New Year's Eve. Last day of 2011. Can't say I'm sorry to see it go. There were some high points, of course, with a wedding, and births of great-grandchildren. But there were also some real low points...tornadoes, broken bones, illnesses, and deaths. Hoping 2012 will bring more high points than low points.
We were up around 7:30 this morning, on a day that promised to be glorious weather-wise. I skipped my exercises, in anticipation of riding my bike during the warmest part of the afternoon.
Once I was ready for the day, Hubbie and I ran errands...to a grocery store to get shredded Monterey Jack cheese, of which there was none. The stocking clerk declared that he'd worked there for four years, and in that time there had never been packaged shredded Monterey Jack. That is just so not true. It's true that the WDCS quit carrying it some time ago, but that's why we started buying it at this store. The last couple of times we've searched for it, though, we haven't been able to find it.
So we went to another grocery store, where there also was none. The clerk there said that if the WDCS and the other grocery store quit carrying it, it's because the distributor quit ordering it for our region, due to the product not moving fast enough. Phooey. So now we have to buy the cheese in blocks and grate it ourselves. No big deal, but just not as convenient.
From the grocery stores, we went to the medical supplies store, where we bought a shower chair/bench for Mother. Then we went to the WDCS for incidentals and groceries. I had hoped to find a plain chocolate cake here, but everything had puddings included. So I'll need to go back to a grocery store to try to find one. I want just a classic cake that I can add applesauce and egg substitute to, for a healthier birthday dessert for me. If I can't find one, I'll make one from scratch, I guess.
On the way home, we stopped by the Catholic Church again to find out what days and times the office is open. I tried calling the Church, but among the long list of options, not one told me when the office is open. I want to get a mass card for the member of our graduating class who passed away this month. I meant to go Friday and forgot, then I forgot what times the office is open, so today, I wrote the times down so I could note them on my calendar.
Back home, after lunch, I checked with Mother. She was doing fine, but she'd eaten only a cracker with a piece of cheese for lunch. When I'd talked to her earlier, she assured me she could heat soup in the microwave, but I guess she just didn't want to make the effort. So I heated some for her.
I brought most of the ingredients I'd need to make bagel pizzas for supper, so she diced onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms, which I sauteed. Then she went back to the living room, and I came home to change clothes for a bike ride.
Hubbie accompanied me on the ride, of course. It was a mild afternoon, but the wind was very brisk, and it was blowing straight at us. Hubbie managed to pump his bicycle up the steep hill, but I was only able to make it part way, before I had to dismount and walk my bike up the rest of the way. I managed the rest of the ride just fine.
Back home afterward, we relaxed and watched TV for the rest of the afternoon until it was time for me to go to Mother's to finish preparing supper. We had the bagel pizzas with macaroni and cheese and corn-on-the-cob.
I was surprised at how much Mother was able to eat this evening. I think it might have been because she wasn't eating alone.
After supper, we played Skip-Bo until 8 p.m., which is Mother's bedtime. We snacked on chocolates, and celebrated the new year a little early with Golden Spumante for Hubbie and me, and sparkling grape juice for Mother. She enjoyed the evening, but was tired by the time we quit playing cards.
At home, Hubbie and I began watching Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve, but after a few minutes, I saw that Hubbie was bored with it, so I started a movie on DVR for him.
Did we see the new year in? I'll let you know tomorrow.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Friday, Dec. 30
Beautiful day today...sunny and mild. We were up around 7:30, and after breakfast, I did a treadmill session and weights exercises. While I cooling down, we decided to go to a matinee movie to see "I Bought a Zoo," starring Matt Damon.
Once I was dressed and ready for the day, I went to Mother's house to help her take a shower. It was a challenge for Mother to get in and out of her tub...definitely more difficult than it was at our house. I need to look for something easier than the bath stool for Mother to use...something with a board that she can use to scoot onto a stool. I think something like that is available for wheelchair-bound folks.
