December already! I'm sure not ready for Christmas.
Up at 7:30 to get ready to go to the art gallery downtown to conduct graham cracker cookie Christmas house workshops. After breakfast and getting ready for the day, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, where she stayed while we did workshops in the morning and in the afternoon.
Granddaughter and three great-grandchildren arrived around 9 a.m., and a few minutes later, we went to the art gallery to set up for the workshops. Granddaughter and the kids were a wonderful help in getting things ready.
A dozen kids participated in the morning session (five of whom were supposed to be in the afternoon session, but forgot what time they were to be there, so they came in the morning).
There were some very creative houses, including one that featured "dead animals" in the yard, and one with Santa sleeping on the roof. Both of these were done by boys, of course. Most of the girls were careful and precise in their work.
I was amazed by a very elaborate one done by a girl about six years old, until I learned later that her Mother had done most of the work. Some Moms tended to want to "correct" their kid's work, instead of giving them free rein to create on their own. No wonder our ceativity is stifled by the time we are adults.
After the first session, we came home to have a lunch of soups and sandwiches, with a dessert of ice cream topped with chocolate syrup, for the kids.
We were back at the gallery before 1 p.m. Only a few kids attended this session, so I urged fourteen-year-old great-grandson to make a house. He did, and his creation was really good.
Back home afterward, Granddaughter and the kids visited for about an hour. While they were here, we gathered Christmas house supplies for them to take home for two other great-grandchildren, who were unable to attend the workshops, because of illness.
I also supplied the family with constuction paper for making a Christmas chain, and gave them a large stack of 750 to 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles that we will never attempt, and which were taking up space in the storeroom. Granddaughter is a huge fan of jigsaw puzzles, particularly the challenging ones, so she was excited to get these.
She and her family left for home around 3 p.m., so they could get home before dark. Shortly after they left, we discovered that two of our cats were missing. The door in the sunroom had been inadvertently left open by one of the kids, so we feared the cats might have gone outside.
I eventually found one of them in the storeroom, but we searched everywhere indoors and out for the black cat, and couldn't find him. As I was accompanying Mother to her house, I thought I saw him on her porch, but when I called out, the "cat" didn't move...because it was a metal decorative one. Before I left Mother's house, I heard meowing on the porch, but when I checked, I found that it was one of the outdoor cats.
The black cat is Hubbie's favorite, and as it got darker outside, Hubbie became more and more concerned. I was convinced he wouldn't be found tonight, and maybe never, if the onery male cat outside ran him off.
But around 8 p.m., Hubbie grabbed his flashlight and went out once more. This time, he found the cat, huddled under one of the bushes in front of the house. He didn't resist when Hubbie picked him up. Inside, though, he wanted nothing to do with Hubbie for a while. I guess he was mad at him for not finding him sooner, as if it was Hubbie's fault that he dashed out an open door.
Spent the rest of the evening relaxing in front of TV, and playing on my laptop, including posting photos from the workshop today to my social network page.
A long day, but a good one. Tomorrow, we are expecting Son and Daughter-in-Law to visit. Can't wait.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Friday, November 30, 2012
Friday, Nov. 30
November gone...staight ahead to Christmas.
Up late, 8 a.m., and did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Sis accompanied Mother to our house, and while I was getting ready for the day, they diced onions, carrots, celery, banana peppers, and ham, for 11-bean soup.
Back downstairs, I set two pots of beans simmering with the veggies, ham, and various spices, as well as Rotel.
It was close to lunctime by then, so I heated potato soup. Sis and Mother ate as soon as the soup was heated, but I waited a few minutes for Hubbie to return from running errands.
His main errand was to stop by our Internet service provider office to find out why we are not able to access our e-mail. He was told there is some sort of glitch that they are working to resolve. By late evening, it still wasn't resolved.
While we had lunch, and afterward, we watched the movie musical, "Scrooge," with Albert Finney. Before the movie was over, though, I could see that Mother was drooping, so I encouraged her to go to the couch for a nap.
But I don't think she was able to sleep, thanks to my making so much noise with the blender, as I made a big batch of chai tea. The tea is a late birthday gift for Daughter-in-Law. Her birthday was in October. I didn't get to see her then, but she and Son are coming for visit Sunday, so that's when I'll give her the tea. She dearly loves chai tea, so she'll enjoy the quart I made for her.
It wasn't long before Mother was up and about again. Since she was awake, we watched the Rockefeller Center Christmas and tree lighting TV show that I had recorded on DVR.
Later, Sis and Mother had a supper of leftovers from Wednesday night...dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce. After that, Sis accompanied Mother to her house, where she visited for a little while, before she left for home.
