Up at 6:30 to get ready to go to another town about an hour and a half east to attend a baby shower for Hubbie's niece. We left town around 9 a.m. Daughter had not arrived yet to stay with Mother. I texted her to let me know when she got here. When I had not heard from her by the time we got to the other town, I called Mother to be sure she was okay. She was.
Before we went on to the town where the shower was to be held, we stopped in the larger city 30 minutes from that town to shop at the warehouse store. Just inside the door of the store, someone intercepted us to ask if we wanted to apply for the store's credit card. An incentive to do so was a $40 offer that could be applied to our purchases today, if the purchases amounted to $100. Since I needed to buy a package of printer ink cartridges, plus several grocery items, we knew we would spend the required amount. I got a bit of sticker shock when I discovered that the cartridge package price had risen from $72 the last time I bought one to over $85 today. That $40 discount came in handy!
We arrived at Hubbie's sister's house around 11:30, and she had a deli meat/cheese sandwiche, and veggies with dip lunch prepared for us. Shortly after noon, I received a text from Daughter that she had arrived to stay with Mother.
We enjoyed visiting with his sister and niece until time to go to the shower. Hubbie dropped me off at the church where the shower was held, and then went to visit his daughters, son, granddaughter, and great-grandchildren at his ex-wife's house. The ex, with whom I'm friendly, was at the shower, and the daughters joined us later.
The shower was held in the church fellowship hall, which had been decorated in rubber-ducky bath motif. Each table held glass containers, with blue water, Styrofoam balls for bubbles, and little yellow duckies. The refreshment table held an oversized champagne glass filled with the blue water, "bubbles" and duckies. Clear glass Christmas balls were suspended from the ceiling to represent bubbles.
Refreshments included rice crispy treats, dyed yellow, and shaped like rubber duckies, sandwiches on Hawaiian buns, ham roll-ups, Chinese egg rolls with a sour cream dip, and a tiered dish of yellow and chocolate cupcakes with blue icing and rubber ducky decorations. The drink was some sort of blue punch served from a bucket in which rubber duckies floated.
Around 30 women attended, so Niece received a carload of gifts, cash, and gift cards. Before she opened her gifts, we were each given cards on which to write advice to the new mother. I advised her to learn to love sleepless nights, doing laundry, spit-up on your favorite dress, etc., which is worth it for the joy of that first baby smile, first tooth, first baby step, etc.
The event lasted from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Hubbie returned to pick me up shortly after four, and after he visited with some of the ladies he knew and partook of the refreshments, we went back to his sister's house, where we spent a little while snapping photos.
We were back on the road home around 5:30. Back home, I stepped over to Mother's house to let her and Daughter know we were home.
Since it was around 7 p.m., Hubbie and I decided to have a sandwich supper. Daughter finished watching a TV show with Mother, before coming to our house and watching a couple of disaster movies from the SyFy Channel with us..."Polar Storm," and "NYC: Tornado Terror."
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Friday, April 27
Up at 6:30 to get ready to go to water aerobics. It was chillier outside than I expected, and there was a brisk wind. I wore my fleece outfit, but I would have been more comfortable if I'd worn my fleece hoodie, too. Sixteen of us showed up today. There are usually fewer of us on Fridays...folks getting an early start of their weekend, I guess. One young woman, a recent member, has MS. She is taking part in a walk for the MS organization, and she has been collecting money for it. Of course, our group did what we could, but she must have a load of friends, because she managed to collect a total of $3,500 dollars! As a thank you to us, she added our name, "Water Babes," to the back of her t-shirt.
Back home, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, where, after I gathered utensils, and measured the ingredients for her, she put together a salmon loaf for supper.
After that, I got ready for the day. Then I checked the upstairs computer, but it immediately began thundering, so I shut down. Nothing much came of the boomer except a few drops of rain, but the front served to make our county one of the coolest in the state...nearly ten degrees cooler than counties south of us.
