Wakeful last night, but got up around 7:30 this morning, anyway. Did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie acccompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, and I gave her a twelve days of Christmas gift...a package of sliders for her walker, and a gift card for a haircut.
We didn't accomplish a lot before lunch. Once I was ready for the day, I went online to check the metal buttons from the department store, but neither was a winner this time.
Before lunch, we watched the animated feature, "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus." Right after lunch, Mother headed to the couch. She wasn't in the mood to work on her jigsaw puzzle today.
While she slept, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the department store to use the $10 gift certificate I won yesterday to buy an on-sale red mock turtleneck shirt for me, and a package of handkerchiefs for Hubbie; and to the WDCS for groceries.
Back home, Mother was awake and ready to head to the kitchen, where I gathered the ingredients for her to make a batch of pimento cheese, and a couple of Italian Cream Cheese balls. While we did this we watched the movie musical, "Mrs. Santa Claus."
Later, I put sweet potatoes in the oven, and about 4:15 I added a dish of beans, and a dish of a few leftover fried potatoes and sauteed cabbage. After supper, I accompanied Mother to her house.
At home, I mixed and baked a rum cake, while Hubbie and I watched TV, including a Hallmark Christmas movie, and then our favorite basketball team, as they played to a wide-margin win.
I swear, I should be banned from the kitchen. Tonight, after I'd mixed the batter for the rum cake, I poured it into the pan and put it in the oven before I remembered that I hadn't sprinkled the chopped nuts into the bottom of the pan first. So I had to pour the batter out, wash the pan (well, actually, Hubbie washed the pan for me) and start over.
In the course of doing this, I sprayed the pan with Pam again...and the floor, too. Discovered it, when my foot slid on it. Hubbie got busy and washed the floor for me, since he could see I was getting a little put out with myself.
Snow a possibility for Christmas? Here in the south? Yikes!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
Friday, Dec. 21
Happy first day of winter! The winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. We can now look forward to lengthening daylight as we inch toward spring.
We were up around 7:30 this morning, and I did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Later, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, but we didn't accomplish much before noon. I felt lazy, and just wanted some down time after all the activities of the past weeks.
Got a call this morning from a staff member at our local newspaper informing me that I'd won the $50 prize for this week's word search puzzle contest. Nice surprise. Mother won the contest a few months ago. Now it's time for Hubbie to win, so we'll now submit puzzles in his name.
Goofed off until lunchtime, and then after we'd eaten, Mother went to the couch for a nap, and Hubbie ran errands...Christmas shopping on Mother's behalf, I think.
I finally got ready for the day, and then, on a whim, I decided to go online to the department store that has a December promotion going on where customers can enter code numbers from the backs of metal buttons for possible prizes. I'd gotten two of the buttons yesterday, when I shopped for a gift for Hubbie, but figured there wasn't much of a chance for winning. One of the buttons was not a winner, but lo and behold the other one netted me $10.
We should have been stopping by the store every day, since you don't have to buy anything to get the buttons. But this afternoon, after I dropped by the newspaper office to pick up my winnings, we stopped by the store, and we each got two buttons apiece. We can only enter two of them a day, so we have enough for two days. We'll pick up more tomorrow, and those will take us to Dec. 24, the ending date of the promotion.
Spent quite a bit of time at the newspaper office, where one of staff members snapped
a photo of me to include with the puzzle contest Monday. I'm not keen on having my mug shot in the paper, but it'll be a really small one, so maybe no one will notice.
Visited quite a while with one of the reporters, who has a story on the front page of the paper tonight about a baby with some sort of birth defect that will not allow her rib cage to grow as she does. Right now the baby is on oxygen, but she is due to go in for surgery in January to have an adjustable rod added to her rib cage.
When the rod is inserted, the doctors will break her ribs on that side. Then four months later, she'll have the same procedure on the other side. After that, she has to go in every six months to have the rod adjusted for her growth, and she'll have to do this until she's fifteen years old.
Then we talked about being so late getting our Christmas cards in the mail. This inspired him to tell me about sending a card to his cousin in another state, whom he communicates with only once a year. The cousin is now in prison, because he became involved with a woman who got him on drugs. Then the two stole his grandfather's 18-wheeler truck and drove it until it ran out of gas. To get money, they robbed a gas station. For their efforts, the young man got a prison term.
