Up at 7 a.m. to get ready to go to the art gallery to conduct two sessions of a graham cookie Christmas house workshop.
The plumber arrived around 8:30, and worked until nearly 9:30 getting the pipes to the downstairs toilet rooted out. The potty works now, but it looks like we'll need to get the septic tank pumped. And since the plumber extracted a bunch of roots, indicating a broken pipe, we might be faced with replacing one under the concrete slab in the sunroom. Yikes! I don't even want to think about it.
Daughter and two great-grandchildren arrived around 9 a.m. Daughter stayed with Mother today, while the rest of us went to the gallery. We were scheduled to be at the gallery at 9:30, and we just made it by that time. The arts council director wasn't there yet, so we had to retrieve the key to the gallery from the shoe store next door (the proprietor of the shoe store also owns the gallery space).
The four of us got busy right away setting up for the workshop...putting foil covered cardboard, milk cartons, bowls of candies, pretzels, graham crackers, etc., and wax paper of icing at each place.
Kids and their parents began arriving about ten minutes early, and by the appointed hour, eleven kids were ready to go to work. The arts council director was supposed to be there at 9:30, but didn't arrive until after 10 a.m. She'd misread her clock and thought she had more time than she did. Folks tried paying me the $3 fees for the workshop, but I didn't have change for the twenty dollar bills they handed me, so I was really hoping the director was going to arrive, and was glad when she finally did!
My great-grandkids were really helpful at both sessions. They also had time to make Christmas houses for themselves.
After the first session, we stopped by a grocery store to buy a few more supplies for the afternoon session, and then came home for a sandwich lunch, followed by brownies for dessert.
The second session was scheduled for 1 p.m. to 2:30, but most of the kids were done by 2 p.m., so we cleaned up and were back home before 3 p.m.
The great-grandkids wanted to watch "Polar Express," so I started the show for them, while I did some other things, including gathering the necessary materials for three other great-grandkids to make Christmas houses at home. Unfortunately two of those great-grandkids who were supposed to be here today were unable to come, because a great-granddaughter is ill.
It wasn't long before the great-grandkids who wanted to see the movie were sound asleep. They'd been up a long time, because daughter had picked them up after she got off work at midnight, took them to her house, fed them, and then went to bed around 2 a.m. Then they had to be up around 6 a.m. for the trip up here. Fortunately, Daughter napped while we were at the workshop, so she'd be alert to drive home later.
After a busy day, I was in no mood to cook supper, so Hubbie went to a local fast food place to pick up cups of chili, which we had with crackers and a choice of cheese or peanut butter. More brownies for dessert.
Daughter stayed to visit for a while longer, before leaving around 6 p.m. for the two-hour trip home.
Afterward, Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team play to a disappointing loss. I'd recorded the game on DVR.
Mother, who spent her evening in the living room enjoying the "white" Christmas tree, headed to bed around 7:30, and Hubbie and I finished the evening watching TV.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Friday, Dec. 2
Up around 7 a.m. After breakfast, and I was ready for the day, Hubbie and I got busy putting more lights on the tree in the sunroom. Naturally, this could not go smoothly. One of the strands we put on yesterday quit working. So off to the store Hubbie went to get some more.
Next obstacle? The new strand wouldn't plug into an old strand...the plug was too big. This necessitated finding an extension cord. Once the lights were on, we then found that the lighted tree topper star wouldn't stay on the branch, because the clip coil was sprung. Nothing we tried worked to hold the clip together. So we gave up and put tree topper on our shopping list.
Before lunch, Mother commented that on Wednesday, her physical therapist had advised her that that was his last day to work with her, and he wanted to know when he would be paid. Mother told him that she thought Medicare would billed, and the home medical services was responsible for seeing to his payment. She said the therapist said he didn't know anything about that.
I was puzzled and a bit put out by this information, and immediately called the home medical services. The first thing the head nurse asked was if Mother could be confused. I said I didn't think so (she seemed quite lucid to me). So she said she would talk to the therapist.
A little while later, the therapist called and assured me he'd had no such conversation with Mother, and that if he started asking his patients to pay him, he'd soon lose his job. He asked if I still wanted him to come this afternoon for a session. I asked Mother, and she said yes, if the therapist wasn't mad at her.
Again, I went over Mother's story with her, and she began wondering if the incident actually happened, since when she recalled it again, she remembered that in her mind, the rocking chair she always sits in was placed backwards in the room when she had the "conversation" with the therapist. She decided that she must have dreamed the whole thing and just thought it was real.
This caused her to be fearful that she's losing her mind. But I assured her that it's easy to dream something and then upon waking feel for awhile that the dream is real. Her dream state and waking state managed to get blended somehow. It has alerted me, though, that I need to add confusion the the list of Mother's ailments.
I felt sorry for the therapist, who said he'd left his bag of exercise equipment at the last house he visited, in a bordering community. He assure us it wasn't because of anything we'd done, but I wonder.