At 11:30, I fixed a lunch of Ramen Noodle soup for Mother, and cold meatloaf sandwiches for Hubbie amd me. Afterward, Hubbie ran errands, while Mother and I made a batch of oatmeal cookies. Again, I gathered the utensils and measured the ingredients, and mother made the dough and spooned it on the cookie sheets. Then I baked the cookies and cooled them for storage. Of course, Hubbie had to sample a couple of them while they were warm. Oatmeal cookies, and spice ones, like the gingersnaps we made yesterday, are his favorites. I think men typically prefer this type cookie over, say, chocolate chip, which is a favorite of most women.
Mother was ready to relax after the cookie making session, so I located a jigsaw puzzle for her to work on, while I played on my laptop. Later, I made a recipe of macaroni and cheese to go with the salmon loaf, which we had with a side of English peas. After supper, I accompanied Mother to her house, where I helped her take a shower, and then threw a load of laundry in the washer.
Tomorrow, we are scheduled to go to a town about an hour and a half east of us to attend Niece's baby shower. Originally, Daughter was to come and be with Mother while Hubbie and I went to the shower, but there is a crisis with Granddaughter, so she cannot be here. So Mother will need to go with us. She's well enough to travel, but she tires easily in crowds of people, and there will be quite a few women at the shower, since it is being hosted by the women of Niece's church.
We might have decided not to go to the shower, if it weren't an opportunity for Hubbie to visit relatives he rarely gets to see, like a granddaughter and great-grandchildren who live in another state.
Back home, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, where, after I gathered utensils, and measured the ingredients for her, she put together a salmon loaf for supper.
After that, I got ready for the day. Then I checked the upstairs computer, but it immediately began thundering, so I shut down. Nothing much came of the boomer except a few drops of rain, but the front served to make our county one of the coolest in the state...nearly ten degrees cooler than counties south of us.
At 11:30, I fixed a lunch of Ramen Noodle soup for Mother, and cold meatloaf sandwiches for Hubbie amd me. Afterward, Hubbie ran errands, while Mother and I made a batch of oatmeal cookies. Again, I gathered the utensils and measured the ingredients, and mother made the dough and spooned it on the cookie sheets. Then I baked the cookies and cooled them for storage. Of course, Hubbie had to sample a couple of them while they were warm. Oatmeal cookies, and spice ones, like the gingersnaps we made yesterday, are his favorites. I think men typically prefer this type cookie over, say, chocolate chip, which is a favorite of most women.
Mother was ready to relax after the cookie making session, so I located a jigsaw puzzle for her to work on, while I played on my laptop. Later, I made a recipe of macaroni and cheese to go with the salmon loaf, which we had with a side of English peas. After supper, I accompanied Mother to her house, where I helped her take a shower, and then threw a load of laundry in the washer.
Tomorrow, we are scheduled to go to a town about an hour and a half east of us to attend Niece's baby shower. Originally, Daughter was to come and be with Mother while Hubbie and I went to the shower, but there is a crisis with Granddaughter, so she cannot be here. So Mother will need to go with us. She's well enough to travel, but she tires easily in crowds of people, and there will be quite a few women at the shower, since it is being hosted by the women of Niece's church.
We might have decided not to go to the shower, if it weren't an opportunity for Hubbie to visit relatives he rarely gets to see, like a granddaughter and great-grandchildren who live in another state.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Thursday, April 26
Up around 7:30, but didn't get around to exercising, because when I checked my e-mail, I found a response from a community theater member, who said she would be at the organization's building at 10 a.m., if I wanted to go search for a Civil War ball gown. So I hurried to dress, and Hubbie went with me to the building.
After looking through and trying on several dresses and skirts, I settled on a green taffeta dress with black lace trim that fits nicely and has a wide skirt to accommodate a hoop. Finding something suitable for Hubbie is presenting more of a challenge.
Back home, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, where she prepared a recipe of pimento cheese. After lunch, we worked together to make a batch of gingersnap cookies. We plan to make several varieties of cookies, part of which we'll contribute to a Caring Hands Hospice fundraiser.