We had lunch at Mother's house...leftover veggie soup, and crackers with Italian cream cheese. The movie started at 12:50, so we got ready to go a little early, so that Mother would have plenty of time to use her walker to get to the van, and then, with assistance, step up into the vehicle.
At the theater, we used the wheelchair, which was good, since the screen showing the movie we chose was at the far end of the theater. There weren't many folks in the theater when we arrived, so the wheelchair space was vacant. Pretty soon, though, lots of folks arrived, and most seats were filled except the first couple of rows.
Later, a member of our water aerobics group arrived, with three grandchildren in tow. They "pardon me, excuse us, oops-ed!" their way over our feet to get settled into their seats. No sooner had they gotten settled, though, than the woman and one of the kids had to "pardon me, excuse us, oops!" their way back across our feet, because the kid had to visit the bathroom.
When they returned, they each had trays of food and drinks that they had to balance as they "pardon me, excuse us, oops-ed!" their way across our feet. Were they settled in? Well, for a little while. But it wasn't long before another of the kids had to visit the bathroom, so...
The movie is a wonderful family feature, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We were back home around 3:30, and I put together a casserole from the leftover beef roast dinner. While I did that, Mother made an Italian cream cheese ball for us to enjoy tomorrow night in celebration of New Year's Eve.
Mother ate supper with us at our house, but she went home immediately afterward. A shower, a movie, making a cheese ball, and having supper at our house were enough to wear her out.
Later we watched TV, including our favorite college basketball team, as they played to another wide-margin win.
Once I was dressed and ready for the day, I went to Mother's house to help her take a shower. It was a challenge for Mother to get in and out of her tub...definitely more difficult than it was at our house. I need to look for something easier than the bath stool for Mother to use...something with a board that she can use to scoot onto a stool. I think something like that is available for wheelchair-bound folks.
We had lunch at Mother's house...leftover veggie soup, and crackers with Italian cream cheese. The movie started at 12:50, so we got ready to go a little early, so that Mother would have plenty of time to use her walker to get to the van, and then, with assistance, step up into the vehicle.
At the theater, we used the wheelchair, which was good, since the screen showing the movie we chose was at the far end of the theater. There weren't many folks in the theater when we arrived, so the wheelchair space was vacant. Pretty soon, though, lots of folks arrived, and most seats were filled except the first couple of rows.
Later, a member of our water aerobics group arrived, with three grandchildren in tow. They "pardon me, excuse us, oops-ed!" their way over our feet to get settled into their seats. No sooner had they gotten settled, though, than the woman and one of the kids had to "pardon me, excuse us, oops!" their way back across our feet, because the kid had to visit the bathroom.
When they returned, they each had trays of food and drinks that they had to balance as they "pardon me, excuse us, oops-ed!" their way across our feet. Were they settled in? Well, for a little while. But it wasn't long before another of the kids had to visit the bathroom, so...
The movie is a wonderful family feature, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We were back home around 3:30, and I put together a casserole from the leftover beef roast dinner. While I did that, Mother made an Italian cream cheese ball for us to enjoy tomorrow night in celebration of New Year's Eve.
Mother ate supper with us at our house, but she went home immediately afterward. A shower, a movie, making a cheese ball, and having supper at our house were enough to wear her out.
Later we watched TV, including our favorite college basketball team, as they played to another wide-margin win.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Thursday, Dec. 29
Slept really late this morning, until 8:30. Hubbie was already downstairs when I came down He had already checked with Mother to make sure she had taken her meds. She had.
After breakfast, I did a treadmill session and resistance exercises. While I did that, Hubbie went to Mother's house and moved everything out of the hallway. He put a small chest of drawers in her bedroom.
The nurse who visited yesterday suggested we put the adult potty over Mother's toilet (minus the bucket) so it will be easier for her to rise from a seated position.
Once I was ready for the day, I gathered several bags of clothing and other items to take to her house. She was already fully dressed, so I wasn't able to help her bathe. We'll do that tomorrow. I advised her that since she is now at her own house, she'll be showering later in the morning, or maybe in the afternoon, since I'll need to do my own morning routine before seeing to hers. This is particularly true on days I attend water aerobics. She promised she would not attempt bathing without my assistance.
