Slept late, until around 8 a.m. Because we ran out of milk for cereal (I'd used it all in the salmon chowder last night), Hubbie fixed us a breakfast of poached eggs and toast. Afterward, I did a stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises. While I was getting ready for the day, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house.
We didn't accomplish anything for the morning, except planning a menu for next week.
Around 1:15, Mother and I went to a performance of "Godspell," by students from our local high school. Hubbie opted out of going, preferring instead to plant onion sets in the raised garden.
I parked on the side of the building with a handicapped space. The doors on that side of the building are always locked, so while Mother waited in the van, I hurried around the building and went inside to purchase our tickets and alert the ticket-takers that I planned to walk through the auditorium to the side doors to escort Mother inside.
A young man offered to go with me to hold the door open. I hurried to retrieve Mother's walker, assist her out of the van, open the hatch, retrieve my purse, three stadium cushions, and a tote with two extra small pillows, and my fleece hoodie.
But while I was doing this, a couple walked up to the young man, wanting to enter that way. The young man, in explaining and gesturing to the couple that they must go around the building and inside to purchase tickets, let go of the door, which slammed shut and locked.
So the young man had to sprint off around the building, and back through the auditorium to open the door again. At last, I got Mother seated.
This auditorium is a former middle school facility, which is outfitted with child-sized, very uncomfortable, wooden seats. And the place is as cold as a meat packers freezer.
For seating comfort, the stadium cushions helped, as did a cushion for Mother's back. She wore her winter coat throughout the performance, so stayed warm enough. I wore a sweater, but soon donned my fleece hoodie, as well. I wasn't freezing, but my hands and nose stayed cold.
The performance was really very good, though, and we both enjoyed it a lot. "Godspell" is, of course, a 1970s musical based on a series of parables from the gospel of St. Matthew. The stage setting for the local performance is a back alley, with graffiti walls, trash cans, an old couch, and wooden stairs to represent fire escape steps.
The actors wear tie-dyed tee shirts, and portray young city dwellers with quite different personalities, who are called by John the Baptist to follow Jesus and His teachings. Their journey is portrayed through song and dance.
The school's drama teacher, who used to serve on the community theater board, and who has directed and appeared in many local productions, did an admirable job of getting the most from her students.
Back home, I heated salmon chowder and biscuits for our supper. Afterward, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house. Since predictions are for a rainy, and maybe even a stormy day, tomorrow, Mother might need to stay home.
Later, we watched the 2011 movie, "Unknown," starring Liam Neeson. A man and his wife go to Germany, where the man, a botanist, is to attend a conference. But he leaves his briefcase on a curb, and on the way back to retrieve it, the cab in which he is riding has an accident and plunges into a river. He is rescued, but is in a coma for a while. When he awakens, he finds he has become a stranger to everyone he previously knew, including his wife, and someone else has assumed his identity. And, having lost his briefcase, he has no way to prove his identity.
Scary note: Daughter-in-Law called toward the end of the evening to report that Granddaughter, who works in a gas station convenience store was robbed at gunpoint tonight. My heart is in my throat thinking about what might have happened to her. Thank God she is okay, though of course she is shaken by the incident. I hope her report to the police results in a speedy arrest. And I hope Granddaughter looks for another job!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Friday, March 9
Up at 8 a.m., and after breakfast, I helped Mother take a shower, and then I threw a load of laundry in the washer.
Back home, I did a treadmill session and resistance exercises. Once I was ready for the day and did a few things around the house, it was nearly noon.
After lunch, I accompanied Mother to our house, where she worked on her jigsaw puzzle, while I did this and that around the house, and Hubbie watched a basketball game.
Around 2 p.m., Hubbie and I ran errands...first to the art gallery, where I picked up a couple of blank glass ornaments (the director has asked that I etch letters onto the ornaments, which she plans to give to a couple of arts supporters).