Supper was leftover meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. I accompanied Mother back to her house afterward, and then around 7:30, Hubbie and I went to a chamber music concert at the college. The program was unusual in its combination of consonance (pleasing sounds) and dissonance (harsh sounds). One piece sounded like background music for a suspense or horror movie. Another piece used Tibetan Finger Cymbals. A softer piece, called "Wed," was in memory of an artist friend, who, on her deathbed, married her boyfriend just before she died.
On our walk back to van after the concert, I finally saw the bright planet Venus near the quarter moon. The two celestial bodies were closer a couple of nights ago, but I was unable to see them from our yard, with all the trees in full leaf.
Just before we reached home, we noticed several police cars on either side of the road, blue lights flashing. Lots of vehicles were gathered at the site, and as we slowly passed, we saw that a black cow had been killed. We saw no wrecked vehicle, though there was a front loader preparing to pick the animal up. We couldn't tell if the cow had gotten out of a pasture and wandered onto the road, or if there'd been an accident involving a trailer hauling the cow. Maybe there'll be a report in the local newspaper tomorrow.
Note: the tortoise shell cat is back...or I should say she was here all along, hiding in the storeroom, where Hubbie couldn't see her even with a flashlight. I guess she wasn't feeling well and went into hiding until she felt better. She surprised us when she ambled out into the den today. She was very thirsty and ready to eat. We were glad she showed up in time for a scheduled appointment with the vet for a checkup and to get stronger flea treatment.
After looking through and trying on several dresses and skirts, I settled on a green taffeta dress with black lace trim that fits nicely and has a wide skirt to accommodate a hoop. Finding something suitable for Hubbie is presenting more of a challenge.
Back home, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, where she prepared a recipe of pimento cheese. After lunch, we worked together to make a batch of gingersnap cookies. We plan to make several varieties of cookies, part of which we'll contribute to a Caring Hands Hospice fundraiser.
Supper was leftover meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. I accompanied Mother back to her house afterward, and then around 7:30, Hubbie and I went to a chamber music concert at the college. The program was unusual in its combination of consonance (pleasing sounds) and dissonance (harsh sounds). One piece sounded like background music for a suspense or horror movie. Another piece used Tibetan Finger Cymbals. A softer piece, called "Wed," was in memory of an artist friend, who, on her deathbed, married her boyfriend just before she died.
On our walk back to van after the concert, I finally saw the bright planet Venus near the quarter moon. The two celestial bodies were closer a couple of nights ago, but I was unable to see them from our yard, with all the trees in full leaf.
Just before we reached home, we noticed several police cars on either side of the road, blue lights flashing. Lots of vehicles were gathered at the site, and as we slowly passed, we saw that a black cow had been killed. We saw no wrecked vehicle, though there was a front loader preparing to pick the animal up. We couldn't tell if the cow had gotten out of a pasture and wandered onto the road, or if there'd been an accident involving a trailer hauling the cow. Maybe there'll be a report in the local newspaper tomorrow.
Note: the tortoise shell cat is back...or I should say she was here all along, hiding in the storeroom, where Hubbie couldn't see her even with a flashlight. I guess she wasn't feeling well and went into hiding until she felt better. She surprised us when she ambled out into the den today. She was very thirsty and ready to eat. We were glad she showed up in time for a scheduled appointment with the vet for a checkup and to get stronger flea treatment.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Wednesday, April 25
Up at 6:30 to get ready to go to water aerobics. Nice, sunny morning. About 20 of us showed up today. The water was chilly, but nice once I got used to it. We learned today that the pool will be closed from April 13 until June 4 for the college break before summer term.
Back home, before I got ready for the day, I gathered ingredients for a meatloaf. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, where she worked on the meatloaf while I got ready for the day, and Hubbie ran errands.
