a couple of weeks ago. Had that with cottage cheese and yeast rolls left from Thanksgiving. It was good to have something besides Thanksgiving fare for a change.
Around 5:40, I went to the college library to meet my Literacy Council student. She was about fifteen minutes late and very apologetic, but at least she arrived. We had a good session. She speaks very little English, so we began at a very basic stage (in accordance with the teacher's manual I was given), learning the names of objects, like pen, pencil, book, table, and chair, as well as a few simple sentences, like "Hello, how are you, I'm fine, how are you, my name is...what's your name?" And "I'm a teacher, you're a student." And finally, "Goodbye, I'll see you next week."
The student brought her nine-year-old English-speaking daughter, who was very helpful in translating, and in writing down the words and sentences the student will need to practice until we meet again next Monday evening.
The student did very well, tonight, though she will need a lot of practice with words like chair, you're, and the phrase "see you." She has trouble with the word "you," which she wants to pronounce as "chew." She also has trouble with the "th" sound. But by the end of the session, she pronounced the words correctly most of the time. Hopefully, after practice, she'll have fewer problems with the sounds next week. We won't move on to the next lesson until she gets tonight's down pat.
The student is a very pleasant young woman, and I think I'll really enjoy working with her.
Back home, I found Hubbie had turned off the TV, because two programs were recording on DVR, which meant he couldn't change channels. I thought he'd want to watch a western I'd recorded for him, but I learned that he didn't really know how to operate the DVR. If I'd thought he didn't understand the functions, I'd have shown him how to do it before I left. I gave him a lesson when I got home.
Tonight, we watched the thriller movie "International," rated "R" and starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts. I know we've seen this movie before, but Hubbie seemed not to remember it.
She finished her jigsaw puzzle, while I printed out some of my photos suitable to use in making Christmas greeting cards for Caring Hands, and rubber stamped a variety of greetings to use with the photos.
It was lunchtime by the time I finished, so I heated the remainder of the macaroni and cheese for Mother. Hubbie and I had sandwiches. After lunch, Hubbie and I strung the lights and garland on the Christmas tree in the sunroom, and then hung ornaments until we got tired....I have hundreds of them for this big tree that reflect our interests and activities. Miniature camping trailers and vehicles, fishing ornaments and fish, gardening tools, cameras, shih tzu dogs, travel souvenir ornaments (many of which are key chains), patriotic ornaments, a sudoku puzzle ornament, handmade ornaments, along with a hodgepodge of traditional snowmen, toy soldiers, angels, santas and the like.
I don't limit myself to manufactured ornaments. I find that most anything can become an ornament, like empty tea boxes from Harrods in London. They once held tea bags that Hubbie's daughter brought us from her trip to England. A friend gave us a tin of breath mints from her trip to Rome. They are on the tree unopened. A Korean figure refrigerator magnet, still in its cellophane package, brought to us by Hubbie's granddaughter following her trip to that country hangs on the tree. A snowman sticky pad from one of the kids is on the tree, as well as a note card featuring an old-fashioned printing press.
We'll finish decorating the tree tomorrow, as well as put out other holiday things, like the nativity set. It always takes us three days or so to get the house decorated. Every year, I comment that I think we're overdoing it, but Hubbie and Mother enjoy seeing it all and don't want anything left out.
Supper tonight was leftover spaghetti that I'd put in the freezer a couple of weeks ago. Had that with cottage cheese and yeast rolls left from Thanksgiving. It was good to have something besides Thanksgiving fare for a change.
Around 5:40, I went to the college library to meet my Literacy Council student. She was about fifteen minutes late and very apologetic, but at least she arrived. We had a good session. She speaks very little English, so we began at a very basic stage (in accordance with the teacher's manual I was given), learning the names of objects, like pen, pencil, book, table, and chair, as well as a few simple sentences, like "Hello, how are you, I'm fine, how are you, my name is...what's your name?" And "I'm a teacher, you're a student." And finally, "Goodbye, I'll see you next week."
The student brought her nine-year-old English-speaking daughter, who was very helpful in translating, and in writing down the words and sentences the student will need to practice until we meet again next Monday evening.
The student did very well, tonight, though she will need a lot of practice with words like chair, you're, and the phrase "see you." She has trouble with the word "you," which she wants to pronounce as "chew." She also has trouble with the "th" sound. But by the end of the session, she pronounced the words correctly most of the time. Hopefully, after practice, she'll have fewer problems with the sounds next week. We won't move on to the next lesson until she gets tonight's down pat.
The student is a very pleasant young woman, and I think I'll really enjoy working with her.