Around 6:15, Hubbie and I went downtown to attend the home medical services Christmas party at a popular restaurant. There were a lot fewer folks at the party tonight, thanks to so many being absent to attend our local high school football team play in the finals at the capital city. Others who were absent have fallen victim to a misrable virus that is going around, that includes strep throat, fever, and a horrible cough.
The meal tonight was a choice of chicken cordon bleu, with mashed potatoes, and green beans, or pork loin, with rice, and green beans. I opted for the chicken, while Hubbie went for the pork chops. Dessert was a choice of cheesecake topped with glazed strawberries, or chocolate cake.
Following the meal, there was a drawing for cash prizes for employees of the medical services, and each member of the advisory board received a gift card to a popular steak restaurant.
Of course, a big part of the fun of the party was getting to visit with other folks... learning from one (the volunteer coordinator) that she and her husband have bought a home in a nearby lake town, even as they are trying to sell their current home; and learning from another (the wife of the medical services owner) that she also has an elderly mother (86 years old), who she worries about, because the mother eats very little, and drinks even less (sounds like Mother).
Met the wife of one of the other advisory committee members, and learned that her name is the same as mine, so of course, we hit it off right away.
Back home, Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team play to an unfortunate loss.
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Note: Daughter called today. She sounds absolutely terrible...she's one of victims of the fast-spreading virus. So she will be unable to visit tomorrow for the graham cracker cookie Christmas house workshop, as she planned. Granddaughter, and two great-grandchildren, are also sick and can't come.
But I called another granddaughter, and she said she and three great-grandchildren can be here.
Up late, 8 a.m., and did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Sis accompanied Mother to our house, and while I was getting ready for the day, they diced onions, carrots, celery, banana peppers, and ham, for 11-bean soup.
Back downstairs, I set two pots of beans simmering with the veggies, ham, and various spices, as well as Rotel.
It was close to lunctime by then, so I heated potato soup. Sis and Mother ate as soon as the soup was heated, but I waited a few minutes for Hubbie to return from running errands.
His main errand was to stop by our Internet service provider office to find out why we are not able to access our e-mail. He was told there is some sort of glitch that they are working to resolve. By late evening, it still wasn't resolved.
While we had lunch, and afterward, we watched the movie musical, "Scrooge," with Albert Finney. Before the movie was over, though, I could see that Mother was drooping, so I encouraged her to go to the couch for a nap.
But I don't think she was able to sleep, thanks to my making so much noise with the blender, as I made a big batch of chai tea. The tea is a late birthday gift for Daughter-in-Law. Her birthday was in October. I didn't get to see her then, but she and Son are coming for visit Sunday, so that's when I'll give her the tea. She dearly loves chai tea, so she'll enjoy the quart I made for her.
It wasn't long before Mother was up and about again. Since she was awake, we watched the Rockefeller Center Christmas and tree lighting TV show that I had recorded on DVR.
Later, Sis and Mother had a supper of leftovers from Wednesday night...dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce. After that, Sis accompanied Mother to her house, where she visited for a little while, before she left for home.
Around 6:15, Hubbie and I went downtown to attend the home medical services Christmas party at a popular restaurant. There were a lot fewer folks at the party tonight, thanks to so many being absent to attend our local high school football team play in the finals at the capital city. Others who were absent have fallen victim to a misrable virus that is going around, that includes strep throat, fever, and a horrible cough.
The meal tonight was a choice of chicken cordon bleu, with mashed potatoes, and green beans, or pork loin, with rice, and green beans. I opted for the chicken, while Hubbie went for the pork chops. Dessert was a choice of cheesecake topped with glazed strawberries, or chocolate cake.
Following the meal, there was a drawing for cash prizes for employees of the medical services, and each member of the advisory board received a gift card to a popular steak restaurant.
Of course, a big part of the fun of the party was getting to visit with other folks... learning from one (the volunteer coordinator) that she and her husband have bought a home in a nearby lake town, even as they are trying to sell their current home; and learning from another (the wife of the medical services owner) that she also has an elderly mother (86 years old), who she worries about, because the mother eats very little, and drinks even less (sounds like Mother).
Met the wife of one of the other advisory committee members, and learned that her name is the same as mine, so of course, we hit it off right away.
Back home, Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team play to an unfortunate loss.
***********************************************************************************
Note: Daughter called today. She sounds absolutely terrible...she's one of victims of the fast-spreading virus. So she will be unable to visit tomorrow for the graham cracker cookie Christmas house workshop, as she planned. Granddaughter, and two great-grandchildren, are also sick and can't come.
But I called another granddaughter, and she said she and three great-grandchildren can be here.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Thursday, Nov. 29
Up at 7:30, and did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Sis and Mother stayed at Mother's house for most of the morning, so that Sis could locate Christmas decorations, and Christmas clothing for Mother, as well as assist in doing laundry.