While I was at the gallery, the director mentioned that one of our committee members is in the hospital, having had surgery to remove part of her colon, following a serious infection. I'd always envied this woman who, in her mid-seventies, has (like Hubbie) enjoyed extreme good health, including never having to be on a medication regimen. Now, though, she has had a couple of setbacks. Late last year, she had brain surgery.
We also discussed a woman who had been active for many years in both the community theater and as an artist-in-education. For the past several years, she has declined mentally, either from dementia or Alzheimer's disease, and now she is fading fast. It is so sad when someone like her must lose the one thing that defined them...their creative mind.
Before I left the gallery, the director asked if I'd like to join a group from the arts council in a trip to a newly renovated dinner theater about an hour away. I am definitely interested, so she is setting aside a ticket for two (Hubbie is also invited) for Saturday, March 24. Sis has agreed to stay with Mother, while we are away.
From the gallery, we stopped by second-hand shop, run on behalf a sheltered workshop, to drop off several pairs of nearly new shoes (that seemed okay when I tried them on, but proved later to be uncomfortable), and a bag of audiobooks bought at a local public library fundraiser several years ago. Our last stop was at the Literacy Council off to drop off several audiobooks suited to literacy students (I'd rated these "PG").
Back home, Mother helped me make a recipe of salmon chowder. She diced the onions, and then read the recipe to me as I prepared it. Then we made a batch of biscuits to use up some sour milk. Mother enjoys patting out dough and cutting biscuits.
The chowder and biscuits were a very satisfying Lenten supper. Mother commented on how good the biscuits were, saying it has been a long time since we'd had homemade ones. In fact, it has been only a couple of weeks. She'd completely forgotten she'd helped make the other batch, and couldn't recall it even when we talked about it.
After supper, I accompanied Mother to her house. She was pleased today to receive a newsy note and photos from Daughter-in-Law. The photos showed progress being made in restoring a mobile home for Grandson and his family. Mother also received two late birthday cards from our friends that we visit and go to lunch with every few months. So she's had a very good birthday week.
Again tonight, we didn't turn off the TV for an hour, because Hubbie was in the middle of watching a tournament basketball game, and I needed to complete a monthly tutoring report for the Literacy Council.
Later, we watched one-hour programs until bedtime.
Back home, I did a treadmill session and resistance exercises. Once I was ready for the day and did a few things around the house, it was nearly noon.
After lunch, I accompanied Mother to our house, where she worked on her jigsaw puzzle, while I did this and that around the house, and Hubbie watched a basketball game.
Around 2 p.m., Hubbie and I ran errands...first to the art gallery, where I picked up a couple of blank glass ornaments (the director has asked that I etch letters onto the ornaments, which she plans to give to a couple of arts supporters).
While I was at the gallery, the director mentioned that one of our committee members is in the hospital, having had surgery to remove part of her colon, following a serious infection. I'd always envied this woman who, in her mid-seventies, has (like Hubbie) enjoyed extreme good health, including never having to be on a medication regimen. Now, though, she has had a couple of setbacks. Late last year, she had brain surgery.
We also discussed a woman who had been active for many years in both the community theater and as an artist-in-education. For the past several years, she has declined mentally, either from dementia or Alzheimer's disease, and now she is fading fast. It is so sad when someone like her must lose the one thing that defined them...their creative mind.
Before I left the gallery, the director asked if I'd like to join a group from the arts council in a trip to a newly renovated dinner theater about an hour away. I am definitely interested, so she is setting aside a ticket for two (Hubbie is also invited) for Saturday, March 24. Sis has agreed to stay with Mother, while we are away.
From the gallery, we stopped by second-hand shop, run on behalf a sheltered workshop, to drop off several pairs of nearly new shoes (that seemed okay when I tried them on, but proved later to be uncomfortable), and a bag of audiobooks bought at a local public library fundraiser several years ago. Our last stop was at the Literacy Council off to drop off several audiobooks suited to literacy students (I'd rated these "PG").
Back home, Mother helped me make a recipe of salmon chowder. She diced the onions, and then read the recipe to me as I prepared it. Then we made a batch of biscuits to use up some sour milk. Mother enjoys patting out dough and cutting biscuits.