All this time, Hubbie was waiting in the van. "I thought they'd decided to put you to work," he joked, when I got back.
Back home, I relaxed until Mother finished her nap. Since I'd forgotten to present her with today's twelve days of Christmas gift this morning, I did it now. Today's gift was a gift card to a grocery store we frequent. I figure she can use it to help pay for medications.
This afternoon, we watched the movie, "A Christmas Carol," starring George C. Scott, a version of the movie recommended by Sis, and one which I ordered online recently. I have lots of versions of this classic story, but I don't have the one starring Patrick Stewart, or the one starring Reginald Owen.
Later, we had breakfast for supper...scrambled eggs, biscuits, and gravy. Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then around 6:30, he and I went to the old movie theater downtown to see the new James Bond movie, "Skyfall."
There were only about 50 people there, but among them were our dentist and his lady friend, and a couple who are friends of ours. The wife worked in the same building as we did before we all retired. This couple is scheduled to spend two weeks in Hawaii in January, so they are pretty excited.
The movie is one recommended by Hubbie's daughter and son-in-law. It's a definite guy movie, with lots of action, daring exploits, explosions, car chases, etc. It wouldn't be a movie I'd pay full price for in the regular theater, but it was okay for $2 admission.
We were back home at 9:30, and finished the evening watching a little TV.
We were up around 7:30 this morning, and I did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Later, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, but we didn't accomplish much before noon. I felt lazy, and just wanted some down time after all the activities of the past weeks.
Got a call this morning from a staff member at our local newspaper informing me that I'd won the $50 prize for this week's word search puzzle contest. Nice surprise. Mother won the contest a few months ago. Now it's time for Hubbie to win, so we'll now submit puzzles in his name.
Goofed off until lunchtime, and then after we'd eaten, Mother went to the couch for a nap, and Hubbie ran errands...Christmas shopping on Mother's behalf, I think.
I finally got ready for the day, and then, on a whim, I decided to go online to the department store that has a December promotion going on where customers can enter code numbers from the backs of metal buttons for possible prizes. I'd gotten two of the buttons yesterday, when I shopped for a gift for Hubbie, but figured there wasn't much of a chance for winning. One of the buttons was not a winner, but lo and behold the other one netted me $10.
We should have been stopping by the store every day, since you don't have to buy anything to get the buttons. But this afternoon, after I dropped by the newspaper office to pick up my winnings, we stopped by the store, and we each got two buttons apiece. We can only enter two of them a day, so we have enough for two days. We'll pick up more tomorrow, and those will take us to Dec. 24, the ending date of the promotion.
Spent quite a bit of time at the newspaper office, where one of staff members snapped
a photo of me to include with the puzzle contest Monday. I'm not keen on having my mug shot in the paper, but it'll be a really small one, so maybe no one will notice.
Visited quite a while with one of the reporters, who has a story on the front page of the paper tonight about a baby with some sort of birth defect that will not allow her rib cage to grow as she does. Right now the baby is on oxygen, but she is due to go in for surgery in January to have an adjustable rod added to her rib cage.
When the rod is inserted, the doctors will break her ribs on that side. Then four months later, she'll have the same procedure on the other side. After that, she has to go in every six months to have the rod adjusted for her growth, and she'll have to do this until she's fifteen years old.
Then we talked about being so late getting our Christmas cards in the mail. This inspired him to tell me about sending a card to his cousin in another state, whom he communicates with only once a year. The cousin is now in prison, because he became involved with a woman who got him on drugs. Then the two stole his grandfather's 18-wheeler truck and drove it until it ran out of gas. To get money, they robbed a gas station. For their efforts, the young man got a prison term.
All this time, Hubbie was waiting in the van. "I thought they'd decided to put you to work," he joked, when I got back.
Back home, I relaxed until Mother finished her nap. Since I'd forgotten to present her with today's twelve days of Christmas gift this morning, I did it now. Today's gift was a gift card to a grocery store we frequent. I figure she can use it to help pay for medications.
This afternoon, we watched the movie, "A Christmas Carol," starring George C. Scott, a version of the movie recommended by Sis, and one which I ordered online recently. I have lots of versions of this classic story, but I don't have the one starring Patrick Stewart, or the one starring Reginald Owen.