He seemed just as pleasant as ever today, and eager to help Mother. This afternoon, he decided it was time for her to use her walker to walk across the yard to her house. It was slow going, but Mother made it just fine. Her cat refused to come out while she was there. She sat in the rocker for a few minutes, and then made the return trip to our house.
When the therapist had left, I actually did turn the rocking chair around, so Mother could watch as Hubbie and I hung ornaments on the tree. Mother even helped by putting hangers on ornaments for us. She enjoyed this little activity.
We didn't finish getting the ornaments on the tree before it was time for me to begin supper preparations. Leftovers were the order of the day, so I chopped up a baked potato and onion and sauteed them, and then put turkey casserole and ham and beans in oven dishes.
We were scheduled to go to a tree lighting ceremony, sponsored by Caring Hands Hospice, at on of the branch banks at 4:30, and before we left, I put everything in the oven to heat.
The ceremony was to honor deceased family and friends. Folks could donate $10 and receive a pewter angel Christmas tree ornament. Each ornament included a white paper angel for writing the names of loved ones. These were hung on the Christmas tree.
The event included carols sung beautifully by a trio...two women and a man. Apparently, several in the group have recently lost loved ones, because there was lots of weeping, including a member of the caroling trio.
I obtained an angel on behalf of a sister-in-law, lost a couple of years ago. I'll send this ornament to my brother, who has been in failing health since the loss of his wife.
The event also included a table laden with refreshments. Since it was so close to our supper hour, though, we gathered a few nibbles on a paper plate and brought them home for snacking later.
We were home by 5 p.m. Supper was hot, and we were ready to eat. Shortly afterward, Hubbie and I ran a couple of errands...to a grocery store to pick up more cans of icing for the cookie Christmas house workshop tomorrow, and to the WDCS for lunch supplies for tomorrow and a few more things needed for the workshop. We also bought a new tree topper. I don't like it nearly as well as our old one, but it'll have to do.
Back home, the first thing Mother announced was that the downstairs toilet is stopped up. Hubbie tried everything to unclog it, but nothing worked, so he tried to call a plumber. No luck, of course. Hope we can reach him tomorrow.
Also learned this evening that Great-Granddaughter is ill, so she, her brother, and their mother, my granddaughter, will not be able to come up for the Christmas cookie house workshop. Daughter will still come, though, and bring two other great-grandchildren.
What a day!
Next obstacle? The new strand wouldn't plug into an old strand...the plug was too big. This necessitated finding an extension cord. Once the lights were on, we then found that the lighted tree topper star wouldn't stay on the branch, because the clip coil was sprung. Nothing we tried worked to hold the clip together. So we gave up and put tree topper on our shopping list.
Before lunch, Mother commented that on Wednesday, her physical therapist had advised her that that was his last day to work with her, and he wanted to know when he would be paid. Mother told him that she thought Medicare would billed, and the home medical services was responsible for seeing to his payment. She said the therapist said he didn't know anything about that.
I was puzzled and a bit put out by this information, and immediately called the home medical services. The first thing the head nurse asked was if Mother could be confused. I said I didn't think so (she seemed quite lucid to me). So she said she would talk to the therapist.
A little while later, the therapist called and assured me he'd had no such conversation with Mother, and that if he started asking his patients to pay him, he'd soon lose his job. He asked if I still wanted him to come this afternoon for a session. I asked Mother, and she said yes, if the therapist wasn't mad at her.
Again, I went over Mother's story with her, and she began wondering if the incident actually happened, since when she recalled it again, she remembered that in her mind, the rocking chair she always sits in was placed backwards in the room when she had the "conversation" with the therapist. She decided that she must have dreamed the whole thing and just thought it was real.
This caused her to be fearful that she's losing her mind. But I assured her that it's easy to dream something and then upon waking feel for awhile that the dream is real. Her dream state and waking state managed to get blended somehow. It has alerted me, though, that I need to add confusion the the list of Mother's ailments.
I felt sorry for the therapist, who said he'd left his bag of exercise equipment at the last house he visited, in a bordering community. He assure us it wasn't because of anything we'd done, but I wonder.
He seemed just as pleasant as ever today, and eager to help Mother. This afternoon, he decided it was time for her to use her walker to walk across the yard to her house. It was slow going, but Mother made it just fine. Her cat refused to come out while she was there. She sat in the rocker for a few minutes, and then made the return trip to our house.
When the therapist had left, I actually did turn the rocking chair around, so Mother could watch as Hubbie and I hung ornaments on the tree. Mother even helped by putting hangers on ornaments for us. She enjoyed this little activity.
We didn't finish getting the ornaments on the tree before it was time for me to begin supper preparations. Leftovers were the order of the day, so I chopped up a baked potato and onion and sauteed them, and then put turkey casserole and ham and beans in oven dishes.