The chowder and biscuits were a very satisfying Lenten supper. Mother commented on how good the biscuits were, saying it has been a long time since we'd had homemade ones. In fact, it has been only a couple of weeks. She'd completely forgotten she'd helped make the other batch, and couldn't recall it even when we talked about it.
After supper, I accompanied Mother to her house. She was pleased today to receive a newsy note and photos from Daughter-in-Law. The photos showed progress being made in restoring a mobile home for Grandson and his family. Mother also received two late birthday cards from our friends that we visit and go to lunch with every few months. So she's had a very good birthday week.
Again tonight, we didn't turn off the TV for an hour, because Hubbie was in the middle of watching a tournament basketball game, and I needed to complete a monthly tutoring report for the Literacy Council.
Later, we watched one-hour programs until bedtime.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Thursday, March 8
Up around 7:30 on this dreary morning, so Hubbie could get ready to go to a Master Gardener meeting at 10 a.m. The first thing Hubbie did was check the rain gauge. During the night, we got two inches.
About the time Hubbie left for his meeting, there came a downpour that flooded ours and our neighbors' yards (the rain gauge showed another two and a half inches). I grabbed my camera to take a few snapshots to upload to my social network page before I did an exercise session.
Today, I decided to do stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises. Once I was ready for the day, I sorted my shoes, bagging several pairs to donate to a second-hand store. Then I tackled my large collection of audio books on cassette. Culled two large bags of those to be donated to the college library for their annual fundraiser, and a small bag to be donated to the Literacy Council. I also set aside several hardbound and paperback books for the library.
At 12:30, Hubbie had still not returned from his meeting, and because of the weather, I began to be concerned. I was just ready to call him, when he called me. The meeting speaker had run overtime, which caused the business meeting to run late.
I'd prepared us a lunch of the remaining hamburger patty and the remaining potato salad for Hubbie, and a PB&J sandwich and fat-free pretzels for me, with slices of fresh pineapple for dessert.
At 2 p.m., we settled in to watch our favorite college basketball team in tournament play. Hubbie decided we should have popcorn for the event, but discovered he only had enough for one person. I suggested he have it.
Meanwhile, I attempted to set the TV for the game. No dice. I couldn't access the DVR, and couldn't get the menu. I fiddled with all four remotes, with no success. I suggested Hubbie unplug the cable box and plug it back in after a couple of minutes (this worked two nights ago with the bedroom TV). No dice. Hubbie changed the batteries in the remote. No dice. I was stumped and didn't know what else to try.
So Hubbie drove in the miserable weather to the cable office, where he was told a tech would drop by as soon as possible. The tech was pretty prompt. He came within a half hour, a new cable box under his arm.
Before he installed the box, though, he did what I should have thought of myself...he checked one of the the remotes to be sure it was on the cable function. It was not. Problem solved.
I think the reason I didn't think of this was that the TV was not functioning correctly this morning when Hubbie tried to use it. As soon as I came downstairs, I got it all set up again. So when it didn't work this afternoon, I was baffled.
What probably happened, though, is that one of the cats, in an afternoon romp across the furniture, stepped on the remote and changed it from cable to TV. I'll bet I won't forget to check that function again!
At last, we were able to watch the game, which was a disappointment, since our team lost. So that's the last game for this season. No more, until football begins in the fall.
Later, I made a batch of bran muffins for supper, which we had with more of the soup we made yesterday. This was an excellent soup day, with all the rain and a drop in temperature.
Before we sat down to our supper, Hubbie took four of the muffins to Mother. I'd sent a couple of helpings of the soup yesterday. Mother, of course, stayed home today. With predictions for more rain over the next several days, she might be housebound for a while.
Since everything was off schedule today, we didn't turn the TV off this evening, but watched a movie after supper: a 2000 film called "Wilder." The murders of several women are somehow connected to a pharmaceutical company. Stars Rutger Hauer and Pam Grier.