Later, we had breakfast for supper...scrambled eggs, biscuits, and gravy. Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then around 6:30, he and I went to the old movie theater downtown to see the new James Bond movie, "Skyfall."
There were only about 50 people there, but among them were our dentist and his lady friend, and a couple who are friends of ours. The wife worked in the same building as we did before we all retired. This couple is scheduled to spend two weeks in Hawaii in January, so they are pretty excited.
The movie is one recommended by Hubbie's daughter and son-in-law. It's a definite guy movie, with lots of action, daring exploits, explosions, car chases, etc. It wouldn't be a movie I'd pay full price for in the regular theater, but it was okay for $2 admission.
We were back home at 9:30, and finished the evening watching a little TV.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Thursday, Dec. 20
Today is Son's birthday. Happy Birthday, Son!
Up around 7:30 this cold and windy morning, and did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house while I got ready for the day.
Back downstairs, I gave Mother today's twelve days of Christmas gift...a box of chocolate covered cherries. This little gift occurred to me when we saw an ad for them on TV, and Mother and I went on a journey down memory lane remembering that receiving boxes of these gooey filled candies with a cherry in the middle was an anticipated treat every Christmas.
I'm sure my kids remember getting them. And they probably also remember the year that our dog, Little Bit, ate three boxes of them one Christmas, while we were away from home. That's when I realized how sharp a dog's sense of smell is to be able to sniff out the candies through Christmas wrap, cellophane, and a box.
I didn't accomplish much for the rest of the morning other than gathering a few things to take downtown later, when Hubbie and I manned the art gallery for a few hours. I packed my newest Christmas novel, my e-reader, and boxes of Christmas cards, and Hubbie prepared a thermos of coffee, and packed cups, creamer, and snacks.
After lunch, Mother headed to the couch for a nap, and around 12:30, Hubbie and I went to the gallery. To open the gallery, it was necessary to fetch the door key from the shoe store next door.
While Hubbie got the key, I waited in the van, out of the wind and cold. It was so windy that it rattled the store front awnings. And I thought that a large inflatable snowman in front of one store would surely slip its wire moorings and go sailing down main street.
Naturally, the buildings on either side of the street created a wind tunnel, so that folks trying to walk down the sidewalks had to bend into the wind, and try to keep their whipping hair out of their eyes. I wondered why some of them didn't wear hats. I certainly did. If ever there was a day for one, today was it.
The clerk was reluctant to give Hubbie the key, since she didn't know him or me, but she finally agreed. We found out later, though, that she'd called the president of the art gallery board to make sure we were okay. She deserves a pat on the back for being diligent in protecting the gallery.
We were at the gallery from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. During that time, a couple of women with a couple of kids in tow came in and toured the exhibits; a woman dropped by to purchase a calendar featuring photos and stories about historic buildings in our town; and another woman came in to buy a handcrafted cutting board.
The only other visitor was the president of the art gallery board, who hoped to pick up a check to pay the gallery's electric bill, which is overdue. But the treasurer never did come by with it, so the president will have to call her, I guess.
But while she was there, we were able to catch up on each other's lives. Both of her parents are in ill health right now, so she has been stressed. This lady is just getting over an injury to her shoulder from a horse riding accident. She was also seriously ill a few months ago with pneumonia. On top of that, her son had a health crisis this year.
Most of the time we were at the gallery, it was pretty quiet, though, so we used the opportunity to finish writing Christmas cards. And I had time to start reading the novel I bought at the bookstore yesterday, "Shepherds Abiding." It's proving to be a delightful easy-read for Christmas.
Promptly at 4 p.m., we turned out all the lights, except for the ones on the flocked Christmas tree in the window...a tree that leans precariously to the left, and upon which the glass ornaments are lost against all that white, locked the door, and left.
Back home a little after 4 p.m., I put leftovers from last night's meal into the oven, which were heated and ready by 5 p.m. Afterward, Hubbie accompanied Mother back to her house, and we watched TV for the evening, including a Hallmark Christmas movie, and then our favorite college basketball team, as they played to a hard-fought win.
Note: think I might be coming down with a cold...lots of sneezing and blowing.
Up around 7:30 this cold and windy morning, and did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house while I got ready for the day.