We were scheduled to go to a tree lighting ceremony, sponsored by Caring Hands Hospice, at on of the branch banks at 4:30, and before we left, I put everything in the oven to heat.
The ceremony was to honor deceased family and friends. Folks could donate $10 and receive a pewter angel Christmas tree ornament. Each ornament included a white paper angel for writing the names of loved ones. These were hung on the Christmas tree.
The event included carols sung beautifully by a trio...two women and a man. Apparently, several in the group have recently lost loved ones, because there was lots of weeping, including a member of the caroling trio.
I obtained an angel on behalf of a sister-in-law, lost a couple of years ago. I'll send this ornament to my brother, who has been in failing health since the loss of his wife.
The event also included a table laden with refreshments. Since it was so close to our supper hour, though, we gathered a few nibbles on a paper plate and brought them home for snacking later.
We were home by 5 p.m. Supper was hot, and we were ready to eat. Shortly afterward, Hubbie and I ran a couple of errands...to a grocery store to pick up more cans of icing for the cookie Christmas house workshop tomorrow, and to the WDCS for lunch supplies for tomorrow and a few more things needed for the workshop. We also bought a new tree topper. I don't like it nearly as well as our old one, but it'll have to do.
Back home, the first thing Mother announced was that the downstairs toilet is stopped up. Hubbie tried everything to unclog it, but nothing worked, so he tried to call a plumber. No luck, of course. Hope we can reach him tomorrow.
Also learned this evening that Great-Granddaughter is ill, so she, her brother, and their mother, my granddaughter, will not be able to come up for the Christmas cookie house workshop. Daughter will still come, though, and bring two other great-grandchildren.
What a day!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thursday, Dec. 1
Another month swiftly gone, and another very busy one coming up. We were up around 7 a.m., and after breakfast, I helped Mother take a shower. Again, I didn't do much but attend. She had already gathered her clean clothes and was in the bathroom disrobing by the time I came downstairs from getting into a swimsuit. She did everything for herself this morning, but still needed assistance standing up once she was dressed.
The first thing Hubbie announced after I was ready for the day was that our dishwasher bit the dust. This would require a trip to the appliance store, but we decided to wait until after lunch. In the meantime, we put the Christmas village on the mantel. This is a tedious job that requires careful placement on two tiers, and maneuvering cords into outlet strips.
Mother helped by folding children's cardboard brick boxes (used to tier the village), and fluffing the many artificial Christmas trees to be placed among the houses. Hubbie had put cotton batting on a wide length attached to the mantel.
It took most of the morning to complete this task. After a chicken salad sandwich lunch (the salad was particularly good today), Hubbie and I went to an appliance store to choose a new dishwasher.
We found one that we were assured is one of the stores most popular brands, because it is quiet when it runs. That information alone sold me, since Hubbie loves to run the dishwasher while we are watching TV. And since the den and the kitchen are so close together, it's annoying.
The dishwasher is black, like our current one, so it will match our other appliances. The plumber we engaged to put the washer in will pick the machine up Monday and install it.
When we got back home, we began stringing lights on the tree in the sunroom. Wouldn't you know it, half the lights on a new string that Hubbie bought a couple of days ago don't work. So it would be necessary to go to the WDCS for more lights.
We did that on a trip out to visit the college library where the soup and chili event was to be held this evening. The Friends of the Library (of which I'm one) was sponsoring a bake sale, and I wanted to pick up some goodies for this weekend.
While I was there, a friend asked me to slice a loaf of banana bread for her. The bread was frozen. She handed me a butter knife. Took some muscle power, but I managed it finally.
I bought a single iced layer of dark chocolate cake, a pound cake, a couple of slices of peach pizza, and some cookies.
From the library, we went to the WDCS to buy new Christmas lights, and then came back home.
By now, it was time to get ready to go to the library event. So I heated the vegetable soup and put it in a slow cooker, then dressed for the outing. Before we left, Hubbie heated a thermos, which I filled with hot soup. I set the small table in the kitchen, and put a slice of cornbread in the microwave for Mother.
The library event lasted from 5 p.m. to 6:30. Several slow cookers of chili and soup were available for tasting. The chili ranged from mild to what was called "Voodoo Hot." It was the winning chili, as judged by our esteemed mayor. One pot of chili was made with bear meat. Blah! Neither Hubbie nor I were interested in tasting that one. My pot of vegetable soup must have been good, because only about a cupful was left. But it didn't win the soup contest.
The event also included a live and silent auction. I picked up a few items at the silent auction, including a baby blanket, a bag of junk jewelry, and a necklace (Hubbie bid on that one, and got it for $2. It wasn't something I would have bid on, but I'll find a use for it).
Funny: at the live auction, a college staff member bid on an item, and when the auctioneer called for a higher bid, one came from the area of the room where the silent auction was held. The bidder was the staff member's wife! She'd upped her husband's bid, without realizing it. She won the bid.