We followed that with the 2010 movie, "Stone," starring Robert DeNiro. The lives of a near-retirement parole officer and an arsonist inmate, due for early release, become intertwined...for better, or worse?
About the time Hubbie left for his meeting, there came a downpour that flooded ours and our neighbors' yards (the rain gauge showed another two and a half inches). I grabbed my camera to take a few snapshots to upload to my social network page before I did an exercise session.
Today, I decided to do stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises. Once I was ready for the day, I sorted my shoes, bagging several pairs to donate to a second-hand store. Then I tackled my large collection of audio books on cassette. Culled two large bags of those to be donated to the college library for their annual fundraiser, and a small bag to be donated to the Literacy Council. I also set aside several hardbound and paperback books for the library.
At 12:30, Hubbie had still not returned from his meeting, and because of the weather, I began to be concerned. I was just ready to call him, when he called me. The meeting speaker had run overtime, which caused the business meeting to run late.
I'd prepared us a lunch of the remaining hamburger patty and the remaining potato salad for Hubbie, and a PB&J sandwich and fat-free pretzels for me, with slices of fresh pineapple for dessert.
At 2 p.m., we settled in to watch our favorite college basketball team in tournament play. Hubbie decided we should have popcorn for the event, but discovered he only had enough for one person. I suggested he have it.
Meanwhile, I attempted to set the TV for the game. No dice. I couldn't access the DVR, and couldn't get the menu. I fiddled with all four remotes, with no success. I suggested Hubbie unplug the cable box and plug it back in after a couple of minutes (this worked two nights ago with the bedroom TV). No dice. Hubbie changed the batteries in the remote. No dice. I was stumped and didn't know what else to try.
So Hubbie drove in the miserable weather to the cable office, where he was told a tech would drop by as soon as possible. The tech was pretty prompt. He came within a half hour, a new cable box under his arm.
Before he installed the box, though, he did what I should have thought of myself...he checked one of the the remotes to be sure it was on the cable function. It was not. Problem solved.
I think the reason I didn't think of this was that the TV was not functioning correctly this morning when Hubbie tried to use it. As soon as I came downstairs, I got it all set up again. So when it didn't work this afternoon, I was baffled.
What probably happened, though, is that one of the cats, in an afternoon romp across the furniture, stepped on the remote and changed it from cable to TV. I'll bet I won't forget to check that function again!
At last, we were able to watch the game, which was a disappointment, since our team lost. So that's the last game for this season. No more, until football begins in the fall.
Later, I made a batch of bran muffins for supper, which we had with more of the soup we made yesterday. This was an excellent soup day, with all the rain and a drop in temperature.
Before we sat down to our supper, Hubbie took four of the muffins to Mother. I'd sent a couple of helpings of the soup yesterday. Mother, of course, stayed home today. With predictions for more rain over the next several days, she might be housebound for a while.
Since everything was off schedule today, we didn't turn the TV off this evening, but watched a movie after supper: a 2000 film called "Wilder." The murders of several women are somehow connected to a pharmaceutical company. Stars Rutger Hauer and Pam Grier.
We followed that with the 2010 movie, "Stone," starring Robert DeNiro. The lives of a near-retirement parole officer and an arsonist inmate, due for early release, become intertwined...for better, or worse?
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Wednesday, March 7
Slept late this morning, until around 8 a.m. After breakfast, I did a treadmill session and weights exercises. Hubbie went out to work in the yard this morning, and Mother stayed home until after lunch.
For Hubbie's and my lunch, I made big chef's salads, using whatever I could find in the fridge and in the pantry...lettuce, topped with tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, sliced apples, Craisins, pecans, Muenster cheese, cottage cheese, and potato salad. I managed to use up scraps of this and dabs of that to make the salads.
After lunch, I accompanied Mother to our house, where she chopped veggies for soup. Naturally, I discovered we didn't have celery, so Hubbie ran to a grocery store for some. While he was gone, I found we didn't have carrots, either, so I called him, hoping he was still at the store. He wasn't. He was halfway home. But he turned around and went back to the store.