At noon, Hubbie came over and heated Mother's lunch, and then served it on one of her TV tray tables. I'd actually wanted to watch her use the microwave to fix her own meal, but I guess that'll wait until tomorrow, too.
After her lunch, I encouraged her to go to the kitchen sink and wash the few dishes that were there. I asked her to use her walker, which she can push up to the sink. She can then stand inside of it, and if she gets woozy, she'll have the arms of the walker to brace herself until she can get to a chair.
We discussed my concerns and hers, and she said she felt she had become a burden to me at my house. I assured her that she could never be a burden to me. She's also unhappy that she can't go places anymore. But I told her that with the wheelchair, she can go anywhere we do, just like she did before she got sick. We've offered to take her to events, but she has consistently and emphatically refused, not just recently, but for a long time before she got sick.
Spent the rest of the afternoon at home doing this and that, including making a dish of fruited Jell-O. For supper, we had veggie soup, and biscuits with honey. Hubbie took servings to Mother.
Note: the obituaries in last night's local newspaper included a notice of a 93-year-old woman, who had been a member of Extension Homemakers years ago, when Mother and I were more active in the organization. This lady had spent the last years of her life in a nursing home. She was a very sweet woman that we both liked.
That was the second of two women we knew who passed away this week. The first was a woman who had been a receptionist/secretary for many years at the Extension Services office. She was 90 at the time of her death.
Note two: the red blotches on my torso, an allergic reaction to the patches applied at the cardiology clinic, are beginning to fade. Before the tech applied the patches, she told me she had to scratch the skin a little. I commented that what she used to make the scratches felt like sandpaper...which is what it was, she said. Then she applied alcohol to the scratches...yikes! The alcohol was to remove any oils that would keep the patches from sticking. The scratches, the alcohol, and the glue on the patches made for an uncomfortable burning sensation in six or seven places.
Spent the evening watching TV, as usual.
After breakfast, I did a treadmill session and resistance exercises. While I did that, Hubbie went to Mother's house and moved everything out of the hallway. He put a small chest of drawers in her bedroom.
The nurse who visited yesterday suggested we put the adult potty over Mother's toilet (minus the bucket) so it will be easier for her to rise from a seated position.
Once I was ready for the day, I gathered several bags of clothing and other items to take to her house. She was already fully dressed, so I wasn't able to help her bathe. We'll do that tomorrow. I advised her that since she is now at her own house, she'll be showering later in the morning, or maybe in the afternoon, since I'll need to do my own morning routine before seeing to hers. This is particularly true on days I attend water aerobics. She promised she would not attempt bathing without my assistance.
At noon, Hubbie came over and heated Mother's lunch, and then served it on one of her TV tray tables. I'd actually wanted to watch her use the microwave to fix her own meal, but I guess that'll wait until tomorrow, too.
After her lunch, I encouraged her to go to the kitchen sink and wash the few dishes that were there. I asked her to use her walker, which she can push up to the sink. She can then stand inside of it, and if she gets woozy, she'll have the arms of the walker to brace herself until she can get to a chair.
We discussed my concerns and hers, and she said she felt she had become a burden to me at my house. I assured her that she could never be a burden to me. She's also unhappy that she can't go places anymore. But I told her that with the wheelchair, she can go anywhere we do, just like she did before she got sick. We've offered to take her to events, but she has consistently and emphatically refused, not just recently, but for a long time before she got sick.
Spent the rest of the afternoon at home doing this and that, including making a dish of fruited Jell-O. For supper, we had veggie soup, and biscuits with honey. Hubbie took servings to Mother.
Note: the obituaries in last night's local newspaper included a notice of a 93-year-old woman, who had been a member of Extension Homemakers years ago, when Mother and I were more active in the organization. This lady had spent the last years of her life in a nursing home. She was a very sweet woman that we both liked.
That was the second of two women we knew who passed away this week. The first was a woman who had been a receptionist/secretary for many years at the Extension Services office. She was 90 at the time of her death.
