Up at 7:30 this cool morning. TV weather map showed our county to be the coolest in the state.
Shortly after breakfast, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, where she worked on her jigsaw puzzle, while I did a stair stepping, resistance, and weights exercises.
Mother finished the puzzle by the time I was ready for the day. So after Hubbie shredded carrots, she made a recipe of carrot salad for tomorrow. I spent the rest of the morning doing household chores. For lunch, I made noodle soup, using the remainder of the broth leftover from the boiled chicken dinner of a few days ago.
After lunch, Mother and I watched the movie musical, "The Music Man," starring Matthew Broderick, while Hubbie ran errands, including picking up yeast rolls from a local restaurant for Easter dinner.
Speaking of "The Music Man," there's Trouble right here in River City, with a capital "T," and that rhymes with "P," and that spells Pool, because on a trip downtown a couple of days ago, we noticed that a pool hall is being installed in a vacated corner jewelry store. Oh, my!
What's the difference, by the way, between the gentleman's game of billiards and pool? One website declares the difference is gambling. "The name "pool" (a pool of money bet on the game) became attached to billiards simply because of the betting, and it has nothing to do with actually playing the game. When people say something like "Hey, want to play some pool" we all know that they are referring to billiards, but technically they are asking you if you want to play a bet."
Be assured, there will be no overt betting at the downtown pool hall, because if there is, it'll be discovered, and the place will immediately be shut down.
During the movie, I boiled eggs for making deviled eggs in the morning. Mother peeled them later, while I got potatoes and ham ready to put in the oven for supper. We had the ham and potatoes with a choice of Lima beans or butter beans, some of the carrot salad, and hot rolls.
After supper, I accompanied Mother to her house, where I helped her take a shower, and then throw a load of laundry in the washer.
Back home, Hubbie had sliced and refrigerated the ham, and had gone into the yard, cut some beautiful pink azalea branches, and put them in a vase. Problem is, the male cat kept sniffing them, so I had to put them up on the mantel for the night. Azaleas are poisonous to cats, so we can only display them on the dining room table while we are in the room to be sure they don't jump up there and start nibbling.
Hubbie and I spent the rest of the evening watching TV, as usual.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
Friday, April 6
Today is Good Friday. It is also Great-Granddaughter's birthday. Happy Birthday Great-Granddaughter!
We slept late this morning, until 8 a.m. We spent a leisurely morning, sipping coffee and watching the morning TV show. After breakfast, I did a treadmill session and resistance exercises.
Once I was ready for the day, I went to Mother's house to accompany her to our house, where I located a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle she hasn't worked for awhile, and she happily began work on it right away.
Before lunch, a Master Gardener, the organization's president, dropped by to leave a truckload of potted plants for the plant sale. She'd called earlier to say that due to a previously planned trip, she couldn't attend the sale, and she asked if Hubbie could take the plants to the sale along with his.
It was around 12:30 before we had lunch. Afterward, Hubbie worked in the yard, Mother continued working her puzzle, and I went shopping.
I was looking for a pair of white crop pants. Tried on several pairs. Some were so lightweight that they showed my underwear. Some hugged my figure in all the wrong places, like across the hips, where they emphasized my saddlebags.
I liked the looks of a pair of denim-like pants, but they didn't have them in my size. A helpful staff person went to the back to see if there was another pair. No dice. No problem, she declared. The store could order a pair, so we hurried to the back of the store.
Reaching the order desk, I mentioned that I wanted them for an event next Thursday. "Oh, sorry," she commented, "it could take seven to ten days for them to arrive."
"Well, that won't do," I said. "Okay," she said, panting a little from her two hurried trips to the back of the store, and directed me to another department, where there were also white crop pants.
After trying on several pairs, I found one with stove pipe legs that flatter my figure better. I also found a cute blouse on the $5 sale rack, but which actually cost $4 at checkout.
This store is the one that used to have a sale every weekend, but now displays racks with "low," and "best," prices, etc. The sales clerks are beyond eager to help customers, too. If you even remotely look like you're having problems locating something, they are right there with suggestions.
While I was waiting for a dressing room, a clerk hurried up to me and suggested that I go back to the lingerie department, where there was an open room. "We know you are busy," she said, "so we don't want you to have to stand around and wait for a dressing room."
Funny: the clerks routinely roam through the dressing room area scouting for clothing to return to racks. At one point, a woman came out of a dressing room wearing tagged clothing. She was on her way to a rack to look for a different size, or color, or something. The clerk, eager to be helpful, asked if it would be okay for her to clear the dressing room of unwanted clothing. The customer agreed.
A few minutes later, the clerk, carrying a pair of jeans and a shirt, stopped in her tracks on her way to a rack. "Oh, my gosh," she exclaimed, "these are the customer's personal clothes!"