For lunch, I sauteed onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and leftover potatoes, to which I added eggs and shredded cheese. Hubbie had picked up local strawberries, and after lunch, Mother and I prepared and sweetened two quarts of them.
After that, Mother relaxed for the rest of the afternoon, and I did this and that, including locating a hoop for a Civil War dress. A Civil War ball is planned for May in conjunction with sesquicentennial events. Though I have a hoop (someone gave it to me years ago), I do not have a dress. So I contacted a member of the community theater board to see if I can borrow something suitable from the organization's costume department. She said yes, so now I need to meet her one afternoon and go through the costumes to see what might work for me.
I was undecided about whether I wanted to attend the ball, but since the husband of my ESL student is in charge of the festivities that weekend, it would please her for Hubbie and me to go. Of course, I'm wondering how I'm going to manage that big hoop while riding in the van, and sitting down at the restaurant. I might wear a pair of crop pants under the dress and then put the hoop on when I get there. As for sitting down at the restaurant, the seating is benches at long tables, so I can fling the hoop over the back, I guess. Folks on either side of me might have to sit on my dress, though! How did ladies back then manage such unwieldy dresses?
The meatloaf for supper was very good, served with mashed potatoes and green beans. Angel food cake with strawberries and whipped topping for dessert was yummy, too. Afterward, I accompanied Mother to her house, where I helped her take a shower, and then throw a load of laundry in the washer.
Note: something very strange has happened around here. One of our cats, the tortoise shell one, has gone missing. We have no idea what has happened to her. Hubbie has searched the house high and low, including under the hot tub, but there is no sign of her. This cat has always been skittish and ran the other way whenever any of us left the house. She seemed to have no interest in going outside. And yet she must have, because there doesn't seem to be any other explanation, though Hubbie has searched in vain for her outdoors, as well. She has just vanished. She has only one good eye, and she suffers from a breathing problem like asthma, so if she went out, I'm afraid she will not survive long.
Back home, before I got ready for the day, I gathered ingredients for a meatloaf. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, where she worked on the meatloaf while I got ready for the day, and Hubbie ran errands.
For lunch, I sauteed onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and leftover potatoes, to which I added eggs and shredded cheese. Hubbie had picked up local strawberries, and after lunch, Mother and I prepared and sweetened two quarts of them.
After that, Mother relaxed for the rest of the afternoon, and I did this and that, including locating a hoop for a Civil War dress. A Civil War ball is planned for May in conjunction with sesquicentennial events. Though I have a hoop (someone gave it to me years ago), I do not have a dress. So I contacted a member of the community theater board to see if I can borrow something suitable from the organization's costume department. She said yes, so now I need to meet her one afternoon and go through the costumes to see what might work for me.
I was undecided about whether I wanted to attend the ball, but since the husband of my ESL student is in charge of the festivities that weekend, it would please her for Hubbie and me to go. Of course, I'm wondering how I'm going to manage that big hoop while riding in the van, and sitting down at the restaurant. I might wear a pair of crop pants under the dress and then put the hoop on when I get there. As for sitting down at the restaurant, the seating is benches at long tables, so I can fling the hoop over the back, I guess. Folks on either side of me might have to sit on my dress, though! How did ladies back then manage such unwieldy dresses?
The meatloaf for supper was very good, served with mashed potatoes and green beans. Angel food cake with strawberries and whipped topping for dessert was yummy, too. Afterward, I accompanied Mother to her house, where I helped her take a shower, and then throw a load of laundry in the washer.
Note: something very strange has happened around here. One of our cats, the tortoise shell one, has gone missing. We have no idea what has happened to her. Hubbie has searched the house high and low, including under the hot tub, but there is no sign of her. This cat has always been skittish and ran the other way whenever any of us left the house. She seemed to have no interest in going outside. And yet she must have, because there doesn't seem to be any other explanation, though Hubbie has searched in vain for her outdoors, as well. She has just vanished. She has only one good eye, and she suffers from a breathing problem like asthma, so if she went out, I'm afraid she will not survive long.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Tuesday, April 24
Up late this morning, at nearly 8 a.m. Did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house while I was exercising.