Note two: the red blotches on my torso, an allergic reaction to the patches applied at the cardiology clinic, are beginning to fade. Before the tech applied the patches, she told me she had to scratch the skin a little. I commented that what she used to make the scratches felt like sandpaper...which is what it was, she said. Then she applied alcohol to the scratches...yikes! The alcohol was to remove any oils that would keep the patches from sticking. The scratches, the alcohol, and the glue on the patches made for an uncomfortable burning sensation in six or seven places.
Spent the evening watching TV, as usual.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Wednesday, Dec. 28
Up at 7:30 with the intention of doing a treadmill session after breakfast, but it didn't work out. I suggested Mother get ready to go to her house as soon as she finished her breakfast, which she did. Hubbie escorted her.
After that, we decided that Hubbie should take one of the intercoms to Mother's house. We found that the set didn't work anymore, though. They had been working right up to today, but when electronics quit, they just quit all of a sudden. So we knew we needed to shop for a new set.
Then I decided I should set my old cell phone to speed dial my new cell phone, so that Mother could have the old one to contact either Hubbie or me in an emergency. But the battery on the old cell was down, so I put it on the charger.
I gathered various items belonging to Mother, which Hubbie took to her house. I was still in my exercise clothes, but the morning was fast ebbing away. At 10 a.m., the head nurse for home medical services came to evaluate Mother again. She visited her at her house, then came to our house to discuss Mother's progress.
She feels Mother has made a lot of progress, but she would like for us to clear everything out of the hallway that could impede Mother's progress to the bathroom and bedroom.
She watched her get into and out of bed, and said she did this very well (though tonight, she decided to sleep on her couch instead of in bed). When she saw that Mother had a cup of coffee on the table beside her chair, she asked how she had transported the cup from the kitchen. Mother told her she'd used her walker, but later, Hubbie said he'd seen her heat a cup of coffee, and her walker was still in the living room.
This was a matter of concern to the nurse, who wants Mother to use her walker, since she is so wobbly. I figure she won't, though, so I asked Hubbie to take her cane to her. At least she'll have that much support (if she'll use it).
The nurse spent a lot of time counseling us about Mother, and listening to our concerns, because this week is the last week of therapy for Mother. From now on, Mother will need to exercise on her own initiative (which she isn't inclined to do).
Around 11:30, the occupational therapist called, and I told her Mother was at her own house. So she visited her there. I don't know what transpired.
I fixed Mother's lunch, which Hubbie took to her, then I decided to start a pot of vegetable soup for supper. But I discovered I didn't have carrots, so Hubbie went to the closest grocery store. While he was gone, I discovered I needed canned diced tomatoes, so I tried to call him. He hadn't turned his cell phone on.
At this point, I gave up on an exercise session, and went upstairs to get dressed. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...first to the store that has a sale every weekend to order an on-sale tablecloth to replace the one Hubbie ruined with Gorilla glue.
From there, we went to an electronics store to buy a new set of intercoms. Then we went to the WDCS for groceries, including the diced tomatoes I needed. Since I knew I couldn't get the soup made in time for supper, I picked up a rotisserie chicken for supper.
Back home, I finished getting the veggie soup ready to simmer. This is a soup that uses leftover veggies accumulated in the freezer.
I also made a pan of macaroni and cheese to go with the rotisserie chicken, and a side of English peas. I sent a microwave dish of the food to Mother.
After supper, I got my old cell phone ready for Mother, and then set up the phone book in my new cell.
Then we watched TV, including our favorite college basketball team as they played to a wide-margin win.
After that, we decided that Hubbie should take one of the intercoms to Mother's house. We found that the set didn't work anymore, though. They had been working right up to today, but when electronics quit, they just quit all of a sudden. So we knew we needed to shop for a new set.
Then I decided I should set my old cell phone to speed dial my new cell phone, so that Mother could have the old one to contact either Hubbie or me in an emergency. But the battery on the old cell was down, so I put it on the charger.