Back downstairs, I gave Mother today's twelve days of Christmas gift...a box of chocolate covered cherries. This little gift occurred to me when we saw an ad for them on TV, and Mother and I went on a journey down memory lane remembering that receiving boxes of these gooey filled candies with a cherry in the middle was an anticipated treat every Christmas.
I'm sure my kids remember getting them. And they probably also remember the year that our dog, Little Bit, ate three boxes of them one Christmas, while we were away from home. That's when I realized how sharp a dog's sense of smell is to be able to sniff out the candies through Christmas wrap, cellophane, and a box.
I didn't accomplish much for the rest of the morning other than gathering a few things to take downtown later, when Hubbie and I manned the art gallery for a few hours. I packed my newest Christmas novel, my e-reader, and boxes of Christmas cards, and Hubbie prepared a thermos of coffee, and packed cups, creamer, and snacks.
After lunch, Mother headed to the couch for a nap, and around 12:30, Hubbie and I went to the gallery. To open the gallery, it was necessary to fetch the door key from the shoe store next door.
While Hubbie got the key, I waited in the van, out of the wind and cold. It was so windy that it rattled the store front awnings. And I thought that a large inflatable snowman in front of one store would surely slip its wire moorings and go sailing down main street.
Naturally, the buildings on either side of the street created a wind tunnel, so that folks trying to walk down the sidewalks had to bend into the wind, and try to keep their whipping hair out of their eyes. I wondered why some of them didn't wear hats. I certainly did. If ever there was a day for one, today was it.
The clerk was reluctant to give Hubbie the key, since she didn't know him or me, but she finally agreed. We found out later, though, that she'd called the president of the art gallery board to make sure we were okay. She deserves a pat on the back for being diligent in protecting the gallery.
We were at the gallery from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. During that time, a couple of women with a couple of kids in tow came in and toured the exhibits; a woman dropped by to purchase a calendar featuring photos and stories about historic buildings in our town; and another woman came in to buy a handcrafted cutting board.
The only other visitor was the president of the art gallery board, who hoped to pick up a check to pay the gallery's electric bill, which is overdue. But the treasurer never did come by with it, so the president will have to call her, I guess.
But while she was there, we were able to catch up on each other's lives. Both of her parents are in ill health right now, so she has been stressed. This lady is just getting over an injury to her shoulder from a horse riding accident. She was also seriously ill a few months ago with pneumonia. On top of that, her son had a health crisis this year.
Most of the time we were at the gallery, it was pretty quiet, though, so we used the opportunity to finish writing Christmas cards. And I had time to start reading the novel I bought at the bookstore yesterday, "Shepherds Abiding." It's proving to be a delightful easy-read for Christmas.
Promptly at 4 p.m., we turned out all the lights, except for the ones on the flocked Christmas tree in the window...a tree that leans precariously to the left, and upon which the glass ornaments are lost against all that white, locked the door, and left.
Back home a little after 4 p.m., I put leftovers from last night's meal into the oven, which were heated and ready by 5 p.m. Afterward, Hubbie accompanied Mother back to her house, and we watched TV for the evening, including a Hallmark Christmas movie, and then our favorite college basketball team, as they played to a hard-fought win.
Note: think I might be coming down with a cold...lots of sneezing and blowing.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Wednesday, Dec. 19
Up around 7:30, and did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. While I got ready for the day, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, where I presented her with today's twelve days of Christmas gift...a gift card to the WDCS. Then she diced carrots, onions, and banana peppers, and cubed ham, for a pot of beans.
Back downstairs, I set the beans to simmering with the veggies and ham, and a can of beef broth, pepper, salt-free seasoning, garlic, and paprika. While the beans cooked, Mother worked on her jigsaw puzzle, and Hubbie and I ran errands...to the vet's clinic, where I picked up an unusual handmade scarf in brown and white tones, and Hubbie got flea meds for the cats; to the bank; to the greeting card shop, where I used a 20% off coupon to get birthday cards for the next couple of months; and to the Chamber of Commerce to pick up a holiday lights guide.
This year, for the first time, the Chamber gave awards for lighting displays, and they printed a card listing the locations of the lights, and a map of the locations. We usually do our holiday lights tour on Christmas Eve, though rain is predicted for Monday, so we might do the tour a day or two earlier.
