Up late this morning, around 8 a.m. In fact, I was snoozing so soundly that Hubbie had to come and wake me up. He'd gotten up early and taken Shih Tzu to the vet around 7:30. I didn't even know he'd left the house.
Shih Tzu is having problems with cancers on her front feet that sometimes bleed if she walks on gumballs in the yard. The vet advised us to wrap the paws in gauze, and apply cornstarch to keep them dry. He also gave her medication to prevent infection. Shih Tzu is very old, and we know these are only stop-gap measures to keep her around just a little longer. She is still eating well, and drinking water, so we are not reedy to consider the alternative, yet.
I did a treadmill session and resistance exercises after breakfast, and then once I was ready for the day, I ran an errand for Mother. Didn't accomplish much else before lunch.
After lunch, Hubbie gathered about a third of the many green onions in the garden, which Mother washed and chopped for the freezer. Then I got the whole cherry tomatoes from last year's garden out of the freezer to be stewed and processed and put back into the freezer.
Later, we attended the Master Gardener annual picnic at a member's house. We were assigned to bring a dessert, so Mother baked a pineapple upside down cake early this morning (she insisted on doing this, though I could have done it just as well...she wants to feel useful, so I don't argue with her when she wants to do these things).
I was a little aggravated that in shopping for groceries the other day, I intended to pick up sliced pineapple for the cake, but somehow Hubbie grabbed the crushed pineapple instead, and I didn't notice it. But the cake still looked attractive with maraschino cherries decorating the top.
I was further aggravated by the fact that we'd put a bouquet of green onions into a Mason jar to take to the picnic, but left them sitting on the counter at home. Phooey.
The picnic was from 4:30 to 6:30. We arrived around 5 p.m. While the burgers and dogs were grilling, I toured our hosts' lovely yard that includes three veggie gardens, as well as several flower gardens...one with a goldfish pond, waterfall feature, and wooden bridge.
Just as I'd filled Mother's and my plates with the picnic food, a dark cloud blew up, bringing with it a wind brisk enough to blow leaves and dust around. So Hubbie and I escorted Mother to the van, and the three of us ate there.
As it turned out, the rain held off until the rest of the guests finished their meals, but within minutes afterward, there was thunder and lightening. Folks hurried to clear the picnic tables and take their potluck dishes to their various automobiles.
It rained briefly on our way home, but quit by the time we pulled into our driveway. It's doubtful the veggie garden benefited much from it.
Notes: one of the Master Gardeners in attendance was wearing a protective boot on one foot, because she broke it when she somehow got tangled in her sheets, twisted her leg, and fell as she tried to get out of bed. She's to have surgery at a hospital a couple of hours east of us, where a plate and two screws will be inserted. I think if I'd had a broken foot, I'd have skipped the picnic!
Another of the members recently had a heart attack, so she obviously was unable to attend.
Later, we watched the 2009 sci-fi movie called, "Polar Storm," starring no one we know. It's a typical disaster movie...in this one, the world is threatened when a piece of a comet collides with earth, knocking it off its axis, which interferes with earth's magnetic field. Fissures open up in the ground, people are electrocuted, and electronics go berserk. The magnetic force must be reversed or civilization will end. The world is counting on one scientist and his team. Can they save the day?
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Friday, June 10
Up around 7 a.m., and did a treadmill session and weights exercises after breakfast. Mother came over while I was getting ready for the day, but she felt kind of wiped out, so she relaxed for the morning.
Didn't do much this morning beyond planning a menu and making a grocery shopping list.
Later, Hubbie and I ran a couple of errands...to the hydroponic farm for tomatoes, and to the WDCS to shop for both Mother and ourselves.
It was a little after noon before we got back home. After lunch, we took everything off the surfaces of the tables in the living room and den, and moved small furniture to other rooms in anticipation of the carpet cleaners coming Monday. The cleaners will move the large furniture.
We finished the task around 3 p.m., and then Hubbie and I went to a roadside vegetable market to buy a quart of blueberries and a quart of blackberries. From there we went to the city clerk's office to apply for a trash pick-up fee exemption for Mother. It was granted, of course, since she has limited Social Security income. She accumulates very little trash in the course of a week, and Hubbie always puts it in our barrel to be picked up. So there's no need for the county to assess a fee for her house, anyway.
Later, for supper, we had the leftover pasta/tomato soup dish, with cottage cheese and hydroponic cherry tomatoes, along with slices of the Neo-Tuscan Boule bread.
Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie went out to work in the yard. I changed clothes and went to the art gallery downtown to attend a reception for the opening day of a new traveling exhibit from the state museum of art in the capital city. It is an exhibit of small works on paper. A local artist is featured, along with artists from surrounding towns.
There were an equal number of photographs and art in various other media. What struck me about several of the works was how much the digitally manipulated photographs look like paintings, while the art works are so finely detailed that they look like photographs.
From the art gallery, I went down to the river, where a Relay for Life event was being held. The relay will take place tomorrow morning at 6 a.m., but tonight there was a Mardi Gras event, with booths representing various businesses and organizations, where food, drinks, jewelry, t-shirts and caps, Mardi Gras beads and masks, etc., were being sold to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Caring Hands Hospice was selling Beignets, so I bought some as my contribution. I won't eat them, of course, since they are loaded with butter and eggs and are fried. But Mother and Hubbie can share them.
I was back home around 7 p.m., and Hubbie and I watched the very suspenseful 2002 drama, "Enough," starring Jennifer Lopez. An abused woman flees her husband, taking her young daughter with her. She just barely stays one step ahead of her wealthy spouse. She finally decides to fight back in hunted becomes hunter fashion.
Didn't do much this morning beyond planning a menu and making a grocery shopping list.
Later, Hubbie and I ran a couple of errands...to the hydroponic farm for tomatoes, and to the WDCS to shop for both Mother and ourselves.