I gathered various items belonging to Mother, which Hubbie took to her house. I was still in my exercise clothes, but the morning was fast ebbing away. At 10 a.m., the head nurse for home medical services came to evaluate Mother again. She visited her at her house, then came to our house to discuss Mother's progress.
She feels Mother has made a lot of progress, but she would like for us to clear everything out of the hallway that could impede Mother's progress to the bathroom and bedroom.
She watched her get into and out of bed, and said she did this very well (though tonight, she decided to sleep on her couch instead of in bed). When she saw that Mother had a cup of coffee on the table beside her chair, she asked how she had transported the cup from the kitchen. Mother told her she'd used her walker, but later, Hubbie said he'd seen her heat a cup of coffee, and her walker was still in the living room.
This was a matter of concern to the nurse, who wants Mother to use her walker, since she is so wobbly. I figure she won't, though, so I asked Hubbie to take her cane to her. At least she'll have that much support (if she'll use it).
The nurse spent a lot of time counseling us about Mother, and listening to our concerns, because this week is the last week of therapy for Mother. From now on, Mother will need to exercise on her own initiative (which she isn't inclined to do).
Around 11:30, the occupational therapist called, and I told her Mother was at her own house. So she visited her there. I don't know what transpired.
I fixed Mother's lunch, which Hubbie took to her, then I decided to start a pot of vegetable soup for supper. But I discovered I didn't have carrots, so Hubbie went to the closest grocery store. While he was gone, I discovered I needed canned diced tomatoes, so I tried to call him. He hadn't turned his cell phone on.
At this point, I gave up on an exercise session, and went upstairs to get dressed. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...first to the store that has a sale every weekend to order an on-sale tablecloth to replace the one Hubbie ruined with Gorilla glue.
From there, we went to an electronics store to buy a new set of intercoms. Then we went to the WDCS for groceries, including the diced tomatoes I needed. Since I knew I couldn't get the soup made in time for supper, I picked up a rotisserie chicken for supper.
Back home, I finished getting the veggie soup ready to simmer. This is a soup that uses leftover veggies accumulated in the freezer.
I also made a pan of macaroni and cheese to go with the rotisserie chicken, and a side of English peas. I sent a microwave dish of the food to Mother.
After supper, I got my old cell phone ready for Mother, and then set up the phone book in my new cell.
Then we watched TV, including our favorite college basketball team as they played to a wide-margin win.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Tuesday, Dec. 27
For the first time since Mother came to stay at our house, I went upstairs to bed, rather than sleeping on the couch last night. Mother hasn't required my help during the night in a few weeks, so Hubbie took the intercom upstairs, in case Mother needed to buzz me. She didn't.
We were up at 7:30 this morning so I could get ready to meet a 9:30 appointment at the cardiology clinic. I couldn't have food after midnight last night, though I could have any liquids I wanted. I had a glass of orange juice.
Got to the clinic at 9:15, but had to wait until 10 a.m. before I was seen. My tummy was complaining for food, but I wouldn't get a meal for a long time. The first thing the tech did was place a port in my arm. This was for administering the dye for testing. Then I was escorted to the waiting area and provided a bottle of water to drink, to assure hydration.
Another tech administered an ultrasound test of my heart, which took about 20 minutes. The tech was in a talking mood, and told me about her son, who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He's in the states now, based in Washington, D.C., but he is suffering from kidney failure, a malady that is common among military who have served in those countries, because of the heat and incidence of dehydration. She said the temperature can rise to 147 degrees. Soldiers suffer the heat even more, since they are dressed in full military gear, and carry a heavy backpack. We don't appreciate our military nearly enough.
From the ultrasound, I was escorted back to the waiting room, where I no sooner got seated than the first tech fetched me to start me on a cardiac CT, which takes individual pictures of slices of the heart. The patient is seated, with arms raised onto an armrest, and is cautioned to sit perfectly still, while the chair inches around, stopping periodically to allow the machine to take pictures. This procedure takes about 20 minutes.