From that store, I went to the other store that still has a sale every weekend. The only thing I found there was a cotton blouse on the sale rack. A tag on the blouse states that the garment was handwoven in India, so it features uneven patterns and colors. It's interesting, and since it was so inexpensive, even before I applied a 20% discount coupon, I decided to buy it. It's 100% cotton, but if it shrinks in washing, I won't feel like I've lost much.
Almost saw a collision on the parking lot as two vehicles in opposite parking lanes tried to back out at the same time. They were within inches of each other before loud honking from one of the vehicles stopped them from crashing.
My last stop was at the WDCS, where I hoped to find a bag for juicing veggies and fruits. Nope. Nothing in the canning department. An associate suggested I look for cheesecloth in the fabric department. No dice.
So I picked up yogurt for Mother and came back home. By now, it was around 4 p.m. Fifteen minutes later, I put frozen whole wheat pancakes in the oven, heated regular and raspberry syrups, and coffee, and we were ready to sit down to supper by 5 p.m.
Afterward, I accompanied Mother back to her house. Then Hubbie and I watched TV for the evening.
We slept late this morning, until 8 a.m. We spent a leisurely morning, sipping coffee and watching the morning TV show. After breakfast, I did a treadmill session and resistance exercises.
Once I was ready for the day, I went to Mother's house to accompany her to our house, where I located a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle she hasn't worked for awhile, and she happily began work on it right away.
Before lunch, a Master Gardener, the organization's president, dropped by to leave a truckload of potted plants for the plant sale. She'd called earlier to say that due to a previously planned trip, she couldn't attend the sale, and she asked if Hubbie could take the plants to the sale along with his.
It was around 12:30 before we had lunch. Afterward, Hubbie worked in the yard, Mother continued working her puzzle, and I went shopping.
I was looking for a pair of white crop pants. Tried on several pairs. Some were so lightweight that they showed my underwear. Some hugged my figure in all the wrong places, like across the hips, where they emphasized my saddlebags.
I liked the looks of a pair of denim-like pants, but they didn't have them in my size. A helpful staff person went to the back to see if there was another pair. No dice. No problem, she declared. The store could order a pair, so we hurried to the back of the store.
Reaching the order desk, I mentioned that I wanted them for an event next Thursday. "Oh, sorry," she commented, "it could take seven to ten days for them to arrive."
"Well, that won't do," I said. "Okay," she said, panting a little from her two hurried trips to the back of the store, and directed me to another department, where there were also white crop pants.
After trying on several pairs, I found one with stove pipe legs that flatter my figure better. I also found a cute blouse on the $5 sale rack, but which actually cost $4 at checkout.
This store is the one that used to have a sale every weekend, but now displays racks with "low," and "best," prices, etc. The sales clerks are beyond eager to help customers, too. If you even remotely look like you're having problems locating something, they are right there with suggestions.
While I was waiting for a dressing room, a clerk hurried up to me and suggested that I go back to the lingerie department, where there was an open room. "We know you are busy," she said, "so we don't want you to have to stand around and wait for a dressing room."
Funny: the clerks routinely roam through the dressing room area scouting for clothing to return to racks. At one point, a woman came out of a dressing room wearing tagged clothing. She was on her way to a rack to look for a different size, or color, or something. The clerk, eager to be helpful, asked if it would be okay for her to clear the dressing room of unwanted clothing. The customer agreed.
A few minutes later, the clerk, carrying a pair of jeans and a shirt, stopped in her tracks on her way to a rack. "Oh, my gosh," she exclaimed, "these are the customer's personal clothes!"
From that store, I went to the other store that still has a sale every weekend. The only thing I found there was a cotton blouse on the sale rack. A tag on the blouse states that the garment was handwoven in India, so it features uneven patterns and colors. It's interesting, and since it was so inexpensive, even before I applied a 20% discount coupon, I decided to buy it. It's 100% cotton, but if it shrinks in washing, I won't feel like I've lost much.
Almost saw a collision on the parking lot as two vehicles in opposite parking lanes tried to back out at the same time. They were within inches of each other before loud honking from one of the vehicles stopped them from crashing.
My last stop was at the WDCS, where I hoped to find a bag for juicing veggies and fruits. Nope. Nothing in the canning department. An associate suggested I look for cheesecloth in the fabric department. No dice.
So I picked up yogurt for Mother and came back home. By now, it was around 4 p.m. Fifteen minutes later, I put frozen whole wheat pancakes in the oven, heated regular and raspberry syrups, and coffee, and we were ready to sit down to supper by 5 p.m.
Afterward, I accompanied Mother back to her house. Then Hubbie and I watched TV for the evening.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Thursday, April 5
Slept late this morning, until around 8 a.m. After breakfast, Hubbie headed to the Extension Services office to help dig plants for the Master Gardeners fundraising plant sale this month, but he soon returned saying it was raining in that part of town, so they couldn't work.