It was a little after noon before we got back home. After lunch, we took everything off the surfaces of the tables in the living room and den, and moved small furniture to other rooms in anticipation of the carpet cleaners coming Monday. The cleaners will move the large furniture.
We finished the task around 3 p.m., and then Hubbie and I went to a roadside vegetable market to buy a quart of blueberries and a quart of blackberries. From there we went to the city clerk's office to apply for a trash pick-up fee exemption for Mother. It was granted, of course, since she has limited Social Security income. She accumulates very little trash in the course of a week, and Hubbie always puts it in our barrel to be picked up. So there's no need for the county to assess a fee for her house, anyway.
Later, for supper, we had the leftover pasta/tomato soup dish, with cottage cheese and hydroponic cherry tomatoes, along with slices of the Neo-Tuscan Boule bread.
Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie went out to work in the yard. I changed clothes and went to the art gallery downtown to attend a reception for the opening day of a new traveling exhibit from the state museum of art in the capital city. It is an exhibit of small works on paper. A local artist is featured, along with artists from surrounding towns.
There were an equal number of photographs and art in various other media. What struck me about several of the works was how much the digitally manipulated photographs look like paintings, while the art works are so finely detailed that they look like photographs.
From the art gallery, I went down to the river, where a Relay for Life event was being held. The relay will take place tomorrow morning at 6 a.m., but tonight there was a Mardi Gras event, with booths representing various businesses and organizations, where food, drinks, jewelry, t-shirts and caps, Mardi Gras beads and masks, etc., were being sold to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Caring Hands Hospice was selling Beignets, so I bought some as my contribution. I won't eat them, of course, since they are loaded with butter and eggs and are fried. But Mother and Hubbie can share them.
I was back home around 7 p.m., and Hubbie and I watched the very suspenseful 2002 drama, "Enough," starring Jennifer Lopez. An abused woman flees her husband, taking her young daughter with her. She just barely stays one step ahead of her wealthy spouse. She finally decides to fight back in hunted becomes hunter fashion.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Thursday, June 9
Up at 7 a.m., and did a treadmill session and resistance exercises after breakfast. Mother stayed home today, and Hubbie, who skipped his monthly Master Gardener meeting this morning, spent most of his time in the yard. So after I was ready for the day, I spent time at my office computer answering a chatty e-mail from a friend, and gathering information for updating my artist-in-education renewal.
I'm not sure if I'll actually do any more photography residencies, because of not being able to leave Mother and Shih Tzu alone for any length of time. Also, the program I offer calls for 35mm film photography, and with digital now the norm, my program might be too outdated for the schools.
However, it's still a great program for teaching about light and how the eye works, so if I get a bid from a local school, where I wouldn't have to be away from home for very long, I might accept. A children's museum in the capital city is always interested in programs like mine, but they are closed right now for remodeling.
After lunch, I went shopping...at the WDCS and at the everything's a dollar store. Mother asked me to pick up something for Hubbie for his birthday, which I did. I also bought myself a new summer purse, and a plastic tote for storing scrapbook and card-making punches.
For supper tonight, we had baked potatoes, corn-on-the-cob, and leftover zucchini casserole. We also had slices of Neo-Tuscan Boule bread that I picked up at the WDCS.
Later, we watched the 2010 Lifetime Movie Network feature, "My Family's Secret." A woman's husband attempts suicide, because he thinks he may have had a hand in the death of his sister many years ago. The woman visits her husband's brother to find out more about his past. Only problem is, the brother has multiple personality disorder, and his aggressive personality becomes angry and emerges to keep her from learning the truth.
The second feature we watched was the 2010 comedy-drama, "Good Intentions." A woman married to a mechanic who blows the family's money on his inventions, decides to take matters into her own hands. With their savings gone, and their children out of control, she schemes to set things right...by blackmailing the sheriff and holding up a store.
I'm not sure if I'll actually do any more photography residencies, because of not being able to leave Mother and Shih Tzu alone for any length of time. Also, the program I offer calls for 35mm film photography, and with digital now the norm, my program might be too outdated for the schools.
However, it's still a great program for teaching about light and how the eye works, so if I get a bid from a local school, where I wouldn't have to be away from home for very long, I might accept. A children's museum in the capital city is always interested in programs like mine, but they are closed right now for remodeling.
After lunch, I went shopping...at the WDCS and at the everything's a dollar store. Mother asked me to pick up something for Hubbie for his birthday, which I did. I also bought myself a new summer purse, and a plastic tote for storing scrapbook and card-making punches.
For supper tonight, we had baked potatoes, corn-on-the-cob, and leftover zucchini casserole. We also had slices of Neo-Tuscan Boule bread that I picked up at the WDCS.
Later, we watched the 2010 Lifetime Movie Network feature, "My Family's Secret." A woman's husband attempts suicide, because he thinks he may have had a hand in the death of his sister many years ago. The woman visits her husband's brother to find out more about his past. Only problem is, the brother has multiple personality disorder, and his aggressive personality becomes angry and emerges to keep her from learning the truth.
The second feature we watched was the 2010 comedy-drama, "Good Intentions." A woman married to a mechanic who blows the family's money on his inventions, decides to take matters into her own hands. With their savings gone, and their children out of control, she schemes to set things right...by blackmailing the sheriff and holding up a store.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Wednesday, June 8
Up at 7 a.m., and did a treadmill session and weights exercises after breakfast. While I was getting ready for the day, Hubbie went out and picked lettuce from the garden, which Mother cleaned and spun.
This morning, I made an appointment with a professional carpet cleaner, who is scheduled to come Monday at noon to clean the living room/dining room and den. These are the rooms where 17-year-old Shih Tzu has had accidents during the night. We have used several products trying to remove the urine stains, to no avail. So I decided professional cleaning is the last resort. Hubbie has been getting up in the wee hours lately to take Shih Tzu out, so hopefully there will be no more accidents.