The Friends of the Library is another small town organization that relies on its members to pay an annual membership fee, provide books for the annual book sale, baked goods, auction items, and/or soup and chili for the winter event, and pay $3 each for the privilege of attending. Good thing it's fun.
Back home afterward, we joined Mother in watching TV. Tonight, we watched a TNT channel mystery called, "Ricochet."
The first thing Hubbie announced after I was ready for the day was that our dishwasher bit the dust. This would require a trip to the appliance store, but we decided to wait until after lunch. In the meantime, we put the Christmas village on the mantel. This is a tedious job that requires careful placement on two tiers, and maneuvering cords into outlet strips.
Mother helped by folding children's cardboard brick boxes (used to tier the village), and fluffing the many artificial Christmas trees to be placed among the houses. Hubbie had put cotton batting on a wide length attached to the mantel.
It took most of the morning to complete this task. After a chicken salad sandwich lunch (the salad was particularly good today), Hubbie and I went to an appliance store to choose a new dishwasher.
We found one that we were assured is one of the stores most popular brands, because it is quiet when it runs. That information alone sold me, since Hubbie loves to run the dishwasher while we are watching TV. And since the den and the kitchen are so close together, it's annoying.
The dishwasher is black, like our current one, so it will match our other appliances. The plumber we engaged to put the washer in will pick the machine up Monday and install it.
When we got back home, we began stringing lights on the tree in the sunroom. Wouldn't you know it, half the lights on a new string that Hubbie bought a couple of days ago don't work. So it would be necessary to go to the WDCS for more lights.
We did that on a trip out to visit the college library where the soup and chili event was to be held this evening. The Friends of the Library (of which I'm one) was sponsoring a bake sale, and I wanted to pick up some goodies for this weekend.
While I was there, a friend asked me to slice a loaf of banana bread for her. The bread was frozen. She handed me a butter knife. Took some muscle power, but I managed it finally.
I bought a single iced layer of dark chocolate cake, a pound cake, a couple of slices of peach pizza, and some cookies.
From the library, we went to the WDCS to buy new Christmas lights, and then came back home.
By now, it was time to get ready to go to the library event. So I heated the vegetable soup and put it in a slow cooker, then dressed for the outing. Before we left, Hubbie heated a thermos, which I filled with hot soup. I set the small table in the kitchen, and put a slice of cornbread in the microwave for Mother.
The library event lasted from 5 p.m. to 6:30. Several slow cookers of chili and soup were available for tasting. The chili ranged from mild to what was called "Voodoo Hot." It was the winning chili, as judged by our esteemed mayor. One pot of chili was made with bear meat. Blah! Neither Hubbie nor I were interested in tasting that one. My pot of vegetable soup must have been good, because only about a cupful was left. But it didn't win the soup contest.
The event also included a live and silent auction. I picked up a few items at the silent auction, including a baby blanket, a bag of junk jewelry, and a necklace (Hubbie bid on that one, and got it for $2. It wasn't something I would have bid on, but I'll find a use for it).
Funny: at the live auction, a college staff member bid on an item, and when the auctioneer called for a higher bid, one came from the area of the room where the silent auction was held. The bidder was the staff member's wife! She'd upped her husband's bid, without realizing it. She won the bid.
The Friends of the Library is another small town organization that relies on its members to pay an annual membership fee, provide books for the annual book sale, baked goods, auction items, and/or soup and chili for the winter event, and pay $3 each for the privilege of attending. Good thing it's fun.
Back home afterward, we joined Mother in watching TV. Tonight, we watched a TNT channel mystery called, "Ricochet."
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, Nov. 30
Up at 7 a.m. on this last day of November. I'm still coughing a little and my voice is raspy yet, but I think the worst of my malady is over.
Once I was ready for the day, I did odds and ends of household stuff until time to get ready to go to a luncheon in honor of Caring Hands Hospice volunteers at 11:30. Before Hubbie and I left, I prepared Mother a lunch of chicken salad and a small slice of mince meat pie and put it in the fridge. Mother was able to retrieve the meal on her own.
The luncheon was very pleasant. The former volunteer coordinator and one of the volunteers who owns a party store put together very attractive decorations and a nice lunch. The luncheon theme was a sidewalk cafe' in Paris. At the entrance were two black lamp posts with white globes. The tables were dressed in black tableclothes, black and white floral design napkins, clear plates, glasses, and cups and saucers, and tall bud vases containing single red roses Each table also featured paper-constructed Eiffel Towers. On the walls were prints of Paris outdoor cafes.
The buffet tables were covered in black tableclothes, with vases filled with red roses on each end. The soup and sandwich, fruit and pastries, food was beautifully served in baskets and on various silver pieces.