Before I got ready for the day, I gathered things for Mother to work on sympathy cards for Caring Hands Hospice. Saturday, I printed a stack of nature photos that I've taken over the year to use as backgrounds, and today Mother chose colored card stock to match them, and mounted the photos.
After lunch, I joined Mother in making cards. My job was to trim the card stock around the photos, and then rubber stamp sympathy messages onto them. Mother then mounted the photos onto either white or ivory pre-made cards. By 3 p.m., we'd completed eleven cards.
Since we were tired by that time, I cleared away the mess, and then made a recipe of fruited Jell-O, while Mother rested with a cup of coffee. Later, we had a supper of the remainder of the barbecued pork chops, with boiled potatoes, and coleslaw.
Afterward, I accompanied Mother to her house, and then Hubbie and I went to the WDCS for a few grocery items, including hamburger for making meatloaf tomorrow.
Back home, we watched TV, including tonight's elimination episode of "Dancing With the Stars." Hated to see Gladys go, but figured she would be the one.
Before I got ready for the day, I gathered things for Mother to work on sympathy cards for Caring Hands Hospice. Saturday, I printed a stack of nature photos that I've taken over the year to use as backgrounds, and today Mother chose colored card stock to match them, and mounted the photos.
After lunch, I joined Mother in making cards. My job was to trim the card stock around the photos, and then rubber stamp sympathy messages onto them. Mother then mounted the photos onto either white or ivory pre-made cards. By 3 p.m., we'd completed eleven cards.
Since we were tired by that time, I cleared away the mess, and then made a recipe of fruited Jell-O, while Mother rested with a cup of coffee. Later, we had a supper of the remainder of the barbecued pork chops, with boiled potatoes, and coleslaw.
Afterward, I accompanied Mother to her house, and then Hubbie and I went to the WDCS for a few grocery items, including hamburger for making meatloaf tomorrow.
Back home, we watched TV, including tonight's elimination episode of "Dancing With the Stars." Hated to see Gladys go, but figured she would be the one.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Monday, April 23
Up at 6:30 to get ready to go to water aerobics. What happened to spring? It was really chilly this morning...enough so that I needed to wear several layers to stay warm.
The water in the pool was chilly but not awful, and I enjoyed my swim and aerobics. Our regular leader was back on board. She seems to be doing well now following cataract surgery.
Back home, while I was enjoying a couple of cups of coffee to thaw out, Mother and Sis came over. They went to work right away on the jigsaw puzzle, which they finished later this afternoon.
I didn't do much for the rest of the morning. We enjoyed a variety of things for lunch...Sis and I had the rest of the Dragon Soup with pimento cheese sandwiches; Mother had Ramen Noodle soup with pimento cheese on crackers; Hubbie had leftover hot dogs and potato salad. For dessert, we had a choice of strawberries with whipped topping, and the brownies, cookies, and biscuit/cake from yesterday's concert reception.
After lunch, I spent time reviewing today's ESL lesson, and writing a few paragraphs about my experience with the Literacy Council program. The council director plans to use narratives from tutors and students as part of a grant request.
At 2:30, I met with my student. The first thing she did was show me a very nice award she received from the college, recognizing her as the outstanding ESL student for 2011-2012. She was excited, and I was excited for her, though I already knew about the award, because the council director had alerted me by e-mail last night. I'm glad, because it gave me the opportunity to locate a congratulations card in my card stash.
Before we began today's lesson, I asked the student to write a few paragraphs about her experiences with our ESL class. She, of course, expressed gratitude for the opportunity of having a private tutor. In conversation, she remarked that there is no such program in Venezuela.
Today's lesson included learning the present perfect tense with "best," and "worst." "This is the best sandwich I have ever eaten." "This is the worst music I have ever listened to."