I also took all the curtains down in the living room and dining room, and washed those windows. Hubbie washed the outsides of them. For window treatments, I've decided to stay with the white sheers, but the sheer sage colored drapes will have to go, because as kittens the cats ruined them by climbing on them. So I'm going to use only the scarves at the tops of the windows.
I washed and dried the sage sheers, but I'll wait to wash the white sheers until after the carpet is cleaned. When I wash sheers, I usually just hang them wet.
After that, I made chef's salads for Hubbie and myself, using the fresh garden lettuce, tomatoes from a roadside vendor (can't get hydroponic tomatoes until Friday), Vidalia onions, and green onions from the garden, radishes from the garden, carrots, apples, Craisins, walnuts, deli turkey, Baby Swiss cheese, and cottage cheese. Mother had the rest of the Long Soup for lunch, and we all had canned pear halves for dessert.
After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to drop the word search puzzle contest off at the newspaper office, to the post office to mail a package to Daughter-in-Law (she wants an exercise jump rope, and I had one that I haven't used in years, thanks to a bad back), and to the WDCS for groceries.
When we got back home, I made a bowl of Jell-o with mixed fruit to have as a snack later tonight.
We relaxed for the rest of the afternoon. Supper tonight was a pasta dish made from combining homemade tomato soup with cooked macaroni left from making macaroni salad at camp last week. We had a garden salad, cottage cheese, and slices of wheat bread and margarine with it.
Mother went home afterward, taking a helping of Jell-o with her, and Hubbie and I went shopping at one of the stores that has a sale every weekend. We had two $10 coupons, as well as a $10 rebate offer, to use.
With my $10 coupon, I bought a pair of on-sale black sandals. Hubbie bought a pair of on-sale khaki slacks and a belt with his coupon. And I chose new sets of drapery rods for the living and dining rooms, on which we'll get a $10 mail-in rebate.
Back home, we watched the Lifetime Movie Network feature, "Last Man Standing," starring Catherine Bell. A happily married suburban housewife is suddenly thrown back into her past, when a guy in her military unit dies, and her husband is kidnapped. It comes to light that she was a special-ops agent. But what happened while she was serving in Afghanistan that endangers her and her family now?
Aggravation: those darn cats! Last night I climbed into bed and soon felt something cold at my feet. When I checked, I saw that one of the cats had urinated on the bed! It had soaked through the lightweight quilt, the top sheet, the bottom sheet, and into the feather mattress.
Had to turn the mattress and change the bedding, of course, so we could rest for the night, but now we're in the market for a new feather mattress. We needed a new one, anyway, since the other is so old, but I wasn't planning on shopping for one this very week, for heaven's sake! The bedroom door will be closed to cats from now on, obviously.
This morning, I made an appointment with a professional carpet cleaner, who is scheduled to come Monday at noon to clean the living room/dining room and den. These are the rooms where 17-year-old Shih Tzu has had accidents during the night. We have used several products trying to remove the urine stains, to no avail. So I decided professional cleaning is the last resort. Hubbie has been getting up in the wee hours lately to take Shih Tzu out, so hopefully there will be no more accidents.
I also took all the curtains down in the living room and dining room, and washed those windows. Hubbie washed the outsides of them. For window treatments, I've decided to stay with the white sheers, but the sheer sage colored drapes will have to go, because as kittens the cats ruined them by climbing on them. So I'm going to use only the scarves at the tops of the windows.
I washed and dried the sage sheers, but I'll wait to wash the white sheers until after the carpet is cleaned. When I wash sheers, I usually just hang them wet.
After that, I made chef's salads for Hubbie and myself, using the fresh garden lettuce, tomatoes from a roadside vendor (can't get hydroponic tomatoes until Friday), Vidalia onions, and green onions from the garden, radishes from the garden, carrots, apples, Craisins, walnuts, deli turkey, Baby Swiss cheese, and cottage cheese. Mother had the rest of the Long Soup for lunch, and we all had canned pear halves for dessert.
After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to drop the word search puzzle contest off at the newspaper office, to the post office to mail a package to Daughter-in-Law (she wants an exercise jump rope, and I had one that I haven't used in years, thanks to a bad back), and to the WDCS for groceries.
When we got back home, I made a bowl of Jell-o with mixed fruit to have as a snack later tonight.
We relaxed for the rest of the afternoon. Supper tonight was a pasta dish made from combining homemade tomato soup with cooked macaroni left from making macaroni salad at camp last week. We had a garden salad, cottage cheese, and slices of wheat bread and margarine with it.
Mother went home afterward, taking a helping of Jell-o with her, and Hubbie and I went shopping at one of the stores that has a sale every weekend. We had two $10 coupons, as well as a $10 rebate offer, to use.
With my $10 coupon, I bought a pair of on-sale black sandals. Hubbie bought a pair of on-sale khaki slacks and a belt with his coupon. And I chose new sets of drapery rods for the living and dining rooms, on which we'll get a $10 mail-in rebate.
Back home, we watched the Lifetime Movie Network feature, "Last Man Standing," starring Catherine Bell. A happily married suburban housewife is suddenly thrown back into her past, when a guy in her military unit dies, and her husband is kidnapped. It comes to light that she was a special-ops agent. But what happened while she was serving in Afghanistan that endangers her and her family now?
Aggravation: those darn cats! Last night I climbed into bed and soon felt something cold at my feet. When I checked, I saw that one of the cats had urinated on the bed! It had soaked through the lightweight quilt, the top sheet, the bottom sheet, and into the feather mattress.