Mother chopped celery and carrots, as well as onions and mushrooms, which I sauteed in olive oil. To that, I added diced tomatoes, beef broth and chicken broth, tomato sauce, and spices.
While the mixture was simmering, Hubbie and I ran errands...to a grocery store to get more cottage cheese; to the bank; to a pharmacy store to use a $3 coupon for on-sale cereal; and to the WDCS.
Back home, Hubbie and I toured the yard, and I snapped photos of early-blooming trees and flowers, which I later uploaded to my social network page.
Mother spent her afternoon working another jigsaw puzzle, which, drat it, one of the cats knocked off the table. The puzzle isn't completely undone, but Mother will now have to fix what is messed up.
Around 4 p.m., I added leftover veggies and meats accumulated in a container in the freezer to the soup. This soup is never the same twice, because the variety of leftovers is never the same. Tonight's soup included the usual assortment of veggies...corn, green beans, peas, beans. But it also included a dab of spaghetti with sauce, and chunks of pork chop with apples and onions, and some rice.
This is a good way to use up those dabs of leftovers that are too small for servings. Just keep adding them to a freezer container until enough is accumulated to make a thick, rich soup. Leftover meatloaf, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, beef gravy, and all kinds of veggies are wonderful in soup.
We call this "Dragon Soup," because we are draggin' everything out of the freezer to make it. It can also be called "Same Song, Second Verse Soup," or "Bottom of the Refrigerator Soup."
The soup, served with slices of crusty, buttered, French bread hit the spot tonight. Mother even ate two helpings. Maybe it was the weather. Though it was a relatively mild day, it was windy, and darkly overcast, with a threat of heavy rain tonight and tomorrow. So it felt like a soup day.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house after supper, and then we turned off the TV for an hour, while we pursued other things. I did some household chores for half an hour, and then read my novel for 30 minutes. Hubbie spent his time reading.
Back to TV, we watched the 2008 movie, "The Oxford Murders." An elderly woman is murdered, and an Oxford professor, along with a grad student, believe that other murders are possible, linked by mathematical symbols.
For Hubbie's and my lunch, I made big chef's salads, using whatever I could find in the fridge and in the pantry...lettuce, topped with tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, sliced apples, Craisins, pecans, Muenster cheese, cottage cheese, and potato salad. I managed to use up scraps of this and dabs of that to make the salads.
After lunch, I accompanied Mother to our house, where she chopped veggies for soup. Naturally, I discovered we didn't have celery, so Hubbie ran to a grocery store for some. While he was gone, I found we didn't have carrots, either, so I called him, hoping he was still at the store. He wasn't. He was halfway home. But he turned around and went back to the store.
Mother chopped celery and carrots, as well as onions and mushrooms, which I sauteed in olive oil. To that, I added diced tomatoes, beef broth and chicken broth, tomato sauce, and spices.
While the mixture was simmering, Hubbie and I ran errands...to a grocery store to get more cottage cheese; to the bank; to a pharmacy store to use a $3 coupon for on-sale cereal; and to the WDCS.
Back home, Hubbie and I toured the yard, and I snapped photos of early-blooming trees and flowers, which I later uploaded to my social network page.
Mother spent her afternoon working another jigsaw puzzle, which, drat it, one of the cats knocked off the table. The puzzle isn't completely undone, but Mother will now have to fix what is messed up.
Around 4 p.m., I added leftover veggies and meats accumulated in a container in the freezer to the soup. This soup is never the same twice, because the variety of leftovers is never the same. Tonight's soup included the usual assortment of veggies...corn, green beans, peas, beans. But it also included a dab of spaghetti with sauce, and chunks of pork chop with apples and onions, and some rice.
This is a good way to use up those dabs of leftovers that are too small for servings. Just keep adding them to a freezer container until enough is accumulated to make a thick, rich soup. Leftover meatloaf, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, beef gravy, and all kinds of veggies are wonderful in soup.