Oh well, I thought to myself, a little rain couldn't keep me from doing a treadmill session. KA-BOOM...suddenly there was thunder, lightning, black skies, and heavy rain. No treadmill session for me today. Did the much safer stair stepping, resistance, and weights exercises, instead.
The storm persisted for a while, long enough to drop the temperature, but at last the sun came out. As soon as it did, I washed the remaining five quarts of strawberries, which Hubbie took to Mother's house. She capped and sliced them for the freezer.
Meanwhile, I did a few tasks, like ordering drink tumblers from a couple of great-granddaughters, who are selling them on behalf of their school. I also applied online for another $5 movie voucher. I wasn't sure I could get another one, but I did. With Hubbie's help, I also etched a glass ornament for the arts council director, who requested I do the letter "L," to be given as a gift to a special donor.
After lunch, I accompanied Mother to our house, where we watched a couple of movie musicals..."Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," and "Godspell," while Hubbie ran errands, including delivering the etched ornament to the art gallery.
Later, I made a casserole from the leftover boiled chicken dinner, layering mashed potatoes, English peas, and gravy, and topping the dish with shredded Monterey Jack cheese and crushed salt-free crackers. Served it with slices of buttered rye bread.
After supper, I accompanied Mother to her house, and then helped her take a shower. Before I came back home, I threw a load of laundry in the washer.
It was raining lightly as I walked Mother home, but shortly after I returned, the sun came out again. Looking at the weather map on TV, it appeared our county got the most rain today. The rain gauge in our yard showed an inch and a half.
Spent the evening watching TV, including a strange 2011 movie called "The Speed of Thought." A telepathic man, who works as a spy for the government, faces death at 29 (he's now 28) if he cannot escape his condition with his soul mate, who has the same condition.
Oh well, I thought to myself, a little rain couldn't keep me from doing a treadmill session. KA-BOOM...suddenly there was thunder, lightning, black skies, and heavy rain. No treadmill session for me today. Did the much safer stair stepping, resistance, and weights exercises, instead.
The storm persisted for a while, long enough to drop the temperature, but at last the sun came out. As soon as it did, I washed the remaining five quarts of strawberries, which Hubbie took to Mother's house. She capped and sliced them for the freezer.
Meanwhile, I did a few tasks, like ordering drink tumblers from a couple of great-granddaughters, who are selling them on behalf of their school. I also applied online for another $5 movie voucher. I wasn't sure I could get another one, but I did. With Hubbie's help, I also etched a glass ornament for the arts council director, who requested I do the letter "L," to be given as a gift to a special donor.
After lunch, I accompanied Mother to our house, where we watched a couple of movie musicals..."Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," and "Godspell," while Hubbie ran errands, including delivering the etched ornament to the art gallery.
Later, I made a casserole from the leftover boiled chicken dinner, layering mashed potatoes, English peas, and gravy, and topping the dish with shredded Monterey Jack cheese and crushed salt-free crackers. Served it with slices of buttered rye bread.
After supper, I accompanied Mother to her house, and then helped her take a shower. Before I came back home, I threw a load of laundry in the washer.
It was raining lightly as I walked Mother home, but shortly after I returned, the sun came out again. Looking at the weather map on TV, it appeared our county got the most rain today. The rain gauge in our yard showed an inch and a half.
Spent the evening watching TV, including a strange 2011 movie called "The Speed of Thought." A telepathic man, who works as a spy for the government, faces death at 29 (he's now 28) if he cannot escape his condition with his soul mate, who has the same condition.
Wednesday, April 4
Well, phooey. When I tried to post my blog last night, something happened and the whole thing got wiped out. I'm pretty sure it wasn't anything I did. I just got an oops message, and when I tried to find the blog in the edit post list, it wasn't there.
Here goes, again. We were up at 6:30 a.m., so I could get ready to go to water aerobics. It was a little cooler this morning, but nice for the walk to the gym. The water was somewhat cool, too, but very pleasant once I got used to it.
Our leader arrived in a red straw hat decorated with daisies, her idea of an Easter bonnet. On Monday, she suggested we all wear hats, but most of us, except for one other lady, who wore a straw hat with yellow and orange feathers, forgot to do it. Even if I had remembered, I wouldn't have worn one, since it would have been in my way for swimming in the deep end of the pool.
Back home, once I was ready for the day, I did this and that until lunchtime. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to a specialty shop, where I bought half pound bags of mixed jelly beans, and a half pound of licorice-flavored ones. The mixed ones were for Hubbie and Mother, and the licorice were for me. I gave Hubbie his right away, and he munched on them as we traveled. I'll give the others to Mother for Easter.
From there, we went to the newspaper office to drop off the word search puzzle contest; and then to the greeting card shop, where I bought an Easter card for Mother. Snoopy is featured on the front, saying, "God bless jelly beans...,"; on the inside, "and God bless you."