Had to turn the mattress and change the bedding, of course, so we could rest for the night, but now we're in the market for a new feather mattress. We needed a new one, anyway, since the other is so old, but I wasn't planning on shopping for one this very week, for heaven's sake! The bedroom door will be closed to cats from now on, obviously.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Tuesday, June 7
Up around 7 a.m. and did a treadmill session and resistance exercises after breakfast. Once I was ready for the day, I spent the rest of the morning and some of the afternoon washing load after load of laundry. I wonder why there is so much more laundry after a trip than on an ordinary stay-at-home week?
Mother came over mid-morning and cut up and boiled zucchini for making a casserole for supper, while I uploaded camping trip snapshots to my social network page. The uploading tool is frustratingly slow, so it took forever.
While I waited for each batch of photos to upload, I did some filing in my office, and went downstairs to do minor chores.
Hubbie spent the entire day, and all of the evening until dark time working in the yard. It's always his method to half kill himself trying to get the yard in order in a single day. I had to go out finally and insist he come inside. It's not like there isn't another day to work. He came in sunburned and exhausted.
Later, for supper, we had the zucchini casserole (thanks Son and Daughter-in-Law for the bag full of squash), baked sweet potatoes, corn-on-the-cob, and garden salad.
Mother went home after supper, Hubbie went to the yard, of course, and I busied myself catching up on my blog posts.
When Hubbie came back in, around 8:30 p.m., we finished the evening watching a few one-hour shows on DVR.
Note: at one point today, Hubbie ran an errand to a home improvement store to buy several bags of mulch. He said there was a terrible accident near the entrance to the store. Seems someone in a small car exited the store parking lot and was rammed from behind by a large four-door truck. Hubbie said it looked like there were serious injuries, and he thinks he recognized the woman driving the car, though he couldn't remember her name.
Mother came over mid-morning and cut up and boiled zucchini for making a casserole for supper, while I uploaded camping trip snapshots to my social network page. The uploading tool is frustratingly slow, so it took forever.
While I waited for each batch of photos to upload, I did some filing in my office, and went downstairs to do minor chores.
Hubbie spent the entire day, and all of the evening until dark time working in the yard. It's always his method to half kill himself trying to get the yard in order in a single day. I had to go out finally and insist he come inside. It's not like there isn't another day to work. He came in sunburned and exhausted.
Later, for supper, we had the zucchini casserole (thanks Son and Daughter-in-Law for the bag full of squash), baked sweet potatoes, corn-on-the-cob, and garden salad.
Mother went home after supper, Hubbie went to the yard, of course, and I busied myself catching up on my blog posts.
When Hubbie came back in, around 8:30 p.m., we finished the evening watching a few one-hour shows on DVR.
Note: at one point today, Hubbie ran an errand to a home improvement store to buy several bags of mulch. He said there was a terrible accident near the entrance to the store. Seems someone in a small car exited the store parking lot and was rammed from behind by a large four-door truck. Hubbie said it looked like there were serious injuries, and he thinks he recognized the woman driving the car, though he couldn't remember her name.
Monday, June 6
We were up around 7 a.m., and I did a treadmill session and weights exercises after breakfast. I really needed the session after having missed five days of exercises.
Once I was ready for the day, I spent the rest of the morning doing laundry and other chores related to getting things back in order after a trip.
Around 11:30, my dental surgeon's office in the capital city called to say my appointment for Tuesday was cancelled, because the hygienist was sick. Drat! Daughter had taken two compensatory days off, so she could make the two-hour drive up here to stay tonight, and then be here with Mother and Shih Tzu, while Hubbie and I made the trip to the capital city.
I immediately tried to call Daughter to save her the trip. But she didn't answer her cell phone, so I left a message. When she hadn't arrived before 1 p.m., I figured she must have gotten the message.
So I spent my time right after lunch reviewing the tutoring lesson I would present to my student at 2:30 p.m., while Hubbie spent his afternoon in the yard.
Around 2 p.m., Daughter showed up. She hadn't gotten the call, because the cell phone I left the message on was in the hands of Great-Grandson, while Daughter was using Granddaughter's cell phone. Phooey.
About 2:20, I went to the college library to meet my student. While I was gone, Daughter decided to head back to her town, because she was having a problem with her car that needed to be dealt with.
Today's student session went well. I was glad to have the English/Spanish dictionary on hand, so that the student could read and record definitions for several words that were new to her like fail, vale, view, safer, saver, and veal.
Tonight, we also practiced sentences using the information question "which," as in "I have a red pen and a black pen. Which one do you want." The student was also asked to transform statements into information questions: "Ann is reading the Spanish book," to "Which book is Ann reading?"
She also learned how to add "-ing" endings, as in fish to fishing, sing to singing, etc., and to count to 100 by tens.
We finished the session with reading a simple story, after which I asked her questions like, "Where is Mrs. Hill?" to which the appropriate response is "She's in the kitchen."
I was back home about 4:30. For supper, we had Long Soup with biscuits. The soup was leftover from last week that we'd put in the freezer. It was an easy meal that kept us from having to plan or cook, since we were too pooped to make much effort.
Mother went home after supper, and Hubbie and I relaxed and caught up on reading last week's and today's local daily newspapers. Then we watched the 2006 Lifetime Movie Network feature, "Last Exit." This is an action-packed, tense suspense movie about two women who are stressed out with their lives, and who manage to cross each other's paths on the way to work, and one of them cuts off the other in traffic.
The woman who was cut off spirals out of control when she loses her job, is about to lose her handicapped child to her remarried husband, is unable to buy her son a birthday gift because her credit card is maxed out, etc. Later, she runs into the other woman again, when her car stalls and the other woman starts honking her horn. Everything goes downhill from there. Pretty good edge-of-your-seat movie.
Once I was ready for the day, I spent the rest of the morning doing laundry and other chores related to getting things back in order after a trip.