We call this "Dragon Soup," because we are draggin' everything out of the freezer to make it. It can also be called "Same Song, Second Verse Soup," or "Bottom of the Refrigerator Soup."
The soup, served with slices of crusty, buttered, French bread hit the spot tonight. Mother even ate two helpings. Maybe it was the weather. Though it was a relatively mild day, it was windy, and darkly overcast, with a threat of heavy rain tonight and tomorrow. So it felt like a soup day.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house after supper, and then we turned off the TV for an hour, while we pursued other things. I did some household chores for half an hour, and then read my novel for 30 minutes. Hubbie spent his time reading.
Back to TV, we watched the 2008 movie, "The Oxford Murders." An elderly woman is murdered, and an Oxford professor, along with a grad student, believe that other murders are possible, linked by mathematical symbols.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Tuesday, March 6
Today is Nephew's birthday. Happy Birthday, Nephew!
Up late, around 8 a.m. After breakfast, I went to Mother's house to help her take a shower, and throw a load of laundry in the washer. Back home, I changed clothes and did a treadmill session and resistance exercises.
By the time I was ready for the day, it was nearly noon. After lunch, I accompanied Mother to our house, where she continued working on her jigsaw puzzle. While she did that, I went to the store that used to have a sale every weekend to return a sports bra that I'd bought for Mother for her birthday. It didn't fit correctly, and she was unable to manage the front zipper. I found another one that hooks in the back. She can try it the next time she takes a shower.
Hubbie worked in the yard this morning. At one point, while he was pulling a small trailer behind the lawn mower, he rode into a mushy spot on the lawn, getting the mower stuck.
So he went to the John Deere place and borrowed a heavy chain to pull it out. He intended to as a neighbor to help him, but as he was putting the chain on the mower, a man on horseback rode up and asked if Hubbie needed help. Hubbie agreed, and the two of them go the mower out. The man, who was on his way to the farrier to get his horse shod, rode off.
Later, Hubbie took the chain back to the John Deere store. Upon hearing the story of the horseman, one of the guys asked, "As he rode off, did you say, 'Who was that masked man?'"
While Mother worked her puzzle, which she finished by suppertime, and Hubbie continued working in the yard, I spent the afternoon catching up on reading newspapers...the Sunday edition, the local daily blab, and the weekly edition.
around 4:30, I prepared a supper of fried chicken, corn-on-the-cob, and leftover potato salad. We really enjoyed this picnic-style meal.
Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then we turned off the TV and read our novels for an hour.
Back to TV, we watched the 2007 movie, "Anamorph," starring Willem Dafoe. A detective investigates murders in which bodies are displayed as gruesome art. The film is based on anamorphosis, in which images appear distorted unless viewed from a particular angle or with special instruments.
After that, we watched a couple of one-hour shows from DVR before going beddy bye.
Up late, around 8 a.m. After breakfast, I went to Mother's house to help her take a shower, and throw a load of laundry in the washer. Back home, I changed clothes and did a treadmill session and resistance exercises.
By the time I was ready for the day, it was nearly noon. After lunch, I accompanied Mother to our house, where she continued working on her jigsaw puzzle. While she did that, I went to the store that used to have a sale every weekend to return a sports bra that I'd bought for Mother for her birthday. It didn't fit correctly, and she was unable to manage the front zipper. I found another one that hooks in the back. She can try it the next time she takes a shower.
Hubbie worked in the yard this morning. At one point, while he was pulling a small trailer behind the lawn mower, he rode into a mushy spot on the lawn, getting the mower stuck.
So he went to the John Deere place and borrowed a heavy chain to pull it out. He intended to as a neighbor to help him, but as he was putting the chain on the mower, a man on horseback rode up and asked if Hubbie needed help. Hubbie agreed, and the two of them go the mower out. The man, who was on his way to the farrier to get his horse shod, rode off.
Later, Hubbie took the chain back to the John Deere store. Upon hearing the story of the horseman, one of the guys asked, "As he rode off, did you say, 'Who was that masked man?'"