Went to the everything's a dollar store after that, where I picked up a colorful Easter basket and grass for Mother.
Our next stop was the WDCS to shop for groceries and incidentals for Mother and us. I bought a 200-piece jigsaw puzzle for Mother for Easter. It features a couple of cats among pots of flowers. Our last stop was the farm store, where I snapped pictures of chicks.
We were back in our driveway before we realized we'd meant to go to the roadside vegetable market to pick up another flat of strawberries. So I decided to go to Mother's house to see if she'd like to go with us.
I strolled across the yard and up Mother's ramp, head down and daydreaming. When I arrived at her porch, I looked up and YIKES! there was Mother, sitting in a chair enjoying the weather.
"That's what you get for walking with your head down," she laughed.
"Well," I joked, "last Monday, I was walking to the van after my tutoring session at the college library, and found a quarter on the parking lot. So sometimes it pays to walk with my head down."
Back home after getting the strawberries, I washed three quarts of them, which Mother capped and sliced for the freezer.
Supper tonight was leftover pork roast and veggies, gravy, and sliced tomatoes. Then I accompanied Mother back to her house, where I ended up cleaning three cabinets in a effort to turn up a cloth bag for squeezing juice from tomatoes and fruits.
I didn't find the bag, but I did find inoperable appliances that needed to be discarded, as well as a bag full of "tubberware," as Sis calls it...old margarine, cottage cheese, and whipped topping containers. I convinced Mother that she only needed a few of those for storage. Plowing through all that stuff seemed to confuse Mother, because she kept asking, "Now, what are we looking for?"
Back home about an hour later, Hubbie and I watched TV...or I should say, Hubbie watched TV. I only half paid attention, since I was playing on my laptop.
One thing I did while on the laptop was apply for a $5 movie voucher, compliments of the hair color I use. The voucher is good until the end of May. I hope a decent movie comes on in the next several weeks, so we can use the voucher. I'm going to check my other boxes of hair color to see if there's another one I can apply for.
Here goes, again. We were up at 6:30 a.m., so I could get ready to go to water aerobics. It was a little cooler this morning, but nice for the walk to the gym. The water was somewhat cool, too, but very pleasant once I got used to it.
Our leader arrived in a red straw hat decorated with daisies, her idea of an Easter bonnet. On Monday, she suggested we all wear hats, but most of us, except for one other lady, who wore a straw hat with yellow and orange feathers, forgot to do it. Even if I had remembered, I wouldn't have worn one, since it would have been in my way for swimming in the deep end of the pool.
Back home, once I was ready for the day, I did this and that until lunchtime. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to a specialty shop, where I bought half pound bags of mixed jelly beans, and a half pound of licorice-flavored ones. The mixed ones were for Hubbie and Mother, and the licorice were for me. I gave Hubbie his right away, and he munched on them as we traveled. I'll give the others to Mother for Easter.
From there, we went to the newspaper office to drop off the word search puzzle contest; and then to the greeting card shop, where I bought an Easter card for Mother. Snoopy is featured on the front, saying, "God bless jelly beans...,"; on the inside, "and God bless you."
Went to the everything's a dollar store after that, where I picked up a colorful Easter basket and grass for Mother.
Our next stop was the WDCS to shop for groceries and incidentals for Mother and us. I bought a 200-piece jigsaw puzzle for Mother for Easter. It features a couple of cats among pots of flowers. Our last stop was the farm store, where I snapped pictures of chicks.
We were back in our driveway before we realized we'd meant to go to the roadside vegetable market to pick up another flat of strawberries. So I decided to go to Mother's house to see if she'd like to go with us.
I strolled across the yard and up Mother's ramp, head down and daydreaming. When I arrived at her porch, I looked up and YIKES! there was Mother, sitting in a chair enjoying the weather.
"That's what you get for walking with your head down," she laughed.
"Well," I joked, "last Monday, I was walking to the van after my tutoring session at the college library, and found a quarter on the parking lot. So sometimes it pays to walk with my head down."
Back home after getting the strawberries, I washed three quarts of them, which Mother capped and sliced for the freezer.
Supper tonight was leftover pork roast and veggies, gravy, and sliced tomatoes. Then I accompanied Mother back to her house, where I ended up cleaning three cabinets in a effort to turn up a cloth bag for squeezing juice from tomatoes and fruits.
I didn't find the bag, but I did find inoperable appliances that needed to be discarded, as well as a bag full of "tubberware," as Sis calls it...old margarine, cottage cheese, and whipped topping containers. I convinced Mother that she only needed a few of those for storage. Plowing through all that stuff seemed to confuse Mother, because she kept asking, "Now, what are we looking for?"
Back home about an hour later, Hubbie and I watched TV...or I should say, Hubbie watched TV. I only half paid attention, since I was playing on my laptop.