Around 11:30, my dental surgeon's office in the capital city called to say my appointment for Tuesday was cancelled, because the hygienist was sick. Drat! Daughter had taken two compensatory days off, so she could make the two-hour drive up here to stay tonight, and then be here with Mother and Shih Tzu, while Hubbie and I made the trip to the capital city.
I immediately tried to call Daughter to save her the trip. But she didn't answer her cell phone, so I left a message. When she hadn't arrived before 1 p.m., I figured she must have gotten the message.
So I spent my time right after lunch reviewing the tutoring lesson I would present to my student at 2:30 p.m., while Hubbie spent his afternoon in the yard.
Around 2 p.m., Daughter showed up. She hadn't gotten the call, because the cell phone I left the message on was in the hands of Great-Grandson, while Daughter was using Granddaughter's cell phone. Phooey.
About 2:20, I went to the college library to meet my student. While I was gone, Daughter decided to head back to her town, because she was having a problem with her car that needed to be dealt with.
Today's student session went well. I was glad to have the English/Spanish dictionary on hand, so that the student could read and record definitions for several words that were new to her like fail, vale, view, safer, saver, and veal.
Tonight, we also practiced sentences using the information question "which," as in "I have a red pen and a black pen. Which one do you want." The student was also asked to transform statements into information questions: "Ann is reading the Spanish book," to "Which book is Ann reading?"
She also learned how to add "-ing" endings, as in fish to fishing, sing to singing, etc., and to count to 100 by tens.
We finished the session with reading a simple story, after which I asked her questions like, "Where is Mrs. Hill?" to which the appropriate response is "She's in the kitchen."
I was back home about 4:30. For supper, we had Long Soup with biscuits. The soup was leftover from last week that we'd put in the freezer. It was an easy meal that kept us from having to plan or cook, since we were too pooped to make much effort.
Mother went home after supper, and Hubbie and I relaxed and caught up on reading last week's and today's local daily newspapers. Then we watched the 2006 Lifetime Movie Network feature, "Last Exit." This is an action-packed, tense suspense movie about two women who are stressed out with their lives, and who manage to cross each other's paths on the way to work, and one of them cuts off the other in traffic.
The woman who was cut off spirals out of control when she loses her job, is about to lose her handicapped child to her remarried husband, is unable to buy her son a birthday gift because her credit card is maxed out, etc. Later, she runs into the other woman again, when her car stalls and the other woman starts honking her horn. Everything goes downhill from there. Pretty good edge-of-your-seat movie.
Camping Trip, Day Five
Sunday, June 5: We were up reasonably early this morning and took our time having breakfast and getting ready for the day.
Our only plan today was to pack up and head home. Once the camper was hooked up, we all set out...Sis to her town, and we to ours. One of the granddaughters left a backpack behind, so Sis offered to take it with her and try to contact Granddaughter and arrange for her to pick it up.
The trip was uneventful, and we arrived home around noon. We brought in lunch items, and then after we'd eaten, Mother went to her house, and Hubbie and I spent quite a while unloading the camper.
It was another incredibly hot day, so we were glad to get done with the unloading chore, and finally just veg in front of TV.
We watched a 2005 Lifetime Movie Network film called, "Gone But Not Forgotten," starring Brooke Shields, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Scott Glenn. An attorney (Shields) defends a man (Glenn) accused of killing his wife and young daughter, because she is convinced he is innocent. But her conviction begins to dissolve as she learns more about him.
The second feature we watched was another Lifetime Movie Network feature, the 2002 film, "Determination of Death," starring Marc Singer, Michele Green, and Veronica Hamel. In order to get out of debt, an abusive husband and his wife plan to fake his death. The plan goes awry, though, when someone shoots the guy, and then he goes missing.
Our only plan today was to pack up and head home. Once the camper was hooked up, we all set out...Sis to her town, and we to ours. One of the granddaughters left a backpack behind, so Sis offered to take it with her and try to contact Granddaughter and arrange for her to pick it up.
The trip was uneventful, and we arrived home around noon. We brought in lunch items, and then after we'd eaten, Mother went to her house, and Hubbie and I spent quite a while unloading the camper.
It was another incredibly hot day, so we were glad to get done with the unloading chore, and finally just veg in front of TV.
We watched a 2005 Lifetime Movie Network film called, "Gone But Not Forgotten," starring Brooke Shields, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Scott Glenn. An attorney (Shields) defends a man (Glenn) accused of killing his wife and young daughter, because she is convinced he is innocent. But her conviction begins to dissolve as she learns more about him.
The second feature we watched was another Lifetime Movie Network feature, the 2002 film, "Determination of Death," starring Marc Singer, Michele Green, and Veronica Hamel. In order to get out of debt, an abusive husband and his wife plan to fake his death. The plan goes awry, though, when someone shoots the guy, and then he goes missing.
Camping, Day Four
Saturday, June 4: Two great-grandsons had birthdays today. Happy Birthday three-year-old Great-Grandsons!
We got up early this morning, so we could have breakfast and get ready for the day before family visited.
The first group to arrive was Daughter, Granddaughter, Great-Granddaughter, and Great-Grandson. They were hungry, so some opted for bowls of cereal, while others settled for fruit.
After breakfast, we adjourned to the yard to visit. Naturally, the first thing the kids wanted to do was go to the playground. So I grabbed my camera and off we went. I got lots of cute shots of the kids, before we all got hot enough to return to the camper.
Soon Son, Daughter-in-Law, Grandson and his friend arrived. When it neared lunchtime, Sis and I brought out deli turkey and a variety of cheeses for sandwiches on a choice of regular sliced bread or bread rounds. We also heated the baked beans, sliced tomatoes and onions, and set out the potato salad, macaroni salad, and coleslaw.
Everyone was on their own to choose what they wanted to eat and take it to the picnic table outdoors. We adults enjoyed all of it, though the kids, in typical fashion, were more selective in what they agreed to eat.