The lesson also included vocabulary about repair bills...parts, labor, sales tax. In discussing sales tax, she commented that in Venezula, the sales tax is 16.5%. She said the country imports 75% of its goods, and that food is scarce.
It's not possible to buy all the items one wants in a single store. Folks have to travel miles between places to buy things...eggs here, milk there, etc. And cooking oil is nearly impossible to obtain. Also, vendors know they can gouge customers for goods, so that a bottle of cooking oil can cost seven or eight dollars.
There is such a food shortage, she said, that if you are fortunate enough to obtain, for instance, a quart of milk, you'd better protect it, because if you turn your back, someone will steal it right out of your shopping cart. Folks even come to blows over food items.
The student lays the food shortage problem squarely at the feet of the country's president, Hugo Chavez, and his socialist-inspired government, which imposes strict price controls that serve only to create hardship for rich and poor alike.
The student noted, though, that her son, who still resides in Venezuela, lives on a farm, where he has cattle and chickens and raises his own food, so his family does not go for want, fortunately.
We finished the session with listening comprehension, where I read a paragraph to her, and she repeats it back to me as best she can. She also read a story from her workbook and answered the questions related to it.
Back home, Sis had prepared supper for us...leftover barbecue pork chops, the remainder of the new potatoes, and squash heated in the oven, along with a pan of boiled potatoes, and coleslaw.
Not long after supper, Sis headed back to her hometown. Then I accompanied Mother to her house, where I helped her take a shower, and then put a load of laundry in the washer.
At home, Hubbie and I watched TV, including a subtitled Italian movie called, "I'm Not Scared." A country boy discovers a child chained and starving in a hole in the ground. He helps the boy by bringing him food and water. Later, he learns that his father, along with several other men, have kidnapped the boy, and are holding him for ransom. When he overhears the men talking about killing the boy, he knows he has to do something.
We ended the evening watching this week's episode of "Dancing With the Stars."
The water in the pool was chilly but not awful, and I enjoyed my swim and aerobics. Our regular leader was back on board. She seems to be doing well now following cataract surgery.
Back home, while I was enjoying a couple of cups of coffee to thaw out, Mother and Sis came over. They went to work right away on the jigsaw puzzle, which they finished later this afternoon.
I didn't do much for the rest of the morning. We enjoyed a variety of things for lunch...Sis and I had the rest of the Dragon Soup with pimento cheese sandwiches; Mother had Ramen Noodle soup with pimento cheese on crackers; Hubbie had leftover hot dogs and potato salad. For dessert, we had a choice of strawberries with whipped topping, and the brownies, cookies, and biscuit/cake from yesterday's concert reception.
After lunch, I spent time reviewing today's ESL lesson, and writing a few paragraphs about my experience with the Literacy Council program. The council director plans to use narratives from tutors and students as part of a grant request.
At 2:30, I met with my student. The first thing she did was show me a very nice award she received from the college, recognizing her as the outstanding ESL student for 2011-2012. She was excited, and I was excited for her, though I already knew about the award, because the council director had alerted me by e-mail last night. I'm glad, because it gave me the opportunity to locate a congratulations card in my card stash.
Before we began today's lesson, I asked the student to write a few paragraphs about her experiences with our ESL class. She, of course, expressed gratitude for the opportunity of having a private tutor. In conversation, she remarked that there is no such program in Venezuela.
Today's lesson included learning the present perfect tense with "best," and "worst." "This is the best sandwich I have ever eaten." "This is the worst music I have ever listened to."
The lesson also included vocabulary about repair bills...parts, labor, sales tax. In discussing sales tax, she commented that in Venezula, the sales tax is 16.5%. She said the country imports 75% of its goods, and that food is scarce.
It's not possible to buy all the items one wants in a single store. Folks have to travel miles between places to buy things...eggs here, milk there, etc. And cooking oil is nearly impossible to obtain. Also, vendors know they can gouge customers for goods, so that a bottle of cooking oil can cost seven or eight dollars.