One thing I did while on the laptop was apply for a $5 movie voucher, compliments of the hair color I use. The voucher is good until the end of May. I hope a decent movie comes on in the next several weeks, so we can use the voucher. I'm going to check my other boxes of hair color to see if there's another one I can apply for.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Tuesday, April 3
Slept late this morning, until around 8 a.m. After breakfast, I did stair stepping, resistance, and weights exercises.
Once I was ready for the day, I grabbed my camera to go outdoors and snap photos of flowers. I meant to get a few shots of Mother planting impatiens in a container, but she'd already finished the job before I got there.
I offered to help her take a shower, but she wasn't ready to do that and preferred to wait until this evening after supper. So I accompanied her to our house, where we watched an episode of "Dancing With the Stars," while Hubbie ran errands.
Afterward, Mother chopped veggies to add to a pot of chicken. After lunch, and after I returned from getting a haircut, I started the chicken stewing. Later, we had the stewed chicken for supper, with mashed potatoes, gravy, coleslaw, and English peas.
At the beauty shop, my hairdresser and I were watching a live report on the Weather Channel as an enormous tornado passed through areas near Dallas, lifting tractor trailers hundreds of feet in the air and then slamming them back to earth. It was such a jaw-dropping sight that as soon as I got home, I turned our TV to the Weather Channel, so Mother and Hubbie could see a replay of it.
Later, after supper, I accompanied Mother to her house, and helped her shower, and then throw a load of laundry in the washer.
Back home, Hubbie and I watched TV, including the elimination round of "Dancing With the Stars." As usual, the one I expected to be eliminated was not. I think even he was surprised.
Once I was ready for the day, I grabbed my camera to go outdoors and snap photos of flowers. I meant to get a few shots of Mother planting impatiens in a container, but she'd already finished the job before I got there.
I offered to help her take a shower, but she wasn't ready to do that and preferred to wait until this evening after supper. So I accompanied her to our house, where we watched an episode of "Dancing With the Stars," while Hubbie ran errands.
Afterward, Mother chopped veggies to add to a pot of chicken. After lunch, and after I returned from getting a haircut, I started the chicken stewing. Later, we had the stewed chicken for supper, with mashed potatoes, gravy, coleslaw, and English peas.
At the beauty shop, my hairdresser and I were watching a live report on the Weather Channel as an enormous tornado passed through areas near Dallas, lifting tractor trailers hundreds of feet in the air and then slamming them back to earth. It was such a jaw-dropping sight that as soon as I got home, I turned our TV to the Weather Channel, so Mother and Hubbie could see a replay of it.
Later, after supper, I accompanied Mother to her house, and helped her shower, and then throw a load of laundry in the washer.
Back home, Hubbie and I watched TV, including the elimination round of "Dancing With the Stars." As usual, the one I expected to be eliminated was not. I think even he was surprised.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Monday, April 2
Up at 6:30, so I could get ready to go to water aerobics. It was a gorgeous day for a walk to the gym. The water was a bit cool, but fine once I got used to it. Our regular leader was back after having cataract surgery last week. She informed us that the pool will be closed on Friday and next Monday for the Easter holiday.
Back home, I noticed the plumber was here working at Mother's house. The water has been draining slowly or backing up lately at her house, so the plumber was clearing the lines, which frequently get clogged with roots and debris.
Hubbie suggested I hurry and get a shower before the plumber needed to work in our upstairs bathroom. When he checked the toilet, he found some sort of plastic object. We figure one of the cats, probably the male, dropped the object in there. We've seen him dropping his toys in his water dish, so it stands to reason he did the same with the toilet.
But clearing the line to that toilet was only part of the solution. When he checked the septic tank, he found it was overflowing, thanks to the recent heavy rains. So he came back later and pumped it. He commented that tanks need to be pumped about every three years, and it has been that long since it was done last.
Once that was done, we got ready to go to the library of the college where go to water aerobics to attend a noon talk by a professor who has written a book about a mysterious 1929 murder case in a nearby county. The event included lunch, provided by the Friends of the Library. Lunch was hoagie sandwiches, potato chips, and homemade cookies, along with a choice of bottled water or soft drinks.
Mother went with us to the event and really enjoyed it. This professor is a serious historian, but he's also a stand-up comic. He prefaced his talk by telling us how to read his book, if we chose to buy it. He suggested we skip the prologue and chapter 5, both of which deal with genealogy information that we'd probably find dull.
Apparently, there was a huge hubbub over the murder, or lack thereof, which was reported in all the major papers in the U.S. A man arrives in a small town and courts a 16-year-old girl. Soon afterward, he disappears. A bloody hat, some human teeth and bone shards are found in a pit. It's assumed the man has been murdered. The girl says she and the man had been attacked by "night riders." Men are arrested for the murder.
A few months later, though, it is reported that the man has been found alive. He was brought back to be questioned by those who said they had briefly met him to determine if he was the same man. They said he was not the same man, though the men accused of killing him naturally said that he was. The case went to trial, but the men were acquitted.