Back home, we each had a different lunch...potato soup and Italian Cream Cheese ball for Mother, barbecue sandwich and chips for Hubbie, and chicken salad sandwich and chips for me. Afterward, I went Christmas shopping.
Thanks to heavy traffic, hustling-bustling folks in every store, and difficulty finding the items I wanted, it was nearly 4 p.m. before I got back home. But I think I've finished shopping, finally. The one item I didn't buy, because it cost more than I wanted to pay, I ordered for less online.
One item I bought for myself at the bookstore is a novel by one of my favorite authors, Jan Karon. This one is a Christmas story called "Shepherds Abiding." The book was on clearance for $2.99.
As soon as I got back home, Hubbie went shopping, and I set to work getting supper ready. Hubbie had peeled and sliced potatoes, and shredded cabbage for me, so they were ready to be cooked. I fried the potatoes, along with onions and seasonings, in olive oil, and sauteed the cabbage, with seasonings, in a little olive oil and chicken broth.
Mother prepared a box of cornbread mix, and put canned biscuits in a pan, for the oven, and by 5 p.m., supper was ready. Hubbie had arrived a few minutes earlier. This plain meal tasted so good after all the holiday foods we've eaten.
Hubbie accompanied Mother home after supper, then he and I watched a movie I rented this afternoon..."Hope Springs," starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones. A couple tries to rejuvenate their marriage through counseling. This comedy/drama is rated PG-13, but it is a movie aimed at older couples. We really enjoyed it.
Back downstairs, I set the beans to simmering with the veggies and ham, and a can of beef broth, pepper, salt-free seasoning, garlic, and paprika. While the beans cooked, Mother worked on her jigsaw puzzle, and Hubbie and I ran errands...to the vet's clinic, where I picked up an unusual handmade scarf in brown and white tones, and Hubbie got flea meds for the cats; to the bank; to the greeting card shop, where I used a 20% off coupon to get birthday cards for the next couple of months; and to the Chamber of Commerce to pick up a holiday lights guide.
This year, for the first time, the Chamber gave awards for lighting displays, and they printed a card listing the locations of the lights, and a map of the locations. We usually do our holiday lights tour on Christmas Eve, though rain is predicted for Monday, so we might do the tour a day or two earlier.
Back home, we each had a different lunch...potato soup and Italian Cream Cheese ball for Mother, barbecue sandwich and chips for Hubbie, and chicken salad sandwich and chips for me. Afterward, I went Christmas shopping.
Thanks to heavy traffic, hustling-bustling folks in every store, and difficulty finding the items I wanted, it was nearly 4 p.m. before I got back home. But I think I've finished shopping, finally. The one item I didn't buy, because it cost more than I wanted to pay, I ordered for less online.
One item I bought for myself at the bookstore is a novel by one of my favorite authors, Jan Karon. This one is a Christmas story called "Shepherds Abiding." The book was on clearance for $2.99.
As soon as I got back home, Hubbie went shopping, and I set to work getting supper ready. Hubbie had peeled and sliced potatoes, and shredded cabbage for me, so they were ready to be cooked. I fried the potatoes, along with onions and seasonings, in olive oil, and sauteed the cabbage, with seasonings, in a little olive oil and chicken broth.
Mother prepared a box of cornbread mix, and put canned biscuits in a pan, for the oven, and by 5 p.m., supper was ready. Hubbie had arrived a few minutes earlier. This plain meal tasted so good after all the holiday foods we've eaten.
Hubbie accompanied Mother home after supper, then he and I watched a movie I rented this afternoon..."Hope Springs," starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones. A couple tries to rejuvenate their marriage through counseling. This comedy/drama is rated PG-13, but it is a movie aimed at older couples. We really enjoyed it.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Tuesday, Dec. 18
Up around 7:30, and did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Later, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, where she chopped green onions, and cubed chicken, for a recipe of Chinese Chicken Soup. Hubbie shredded cabbage for it.
I put the recipe together and let it simmer. While it cooked, Hubbie and I made a batch of fruited popcorn. He popped the corn, and cut up the candied cherries and nuts, and I made the caramel sauce for it.
After we finished in the kitchen, I gave Mother another one of her twelve days of Christmas gifts...some scratch off cards, for which she garnered a measly $2. But she had so much fun with them that it was worth the price to get them for her.