They came to our house around 11 a.m. We didn't do much before lunch, but afterward, Mother, Sis, and I, went downtown to browse an antique store/flea market, where the owner had lots of Christmas trees decorated in various themes.
The shop had lots of interesting Christmas ornaments, most priced very reasonably. I bought a wooden one that says Christmas Whimsy for the big tree that already has hundreds of ornaments on it. Guess I didn't need another one, but it was so cute I couldn't pass it up.
I also spied a mug with a country scene on it that I thought Sis would like. She loved it, so we snared that, too. Spent a total of $4 on our treasures.
At the shop, too, there was a regular sized pinball machine. Couldn't resist the opportunity to try my hand at it. On the second pull, I shot the ball around, and used the side buttons to guide it right into the bonus hole. The machine lit up and jangled noisly. I raised my hands and shouted, "Pinball Wizard!" The guy running the shop laughed, and said, "It's addictive, isn't it?"
It was a beautiful day for an outing, and we all really enjoyed ourselves.
Back home, we set to work making potato soup. Hubbie had already peeled and sliced potatoes enough for two recipes. Mother and Sis diced onions, carrots and celery, and I started the process of cooking the soup. At the point where it was necessary to make a rue of butter, flour, spices, and milk, Sis assisted, since I couldn't deal with two pans at once. Once the rue was ready, I divided the drained veggies into the two pans, then added the drained water back to the soups. Added shredded Monterey Jack cheese to the pans, and then Sis and I brought the soups back to a boil, stirring them to make sure the milk didn't scorch.
Once the soups were done, I finished making the Chinese chicken soup, using the boiled chicken we made yesterday. Mother cubed the chicken, Hubbie shredded cabbage, and I simmered everything with soy sauce and grated fresh ginger, then added chopped green onions, and Ramen Noodles at the end.
Sis and Mother sat down to a supper of soups, with Sis's homemade rolls, and Hubbie and I went to the college where I swim, to attend a chili/soup supper, that included a bake sale, and silent and live auctions.
Hubbie and I were careful to only sample a couple of kinds of mild chili, before we enjoyed bowls of my soup.
All the soups and chilies were entered in a contest for the best hot chili, the best mild chili, and the best soup. The college president, my dentist, and one other person, judged the entries. Imagine my surprise when my soup won that category! My prize is a soup and chili cookbook. I noticed that my dentist kept going back for bowls of my soup, but I didn't put two and two together.
I noticed other men going back for bowls of it, too, which surprised me, since I figured guys would prefer the spicy chili. One man even asked for my recipe. Of course, a couple of women wanted it, too.
At the silent auction, Hubbie won the bid on a car emergency kit, but I didn't win anything I bid on.
At the bake sale, I bought two pound cakes, and a slice of a cinnamon coffee cake, baked by my former art instructor's wife (one of my favorite people). She bakes all sorts of great stuff from her mother-in-law's old recipes. Her mother-in-law is deceased, of course.
During the course of the evening, another former instructor of mine asked if I would agree to do the publicity for his upcoming readers theater production about the Civil War in our county. This will be an event in recognition of the sesquicentennial of that war. I agreed to help him. The production is in February.
I was delighted, this evening, to meet a lady who is also a Literacy Council tutor. Her student is Spanish, too. She is a young woman, who is a surgical nurse, and she recently announced that she is pregnant. She has an important test coming up, and needs to learn the English words for various medications.
This tutor is a retired elementary education teacher, who said she sometimes wonders if she is adequate to tutoring an adult. I laughed and told her my degree is in media arts...photography and journalism...so I'm probably even less adequate.
It was a fun evening. Back home around 8 p.m., Hubbie and I spent the rest of the evening watching TV.
They came to our house around 11 a.m. We didn't do much before lunch, but afterward, Mother, Sis, and I, went downtown to browse an antique store/flea market, where the owner had lots of Christmas trees decorated in various themes.
The shop had lots of interesting Christmas ornaments, most priced very reasonably. I bought a wooden one that says Christmas Whimsy for the big tree that already has hundreds of ornaments on it. Guess I didn't need another one, but it was so cute I couldn't pass it up.
I also spied a mug with a country scene on it that I thought Sis would like. She loved it, so we snared that, too. Spent a total of $4 on our treasures.
At the shop, too, there was a regular sized pinball machine. Couldn't resist the opportunity to try my hand at it. On the second pull, I shot the ball around, and used the side buttons to guide it right into the bonus hole. The machine lit up and jangled noisly. I raised my hands and shouted, "Pinball Wizard!" The guy running the shop laughed, and said, "It's addictive, isn't it?"