Son, Daughter-in-Law, and family left shortly after lunch, because they were on their way to the capital city to enjoy a Willie Nelson concert in the evening. They planned to stay overnight before returning home.
Presently, another granddaughter and her two children arrived and enjoyed lunch. Granddaughter's son, my great-grandson, is in a body cast after suffering a serious broken bone. The cast is horribly heavy and awkward, but Great-Grandson manages to walk in it anyway, even with his legs spread so far apart.
Once they had eaten, I grabbed my camera again to take some individual and family snapshots. There is an interesting rail fence at the campground that makes a good setting for photos.
In a little while, Niece and her husband and three children arrived. Great-Nephew brought along his violin and banjo, and entertained us with several Bluegrass numbers. I grabbed my camera again and did snapshots of Great-Nephew and Great-Niece, though the younger Great-Nephew decided his hair wasn't right for a photo shoot.
Mother and Sis thought they had asked the family if they were ready for lunch, but hadn't gotten an answer. Around 3 p.m. I asked, and they indicated they were plenty ready to eat. I guess we nearly starved them before we offered food again! Embarrassing.
The day had been extremely hot and sultry, which sapped us all, so after Niece and family left, we decided to nap for a while. We slept longer than we planned, but we were more refreshed after our snooze.
I had a hankering for ice cream, so Hubbie and I went to the WDCS to buy some. There weren't a lot of choices at the store, so I settled for a sugar-free, lower-fat, Neapolitan variety, while Sis requested orange sherbet. They were wonderfully cooling desserts that hit the spot for all of us.
After enjoying the ice creams, we played several games of Skipbo. Since we'd napped so long, we played cards late into the evening, before finally winding down enough to hit the sack.
We got up early this morning, so we could have breakfast and get ready for the day before family visited.
The first group to arrive was Daughter, Granddaughter, Great-Granddaughter, and Great-Grandson. They were hungry, so some opted for bowls of cereal, while others settled for fruit.
After breakfast, we adjourned to the yard to visit. Naturally, the first thing the kids wanted to do was go to the playground. So I grabbed my camera and off we went. I got lots of cute shots of the kids, before we all got hot enough to return to the camper.
Soon Son, Daughter-in-Law, Grandson and his friend arrived. When it neared lunchtime, Sis and I brought out deli turkey and a variety of cheeses for sandwiches on a choice of regular sliced bread or bread rounds. We also heated the baked beans, sliced tomatoes and onions, and set out the potato salad, macaroni salad, and coleslaw.
Everyone was on their own to choose what they wanted to eat and take it to the picnic table outdoors. We adults enjoyed all of it, though the kids, in typical fashion, were more selective in what they agreed to eat.
Son, Daughter-in-Law, and family left shortly after lunch, because they were on their way to the capital city to enjoy a Willie Nelson concert in the evening. They planned to stay overnight before returning home.
Presently, another granddaughter and her two children arrived and enjoyed lunch. Granddaughter's son, my great-grandson, is in a body cast after suffering a serious broken bone. The cast is horribly heavy and awkward, but Great-Grandson manages to walk in it anyway, even with his legs spread so far apart.
Once they had eaten, I grabbed my camera again to take some individual and family snapshots. There is an interesting rail fence at the campground that makes a good setting for photos.
In a little while, Niece and her husband and three children arrived. Great-Nephew brought along his violin and banjo, and entertained us with several Bluegrass numbers. I grabbed my camera again and did snapshots of Great-Nephew and Great-Niece, though the younger Great-Nephew decided his hair wasn't right for a photo shoot.
Mother and Sis thought they had asked the family if they were ready for lunch, but hadn't gotten an answer. Around 3 p.m. I asked, and they indicated they were plenty ready to eat. I guess we nearly starved them before we offered food again! Embarrassing.
The day had been extremely hot and sultry, which sapped us all, so after Niece and family left, we decided to nap for a while. We slept longer than we planned, but we were more refreshed after our snooze.
I had a hankering for ice cream, so Hubbie and I went to the WDCS to buy some. There weren't a lot of choices at the store, so I settled for a sugar-free, lower-fat, Neapolitan variety, while Sis requested orange sherbet. They were wonderfully cooling desserts that hit the spot for all of us.
After enjoying the ice creams, we played several games of Skipbo. Since we'd napped so long, we played cards late into the evening, before finally winding down enough to hit the sack.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Camping Trip, Day Three
Friday, June 3: We were up fairly early this morning again. Sis arrived soon after we'd had breakfast, but was ready to enjoy a dish of mixed fruits with buttered raisin bread.
Again today, Sis stayed at camp with Mother and Shih Tzu, while Hubbie and I went shopping. Our goal was to go to a bicycle shop to look for a new bike for me as a belated Christmas gift from Hubbie. However, apparently the shop has gone out of business, because we couldn't find it, and when we called the business number, it was no longer in service.
Oh, well, since we couldn't shop for a bike, Hubbie decided to browse a home improvement store, where he used a couple of gift cards to purchase some yard tools.
We returned to camp after that, but set out again as soon as we'd had lunch and saw to Shih Tzu's needs. This time, we shopped at clothing and shoe stores. One item I was looking for was a white polo shirt for Mother, because we discovered that she had left most of her clothes hanging in her bedroom at home. So other than the clothes she wore on the trip, and one more outfit, she didn't have anything to wear for the weekend.
Luckily, I found a white petite size polo shirt (the only one on the rack) at one of the stores, and it was on sale for only $8.65. I had no luck at the shoe store, but I found a suitable three-quarter sleeve black cotton shirt, with gold and white patterns, at another clothing store. The shirt will be fine over white capris for an art gallery summer celebration later this month.
We returned to camp after that, where we found that Daughter and Niece had arrived. This niece is a daughter of my deceased brother. Niece is having some medical problems, and she is very thin, but she assured us she is on the mend now.