After that, she worked on her jigsaw puzzle, and I got ready for the day. Around 11 a.m., I was ready to deliver the soup to our beauty shop, and the popcorn to the Caring Hands office.
While I was at the beauty shop, I picked up a certificate for a haircut for Mother, as one her twelve days of Christmas gifts. It has been a little more difficult this year selecting twelve items, since Mother's needs and wants are fewer.
Back home, we had a lunch of soups and sandwiches. Just before 1 p.m., our new washer and dryer were delivered, via a very large truck. Since we had several loads of laundry, I didn't waste a lot of time after they were installed learning to use the appliances, which are computerized.
The washer reads the laundry load and fills the machine to the appropriate level. In doing this, it locks and unlocks the top two or three times, and then finally fills. The recommendation for this washer is to use high efficiency detergent. When the delivery guy mentioned this to Hubbie, he worried that the dry detergent we've used for many years might not work in this machine, but when he checked, he saw the "EH" symbol on the box. Whew! Glad we don't have to use another brand.
They are beautiful machines, but my one complaint is how awfully loud the dryer buzzer is. It startled all of us, and the cats, the first time we heard it. However, the good thing about the dryer is that it doesn't buzz until the load is completely dry. With the old dryer, I had to pull the laundry out and feel it, and if it was still damp, I ran the dryer again.
After the machines were delivered, Hubbie spent a couple hours running errands...Christmas shopping, I suspect...and Mother and I watched the 1977 production of "The Nutcracker" ballet, starring Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Later, we had a supper of leftovers...cornbread dressing, half a baked potato, and coleslaw for Mother, and barbecue pork sandwiches, coleslaw, and chips, for Hubbie and me. Afterward, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and then he and I watched sappy Hallmark Christmas shows for the rest of the evening.
I put the recipe together and let it simmer. While it cooked, Hubbie and I made a batch of fruited popcorn. He popped the corn, and cut up the candied cherries and nuts, and I made the caramel sauce for it.
After we finished in the kitchen, I gave Mother another one of her twelve days of Christmas gifts...some scratch off cards, for which she garnered a measly $2. But she had so much fun with them that it was worth the price to get them for her.
After that, she worked on her jigsaw puzzle, and I got ready for the day. Around 11 a.m., I was ready to deliver the soup to our beauty shop, and the popcorn to the Caring Hands office.
While I was at the beauty shop, I picked up a certificate for a haircut for Mother, as one her twelve days of Christmas gifts. It has been a little more difficult this year selecting twelve items, since Mother's needs and wants are fewer.
Back home, we had a lunch of soups and sandwiches. Just before 1 p.m., our new washer and dryer were delivered, via a very large truck. Since we had several loads of laundry, I didn't waste a lot of time after they were installed learning to use the appliances, which are computerized.
The washer reads the laundry load and fills the machine to the appropriate level. In doing this, it locks and unlocks the top two or three times, and then finally fills. The recommendation for this washer is to use high efficiency detergent. When the delivery guy mentioned this to Hubbie, he worried that the dry detergent we've used for many years might not work in this machine, but when he checked, he saw the "EH" symbol on the box. Whew! Glad we don't have to use another brand.
They are beautiful machines, but my one complaint is how awfully loud the dryer buzzer is. It startled all of us, and the cats, the first time we heard it. However, the good thing about the dryer is that it doesn't buzz until the load is completely dry. With the old dryer, I had to pull the laundry out and feel it, and if it was still damp, I ran the dryer again.
After the machines were delivered, Hubbie spent a couple hours running errands...Christmas shopping, I suspect...and Mother and I watched the 1977 production of "The Nutcracker" ballet, starring Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Later, we had a supper of leftovers...cornbread dressing, half a baked potato, and coleslaw for Mother, and barbecue pork sandwiches, coleslaw, and chips, for Hubbie and me. Afterward, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and then he and I watched sappy Hallmark Christmas shows for the rest of the evening.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Monday, Dec. 17
Slept late this morning, until nearly 8:30. After a busy week, we needed the rest. Didn't do much after breakfast, except clear things away from yesterday's festivities...holiday dishes, glasses, etc.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house later in the morning. I presented her with her sixth day of Christmas gift...a container of her favorite body powder. Her other gifts included Little Cuties mandarin oranges, a couple of lint rollers, a bottle of her favorite body wash/shampoo, a fuzzy hat (in a child size, since she has such a small head) and a pair of knit fingers-free gloves with cover flaps.