It was a beautiful day for an outing, and we all really enjoyed ourselves.
Back home, we set to work making potato soup. Hubbie had already peeled and sliced potatoes enough for two recipes. Mother and Sis diced onions, carrots and celery, and I started the process of cooking the soup. At the point where it was necessary to make a rue of butter, flour, spices, and milk, Sis assisted, since I couldn't deal with two pans at once. Once the rue was ready, I divided the drained veggies into the two pans, then added the drained water back to the soups. Added shredded Monterey Jack cheese to the pans, and then Sis and I brought the soups back to a boil, stirring them to make sure the milk didn't scorch.
Once the soups were done, I finished making the Chinese chicken soup, using the boiled chicken we made yesterday. Mother cubed the chicken, Hubbie shredded cabbage, and I simmered everything with soy sauce and grated fresh ginger, then added chopped green onions, and Ramen Noodles at the end.
Sis and Mother sat down to a supper of soups, with Sis's homemade rolls, and Hubbie and I went to the college where I swim, to attend a chili/soup supper, that included a bake sale, and silent and live auctions.
Hubbie and I were careful to only sample a couple of kinds of mild chili, before we enjoyed bowls of my soup.
All the soups and chilies were entered in a contest for the best hot chili, the best mild chili, and the best soup. The college president, my dentist, and one other person, judged the entries. Imagine my surprise when my soup won that category! My prize is a soup and chili cookbook. I noticed that my dentist kept going back for bowls of my soup, but I didn't put two and two together.
I noticed other men going back for bowls of it, too, which surprised me, since I figured guys would prefer the spicy chili. One man even asked for my recipe. Of course, a couple of women wanted it, too.
At the silent auction, Hubbie won the bid on a car emergency kit, but I didn't win anything I bid on.
At the bake sale, I bought two pound cakes, and a slice of a cinnamon coffee cake, baked by my former art instructor's wife (one of my favorite people). She bakes all sorts of great stuff from her mother-in-law's old recipes. Her mother-in-law is deceased, of course.
During the course of the evening, another former instructor of mine asked if I would agree to do the publicity for his upcoming readers theater production about the Civil War in our county. This will be an event in recognition of the sesquicentennial of that war. I agreed to help him. The production is in February.
I was delighted, this evening, to meet a lady who is also a Literacy Council tutor. Her student is Spanish, too. She is a young woman, who is a surgical nurse, and she recently announced that she is pregnant. She has an important test coming up, and needs to learn the English words for various medications.
This tutor is a retired elementary education teacher, who said she sometimes wonders if she is adequate to tutoring an adult. I laughed and told her my degree is in media arts...photography and journalism...so I'm probably even less adequate.
It was a fun evening. Back home around 8 p.m., Hubbie and I spent the rest of the evening watching TV.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Wednesday, Nov. 28
Slept late, until nearly 8 a.m., but did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Sis accompanied Mother to our house later.
Seems that Mother, who usually rises around 5 a.m., slept until 7 a.m. this morning. She declared that the reason she overslept was because she had a late night...being out until 8 p.m. constitutes a late night for her.
As soon as she warmed up with a cup of coffee, she went to work constructing a graham cracker cookie Christmas house. The house will be used as a model for Saturday's workshop at the art gallery downtown, and at a Literacy Council pre-school Christmas event on Dec. 13.
It was around 11 a.m. by the time she'd finished the house, so she relaxed for a while, and we watched an episode of "Dancing With the Stars." A little later, we had lunch...Ramen Noodle soup for Mother, and chili for Sis, Hubbie, and me. Hubbie arrived just after we had started lunch...he'd run a couple of errands, including delivering the Christmas cards we made to Caring Hands Hospice.
While he was there, he explained to the volunteer coordinator that Mother and I will not be able to attend the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, since we will be going to the Water Babes Christmas party that day. But Hubbie will stand in for us at the lighting ceremony.
Then we made another double batch of cranberry sauce, and a couple of pots of boiled chicken. Mother sorted the cranberries, and diced apples for it, and she and Sis sliced and diced onions, carrots, and celery for the pots of chicken.
Afterward, we watched the finale of "Dancing With the Stars." I was delighted that my choice of the contestants won the mirror ball trophy. I had recorded both episodes on DVR, and then studiously avoided watching the morning show today so I wouldn't know who won. However, Sis and Mother did watch the show, so they knew, but they didn't spoil it for me.
Following the show, Mother headed to the couch for a nap. I spent the afternoon putting the finishing touches on Christmas decorating, while Hubbie and Sis occupied themselves in their own activities.
For Hubbie, it was mainly calling family members to check on his sister, who was scheduled for shoulder surgery today. She was supposed to have it early this morning, but it kept being postponed until it was 3 p.m. before it finally happened.