I didn't buy a copy of the book today, because Hubbie convinced me that we can get a copy at the museum, where we won't be charged tax. Of course, by so doing, I can't get my copy signed, but I guess that's not as important as saving two or three dollars.
Back home, I accompanied Mother to her house. She had enjoyed the outing, but she was unhappy that she can no longer garden. So I suggested to Hubbie that he devise container gardening for her. He said he would go right away to buy herbs that she could plant in pots. While I was gone to tutor my ESL student, Hubbie filled containers with dirt, and Mother sat on her front porch and happily planted herbs.
Before I left to meet my student at 2:30, I put leftover pork roast and veggies in a dish for Hubbie to put into the oven around 4:30.
Today, the student learned how to use idioms with "do," "make," and "take." "Jason always does a good job."Ray makes a good cup of coffee."
We also covered items of personal grooming, but she already knew all of these, so we moved on to using "by" with reflexive pronouns: "Do you live alone?" "Yes, I live by myself."
The student also learned how to use past progressive tense: He was sleeping, I was reading, we were watching.
She stumbled on using infinitives and gerunds: "I'll learn to speak English in this class." "I'll finish reading the book." We spent quite a bit of time on this.
We also spent time with listening comprehension, where I read paragraphs to her, and she repeated, as nearly as possible, what I read.
We finished the session with her reading a story from her workbook and answering questions related to it. She's getting better at answering questions with who, what, where, when, how, and why. I think the light bulb has finally come on for her.
Back home, I filled a microwave dish of supper food for Mother and took it to her. She proudly showed me her dirty fingernails "gardening hands."
After supper, Hubbie and I went to a home improvement store to get impatiens for Mother to plant for her front porch. I hope this will help to satisfy her gardening bug.
Later, we watched the national championship NCAA basketball game between Kentucky and Kansas.
Back home, I noticed the plumber was here working at Mother's house. The water has been draining slowly or backing up lately at her house, so the plumber was clearing the lines, which frequently get clogged with roots and debris.
Hubbie suggested I hurry and get a shower before the plumber needed to work in our upstairs bathroom. When he checked the toilet, he found some sort of plastic object. We figure one of the cats, probably the male, dropped the object in there. We've seen him dropping his toys in his water dish, so it stands to reason he did the same with the toilet.
But clearing the line to that toilet was only part of the solution. When he checked the septic tank, he found it was overflowing, thanks to the recent heavy rains. So he came back later and pumped it. He commented that tanks need to be pumped about every three years, and it has been that long since it was done last.
Once that was done, we got ready to go to the library of the college where go to water aerobics to attend a noon talk by a professor who has written a book about a mysterious 1929 murder case in a nearby county. The event included lunch, provided by the Friends of the Library. Lunch was hoagie sandwiches, potato chips, and homemade cookies, along with a choice of bottled water or soft drinks.
Mother went with us to the event and really enjoyed it. This professor is a serious historian, but he's also a stand-up comic. He prefaced his talk by telling us how to read his book, if we chose to buy it. He suggested we skip the prologue and chapter 5, both of which deal with genealogy information that we'd probably find dull.
Apparently, there was a huge hubbub over the murder, or lack thereof, which was reported in all the major papers in the U.S. A man arrives in a small town and courts a 16-year-old girl. Soon afterward, he disappears. A bloody hat, some human teeth and bone shards are found in a pit. It's assumed the man has been murdered. The girl says she and the man had been attacked by "night riders." Men are arrested for the murder.
A few months later, though, it is reported that the man has been found alive. He was brought back to be questioned by those who said they had briefly met him to determine if he was the same man. They said he was not the same man, though the men accused of killing him naturally said that he was. The case went to trial, but the men were acquitted.
I didn't buy a copy of the book today, because Hubbie convinced me that we can get a copy at the museum, where we won't be charged tax. Of course, by so doing, I can't get my copy signed, but I guess that's not as important as saving two or three dollars.
Back home, I accompanied Mother to her house. She had enjoyed the outing, but she was unhappy that she can no longer garden. So I suggested to Hubbie that he devise container gardening for her. He said he would go right away to buy herbs that she could plant in pots. While I was gone to tutor my ESL student, Hubbie filled containers with dirt, and Mother sat on her front porch and happily planted herbs.
Before I left to meet my student at 2:30, I put leftover pork roast and veggies in a dish for Hubbie to put into the oven around 4:30.
Today, the student learned how to use idioms with "do," "make," and "take." "Jason always does a good job."Ray makes a good cup of coffee."
We also covered items of personal grooming, but she already knew all of these, so we moved on to using "by" with reflexive pronouns: "Do you live alone?" "Yes, I live by myself."
The student also learned how to use past progressive tense: He was sleeping, I was reading, we were watching.