There is such a food shortage, she said, that if you are fortunate enough to obtain, for instance, a quart of milk, you'd better protect it, because if you turn your back, someone will steal it right out of your shopping cart. Folks even come to blows over food items.
The student lays the food shortage problem squarely at the feet of the country's president, Hugo Chavez, and his socialist-inspired government, which imposes strict price controls that serve only to create hardship for rich and poor alike.
The student noted, though, that her son, who still resides in Venezuela, lives on a farm, where he has cattle and chickens and raises his own food, so his family does not go for want, fortunately.
We finished the session with listening comprehension, where I read a paragraph to her, and she repeats it back to me as best she can. She also read a story from her workbook and answered the questions related to it.
Back home, Sis had prepared supper for us...leftover barbecue pork chops, the remainder of the new potatoes, and squash heated in the oven, along with a pan of boiled potatoes, and coleslaw.
Not long after supper, Sis headed back to her hometown. Then I accompanied Mother to her house, where I helped her take a shower, and then put a load of laundry in the washer.
At home, Hubbie and I watched TV, including a subtitled Italian movie called, "I'm Not Scared." A country boy discovers a child chained and starving in a hole in the ground. He helps the boy by bringing him food and water. Later, he learns that his father, along with several other men, have kidnapped the boy, and are holding him for ransom. When he overhears the men talking about killing the boy, he knows he has to do something.
We ended the evening watching this week's episode of "Dancing With the Stars."
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Sunday, April 22
Up around 7:30, but skipped my exercises. Around 9 a.m., Sis and Mother came over, and the three of us got things ready for lunch. Mother diced veggies (onions, celery, carrots) and put together a dish of barbecue pork chops for the oven. She also cubed onions, yellow, and zucchini squash for the steamer.
She and Mother then clipped coupons for Granddaughter, and then worked on a jigsaw puzzle, while I did this and that, including laundry, and taking care of a few business matters.
Our lunch of pork chops, with steamed squash and new potatoes was exceptionally tasty. After lunch, we watched "Still on the Hill," a documentary DVD about an Ozark couple who interview and then write folk songs about particularly interesting hill people. Hubbie and I saw this documentary recently at the Film Festival, where I bought a copy of the DVD, along with a CD of the music.
Sis and Mother went to Mother's house after that to rest and then dress for a 4 p.m. flute choir concert at the college. Wow, was it windy and chilly for an outing today.
There was a nice crowd in attendance for this interesting concert that featured not only the flute choir, but a Scottish guitarist/singer, a clog dancer, a bagpipe and drum selection, a couple of young women singers, and a bass singer.
The two young women gave an exhuberant performance of the spiritual, "I'll Fly Away." The clogger danced during this performance. The flute choir presented four spirituals, too, including, "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child."
The choir also performed, "The Prayer," followed by the bass singer and one of the women singing the song...she in English, he dong the Italian stanzas. Whenever I hear this song I, of course, think of Andrea Bocelli.
The guitar player sang a traditional English song, called, "Lord Franklin." Thanks to the singer's Scottish brogue, it was difficult to understand the lyrics, which follow:
It was homeward bound one night on the deep,
in my hammock, I fell asleep;
I dreamed a dream and I thought it true,
Concerning Franklin and his gallant crew.
With a hundred sailors he sailed away,
The frozen ocean in the month of may,
To seek a passage around the pole,
Where we poor sailors sometimes have to go.
Through cruel hardships they vainly strove;
Their ship on mountains of ice was drove;
Only the Indian with his skin canoe,
Was the only one that ever came through.
In Baffin bay where the whale-fish blow
The fate of Franklin, no man may know;
The fate of Franklin, no tongue may tell,
Where Franklin along with his sailors does dwell.
And now my burden, it brings me pain;
For my long, lost Franklin I would cross the main;
Ten thousand guineas I would freely give
To say on Earth that my Franklin does live
The concert lasted only an hour, so we were back home shortly after 5 p.m. On the way home, we noticed the top of a tree had been snapped in the wind, and there were branches and lots of leaves blown from trees.