For supper, we had some of the boiled chicken, with bread dressing leftover from Thanksgiving, but stored in the freezer until now, mashed potatoes (Hubbie did the honors of peeling and quartering the potatoes), gravy made from some of the chicken broth, cranberry sauce, and yeast rolls made by Sis. Very good post-Thanksgiving meal.
After supper, we watched "The Polar Express," the first of the Christmas movies that we enjoy. Watching classic Christmas movies is one of the joys of the season for me. Sis and Mother love them, too, though Hubbie is a bit lukewarm about them.
After the movie, Sis accompanied Mother to her house, and Hubbie and I spent the rest of the evening watching one-hour shows.
Note: Hubbie began experiencing a queasy stomach this afternoon, though he went ahead and at supper. I hope the problem goes away by tomorrow, and that it's not a prelude to a bug that's been going around.
Seems that Mother, who usually rises around 5 a.m., slept until 7 a.m. this morning. She declared that the reason she overslept was because she had a late night...being out until 8 p.m. constitutes a late night for her.
As soon as she warmed up with a cup of coffee, she went to work constructing a graham cracker cookie Christmas house. The house will be used as a model for Saturday's workshop at the art gallery downtown, and at a Literacy Council pre-school Christmas event on Dec. 13.
It was around 11 a.m. by the time she'd finished the house, so she relaxed for a while, and we watched an episode of "Dancing With the Stars." A little later, we had lunch...Ramen Noodle soup for Mother, and chili for Sis, Hubbie, and me. Hubbie arrived just after we had started lunch...he'd run a couple of errands, including delivering the Christmas cards we made to Caring Hands Hospice.
While he was there, he explained to the volunteer coordinator that Mother and I will not be able to attend the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, since we will be going to the Water Babes Christmas party that day. But Hubbie will stand in for us at the lighting ceremony.
Then we made another double batch of cranberry sauce, and a couple of pots of boiled chicken. Mother sorted the cranberries, and diced apples for it, and she and Sis sliced and diced onions, carrots, and celery for the pots of chicken.
Afterward, we watched the finale of "Dancing With the Stars." I was delighted that my choice of the contestants won the mirror ball trophy. I had recorded both episodes on DVR, and then studiously avoided watching the morning show today so I wouldn't know who won. However, Sis and Mother did watch the show, so they knew, but they didn't spoil it for me.
Following the show, Mother headed to the couch for a nap. I spent the afternoon putting the finishing touches on Christmas decorating, while Hubbie and Sis occupied themselves in their own activities.
For Hubbie, it was mainly calling family members to check on his sister, who was scheduled for shoulder surgery today. She was supposed to have it early this morning, but it kept being postponed until it was 3 p.m. before it finally happened.
For supper, we had some of the boiled chicken, with bread dressing leftover from Thanksgiving, but stored in the freezer until now, mashed potatoes (Hubbie did the honors of peeling and quartering the potatoes), gravy made from some of the chicken broth, cranberry sauce, and yeast rolls made by Sis. Very good post-Thanksgiving meal.
After supper, we watched "The Polar Express," the first of the Christmas movies that we enjoy. Watching classic Christmas movies is one of the joys of the season for me. Sis and Mother love them, too, though Hubbie is a bit lukewarm about them.
After the movie, Sis accompanied Mother to her house, and Hubbie and I spent the rest of the evening watching one-hour shows.
Note: Hubbie began experiencing a queasy stomach this afternoon, though he went ahead and at supper. I hope the problem goes away by tomorrow, and that it's not a prelude to a bug that's been going around.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Tuesday, Nov. 27
Up around 7:30, and did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9 a.m., and she fluffed the pine trees for the mantel. As soon as she was done, I arranged them among the village pieces. This inspired a search for the garland that Hubbie annually staples on the mantel below the village.
In searching for that, we pulled all the boxes of Christmas stuff out of the closet, and put them on the bed and floor, where they'll be easier to deal with in locating other decorations. Finally found the garland, which Hubbie put on the mantel. This in turn inspired him to locate the international Santas that I hang from the garland.
While he did this, I gathered ingredients for making another pumpkin pie, and Mother mixed the filling, which I poured into the shell and put in the oven. I still hadn't showered and dressed for the day, and now I had to wait until the pie was done before I went upstairs.
Note: the Pillsbury pie crusts have shrunk. They barely reach the edge of the pie plate now, where they used to be generous enough to make a high fluted edge, or cut off and make another small treat. In the past, I rolled out the scraps, spread the dough with butter, and added cinnamon and sugar, then rolled it up, pinched the ends, and baked it till golden. Hubbie liked these.