Before Daughter and Niece left, Niece sprayed a trail of ants that were invading the picnic table area and beginning to march up the side of the camper.
Today, Daughter packed barbecue sandwiches and salads for her supper at work later. She took enough for Great-Grandson, who would be on the college campus (where daughter works) to watch a college baseball game.
For our supper, we had rotisserie chicken, which Hubbie and I had picked up at the WDCS earlier, with microwave baked potatoes, and garden salad.
After supper, Hubbie and I went to visit my younger son and his wife. We were anxious to see how his home and the neighborhood where they live looks following a devestating April tornado.
Son and Daughter-in-Law's home and property looks wonderful after the clean-up, and their garden is beautifully thriving. In fact, they are getting so much zucchini squash that they were able to give us a big sack full of it.
They also have chickens that lay more than enough eggs for the family. So Son sent a dozen and a half of tiny banty chicken eggs to Mother.
I snapped images of the rest of the neighborhood on our way out of the housing addition. There are still many homes too damaged for repair, but much of the destruction has been cleaned up and is in huge piles designated either for brush or for household stuff. Wide expanses are now stripped of trees and houses. It's a sad sight.
We visited for about an hour and a half before returning to camp. At camp, we played several games of Skipbo before heading to bed.
Again today, Sis stayed at camp with Mother and Shih Tzu, while Hubbie and I went shopping. Our goal was to go to a bicycle shop to look for a new bike for me as a belated Christmas gift from Hubbie. However, apparently the shop has gone out of business, because we couldn't find it, and when we called the business number, it was no longer in service.
Oh, well, since we couldn't shop for a bike, Hubbie decided to browse a home improvement store, where he used a couple of gift cards to purchase some yard tools.
We returned to camp after that, but set out again as soon as we'd had lunch and saw to Shih Tzu's needs. This time, we shopped at clothing and shoe stores. One item I was looking for was a white polo shirt for Mother, because we discovered that she had left most of her clothes hanging in her bedroom at home. So other than the clothes she wore on the trip, and one more outfit, she didn't have anything to wear for the weekend.
Luckily, I found a white petite size polo shirt (the only one on the rack) at one of the stores, and it was on sale for only $8.65. I had no luck at the shoe store, but I found a suitable three-quarter sleeve black cotton shirt, with gold and white patterns, at another clothing store. The shirt will be fine over white capris for an art gallery summer celebration later this month.
We returned to camp after that, where we found that Daughter and Niece had arrived. This niece is a daughter of my deceased brother. Niece is having some medical problems, and she is very thin, but she assured us she is on the mend now.
Before Daughter and Niece left, Niece sprayed a trail of ants that were invading the picnic table area and beginning to march up the side of the camper.
Today, Daughter packed barbecue sandwiches and salads for her supper at work later. She took enough for Great-Grandson, who would be on the college campus (where daughter works) to watch a college baseball game.
For our supper, we had rotisserie chicken, which Hubbie and I had picked up at the WDCS earlier, with microwave baked potatoes, and garden salad.
After supper, Hubbie and I went to visit my younger son and his wife. We were anxious to see how his home and the neighborhood where they live looks following a devestating April tornado.
Son and Daughter-in-Law's home and property looks wonderful after the clean-up, and their garden is beautifully thriving. In fact, they are getting so much zucchini squash that they were able to give us a big sack full of it.
They also have chickens that lay more than enough eggs for the family. So Son sent a dozen and a half of tiny banty chicken eggs to Mother.
I snapped images of the rest of the neighborhood on our way out of the housing addition. There are still many homes too damaged for repair, but much of the destruction has been cleaned up and is in huge piles designated either for brush or for household stuff. Wide expanses are now stripped of trees and houses. It's a sad sight.
We visited for about an hour and a half before returning to camp. At camp, we played several games of Skipbo before heading to bed.
Camping, Day Two
Thursday, June 2: We were up early today. After breakfast and getting ready for the day, Mother and I went outdoors to enjoy the weather before the temperature got too warm.
Sis came mid-morning, and stayed with Mother and Shih Tzu while Hubbie and I traveled about 30 miles south to shop at a wholesale store. At one point, I decided to call Mother to make sure I was choosing the right grocery item that she wanted.
During our conversation, she said that the electricity to the camper had gone off. So I let Hubbie talk with Sis, so he could suggest solutions to the problem. Nothing Sis tried worked, though.
So Hubbie and I quickly finished our shopping, and stopped by a home improvement store to buy a default switch for the camper. Back at camp, we were greeted by the camp host, who asked if we'd been told that the entire county was without power. Well, no, we hadn't been alerted to that fact. But we were relieved that the problem wasn't with the camper.
Sis had opened all the windows and the screen door to the camper to keep it from getting too hot for the three caged cats inside. But we relaxed outdoors while we waited for the power to return. After a while, the camp host stopped by to say the power was on again.
Unfortunately, the power went out twice more again during the evening, caused by a faulty breaker this time. So Hubbie visited the registration office to report the problem. Before too long, a park maintenance guy came by and replaced the breaker. Problem solved.
While Hubbie and I were at the wholesale store, Mother and Sis had boiled potatoes and eggs, and cut up veggies for potato salad. Fortunately, they had finished this chore before the power went out, so the gas stove didn't heat up the camper before the air conditioner stopped.
When I got back to camp, Sis and I prepared the potato salad. Actually, we prepared three...one without eggs for her, one without dill pickles for me, and one with everything in it for everyone else. Sis also boiled a pot of macaroni, with which Mother made macaroni salad. She also made dressing for slaw.