Then she worked on the jigsaw puzzle, while I did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises.
In the meantime, Hubbie discovered an electrical outlet in the laundry room wasn't working, so he called an electrician to check it out, because everything needs to be in order when our new washer and dryer are delivered tomorrow.
The electrician discovered that there was more of a problem than the outlet in the laundry room, and after searching, found that an outlet in the spare bedroom was actually at the root of it.
The electrician finally finished his task at noon. I had not yet gotten ready for the day, but before I went upstairs, we had a soup and sandwich lunch. Afterward, Mother returned to her puzzle, and Hubbie and I ran errands.
First, we stopped at a business downtown to return the folding table and chairs we'd borrowed. Then we went to the bank, to a grocery store, to the WDCS, and to a farm store.
It was 4 p.m. by the time we got back home. We'd decided to take in a movie, so I gathered things for Mother's supper...soup that she could heat in the microwave, Italian Cream Cheese ball, and cookies for dessert. Hubbie and I ate a quick bowl of soup, and then accompanied Mother to her house before we left for the theater for a 5:20 showing of "Lincoln."
I guess this early showing was for older people like us, who would not want to attend a later showing (after 8:30 p.m.), because the movie is two and a half hours long, not including previews.
This is a great movie. We were so absorbed in it that we didn't notice its length. Its not a movie for folks who want a lot of action. Except for a horrific battle scene in the beginning, there is little action. But for those who like historical dramas, this is a must-see.
We were back home around 8 p.m., and finished the evening watching TV.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house later in the morning. I presented her with her sixth day of Christmas gift...a container of her favorite body powder. Her other gifts included Little Cuties mandarin oranges, a couple of lint rollers, a bottle of her favorite body wash/shampoo, a fuzzy hat (in a child size, since she has such a small head) and a pair of knit fingers-free gloves with cover flaps.
Then she worked on the jigsaw puzzle, while I did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises.
In the meantime, Hubbie discovered an electrical outlet in the laundry room wasn't working, so he called an electrician to check it out, because everything needs to be in order when our new washer and dryer are delivered tomorrow.
The electrician discovered that there was more of a problem than the outlet in the laundry room, and after searching, found that an outlet in the spare bedroom was actually at the root of it.
The electrician finally finished his task at noon. I had not yet gotten ready for the day, but before I went upstairs, we had a soup and sandwich lunch. Afterward, Mother returned to her puzzle, and Hubbie and I ran errands.
First, we stopped at a business downtown to return the folding table and chairs we'd borrowed. Then we went to the bank, to a grocery store, to the WDCS, and to a farm store.
It was 4 p.m. by the time we got back home. We'd decided to take in a movie, so I gathered things for Mother's supper...soup that she could heat in the microwave, Italian Cream Cheese ball, and cookies for dessert. Hubbie and I ate a quick bowl of soup, and then accompanied Mother to her house before we left for the theater for a 5:20 showing of "Lincoln."
I guess this early showing was for older people like us, who would not want to attend a later showing (after 8:30 p.m.), because the movie is two and a half hours long, not including previews.
This is a great movie. We were so absorbed in it that we didn't notice its length. Its not a movie for folks who want a lot of action. Except for a horrific battle scene in the beginning, there is little action. But for those who like historical dramas, this is a must-see.
We were back home around 8 p.m., and finished the evening watching TV.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Sunday, Dec. 16
Up around 7 a.m. Skipped my exercises so I could finish preparations for company, expected to arrive around 10 a.m.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, and she helped in the kitchen by cubing cold chicken, fixing a recipe of coleslaw, and helped with other things. Meanwhile, I finished making the Chinese Chicken Soup. Later, I heated the other soups, as well as barbecue and sauce, and did all the other things related to the meal.
Hubbie's daughters and families arrived just after 10 a.m., bringing with them an assortment of goodies...cherry-chocolate cake, cookies, nuts steamed with spices, including cayenne pepper (which my stomach won't tolerate), along with pigs in a blanket, for the kids, I guess.