While I waited, I put the santas on the garland, and set out some other decorations. By this time, it was noon, so I fixed Ramen Noodle soup for Mother, and Hubbie and I had hot rolls, ham, and cranberry sauce.
After lunch, Hubbie went to the WDCS for groceries and incidentals. When he'd finished shopping, he found that the van wouldn't start. So he called our road service, and then waited quite a while for the service to arrive. Turned out the van needed a new battery. I guess the vehicle was due for a new battery, since the old one was five years old, the length of time we've owned the van.
It seemed to be a day for vehicle problems...Sis had to wait until her son changed a flat tire on her truck today, before she could drive up to our house for a four-day visit.
Mother retired to the couch after lunch, and I finally went upstairs to get ready for the day. Back downstairs, I gathered materials needed for making greeting cards, and as I began making one, Mother got up and wanted to help.
We had just begun working, when Sis arrived. After she had a ham salad sandwich, I prevailed upon her to help us with the cards. We needed nine more to complete a package of 40 for Caring Hands, and in an hour or so, we accomplished the task.
Hubbie finally returned home, and did this and that around the house, while Mother, Sis, and I chatted until suppertime. Supper tonight was chili, topped with sour cream, and served with crackers and cheese.
Later, around 6:15, we went to the college down the road to attend a free performance of "The Night Before Christmas," a children's show, featuring the art council's childrens theater. I've seen several productions by this repertory theater, and they are always clever, humorous, and highly entertaining.
The performance was only about an hour long, so we were back home just after 8 p.m. Sis immediately accompanied Mother to her house, and Hubbie and I watched TV for the rest of the evening.
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Got a call from the water aerobics leader. Seems the lifeguard at the pool is down with the flu, so it will be at least Monday before we can return to aerobics. She also noted that our annual "Water Babes" Christmas party and Dirty Santa gift exchange will be next Wednesday at 11 a.m. Phooey, already a conflict...Caring Hands Hospice has scheduled the tree lighting event for noon that day. Can't go to both, so the "Water Babes" party wins.
Daughter also called to let me know that there will be two more great-grandchildren attending the graham cracker Christmas house workshop on Saturday, so I called the arts council director to make sure there is space for them, and there is.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9 a.m., and she fluffed the pine trees for the mantel. As soon as she was done, I arranged them among the village pieces. This inspired a search for the garland that Hubbie annually staples on the mantel below the village.
In searching for that, we pulled all the boxes of Christmas stuff out of the closet, and put them on the bed and floor, where they'll be easier to deal with in locating other decorations. Finally found the garland, which Hubbie put on the mantel. This in turn inspired him to locate the international Santas that I hang from the garland.
While he did this, I gathered ingredients for making another pumpkin pie, and Mother mixed the filling, which I poured into the shell and put in the oven. I still hadn't showered and dressed for the day, and now I had to wait until the pie was done before I went upstairs.
Note: the Pillsbury pie crusts have shrunk. They barely reach the edge of the pie plate now, where they used to be generous enough to make a high fluted edge, or cut off and make another small treat. In the past, I rolled out the scraps, spread the dough with butter, and added cinnamon and sugar, then rolled it up, pinched the ends, and baked it till golden. Hubbie liked these.
While I waited, I put the santas on the garland, and set out some other decorations. By this time, it was noon, so I fixed Ramen Noodle soup for Mother, and Hubbie and I had hot rolls, ham, and cranberry sauce.
After lunch, Hubbie went to the WDCS for groceries and incidentals. When he'd finished shopping, he found that the van wouldn't start. So he called our road service, and then waited quite a while for the service to arrive. Turned out the van needed a new battery. I guess the vehicle was due for a new battery, since the old one was five years old, the length of time we've owned the van.
It seemed to be a day for vehicle problems...Sis had to wait until her son changed a flat tire on her truck today, before she could drive up to our house for a four-day visit.
Mother retired to the couch after lunch, and I finally went upstairs to get ready for the day. Back downstairs, I gathered materials needed for making greeting cards, and as I began making one, Mother got up and wanted to help.
We had just begun working, when Sis arrived. After she had a ham salad sandwich, I prevailed upon her to help us with the cards. We needed nine more to complete a package of 40 for Caring Hands, and in an hour or so, we accomplished the task.
Hubbie finally returned home, and did this and that around the house, while Mother, Sis, and I chatted until suppertime. Supper tonight was chili, topped with sour cream, and served with crackers and cheese.
Later, around 6:15, we went to the college down the road to attend a free performance of "The Night Before Christmas," a children's show, featuring the art council's childrens theater. I've seen several productions by this repertory theater, and they are always clever, humorous, and highly entertaining.
The performance was only about an hour long, so we were back home just after 8 p.m. Sis immediately accompanied Mother to her house, and Hubbie and I watched TV for the rest of the evening.