Back home, I found Hubbie had turned off the TV, because two programs were recording on DVR, which meant he couldn't change channels. I thought he'd want to watch a western I'd recorded for him, but I learned that he didn't really know how to operate the DVR. If I'd thought he didn't understand the functions, I'd have shown him how to do it before I left. I gave him a lesson when I got home.
Tonight, we watched the thriller movie "International," rated "R" and starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts. I know we've seen this movie before, but Hubbie seemed not to remember it.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, Nov. 29
Up at 7:30 on this cool, rainy day, and did a treadmill session and resistance exercises after breakfast. Once I was ready for the day, I finished gathering the fall decorations for storage, and did other household chores.
Mother has been suffering from tummy problems for a few days, so she wasn't up to coming to our house today. I decided to make her some macaroni and cheese for lunch, because it's her favorite dish, and because I hoped it would help sooth her tummy.
I made enough for Hubbie and me to have with our sandwich lunch. After lunch, though it was pouring rain, we ran errands...to the pharmacy, and then to the Extension Services office. Here I left five Christmas stockings, our scrapbook club's contribution to the Extension Homemakers Christmas stocking project. The EH clubs donate according to the number of members they have, and the total, usually around 100, are donated to a local bank that fills them with fruits and candies for disadvantaged children.
From there, we stopped by a fast food restaurant to use coupons I had for soft serve ice cream. I had enough coupons for medium size cups of the ice cream for each of us.
Then we went to the card shop, where I bought a singing Christmas card for Mother. The card features Andy Williams. I also bought three other inexpensive thank you cards, so I could use a buy-three-get-one-free coupon. And I bought this year's children's Christmas storybook. I think I now have every edition but one.
Back home, Hubbie and I put the Christmas village on the mantel. This is a major undertaking, trying to get each one plugged in, creating a second level with boxes, and hiding the cords and the boxes with cotton batting. Since it's such a struggle putting it up, we leave it up through January. It's a Christmas village through December, and a snow village in January.
Later, I fixed us a supper of leftovers, using up most of the food from Thanksgiving. What dressing remained, I put into Ziplocks for the freezer. We'll welcome it later in the winter, when we need it as the basis for a quick meal.
After supper, I went to the college library to meet my student for the first time. We were to meet at 6 p.m., but by 6:15 she had not shown up. So I called the Literacy Council director, who in turn called the student. Apparently, the student had a problem with one of her children...I assumed an illness...and couldn't meet our appointment. But she promised to be there tomorrow night. The council director stressed to the student the importance of letting us know when she can't meet her class time. I'm told if she misses three times without a valid excuse, she'll be dropped from the program.
Back home, Hubbie and I watched TV, including the tear-jerking Hallmark drama, based on a true story, "November Christmas."
While we watched, I did some Cyber Monday online shopping. One thing I ordered was a polarizing filter for my digital camera. I checked the online site for my usual camera store and saw that the price was $119. But the Cyber Monday deal at the online book and video store was $37.95, a big difference.
Also ordered a couple of movie musicals and Rod Stewart's newest American Songbook CD at another book and video online store. I chose to order these at this store because we can earn bonus points there. I would have gotten the filter there, too, except they don't carry it.
At a Branson specialty shop, I ordered a dozen jars of Chai tea to be given, along with cookies, to those extra folks on our Christmas list. Last year, we gave jars of cherry preserves from the Amish shop.
Christmas conflict: got an invitation from the water aerobics leader today, saying we'll gather at the Italian restaurant on Dec. 8. That's the same day that Caring Hands Hospice has scheduled a Christmas card making session. So unless the card making session will continue in the afternoon, I guess we'll have to miss it. But we can make cards ahead of time to contribute, whereas the water aerobics party is a one-time thing.
Mother has been suffering from tummy problems for a few days, so she wasn't up to coming to our house today. I decided to make her some macaroni and cheese for lunch, because it's her favorite dish, and because I hoped it would help sooth her tummy.
I made enough for Hubbie and me to have with our sandwich lunch. After lunch, though it was pouring rain, we ran errands...to the pharmacy, and then to the Extension Services office. Here I left five Christmas stockings, our scrapbook club's contribution to the Extension Homemakers Christmas stocking project. The EH clubs donate according to the number of members they have, and the total, usually around 100, are donated to a local bank that fills them with fruits and candies for disadvantaged children.
From there, we stopped by a fast food restaurant to use coupons I had for soft serve ice cream. I had enough coupons for medium size cups of the ice cream for each of us.
Then we went to the card shop, where I bought a singing Christmas card for Mother. The card features Andy Williams. I also bought three other inexpensive thank you cards, so I could use a buy-three-get-one-free coupon. And I bought this year's children's Christmas storybook. I think I now have every edition but one.