In keeping with the theme, the meal consisted of choices of deli ham, turkey, and beef, and both white and yellow cheeses, with croissant rolls, hot mini-quiches, French onion soup, chocolate bon bons, and white iced sugar cookies with a black Fleur d lis design.
Following the lunch, the new volunteer coordinator awarded little brass extensions engraved with number of volunteer hours that are to be added to pins that were issued to us a couple of years ago.
Later, as were talking to the owner of the home medical services, of which Caring Hands is a part, told us that his wife recently suffered a broken leg. Seems she was walking their large dog, and the dog suddenly bolted after a squirrel. Instead of turning the leash loose, his wife tried to control the dog and subsequently fell, breaking her leg.
Back home, Mother said the therapist visited this morning while we were gone, and she managed her lunch just fine.
Hubbie and I both changed clothes, and Hubbie worked the rest of the afternoon cleaning the sunroom, while Mother and I made recipes of Chai tea. We made one batch using decaf tea and sugar substitute, and two regular batches. I soon ran out of some ingredients, and knew I'd need to go to the store after supper before I could finish the tea project.
Around 4 p.m., I put leftover turkey casserole in the oven, heated beans and ham from last night, and served the meal with the remainder of the cranberry sauce, plus a choice of cornbread or yeast roll for supper at 5 p.m.
Afterward, Hubbie and I ran errands to the everything's a dollar store for three more of the mesh back rests and six cans of cookie straws, and to the WDCS for ingredients for Chai tea.
At home, I finished making the tea, and then we relaxed and watched a TNT channel movie...Scott Turrow's "Innocent." Following the movie, Mother headed to bed, and Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team play to a wide-margin win. I'd recorded the game on DVR.
Once I was ready for the day, I did odds and ends of household stuff until time to get ready to go to a luncheon in honor of Caring Hands Hospice volunteers at 11:30. Before Hubbie and I left, I prepared Mother a lunch of chicken salad and a small slice of mince meat pie and put it in the fridge. Mother was able to retrieve the meal on her own.
The luncheon was very pleasant. The former volunteer coordinator and one of the volunteers who owns a party store put together very attractive decorations and a nice lunch. The luncheon theme was a sidewalk cafe' in Paris. At the entrance were two black lamp posts with white globes. The tables were dressed in black tableclothes, black and white floral design napkins, clear plates, glasses, and cups and saucers, and tall bud vases containing single red roses Each table also featured paper-constructed Eiffel Towers. On the walls were prints of Paris outdoor cafes.
The buffet tables were covered in black tableclothes, with vases filled with red roses on each end. The soup and sandwich, fruit and pastries, food was beautifully served in baskets and on various silver pieces.
In keeping with the theme, the meal consisted of choices of deli ham, turkey, and beef, and both white and yellow cheeses, with croissant rolls, hot mini-quiches, French onion soup, chocolate bon bons, and white iced sugar cookies with a black Fleur d lis design.
Following the lunch, the new volunteer coordinator awarded little brass extensions engraved with number of volunteer hours that are to be added to pins that were issued to us a couple of years ago.
Later, as were talking to the owner of the home medical services, of which Caring Hands is a part, told us that his wife recently suffered a broken leg. Seems she was walking their large dog, and the dog suddenly bolted after a squirrel. Instead of turning the leash loose, his wife tried to control the dog and subsequently fell, breaking her leg.
Back home, Mother said the therapist visited this morning while we were gone, and she managed her lunch just fine.
Hubbie and I both changed clothes, and Hubbie worked the rest of the afternoon cleaning the sunroom, while Mother and I made recipes of Chai tea. We made one batch using decaf tea and sugar substitute, and two regular batches. I soon ran out of some ingredients, and knew I'd need to go to the store after supper before I could finish the tea project.
Around 4 p.m., I put leftover turkey casserole in the oven, heated beans and ham from last night, and served the meal with the remainder of the cranberry sauce, plus a choice of cornbread or yeast roll for supper at 5 p.m.
Afterward, Hubbie and I ran errands to the everything's a dollar store for three more of the mesh back rests and six cans of cookie straws, and to the WDCS for ingredients for Chai tea.
At home, I finished making the tea, and then we relaxed and watched a TNT channel movie...Scott Turrow's "Innocent." Following the movie, Mother headed to bed, and Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team play to a wide-margin win. I'd recorded the game on DVR.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tuesday, Nov. 29
Up at 7 a.m., and after breakfast, I helped Mother take a shower. Mainly, I just stood by in case she needed me, since she undressed and dressed herself, as well as getting herself onto the bat hub stool, and using the flexible shower head on her own. Nice progress.
Just as I had finished getting ready for the day, Mother's nurse dropped by to check her vitals, which are great. The nurse commented that she will now be visiting Mother only once a week, instead of twice.
After she left, Mother and I worked getting a pot of beans and a pot of vegetable soup ready to simmer. I gathered everything Mother needed to slice and dice the various vegetables needed...onions, carrots, banana peppers, and zucchini, as well as ham, and then I assembled the recipes and started them cooking.