We visited until time to finish lunch preparations. Hubbie's grandson and his family were supposed to arrive around lunchtime, but they were delayed, so we went ahead and with the meal. When we were finished, we cleared the table for the new arrivals, who finally got here around 1 p.m.
After lunch and clean up, one of the daughters, and a couple of great-granddaughters, joined Mother in working on a jigsaw puzzle. Before long, Grandson's wife left the house, and I was told she was having a severe allergic reaction to the cats. I really thought everyone in the family was aware of the cats, and would have come prepared with medication. She did have some medication, but she needed her inhaler, which she didn't have. I felt really bad about this episode. We will have to find ways to reduce cat dander in the house for folks with these allergies.
Later, we exchanged Christmas gifts. Of course, the daughters were far more generous than we were. Hubbie received gift certificates to favorite stores, gardening objects, like hose nozzles, and a pretty windchime...a violet colored stained glass looking cross, with chimes.
I got a large canvas tote...in fact, this daughter gave each woman one of these...that she said is a very handy travel item. It collapses, then snaps open into a rectangular shape, with a removeable lid. She also gave me a flat iron tote, with my initial machine embroidered on it. I don't use a flat iron or curling iron, so I'm not sure what I'll do with it.
The other daughter gave me a necklace and bracelet of multi-colored beads in tones that will complement the colors I wear. In fact, they matched the knit shirt I wore today, so I immediately put them on.
Mother got a set of pretty dish towels, on which are embroidered "Peace," and "Joy." She also got a tube of hand cream.
Shortly after the gift exchange, Grandson and his family were ready to leave. Before they did, we gathered in the yard for snapshots.
Back inside, Daughter and Mother worked a while longer on the jigsaw puzzle, before everyone had to leave around 4 p.m.
Around 5 p.m., we had a sandwich supper, and then Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house. We spent the rest of he evening watching TV. Big day. Pooped.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, and she helped in the kitchen by cubing cold chicken, fixing a recipe of coleslaw, and helped with other things. Meanwhile, I finished making the Chinese Chicken Soup. Later, I heated the other soups, as well as barbecue and sauce, and did all the other things related to the meal.
Hubbie's daughters and families arrived just after 10 a.m., bringing with them an assortment of goodies...cherry-chocolate cake, cookies, nuts steamed with spices, including cayenne pepper (which my stomach won't tolerate), along with pigs in a blanket, for the kids, I guess.
We visited until time to finish lunch preparations. Hubbie's grandson and his family were supposed to arrive around lunchtime, but they were delayed, so we went ahead and with the meal. When we were finished, we cleared the table for the new arrivals, who finally got here around 1 p.m.
After lunch and clean up, one of the daughters, and a couple of great-granddaughters, joined Mother in working on a jigsaw puzzle. Before long, Grandson's wife left the house, and I was told she was having a severe allergic reaction to the cats. I really thought everyone in the family was aware of the cats, and would have come prepared with medication. She did have some medication, but she needed her inhaler, which she didn't have. I felt really bad about this episode. We will have to find ways to reduce cat dander in the house for folks with these allergies.
Later, we exchanged Christmas gifts. Of course, the daughters were far more generous than we were. Hubbie received gift certificates to favorite stores, gardening objects, like hose nozzles, and a pretty windchime...a violet colored stained glass looking cross, with chimes.
I got a large canvas tote...in fact, this daughter gave each woman one of these...that she said is a very handy travel item. It collapses, then snaps open into a rectangular shape, with a removeable lid. She also gave me a flat iron tote, with my initial machine embroidered on it. I don't use a flat iron or curling iron, so I'm not sure what I'll do with it.
The other daughter gave me a necklace and bracelet of multi-colored beads in tones that will complement the colors I wear. In fact, they matched the knit shirt I wore today, so I immediately put them on.
Mother got a set of pretty dish towels, on which are embroidered "Peace," and "Joy." She also got a tube of hand cream.
Shortly after the gift exchange, Grandson and his family were ready to leave. Before they did, we gathered in the yard for snapshots.
Back inside, Daughter and Mother worked a while longer on the jigsaw puzzle, before everyone had to leave around 4 p.m.
Around 5 p.m., we had a sandwich supper, and then Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house. We spent the rest of he evening watching TV. Big day. Pooped.
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