Back home, Hubbie and I put the Christmas village on the mantel. This is a major undertaking, trying to get each one plugged in, creating a second level with boxes, and hiding the cords and the boxes with cotton batting. Since it's such a struggle putting it up, we leave it up through January. It's a Christmas village through December, and a snow village in January.
Later, I fixed us a supper of leftovers, using up most of the food from Thanksgiving. What dressing remained, I put into Ziplocks for the freezer. We'll welcome it later in the winter, when we need it as the basis for a quick meal.
After supper, I went to the college library to meet my student for the first time. We were to meet at 6 p.m., but by 6:15 she had not shown up. So I called the Literacy Council director, who in turn called the student. Apparently, the student had a problem with one of her children...I assumed an illness...and couldn't meet our appointment. But she promised to be there tomorrow night. The council director stressed to the student the importance of letting us know when she can't meet her class time. I'm told if she misses three times without a valid excuse, she'll be dropped from the program.
Back home, Hubbie and I watched TV, including the tear-jerking Hallmark drama, based on a true story, "November Christmas."
While we watched, I did some Cyber Monday online shopping. One thing I ordered was a polarizing filter for my digital camera. I checked the online site for my usual camera store and saw that the price was $119. But the Cyber Monday deal at the online book and video store was $37.95, a big difference.
Also ordered a couple of movie musicals and Rod Stewart's newest American Songbook CD at another book and video online store. I chose to order these at this store because we can earn bonus points there. I would have gotten the filter there, too, except they don't carry it.
At a Branson specialty shop, I ordered a dozen jars of Chai tea to be given, along with cookies, to those extra folks on our Christmas list. Last year, we gave jars of cherry preserves from the Amish shop.
Christmas conflict: got an invitation from the water aerobics leader today, saying we'll gather at the Italian restaurant on Dec. 8. That's the same day that Caring Hands Hospice has scheduled a Christmas card making session. So unless the card making session will continue in the afternoon, I guess we'll have to miss it. But we can make cards ahead of time to contribute, whereas the water aerobics party is a one-time thing.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sunday, Nov. 28
Up around 8 a.m., and did a treadmill session after breakfast. Mother and Sis came over mid-morning and worked on a jigsaw puzzle. Once I was ready for the day, I did this and that household chores around the house.
Hubbie removed the fall decorations from the mantel, but then was unable to find the plastic tote to store them in. We never did find it. Guess we stored something else in it. We finally decided to go to the WDCS later this evening and buy another one.
After a soup and barbecue sandwich lunch, Mother and Sis returned to the jigsaw puzzle. While they did this, Hubbie set up the living room Christmas tree. As I feared, the black cat immediately became fascinated with it and began trying to explore it. Scolding him didn't do the trick, Mother, Sis, and I took turns wielding a yardstick to tap him with each time he approached it. So far, he has steered clear of it.
Mother and Sis returned to the puzzle, while Hubbie and I trimmed the tree...took us a couple of hours, but it's glowing prettily now. This is Hubbie's favorite tree, since it is decorated in mainly white ornaments, including clear lights, white silk poinsettias, pearl garlands, and clear and white ornaments.
Once the tree was decorated, we took a dessert break...slices of pumpkin pie, with hot chai tea. Then Sis packed up to make the two-hour trip back home. Mother went to her house, and Hubbie and I went to the WDCS before settling in front of TV.
A beautiful sight on the way home from the WDCS: a flight of hundreds of birds (starlings?) dipping and rising in undulating waves across the twilight sky against deep pink and blue/black clouds set glowing by the fading sun.
Hubbie removed the fall decorations from the mantel, but then was unable to find the plastic tote to store them in. We never did find it. Guess we stored something else in it. We finally decided to go to the WDCS later this evening and buy another one.
After a soup and barbecue sandwich lunch, Mother and Sis returned to the jigsaw puzzle. While they did this, Hubbie set up the living room Christmas tree. As I feared, the black cat immediately became fascinated with it and began trying to explore it. Scolding him didn't do the trick, Mother, Sis, and I took turns wielding a yardstick to tap him with each time he approached it. So far, he has steered clear of it.
Mother and Sis returned to the puzzle, while Hubbie and I trimmed the tree...took us a couple of hours, but it's glowing prettily now. This is Hubbie's favorite tree, since it is decorated in mainly white ornaments, including clear lights, white silk poinsettias, pearl garlands, and clear and white ornaments.
Once the tree was decorated, we took a dessert break...slices of pumpkin pie, with hot chai tea. Then Sis packed up to make the two-hour trip back home. Mother went to her house, and Hubbie and I went to the WDCS before settling in front of TV.
A beautiful sight on the way home from the WDCS: a flight of hundreds of birds (starlings?) dipping and rising in undulating waves across the twilight sky against deep pink and blue/black clouds set glowing by the fading sun.
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