Then Mother cubed leftover chicken, and chopped onion, apple, celery and dill pickles for chicken salad. The salad also includes Craisins and pecans. I mixed all these together with salad dressing.
The veggie soup is for a soup and chili event at a local college, where Hubbie and I are Friends of the Library. The event is scheduled for Thursday night, where the soups and chilies will be judged for prizes, and where there will be a silent and live auction, as well as a baked goods sale, all to raise funds for the library, of course.
The beans and ham were for tonight's supper, and the chicken salad is for whenever meals we need it.
After lunch, Hubbie went to the barber shop, while I did a few things around the house, including gathering the last of fall decorations and putting them in a large tote to be taken to the storage shed.
When he returned, we went together to run errands (Mother napped while we were gone). First stop was the art gallery, where we dropped off the ornaments that Sis painted while she was here. The gallery director was most grateful to get them, and thought they were lovely.
From there, we went to the newspaper office to drop off the word search puzzle contest entry. Then, we went to the store that has a sale every weekend to buy pairs of heavy white and black socks for Mother. She's been wearing my brown ones and really likes them, so I thought it'd be a good idea to get her some for Christmas.
A pharmacy store was our next stop, where I looked for a bottle of shampoo/body wash combination like the bottle Mother brought home from the hospital. She likes the wash, and I want to get a bottle of it for her as a twelve days of Christmas gift.
Then we went to a shoe store, where I bought black and brown socks for myself. I like these socks, which are super soft and comfy.
Our last stop was an everything's a dollar store, where I got five Christmas stockings on behalf of our scrapbook club to be donated to the Extension Homemakers Club. Every club donates stockings to equal the number of members in their club, and the total number of them is donated to a local bank, which fills them with goodies for underprivileged kids.
At the dollar store, I also picked up several cans of cookie straws, and a mesh back cushion. It's curved to fit the curvature of the spine, and has elastic bands on the back so it gives as a person moves.
Back home, Mother tried the cushion and really likes it. So I think we'll go back to the store and buy several more for the house and vehicles.
Since it was now 3 p.m., I put huge potatoes in the oven to bake, and sauteed cabbage. Near 5 p.m., I put a pan of cornbread in the oven. This meal was very good...good, plain food after several days of rich Thanksgiving fare.
Later, we watched a 1996 PG movie on DVD called, "Dear God." A con man is directed by the court, close to Christmas, to either go to jail or get a job at the postal service dead letter office. He starts opening letters to God, and he and the other workers decide to grant the wishes of the letter writers. The media loves the idea, but the Postmaster General does not, declaring that it is illegal to open letters addressed to someone else, even God. The case goes to trial. Not an award-winner, but amusing in places, and certainly decent enough for Mother.
Just as I had finished getting ready for the day, Mother's nurse dropped by to check her vitals, which are great. The nurse commented that she will now be visiting Mother only once a week, instead of twice.
After she left, Mother and I worked getting a pot of beans and a pot of vegetable soup ready to simmer. I gathered everything Mother needed to slice and dice the various vegetables needed...onions, carrots, banana peppers, and zucchini, as well as ham, and then I assembled the recipes and started them cooking.
Then Mother cubed leftover chicken, and chopped onion, apple, celery and dill pickles for chicken salad. The salad also includes Craisins and pecans. I mixed all these together with salad dressing.
The veggie soup is for a soup and chili event at a local college, where Hubbie and I are Friends of the Library. The event is scheduled for Thursday night, where the soups and chilies will be judged for prizes, and where there will be a silent and live auction, as well as a baked goods sale, all to raise funds for the library, of course.
The beans and ham were for tonight's supper, and the chicken salad is for whenever meals we need it.
After lunch, Hubbie went to the barber shop, while I did a few things around the house, including gathering the last of fall decorations and putting them in a large tote to be taken to the storage shed.
When he returned, we went together to run errands (Mother napped while we were gone). First stop was the art gallery, where we dropped off the ornaments that Sis painted while she was here. The gallery director was most grateful to get them, and thought they were lovely.
From there, we went to the newspaper office to drop off the word search puzzle contest entry. Then, we went to the store that has a sale every weekend to buy pairs of heavy white and black socks for Mother. She's been wearing my brown ones and really likes them, so I thought it'd be a good idea to get her some for Christmas.
A pharmacy store was our next stop, where I looked for a bottle of shampoo/body wash combination like the bottle Mother brought home from the hospital. She likes the wash, and I want to get a bottle of it for her as a twelve days of Christmas gift.
Then we went to a shoe store, where I bought black and brown socks for myself. I like these socks, which are super soft and comfy.
Our last stop was an everything's a dollar store, where I got five Christmas stockings on behalf of our scrapbook club to be donated to the Extension Homemakers Club. Every club donates stockings to equal the number of members in their club, and the total number of them is donated to a local bank, which fills them with goodies for underprivileged kids.