While Mother worked her puzzle, which she finished by suppertime, and Hubbie continued working in the yard, I spent the afternoon catching up on reading newspapers...the Sunday edition, the local daily blab, and the weekly edition.
around 4:30, I prepared a supper of fried chicken, corn-on-the-cob, and leftover potato salad. We really enjoyed this picnic-style meal.
Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then we turned off the TV and read our novels for an hour.
Back to TV, we watched the 2007 movie, "Anamorph," starring Willem Dafoe. A detective investigates murders in which bodies are displayed as gruesome art. The film is based on anamorphosis, in which images appear distorted unless viewed from a particular angle or with special instruments.
After that, we watched a couple of one-hour shows from DVR before going beddy bye.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Monday, March 5
Slept late this morning, until around 8 a.m. I delayed my exercises for a while until after I went to Mother's house to see if she wanted to take a shower. She didn't.
Sis was there, but said she had to leave before noon. I came back home and did a short session of stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises.
Mother and Sis came over as I was finishing. We visited until around 11:30, when Sis decided she needed to head home. She was reluctant to leave, but she had to content herself with knowing she'll be back in a couple of weeks. I know she'd love to spend more time with Mother, but she has obligations at home.
After lunch, I spent time reviewing the lesson for my ESL student. I met her at 2:30. Before we started our session, I stopped by the library desk to check on when the college will be closed for spring break. It'll be the week of March 19, but I was told the library will be open, though it will close at 4:30 that Monday. So my student and I can meet, though we'll need to end our session a few minutes earlier than usual.
Today, we worked on listening comprehension. I read several story paragraphs to her, which she then repeated back to me. It wasn't necessary for her to repeat it word-for-word, but only to get the sense of it. She did very well.
For one paragraph, she was to answer "how/how/when" questions. As usual, she bogged down here. Question sentences seem to stump her. The light bulb just hasn't gone off, yet. But it will eventually.
She learned the difference in "play" and "go" with games and sports: "They play cards/They go camping." They play basketball/They go swimming."
She also learned the sentence structure of "have to", plus a simple form of a verb.
"I have to eat dinner after supper." "We have to work tomorrow."
We ended the session with her reading a story from her workbook and answering the questions related to the story.
Today, in our conversation, she noted that her husband will celebrate his 60th birthday later this month. When I commented that that is also my sister's age, and that she is ten years my junior, the student said she, too, has a sister, who is thirteen years younger.
The better we become acquainted, the more we find we have in common. For instance, she said her husband is in extremely good health and takes no medications. My husband also takes no meds. She, however, suffers from hypertension, as do I. We decided that we women are bigger worry-warts than our husbands, which might be a woman's lot in life.
Back home, Mother was working on a jigsaw puzzle I'd given her for her birthday. Hubbie had heated leftovers from yesterday for our supper, and after we'd eaten, he accompanied Mother to her house.
I turned the TV off at 6 p.m., and we read our novels until 7 p.m. Back to TV, we watched the 2010 movie, "The Town," a crime thriller, starring Ben Affleck. A longtime thief (Affleck) and his cohorts go from one heist to another, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. The thieves become more emboldened, Affleck's character falls in love, and an FBI agent is relentlessly on their trail.
Sis was there, but said she had to leave before noon. I came back home and did a short session of stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises.
Mother and Sis came over as I was finishing. We visited until around 11:30, when Sis decided she needed to head home. She was reluctant to leave, but she had to content herself with knowing she'll be back in a couple of weeks. I know she'd love to spend more time with Mother, but she has obligations at home.
After lunch, I spent time reviewing the lesson for my ESL student. I met her at 2:30. Before we started our session, I stopped by the library desk to check on when the college will be closed for spring break. It'll be the week of March 19, but I was told the library will be open, though it will close at 4:30 that Monday. So my student and I can meet, though we'll need to end our session a few minutes earlier than usual.