Then I was taken to another room, where I walked on a treadmill, set at a fairly steep incline, to get my heart rate up in the shortest amount of time. The nurse checked my blood pressure and pulse before, during, and after the test.
Then I was taken back to the room with cardiac CT, where I spent another 20 minutes being scanned.
Finally, I was escorted to an exam room, where I waited 30 minutes for a nurse to come and record information about me, and take another blood pressure reading. Fortunately, since the scales were at the other end of the building, she chose not to weigh me this time.
After that, I waited another fifteen minutes for the doctor to arrive, quiz me, listen to my heart and stomach arteries, and then dismiss me, telling me to stop by the reception desk to make an appointment for six months hence. That's the next time I'll visit the clinic, unless the tests I took today show something that needs attention.
By now it was 1 p.m., and I was plenty hungry. I called Hubbie, who had eggs and toast ready for me when I got back.
While I was gone, Mother had gathered most of her belongings and asked Hubbie to take them to her house. She had every intention of going home permanently, but I discouraged her for now. I'm afraid she thinks she's in my way, since I opted to sleep upstairs last night. Once she gets a notion like that in her head, it's nearly impossible to knock it out.
I was hoping she'd wait to want to spend the night at her house until Sis was here, so we could see how she manages at home on her own, but if she's going to insist on going now, there won't be anything I can do about it. It'll just make her unhappy for me to prevent it. I'll just have to check on her frequently and hope she does okay. And if anything happens, I'll have to live with the guilt.
Since I'd had an unpleasant morning and part of the afternoon, I spent the rest of the time before supper relaxing. For supper, we had leftover Christmas dinner. Afterward, I helped Mother take a shower, and then we watched TV, including a PG suspense movie called, "Shadow Island/Wedding for One." A young woman mystery writer owns a lodge, and hosts a wedding for her friend. But the groom goes missing.
We were up at 7:30 this morning so I could get ready to meet a 9:30 appointment at the cardiology clinic. I couldn't have food after midnight last night, though I could have any liquids I wanted. I had a glass of orange juice.
Got to the clinic at 9:15, but had to wait until 10 a.m. before I was seen. My tummy was complaining for food, but I wouldn't get a meal for a long time. The first thing the tech did was place a port in my arm. This was for administering the dye for testing. Then I was escorted to the waiting area and provided a bottle of water to drink, to assure hydration.
Another tech administered an ultrasound test of my heart, which took about 20 minutes. The tech was in a talking mood, and told me about her son, who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He's in the states now, based in Washington, D.C., but he is suffering from kidney failure, a malady that is common among military who have served in those countries, because of the heat and incidence of dehydration. She said the temperature can rise to 147 degrees. Soldiers suffer the heat even more, since they are dressed in full military gear, and carry a heavy backpack. We don't appreciate our military nearly enough.
From the ultrasound, I was escorted back to the waiting room, where I no sooner got seated than the first tech fetched me to start me on a cardiac CT, which takes individual pictures of slices of the heart. The patient is seated, with arms raised onto an armrest, and is cautioned to sit perfectly still, while the chair inches around, stopping periodically to allow the machine to take pictures. This procedure takes about 20 minutes.
Then I was taken to another room, where I walked on a treadmill, set at a fairly steep incline, to get my heart rate up in the shortest amount of time. The nurse checked my blood pressure and pulse before, during, and after the test.
Then I was taken back to the room with cardiac CT, where I spent another 20 minutes being scanned.
Finally, I was escorted to an exam room, where I waited 30 minutes for a nurse to come and record information about me, and take another blood pressure reading. Fortunately, since the scales were at the other end of the building, she chose not to weigh me this time.
After that, I waited another fifteen minutes for the doctor to arrive, quiz me, listen to my heart and stomach arteries, and then dismiss me, telling me to stop by the reception desk to make an appointment for six months hence. That's the next time I'll visit the clinic, unless the tests I took today show something that needs attention.
By now it was 1 p.m., and I was plenty hungry. I called Hubbie, who had eggs and toast ready for me when I got back.