At the dollar store, I also picked up several cans of cookie straws, and a mesh back cushion. It's curved to fit the curvature of the spine, and has elastic bands on the back so it gives as a person moves.
Back home, Mother tried the cushion and really likes it. So I think we'll go back to the store and buy several more for the house and vehicles.
Since it was now 3 p.m., I put huge potatoes in the oven to bake, and sauteed cabbage. Near 5 p.m., I put a pan of cornbread in the oven. This meal was very good...good, plain food after several days of rich Thanksgiving fare.
Later, we watched a 1996 PG movie on DVD called, "Dear God." A con man is directed by the court, close to Christmas, to either go to jail or get a job at the postal service dead letter office. He starts opening letters to God, and he and the other workers decide to grant the wishes of the letter writers. The media loves the idea, but the Postmaster General does not, declaring that it is illegal to open letters addressed to someone else, even God. The case goes to trial. Not an award-winner, but amusing in places, and certainly decent enough for Mother.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Monday, Nov. 28
Up around 7 a.m., but since I'm still coughing my head off and continue to have laryngitis, I didn't go to the pool or exercise otherwise.
After breakfast and getting ready for the day, I asked Mother if she wanted to go to her house. But she didn't want to (it has been bitterly cold today). Instead, she preferred to stay here and decorate a graham cracker cookie Christmas house, to be used as a display example when we do the workshops on Saturday.
I spent the morning putting away fall decorations and doing other things related to getting things back in order after Thanksgiving, and getting ready to decorate for Christmas.
After lunch, we waited for the physical therapist to arrive, which was around 1:30. He decided that it was just too cold out for Mother to attempt walking to her house, so he helped her exercise indoors. Although we didn't see any of the predicted snow flurries today, the therapist ran into them on his rounds to nearby towns, and he said the snow/rain was accompanied by a cutting wind.
We learned today that the 38-year-old therapist, who has two young children and a baby on the way, is privileged to get free tickets to the games of our favorite college football team, thanks to a mother who is married to a member of one of the wealthiest families in our capital city. In fact, he and his wife had seats on the 50-yard line of the game played this past Friday. His love of the state team gave us a common ground for conversation, so we really enjoyed the visit today.
After the therapist left, I snapped photos of the Christmas ornaments Sis painted, and a Christmas totem that Daughter painted, then uploaded the snapshots, plus a shot of Mother doing the cookie Christmas house, a picture of Mother and the therapist, and pictures I'd taken of family last Saturday, to my social network page.
Around 3 p.m., I put together a casserole, using Thanksgiving leftovers, layering mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, a can of mixed vegetables, sliced cheese, and topped with crushed crackers. It was good served with leftover sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce, plus hot rolls. Had hoped to finish off Thanksgiving this time, but about half the casserole is left, so I guess we'll have it one more time.
Not tomorrow though. After supper, Mother washed a bag of pinto beans for beans and ham tomorrow. They'll be a welcome change from the rich Thanksgiving fare.
Later, we watched the ABC movie, "Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith," that I'd recorded on DVR. Mother went to bed shortly afterward, around 9 p.m. This is the longest she's stayed up in the evening for a long time.
After breakfast and getting ready for the day, I asked Mother if she wanted to go to her house. But she didn't want to (it has been bitterly cold today). Instead, she preferred to stay here and decorate a graham cracker cookie Christmas house, to be used as a display example when we do the workshops on Saturday.
I spent the morning putting away fall decorations and doing other things related to getting things back in order after Thanksgiving, and getting ready to decorate for Christmas.
After lunch, we waited for the physical therapist to arrive, which was around 1:30. He decided that it was just too cold out for Mother to attempt walking to her house, so he helped her exercise indoors. Although we didn't see any of the predicted snow flurries today, the therapist ran into them on his rounds to nearby towns, and he said the snow/rain was accompanied by a cutting wind.
We learned today that the 38-year-old therapist, who has two young children and a baby on the way, is privileged to get free tickets to the games of our favorite college football team, thanks to a mother who is married to a member of one of the wealthiest families in our capital city. In fact, he and his wife had seats on the 50-yard line of the game played this past Friday. His love of the state team gave us a common ground for conversation, so we really enjoyed the visit today.
After the therapist left, I snapped photos of the Christmas ornaments Sis painted, and a Christmas totem that Daughter painted, then uploaded the snapshots, plus a shot of Mother doing the cookie Christmas house, a picture of Mother and the therapist, and pictures I'd taken of family last Saturday, to my social network page.
Around 3 p.m., I put together a casserole, using Thanksgiving leftovers, layering mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, a can of mixed vegetables, sliced cheese, and topped with crushed crackers. It was good served with leftover sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce, plus hot rolls. Had hoped to finish off Thanksgiving this time, but about half the casserole is left, so I guess we'll have it one more time.