Today, we worked on listening comprehension. I read several story paragraphs to her, which she then repeated back to me. It wasn't necessary for her to repeat it word-for-word, but only to get the sense of it. She did very well.
For one paragraph, she was to answer "how/how/when" questions. As usual, she bogged down here. Question sentences seem to stump her. The light bulb just hasn't gone off, yet. But it will eventually.
She learned the difference in "play" and "go" with games and sports: "They play cards/They go camping." They play basketball/They go swimming."
She also learned the sentence structure of "have to", plus a simple form of a verb.
"I have to eat dinner after supper." "We have to work tomorrow."
We ended the session with her reading a story from her workbook and answering the questions related to the story.
Today, in our conversation, she noted that her husband will celebrate his 60th birthday later this month. When I commented that that is also my sister's age, and that she is ten years my junior, the student said she, too, has a sister, who is thirteen years younger.
The better we become acquainted, the more we find we have in common. For instance, she said her husband is in extremely good health and takes no medications. My husband also takes no meds. She, however, suffers from hypertension, as do I. We decided that we women are bigger worry-warts than our husbands, which might be a woman's lot in life.
Back home, Mother was working on a jigsaw puzzle I'd given her for her birthday. Hubbie had heated leftovers from yesterday for our supper, and after we'd eaten, he accompanied Mother to her house.
I turned the TV off at 6 p.m., and we read our novels until 7 p.m. Back to TV, we watched the 2010 movie, "The Town," a crime thriller, starring Ben Affleck. A longtime thief (Affleck) and his cohorts go from one heist to another, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. The thieves become more emboldened, Affleck's character falls in love, and an FBI agent is relentlessly on their trail.
Monday, March 4
Up at 6 a.m. to begin getting ready for Mother's 90th birthday party. Mother and Sis came over early to help with preparations. We insisted Mother relax while we took care of things.
Family began arriving around 10:30, and by lunchtime, there were twenty of us...older son and wife; younger son and wife, their two sons, a granddaughter-in-law, and three children, including a beautiful new great-granddaughter; Daughter and two great-grandchildren; two nieces and a great-nephew; Sis, and the three of us.
The meal of hamburgers/turkey burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and baked beans, and dessert choices of lemon pudding cake, chocolate cupcakes, or strawberries and angel food cake, was yummy. I'd prepared too much, though, so there was enough left that I could send food home with those who wanted it.
Mother got lots of nice gifts and cards, including gift cards to our favorite hobby store, to the store that sells her favorite blue jeans, and to our beauty salon. She really enjoyed a musical card from Niece that sang, "You were born...long ago...long ago/long ago/long ago...lo-o-on-ng ago!" We all broke into laughter over that one.
Some family stayed until mid-afternoon before leaving. Daughter and great-grandchildren stayed until after supper, and Sis spent the night.
After supper, Mother and Sis went to Mother's house, and Hubbie and I watched TV for the evening.
I was plenty ready for bed when the time came.
Family began arriving around 10:30, and by lunchtime, there were twenty of us...older son and wife; younger son and wife, their two sons, a granddaughter-in-law, and three children, including a beautiful new great-granddaughter; Daughter and two great-grandchildren; two nieces and a great-nephew; Sis, and the three of us.
The meal of hamburgers/turkey burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and baked beans, and dessert choices of lemon pudding cake, chocolate cupcakes, or strawberries and angel food cake, was yummy. I'd prepared too much, though, so there was enough left that I could send food home with those who wanted it.
Mother got lots of nice gifts and cards, including gift cards to our favorite hobby store, to the store that sells her favorite blue jeans, and to our beauty salon. She really enjoyed a musical card from Niece that sang, "You were born...long ago...long ago/long ago/long ago...lo-o-on-ng ago!" We all broke into laughter over that one.
Some family stayed until mid-afternoon before leaving. Daughter and great-grandchildren stayed until after supper, and Sis spent the night.
After supper, Mother and Sis went to Mother's house, and Hubbie and I watched TV for the evening.
I was plenty ready for bed when the time came.
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