While I was gone, Mother had gathered most of her belongings and asked Hubbie to take them to her house. She had every intention of going home permanently, but I discouraged her for now. I'm afraid she thinks she's in my way, since I opted to sleep upstairs last night. Once she gets a notion like that in her head, it's nearly impossible to knock it out.
I was hoping she'd wait to want to spend the night at her house until Sis was here, so we could see how she manages at home on her own, but if she's going to insist on going now, there won't be anything I can do about it. It'll just make her unhappy for me to prevent it. I'll just have to check on her frequently and hope she does okay. And if anything happens, I'll have to live with the guilt.
Since I'd had an unpleasant morning and part of the afternoon, I spent the rest of the time before supper relaxing. For supper, we had leftover Christmas dinner. Afterward, I helped Mother take a shower, and then we watched TV, including a PG suspense movie called, "Shadow Island/Wedding for One." A young woman mystery writer owns a lodge, and hosts a wedding for her friend. But the groom goes missing.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Monday, Dec. 26
Up at 7:30 a.m., and did a treadmill session and weights exercises after breakfast. Mother took care of her own needs.
Once I was ready for the day, I did this and that around the house, including several loads of laundry.
After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the store that has a sale every weekend to see if we could find a tablecloth. No dice. Since we had a $10 off $25 purchase coupon, I looked for a pair of black boots...boots were on sale at this store. I found a style I liked, but of course there were none in my size. So I checked on blue jeans, and found a style and size I needed. I used the $10 coupon, plus what remained on a gift card from last Christmas, given to me by Hubbie, and for the remainder of the price, I used $5 cash won on a scratch-off lottery ticket.
From there, we went to the cell phone store to get my smartphone activated. Then we went to the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions for Mother and me.
Back home, I relaxed and read the Sunday newspaper until time to fix supper. Since my brain seems to be operating at half speed, though, I turned the oven on, then sat down to my laptop, forgetting to put the potatoes in to bake. At 4:15, I went to the kitchen to put a dish of beans in the oven, and that's when I discovered the potatoes still on the counter.
So we were a little later having supper tonight. But the potatoes, with beans and ham, along with leftover turnips, and a choice of cornbread or yeast bread, were very satisfying on this rainy evening.
After supper, we did the usual...watched TV, including a movie called, "An Invisible Sign." A young woman finds solace in math when her father suffers mental illness. She then becomes a math teacher in an elementary school, but finds herself in the middle of student crises.
Once I was ready for the day, I did this and that around the house, including several loads of laundry.
After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the store that has a sale every weekend to see if we could find a tablecloth. No dice. Since we had a $10 off $25 purchase coupon, I looked for a pair of black boots...boots were on sale at this store. I found a style I liked, but of course there were none in my size. So I checked on blue jeans, and found a style and size I needed. I used the $10 coupon, plus what remained on a gift card from last Christmas, given to me by Hubbie, and for the remainder of the price, I used $5 cash won on a scratch-off lottery ticket.
From there, we went to the cell phone store to get my smartphone activated. Then we went to the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions for Mother and me.
Back home, I relaxed and read the Sunday newspaper until time to fix supper. Since my brain seems to be operating at half speed, though, I turned the oven on, then sat down to my laptop, forgetting to put the potatoes in to bake. At 4:15, I went to the kitchen to put a dish of beans in the oven, and that's when I discovered the potatoes still on the counter.
So we were a little later having supper tonight. But the potatoes, with beans and ham, along with leftover turnips, and a choice of cornbread or yeast bread, were very satisfying on this rainy evening.
After supper, we did the usual...watched TV, including a movie called, "An Invisible Sign." A young woman finds solace in math when her father suffers mental illness. She then becomes a math teacher in an elementary school, but finds herself in the middle of student crises.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Christmas Day
Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Day.
I had one of those nights when I couldn't go to sleep until nearly 2 a.m., and then I woke up a couple of times after that, and finally got up at 7 a.m. Hubbie slept until 7:30, and it was nearly 8:30 before Mother rolled out of bed.