Since we were chilled, we decided to heat Dragon Soup from yesterday for supper, served with pimento cheese sandwiches. After supper, we played a few games of Skipbo, with Hubbie winning two games, and Sis winning one. Zilch for Mother and me.
At 8 p.m., we broke for refreshments of rice pudding, along with brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and some sort of cake/bread that looked really good but was completely tasteless (we brought the goodies home from the flute choir concert). The brownies were a bit burned, and Mother declared the cookies to be tough. These baked items were provided by members of the flute choir, who might have been pressed for time when they baked them.
Mother and Sis went to Mother's house after our snacks, and Hubbie and I watched a couple of one-hour shows on TV.
I hope the wind has died down by morning. It's uncomfortable walking in the wind after being in the swimming pool.
She and Mother then clipped coupons for Granddaughter, and then worked on a jigsaw puzzle, while I did this and that, including laundry, and taking care of a few business matters.
Our lunch of pork chops, with steamed squash and new potatoes was exceptionally tasty. After lunch, we watched "Still on the Hill," a documentary DVD about an Ozark couple who interview and then write folk songs about particularly interesting hill people. Hubbie and I saw this documentary recently at the Film Festival, where I bought a copy of the DVD, along with a CD of the music.
Sis and Mother went to Mother's house after that to rest and then dress for a 4 p.m. flute choir concert at the college. Wow, was it windy and chilly for an outing today.
There was a nice crowd in attendance for this interesting concert that featured not only the flute choir, but a Scottish guitarist/singer, a clog dancer, a bagpipe and drum selection, a couple of young women singers, and a bass singer.
The two young women gave an exhuberant performance of the spiritual, "I'll Fly Away." The clogger danced during this performance. The flute choir presented four spirituals, too, including, "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child."
The choir also performed, "The Prayer," followed by the bass singer and one of the women singing the song...she in English, he dong the Italian stanzas. Whenever I hear this song I, of course, think of Andrea Bocelli.
The guitar player sang a traditional English song, called, "Lord Franklin." Thanks to the singer's Scottish brogue, it was difficult to understand the lyrics, which follow:
It was homeward bound one night on the deep,
in my hammock, I fell asleep;
I dreamed a dream and I thought it true,
Concerning Franklin and his gallant crew.
With a hundred sailors he sailed away,
The frozen ocean in the month of may,
To seek a passage around the pole,
Where we poor sailors sometimes have to go.
Through cruel hardships they vainly strove;
Their ship on mountains of ice was drove;
Only the Indian with his skin canoe,
Was the only one that ever came through.
In Baffin bay where the whale-fish blow
The fate of Franklin, no man may know;
The fate of Franklin, no tongue may tell,
Where Franklin along with his sailors does dwell.
And now my burden, it brings me pain;
For my long, lost Franklin I would cross the main;
Ten thousand guineas I would freely give
To say on Earth that my Franklin does live
The concert lasted only an hour, so we were back home shortly after 5 p.m. On the way home, we noticed the top of a tree had been snapped in the wind, and there were branches and lots of leaves blown from trees.
Since we were chilled, we decided to heat Dragon Soup from yesterday for supper, served with pimento cheese sandwiches. After supper, we played a few games of Skipbo, with Hubbie winning two games, and Sis winning one. Zilch for Mother and me.
At 8 p.m., we broke for refreshments of rice pudding, along with brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and some sort of cake/bread that looked really good but was completely tasteless (we brought the goodies home from the flute choir concert). The brownies were a bit burned, and Mother declared the cookies to be tough. These baked items were provided by members of the flute choir, who might have been pressed for time when they baked them.
Mother and Sis went to Mother's house after our snacks, and Hubbie and I watched a couple of one-hour shows on TV.
I hope the wind has died down by morning. It's uncomfortable walking in the wind after being in the swimming pool.
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