She stumbled on using infinitives and gerunds: "I'll learn to speak English in this class." "I'll finish reading the book." We spent quite a bit of time on this.
We also spent time with listening comprehension, where I read paragraphs to her, and she repeated, as nearly as possible, what I read.
We finished the session with her reading a story from her workbook and answering questions related to it. She's getting better at answering questions with who, what, where, when, how, and why. I think the light bulb has finally come on for her.
Back home, I filled a microwave dish of supper food for Mother and took it to her. She proudly showed me her dirty fingernails "gardening hands."
After supper, Hubbie and I went to a home improvement store to get impatiens for Mother to plant for her front porch. I hope this will help to satisfy her gardening bug.
Later, we watched the national championship NCAA basketball game between Kentucky and Kansas.
Sunday, April 1
Today is April Fools Day! It is also the anniversary of our beloved Shih Tzu's birthday. We miss her so much.
We were up around 7 a.m., and after breakfast, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, where she prepared veggies (onions, carrots, potatoes) for a pork roast. I put the browned roast, with the veggies, along with spices...no-salt seasoning, pepper, garlic powder, thyme, basil, paprika, and rosemary...as well as a can of low sodium chicken broth and a can of low-sodium beef broth, into the slow cooker.
After that, I did usual Sunday morning things...program the DVR, throw a couple of loads of laundry in the washer, etc. I also completed a monthly report for the Literacy Council.
We had our lunch early, at 11:30, because the Film Festival began at 12:30 today. The roast and veggies, with gravy, and individual cups of cinnamon apple sauce was delicious. I accompanied Mother back to her house afterward.
Hubbie spent his time in the yard this morning, and then shopped for groceries and took the upstairs bathroom rugs to the laundry, before returning to the yard this afternoon.
The first film today was a documentary featuring interviews of 30 of our state's artists and photographers. I know a few of the interviewees. I really enjoyed this film.
The second feature was animated. It revolved around a vacationing couple, the husband of which is caught up in the idea of serial killers. The couple was to be picked up by a friend, but instead a taxi driver informs them the friend has sent him. The farther they travel, the more convinced the couple becomes that the driver is the Zodiac Killer. A pair of gloves and a spade in the front seat, a zippered case that they think contains a gun, but which turns out to be a fishing rod, etc. seem to be indications. They become petrified when the driver takes an alternate route through the woods, so they begin planning ways to leave clues for the police. Finally, the couple is delivered safely to the friend's house.
A third feature documentary was about a young Cambodian dancer that caught the eye of the filmmaker. She arranges for him to come to America and study ballet. Even though he is seventeen years old...much older than most children beginning ballet...his natural talent and charisma transforms him into a sought-after performer.
In a related documentary, an 88-year-old ballet teacher in our state is featured. She inspires and motivates her students to the highest level of achievement. I was amazed at what she pulled out of those young ladies, without physically demonstrating the moves (because she was unable to). Those girls looked like professional dancers after her training.
The fourth film was the classic movie, "Little Fugitive." This 1953 black and white feature was shot with a handheld camera by Independent filmmaker pioneer, Morris Engel. All other independent films sprang from this movie. A seven-year-old boy is convinced he has shot his brother to death, and he runs away from home to Coney Island, where, with only a dollar in his pocket, he has all sorts of adventures. Of course, he did not kill his brother...his brother and two friends just pulled a prank on him with a blank shell and ketchup.
He is gone two days and a night, while his mother is away tending to a sick relative. His older brother, who was charged with taking care of him, finally finds him, before the mother returns home. To keep the movie from appearing jerky with the handheld camera, the filmmaker held the camera tight to his body, and carefully chose where action was to take place. It's a really good, sharply focused, movie, with a fun story line.
I returned home after this movie, where Hubbie had heated leftover veggie soup for our supper. After supper, I went to Mother's house to help her take a shower, and throw a load of laundry in the washer. I discovered that Mother had already drug one of the clothes hampers down to the washer. When I asked why she had done that, she said she needed to wash a pair of black pants. I didn't understand how the hamper had anything to do with that, since her black pants were in her bedroom. She then said she needed clean underwear. I assured her I would see that all her laundry was washed, but I'd prefer she not endanger herself by dragging stuff like hampers through the house.
At 8 p.m., Hubbie accompanied me to the last movie of this year's Film Festival. This was a subtitled Italian movie about a small provincial village in Italy in 1942. Several scenarios played out: three friends learn about a buried treasure from a stranger in town and go in search of it. A fourth friend, on his way to the treasure hunt, dies in a motorcycle accident. A woman has an affair with a man, and her boyfriend kills him. A man goes to war, and his wife dies of pneumonia while he's gone.
It's a very good independent film, and we enjoyed it. The director of the film festival told us that he received the film "over the transom" as it were. Though unsolicited, he was very glad to get it, and we're very glad, too. The filmmaker was looking for film festivals anywhere in the world that would agree to show the movie. It's a shame that so few people turned out to see it. But after three days of films, I guess most folks' eyeballs were about to fall out.