Since there was plenty of afternoon left, I decided we should try out a new game...the "Conflict" card game I recently bought at our local museum. This Civil war is similar to "Go Fish." It is divided into several colors, and each color represents a certain population: townswomen, townsmen, politicians, Union generals, and Confederate generals. Each card features a picture and information about that person. Seven cards are dealt to each player, and the object of the game is to switch out cards until all seven are the same color. It is done by asking for cards from an opponent, or drawing from a reserve pile. The first player to reach 100points wins. We played several games, but not enough for anyone to reach 100 points.
Later, Son and Daughter-in-Law joined us for a supper of the salads, plus barbecue sandwiches and baked beans. As it turned out, Son was unable to eat, thanks to a flare-up of diverticulitis.
We had a good visit before they needed to leave. Sis left, too, with a promise to return tomorrow to spend the rest of the trip camping with us. She fixed a couple of barbecue sandwiches and helpings of salads to take to Nephew, though.
After that, Hubbie, Mother, and I opted for an early bedtime.
Sis came mid-morning, and stayed with Mother and Shih Tzu while Hubbie and I traveled about 30 miles south to shop at a wholesale store. At one point, I decided to call Mother to make sure I was choosing the right grocery item that she wanted.
During our conversation, she said that the electricity to the camper had gone off. So I let Hubbie talk with Sis, so he could suggest solutions to the problem. Nothing Sis tried worked, though.
So Hubbie and I quickly finished our shopping, and stopped by a home improvement store to buy a default switch for the camper. Back at camp, we were greeted by the camp host, who asked if we'd been told that the entire county was without power. Well, no, we hadn't been alerted to that fact. But we were relieved that the problem wasn't with the camper.
Sis had opened all the windows and the screen door to the camper to keep it from getting too hot for the three caged cats inside. But we relaxed outdoors while we waited for the power to return. After a while, the camp host stopped by to say the power was on again.
Unfortunately, the power went out twice more again during the evening, caused by a faulty breaker this time. So Hubbie visited the registration office to report the problem. Before too long, a park maintenance guy came by and replaced the breaker. Problem solved.
While Hubbie and I were at the wholesale store, Mother and Sis had boiled potatoes and eggs, and cut up veggies for potato salad. Fortunately, they had finished this chore before the power went out, so the gas stove didn't heat up the camper before the air conditioner stopped.
When I got back to camp, Sis and I prepared the potato salad. Actually, we prepared three...one without eggs for her, one without dill pickles for me, and one with everything in it for everyone else. Sis also boiled a pot of macaroni, with which Mother made macaroni salad. She also made dressing for slaw.
Since there was plenty of afternoon left, I decided we should try out a new game...the "Conflict" card game I recently bought at our local museum. This Civil war is similar to "Go Fish." It is divided into several colors, and each color represents a certain population: townswomen, townsmen, politicians, Union generals, and Confederate generals. Each card features a picture and information about that person. Seven cards are dealt to each player, and the object of the game is to switch out cards until all seven are the same color. It is done by asking for cards from an opponent, or drawing from a reserve pile. The first player to reach 100points wins. We played several games, but not enough for anyone to reach 100 points.
Later, Son and Daughter-in-Law joined us for a supper of the salads, plus barbecue sandwiches and baked beans. As it turned out, Son was unable to eat, thanks to a flare-up of diverticulitis.
We had a good visit before they needed to leave. Sis left, too, with a promise to return tomorrow to spend the rest of the trip camping with us. She fixed a couple of barbecue sandwiches and helpings of salads to take to Nephew, though.
After that, Hubbie, Mother, and I opted for an early bedtime.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Camping Trip, Day One
Wednesday, June 1: Today is Granddaughter's birthday. Happy Birthday, Granddaughter!
We were up around 7 a.m., and spent a couple of hours after breakfast finishing packing the camper for a trip to a campground about two hours south.
We left town around 9:30. This trip, we took our three cats, but left Mother's cat at home, because she fights tooth and claw when Hubbie attempts to cage her. Mother decided that she would be happier at home, where she was comfortably provided for with several dishes of food, water, and plenty of litter pans. Mother also left on lights and the TV.
We arrived at the campground around noon. After we set up camp and had lunch, Hubbie and I went to the WDCS for a few items, and then to a hobby store, where I took advantage of a 50% off sale to buy three punches, using grant money from Extension Homemakers. The punches will be used to make greeting cards for Caring Hands Hospice. I also picked up card stock and adhesives for scrapbooking.
Back at camp, Mother said that Daughter had come by right after we left (we probably passed her on the road), and stayed until just before we came back. Daughter packed a pimento cheese sandwich and homemade cookies to take to work for her 8 p.m. supper break. Daughter loves Mother's homemade pimento cheese, as well as the cookies she bakes.
After a supper of leftover lasagna, with cottage cheese and garden salad, we played a couple of games of Skipbo, before calling it a night.
We were up around 7 a.m., and spent a couple of hours after breakfast finishing packing the camper for a trip to a campground about two hours south.
We left town around 9:30. This trip, we took our three cats, but left Mother's cat at home, because she fights tooth and claw when Hubbie attempts to cage her. Mother decided that she would be happier at home, where she was comfortably provided for with several dishes of food, water, and plenty of litter pans. Mother also left on lights and the TV.
We arrived at the campground around noon. After we set up camp and had lunch, Hubbie and I went to the WDCS for a few items, and then to a hobby store, where I took advantage of a 50% off sale to buy three punches, using grant money from Extension Homemakers. The punches will be used to make greeting cards for Caring Hands Hospice. I also picked up card stock and adhesives for scrapbooking.
Back at camp, Mother said that Daughter had come by right after we left (we probably passed her on the road), and stayed until just before we came back. Daughter packed a pimento cheese sandwich and homemade cookies to take to work for her 8 p.m. supper break. Daughter loves Mother's homemade pimento cheese, as well as the cookies she bakes.
After a supper of leftover lasagna, with cottage cheese and garden salad, we played a couple of games of Skipbo, before calling it a night.
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