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Got a call from the water aerobics leader. Seems the lifeguard at the pool is down with the flu, so it will be at least Monday before we can return to aerobics. She also noted that our annual "Water Babes" Christmas party and Dirty Santa gift exchange will be next Wednesday at 11 a.m. Phooey, already a conflict...Caring Hands Hospice has scheduled the tree lighting event for noon that day. Can't go to both, so the "Water Babes" party wins.
Daughter also called to let me know that there will be two more great-grandchildren attending the graham cracker Christmas house workshop on Saturday, so I called the arts council director to make sure there is space for them, and there is.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Monday, Nov. 26
Woke up to the alarm at 6:30, but decided not to go to water aerobics, because I thought I might have a mild UTI. Snoozed until around 7:30, and then the phone rang. It was our water aerobics leader calling to let me know that the boiler is down at the pool, so the water is cold. She doesn't know when we can go back, but will let me know.
If I'd gotten up and around at my usual time, I would have been already at the college parking lot by the time she called. So I'm glad I wimped out. The last time I wimped was on a stormy morning, and that time the ones who'd braved the weather were asked to leave the pool because of lightning.
I skipped exercising again, because I just didn't feel like it. But after I'd hydrated with lots of water, I felt a lot better. I tend to forget to drink water when I'm busy with holidays, or on a trip, or anything else that interrupts my usual routine.
Spent the morning doing Cyber Monday shopping. Got some good deals, one of which was four towels and two washclothes for $3.12 after I applied a cyber bucks coupon. One item I ordered was a Squirrel-a-Whirl for Mother for Christmas, since she was so fascinated with the one she saw at the folk center recently.
While I did this, Hubbie ran errands, and when he got back, he accompanied Mother to our house. We didn't accomplish anything else before lunch. After lunch, Mother retired to the couch for a nap, as usual, and I reviewed the lesson plan for my student.
Met the student at 2:30. We had to laugh when we saw each other...we both wore black, with green turtlneck shirts.
Today's lesson included structure focus lessons on: "wonder" plus "if" clauses: "Jason wonders if he will be a good teacher." "I wonder if it will rain this afternoon." And we really did wonder if it would rain this afternoon. It did, just as we left.
Then she practiced conversation skills involving migrant workers, followed by learning adjective opposites: "Carlos is hard-working. He works very hard." "Ed is lazy. He doesn't work very hard." "That woman is lovely. She looks pretty." "That man is handsome. He looks good, too."
We ended the lesson with the verb "train." "Fran wants to win the mile race. She has to train for the race." "Joan wants to be a nurse. She has to train to become a nurse."
Otherwise, we spent a lot of time in conversation, about children, about grandchildren, about ex-husbands. Apparently, her ex-husband, the pediatrician, was a task master, and emotionally abusive. At the point he became physically abusive, she left him.
He was the sort who, when he came home in the evening, gave the house the white-glove treatment, and then verbally abused her if things were not up to his standards. I can't imagine anything she did being less than up to standard, since she's such a hard working, compulsive, perfectionist.
Once she'd divorced him, he married again, to a woman the student describes as being a cammando type...a woman who isn't about to take any guff off of him, unlike my student, who abhors confrontation.
Back home, Hubbie had heated the chili, and baked a potato for Mother. Hubbie and I had big bowls of the chili, which was welcome on this cold, rainy day, and I served a half of the baked potato topped with chili, cheese, and sour cream. We all had slices of the remainder of the pumpkin pie for dessert.
Hubbie accompanied Mother home after that, and then we spent a while putting the village on the mantel. This is always a challenge, but we eventually managed it. All it lacks now are the finishing touches, including the pine trees. I saved those until Mother can help tomorrow, so she can feel she's had a part in the decorating.
Watched TV, including a made-for-TV movie called "Liz and Dick." For those of us who grew up watching their films, this movie is pretty bad. Lindsay Lohan just isn't Elizabeth Taylor, but then no one can be. Grant Bowler was somewhat more believable as Richard Burton.
If I'd gotten up and around at my usual time, I would have been already at the college parking lot by the time she called. So I'm glad I wimped out. The last time I wimped was on a stormy morning, and that time the ones who'd braved the weather were asked to leave the pool because of lightning.
I skipped exercising again, because I just didn't feel like it. But after I'd hydrated with lots of water, I felt a lot better. I tend to forget to drink water when I'm busy with holidays, or on a trip, or anything else that interrupts my usual routine.
Spent the morning doing Cyber Monday shopping. Got some good deals, one of which was four towels and two washclothes for $3.12 after I applied a cyber bucks coupon. One item I ordered was a Squirrel-a-Whirl for Mother for Christmas, since she was so fascinated with the one she saw at the folk center recently.