After breakfast, I helped Mother take a shower, and then I went up to my office computer and posted photos I took last night...mainly the antics of the cats with the gifts bags, etc.
Once I was ready for the day, I prepared a large beef roast for the slow cooker. Mother cut up onions for it. I seasoned the roast with salt-free seasoning, pepper, thyme, paprika, and sprigs of rosemary from the plant the Niece gave us, and then I seared the beef before putting it in the slow cooker with the onions, some carrots, and cans of chicken broth and beef broth.
Then I finished baking a loaf of yeast bread that Sis provided, and set the table with my mixed-pattern China, cloth napkins, the good silverware, and stemware glasses.
We spent the rest of the morning relaxing in the living room. We didn't turn on the TV. We didn't play music. We just sat and enjoyed the quiet.
The roast was ready around 1 p.m. Hubbie had peeled potatoes, which I boiled and mashed. I'd put a dish of asparagus in the oven, which was hot and ready by this time. I also made a pan of beef gravy for the meal. The roast was great with the veggie accompaniments and fruit salad that Hubbie made yesterday, slices of warm yeast bread and butter, and glasses of wine (except for Mother). Several times, Hubbie commented on how good the meal was.
After lunch, we watched the last two of my Christmas DVDs..."Scrooge," with Alastair Sims, and "It's a Wonderful Life."
Continued watching TV for the rest of the evening. Mother went to bed around 8 p.m.
As I usually do on Sundays, I distrubuted Mother's and my medications into daily pill dispensers this evening. It's no wonder elderly people get confused about their medications. One of Mother's was an ulcer med, to be taken twice a day. That prescription was written by her primary doctor. But she has only two of those tablets left.
So she needs to begin taking a new prescription, written by the doctor who did her endoscopy recently. This one, though, requires that she take only one capsule per day. If I hadn't read the label, I'd have just assumed she should continue taking two capsules a day, as with the old prescription.
I had one of those nights when I couldn't go to sleep until nearly 2 a.m., and then I woke up a couple of times after that, and finally got up at 7 a.m. Hubbie slept until 7:30, and it was nearly 8:30 before Mother rolled out of bed.
After breakfast, I helped Mother take a shower, and then I went up to my office computer and posted photos I took last night...mainly the antics of the cats with the gifts bags, etc.
Once I was ready for the day, I prepared a large beef roast for the slow cooker. Mother cut up onions for it. I seasoned the roast with salt-free seasoning, pepper, thyme, paprika, and sprigs of rosemary from the plant the Niece gave us, and then I seared the beef before putting it in the slow cooker with the onions, some carrots, and cans of chicken broth and beef broth.
Then I finished baking a loaf of yeast bread that Sis provided, and set the table with my mixed-pattern China, cloth napkins, the good silverware, and stemware glasses.
We spent the rest of the morning relaxing in the living room. We didn't turn on the TV. We didn't play music. We just sat and enjoyed the quiet.
The roast was ready around 1 p.m. Hubbie had peeled potatoes, which I boiled and mashed. I'd put a dish of asparagus in the oven, which was hot and ready by this time. I also made a pan of beef gravy for the meal. The roast was great with the veggie accompaniments and fruit salad that Hubbie made yesterday, slices of warm yeast bread and butter, and glasses of wine (except for Mother). Several times, Hubbie commented on how good the meal was.
After lunch, we watched the last two of my Christmas DVDs..."Scrooge," with Alastair Sims, and "It's a Wonderful Life."
Continued watching TV for the rest of the evening. Mother went to bed around 8 p.m.
As I usually do on Sundays, I distrubuted Mother's and my medications into daily pill dispensers this evening. It's no wonder elderly people get confused about their medications. One of Mother's was an ulcer med, to be taken twice a day. That prescription was written by her primary doctor. But she has only two of those tablets left.
So she needs to begin taking a new prescription, written by the doctor who did her endoscopy recently. This one, though, requires that she take only one capsule per day. If I hadn't read the label, I'd have just assumed she should continue taking two capsules a day, as with the old prescription.
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