Not tomorrow though. After supper, Mother washed a bag of pinto beans for beans and ham tomorrow. They'll be a welcome change from the rich Thanksgiving fare.
Later, we watched the ABC movie, "Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith," that I'd recorded on DVR. Mother went to bed shortly afterward, around 9 p.m. This is the longest she's stayed up in the evening for a long time.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday, Nov. 27
Up around 7 a.m. Mother was ready to get up, too, but since her back is bothering her today, I helped her out of bed, after which she was able to use her walker to go to the bathroom.
A breakfast yuk: the first sip of my coffee brought with it some sort of flying insect, bigger than a fly but smaller than a bee. As soon as I felt it pass my lips, I spit it back into the cup. Upon inspection, I yelped then spluttered and spit some more, grabbed a napkin and furiously scrubbed my mouth and tongue. It's a mystery how the thing got into the coffee. Maybe it flew into the pot of last night's leftover brew and drowned there.
After breakfast, I helped Mother shower, and then got ready for the day myself. Then Mother went to the kitchen, where I gathered ingredients for her to make a recipe of bread stuffing.
Spent the rest of the morning doing this and that. Daughter helped Mother stroll around the house with her walker, and do resistance exercises. Later, I put the stuffing in the oven, along with the leftovers, and we had lunch around noon.
After lunch, I filled several disposable containers with Thanksgiving leftovers for Daughter to take home with her.
Mother was so discouraged about her progress, and so anxious to get back to her own home, that we bundled her up in coat hat and gloves, helped her into the wheelchair, and took her home for the afternoon.
She has been away so long that her cat was a bit shy of her, so we left, hoping the cat would soon re-bond with her.
Hubbie and I spent the afternoon watching the 2003 movie, "House of Sand and Fog," starring Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley. A young woman abandoned by her husband loses the home left to her and her brother by their father. It is bought at county auction by an Iranian and his wife. When a lawyer tries to get the man to return the home to county so the woman can get it back, he insists that the county pay him three times what he paid for it. Things go from bad to worse for everyone, and finally ends tragically. An emotional roller coaster of a movie.
Around 4:30, we brought Mother back to our house. By this time, her cat didn't want her to leave, of course.
After a supper of soup and sandwiches, Mother made six trips around the house, using her walker. I think she wants to prove she is ready to go home to stay. And if she insists, I guess we'll just have to chance it and see how it works out, even if I'm edgy about it.
Later, we watched the National Dog Show that I'd recorded on DVR Thanksgiving Day. Mother was ready to go to bed after that, and I let her do it on her own. Her therapist is scheduled to come tomorrow. Maybe we'll let him visit her at her house and see how that goes.
A breakfast yuk: the first sip of my coffee brought with it some sort of flying insect, bigger than a fly but smaller than a bee. As soon as I felt it pass my lips, I spit it back into the cup. Upon inspection, I yelped then spluttered and spit some more, grabbed a napkin and furiously scrubbed my mouth and tongue. It's a mystery how the thing got into the coffee. Maybe it flew into the pot of last night's leftover brew and drowned there.
After breakfast, I helped Mother shower, and then got ready for the day myself. Then Mother went to the kitchen, where I gathered ingredients for her to make a recipe of bread stuffing.
Spent the rest of the morning doing this and that. Daughter helped Mother stroll around the house with her walker, and do resistance exercises. Later, I put the stuffing in the oven, along with the leftovers, and we had lunch around noon.
After lunch, I filled several disposable containers with Thanksgiving leftovers for Daughter to take home with her.
Mother was so discouraged about her progress, and so anxious to get back to her own home, that we bundled her up in coat hat and gloves, helped her into the wheelchair, and took her home for the afternoon.
She has been away so long that her cat was a bit shy of her, so we left, hoping the cat would soon re-bond with her.
Hubbie and I spent the afternoon watching the 2003 movie, "House of Sand and Fog," starring Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley. A young woman abandoned by her husband loses the home left to her and her brother by their father. It is bought at county auction by an Iranian and his wife. When a lawyer tries to get the man to return the home to county so the woman can get it back, he insists that the county pay him three times what he paid for it. Things go from bad to worse for everyone, and finally ends tragically. An emotional roller coaster of a movie.
Around 4:30, we brought Mother back to our house. By this time, her cat didn't want her to leave, of course.
After a supper of soup and sandwiches, Mother made six trips around the house, using her walker. I think she wants to prove she is ready to go home to stay. And if she insists, I guess we'll just have to chance it and see how it works out, even if I'm edgy about it.
Later, we watched the National Dog Show that I'd recorded on DVR Thanksgiving Day. Mother was ready to go to bed after that, and I let her do it on her own. Her therapist is scheduled to come tomorrow. Maybe we'll let him visit her at her house and see how that goes.
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