While I did this, Hubbie ran errands, and when he got back, he accompanied Mother to our house. We didn't accomplish anything else before lunch. After lunch, Mother retired to the couch for a nap, as usual, and I reviewed the lesson plan for my student.
Met the student at 2:30. We had to laugh when we saw each other...we both wore black, with green turtlneck shirts.
Today's lesson included structure focus lessons on: "wonder" plus "if" clauses: "Jason wonders if he will be a good teacher." "I wonder if it will rain this afternoon." And we really did wonder if it would rain this afternoon. It did, just as we left.
Then she practiced conversation skills involving migrant workers, followed by learning adjective opposites: "Carlos is hard-working. He works very hard." "Ed is lazy. He doesn't work very hard." "That woman is lovely. She looks pretty." "That man is handsome. He looks good, too."
We ended the lesson with the verb "train." "Fran wants to win the mile race. She has to train for the race." "Joan wants to be a nurse. She has to train to become a nurse."
Otherwise, we spent a lot of time in conversation, about children, about grandchildren, about ex-husbands. Apparently, her ex-husband, the pediatrician, was a task master, and emotionally abusive. At the point he became physically abusive, she left him.
He was the sort who, when he came home in the evening, gave the house the white-glove treatment, and then verbally abused her if things were not up to his standards. I can't imagine anything she did being less than up to standard, since she's such a hard working, compulsive, perfectionist.
Once she'd divorced him, he married again, to a woman the student describes as being a cammando type...a woman who isn't about to take any guff off of him, unlike my student, who abhors confrontation.
Back home, Hubbie had heated the chili, and baked a potato for Mother. Hubbie and I had big bowls of the chili, which was welcome on this cold, rainy day, and I served a half of the baked potato topped with chili, cheese, and sour cream. We all had slices of the remainder of the pumpkin pie for dessert.
Hubbie accompanied Mother home after that, and then we spent a while putting the village on the mantel. This is always a challenge, but we eventually managed it. All it lacks now are the finishing touches, including the pine trees. I saved those until Mother can help tomorrow, so she can feel she's had a part in the decorating.
Watched TV, including a made-for-TV movie called "Liz and Dick." For those of us who grew up watching their films, this movie is pretty bad. Lindsay Lohan just isn't Elizabeth Taylor, but then no one can be. Grant Bowler was somewhat more believable as Richard Burton.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Sunday, Nov. 25
I slept really late this morning, until 8:30. Hubbie had been up for about an hour. I guess I was a bit pooped after Thanksgiving preparations and Christmas decorating. Skipped my exercises today, as I usually do on Sunday.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 10 a.m., where she diced onions, bell peppers, and banana peppers for making chili. While she did this, I got ready for the day, and Hubbie went to the grocery store to pick up a few grocery items, including ground turkey for the chili, and a package of fresh cranberries.
When he returned, I started the pot of chili simmering, and made a batch of cranberry sauce, since we'd eaten all of the sauce we made for Thanksgiving.
After that, Mother sat in the living room to watch while I continued putting ornaments on the big tree in the living room.
Since Hubbie and I had eaten breakfast so late, we opted for a light lunch of scrambled eggs and yeast rolls around 1 p.m. Mother had her usual Ramen Noodle soup at 11:30, and then retired to the couch for a nap.
I finally finished decorating the big tree after lunch, and began putting out incidental decorations. We still haven't put the village on the mantel (slight family emergency cropped up that required my time, attention, and pocketbook). Guess the village will have to wait until tomorrow night.
Later, we had a supper of the last of the leftover Thanksgiving feast. Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then we watched a couple of holiday romances from the Lifetime Channel.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 10 a.m., where she diced onions, bell peppers, and banana peppers for making chili. While she did this, I got ready for the day, and Hubbie went to the grocery store to pick up a few grocery items, including ground turkey for the chili, and a package of fresh cranberries.
When he returned, I started the pot of chili simmering, and made a batch of cranberry sauce, since we'd eaten all of the sauce we made for Thanksgiving.
After that, Mother sat in the living room to watch while I continued putting ornaments on the big tree in the living room.
Since Hubbie and I had eaten breakfast so late, we opted for a light lunch of scrambled eggs and yeast rolls around 1 p.m. Mother had her usual Ramen Noodle soup at 11:30, and then retired to the couch for a nap.
I finally finished decorating the big tree after lunch, and began putting out incidental decorations. We still haven't put the village on the mantel (slight family emergency cropped up that required my time, attention, and pocketbook). Guess the village will have to wait until tomorrow night.
Later, we had a supper of the last of the leftover Thanksgiving feast. Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then we watched a couple of holiday romances from the Lifetime Channel.
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