I saw all but two of the offerings, so I got the very most out of my $20 "Red Eye" pass...saving nearly $50. I saw about 27 films, some very short, some full-length, some very good, some not so good, but all interesting.
It was about 9:30 before we got back home, and it wasn't long until we headed to bed.
We were up around 7 a.m., and after breakfast, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, where she prepared veggies (onions, carrots, potatoes) for a pork roast. I put the browned roast, with the veggies, along with spices...no-salt seasoning, pepper, garlic powder, thyme, basil, paprika, and rosemary...as well as a can of low sodium chicken broth and a can of low-sodium beef broth, into the slow cooker.
After that, I did usual Sunday morning things...program the DVR, throw a couple of loads of laundry in the washer, etc. I also completed a monthly report for the Literacy Council.
We had our lunch early, at 11:30, because the Film Festival began at 12:30 today. The roast and veggies, with gravy, and individual cups of cinnamon apple sauce was delicious. I accompanied Mother back to her house afterward.
Hubbie spent his time in the yard this morning, and then shopped for groceries and took the upstairs bathroom rugs to the laundry, before returning to the yard this afternoon.
The first film today was a documentary featuring interviews of 30 of our state's artists and photographers. I know a few of the interviewees. I really enjoyed this film.
The second feature was animated. It revolved around a vacationing couple, the husband of which is caught up in the idea of serial killers. The couple was to be picked up by a friend, but instead a taxi driver informs them the friend has sent him. The farther they travel, the more convinced the couple becomes that the driver is the Zodiac Killer. A pair of gloves and a spade in the front seat, a zippered case that they think contains a gun, but which turns out to be a fishing rod, etc. seem to be indications. They become petrified when the driver takes an alternate route through the woods, so they begin planning ways to leave clues for the police. Finally, the couple is delivered safely to the friend's house.
A third feature documentary was about a young Cambodian dancer that caught the eye of the filmmaker. She arranges for him to come to America and study ballet. Even though he is seventeen years old...much older than most children beginning ballet...his natural talent and charisma transforms him into a sought-after performer.
In a related documentary, an 88-year-old ballet teacher in our state is featured. She inspires and motivates her students to the highest level of achievement. I was amazed at what she pulled out of those young ladies, without physically demonstrating the moves (because she was unable to). Those girls looked like professional dancers after her training.
The fourth film was the classic movie, "Little Fugitive." This 1953 black and white feature was shot with a handheld camera by Independent filmmaker pioneer, Morris Engel. All other independent films sprang from this movie. A seven-year-old boy is convinced he has shot his brother to death, and he runs away from home to Coney Island, where, with only a dollar in his pocket, he has all sorts of adventures. Of course, he did not kill his brother...his brother and two friends just pulled a prank on him with a blank shell and ketchup.
He is gone two days and a night, while his mother is away tending to a sick relative. His older brother, who was charged with taking care of him, finally finds him, before the mother returns home. To keep the movie from appearing jerky with the handheld camera, the filmmaker held the camera tight to his body, and carefully chose where action was to take place. It's a really good, sharply focused, movie, with a fun story line.
I returned home after this movie, where Hubbie had heated leftover veggie soup for our supper. After supper, I went to Mother's house to help her take a shower, and throw a load of laundry in the washer. I discovered that Mother had already drug one of the clothes hampers down to the washer. When I asked why she had done that, she said she needed to wash a pair of black pants. I didn't understand how the hamper had anything to do with that, since her black pants were in her bedroom. She then said she needed clean underwear. I assured her I would see that all her laundry was washed, but I'd prefer she not endanger herself by dragging stuff like hampers through the house.
At 8 p.m., Hubbie accompanied me to the last movie of this year's Film Festival. This was a subtitled Italian movie about a small provincial village in Italy in 1942. Several scenarios played out: three friends learn about a buried treasure from a stranger in town and go in search of it. A fourth friend, on his way to the treasure hunt, dies in a motorcycle accident. A woman has an affair with a man, and her boyfriend kills him. A man goes to war, and his wife dies of pneumonia while he's gone.
It's a very good independent film, and we enjoyed it. The director of the film festival told us that he received the film "over the transom" as it were. Though unsolicited, he was very glad to get it, and we're very glad, too. The filmmaker was looking for film festivals anywhere in the world that would agree to show the movie. It's a shame that so few people turned out to see it. But after three days of films, I guess most folks' eyeballs were about to fall out.
I saw all but two of the offerings, so I got the very most out of my $20 "Red Eye" pass...saving nearly $50. I saw about 27 films, some very short, some full-length, some very good, some not so good, but all interesting.
It was about 9:30 before we got back home, and it wasn't long until we headed to bed.
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