Up around 7 a.m. to get ready to go to another town to attend a surpise 70th birthday party for Hubbie's sister. We left home at 9:30, and arrived shortly after 11 a.m.
The party was held in the fellowship hall of Hubbie's family's church. Family and friends straggled in for thirty minutes of so, and the guest of honor arrived shortly after noon. The family, and her friends, had done a good job of keeping the party secret. She thought that she and a niece would be traveling to the Capital City to visit her son and daughter-in-law, but before they could get on the road, the niece needed to stop by the church to deliver beauty products. So she was speechless (rare for her) when she came in the door and saw us all. About 20 of us were in attended.
The party was hosted by the honoree's daughter. She and a few friends had put together a slide show featuring Sis from childhood to the present. One friend had created a three-tier, beautifully decorated, cake. One tier was chocolate, one was strawberry, and one was vanilla.
Before the cake was served, though, we had a lunch of deli meats and cheese, chips and dips, fresh veggies and dips, and fresh fruit with a sweet dip, and a choice of coffee, tea, or water.
Sis received several nice gifts, including an office chair from her sister and Hubbie's daughter, and gift cards from several of her favorite stores and restaurants. Of course, she loved the lacy scarf that we gave her, since it was something she expressed an interest in having.
The only thing that would have made the day better is if Hubbie's children could have been there, but his middle daughter couldn't drive the five hours back here after having just been here last week, and his older daughter is attending a meeting in Chicago. His son had another commitment, too.
I'm glad Mother and I saw fit to wear an extra layer of clothes today, because the fellowship hall was quite chilly. Apparently, there is something wrong with the thermostat to the heating system. Several of the ladies, who wore thin blouses without even sweaters, were shivering.
It was a good gathering, though, and a nice day for an outing, if quite chilly. The party ended at 3 p.m., and before we left town, we went to the warehouse store for a few grocery items, like fresh fruits, cereal, veggie straws, and egg substitute.
We were back on the road around 4 p.m. The recent rain and ice left the rice and soybean fields along the way standing in water, which attracted ducks, geese, and even heron. There were also a lot of hawks in the trees and on the power lines hunting for field mice. As for the trees, there were a lot of broken ones, thanks to the ice storm. Near home, we noticed a flock of wild turkeys sheltering under a tree...seems to be a favorite spot for them, since we see them there frequently.
At home, Mother was ready to go to her house right away. She enjoyed the day, but she was tired. Hubbie and I spent the evening watching TV, as usual, including the season three finale of "Downton Abbey." It'll be hard to wait until season four begins. Of course, this episode ended with a tragedy, and several unsolved problems, to ensure that diehard fans like us tune in again next season.
We followed that with watching our favorite college basketball team as they played, unfortunately, to a wide-margin loss.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Friday, Feb. 22
Was awakened around 5:30 this morning, when the backup power unit to the office computer squawked, apparently caused by a brief power outage. Not sure what caused the outage, but it required setting the clock again, so the alarm would go off at 6:30. After that, though, I wasn't sure I could go back to sleep. But I did.
Got up with the alarm to get ready for water aerobics. There was still ice on the vegetation outside, but the temperature had risen, and it was melting. Hubbie had to chip a thick glaze off the van windows, though.
The road was clear, so I assumed the schools were back in session, which meant the pool would be open. As I was leaving the driveway, I noticed how pretty the melting ice was on a cedar tree. So I hopped out of the van and snapped a pic with my cell phone.
The trees on either side of the road going up the hill to the college were lovely, too, and I decided I'd get snaps of them after the water aerobics session, if the ice hadn't melted by then.
At the college, I noticed that a stand of pine trees really took a hit from the ice storm, which uprooted a couple of them, and broke branches off several. The ice was melting from them at this hour, though, which caused a shower of ice pellets. I discovered that falling ice pellets sting when they hit bare flesh, as one did on my right hand. I wondered if I'd get a bruise on that hand later, but I didn't. I walked at a brisk clip to the gym, though, worrying just a little that an ice-laden tree branch could snap and fall on my head.
Only seven of us showed up for aerobics today, but we enjoyed a great workout with the water noodles, and using the water for resistance by walking fast in a circle in one direction, and then abruptly turning and walking fast in the other direction. We also split into two lines and raced to the middle, clapped hands with a partner, and raced back again. I'll miss these forms of water exercise when we go back to our old routine.
On the way back home, I saw that the trees on the hill were still white with ice, so at home, I grabbed my camera, and Hubbie and I went back so I could take some photos. He drove, while I did rapid-fire shots through the windshield. This is the only way I could get the shots from the perspective of the middle of that winding road.
We drove around town, too, to see if there were any other photo opportunities, but the ice had melted in the residential areas, which are warmer than the higher elevations. We finished our tour by driving down a dirt road, where the trees were still frozen. On this road, we saw a roadrunner skitter past.
As we drove past our own yard, we saw for the first time that a tree had been damaged, when the top of it broke out with the weight of ice. Last night, we heard a loud noise, like a gun shot, or a car backfiring, but thought nothing of it. Today, we realized that what we'd heard was that tree breaking.
This is a favorite tree of mine, because it turns a lovely yellow-gold in the fall. I don't know what it will look like next fall, though. It's sad, because a number of years ago, when it suffered damage, Hubbie wanted to remove it and level the hill it stands on, but I argued against it. It turned out to be a very nice focal point, until now. I don't know if it can come back again, but I'd like to see if it can.
At home, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, while I indulged in a couple of cups of coffee. Daughter called during this time, and we chatted for a while. She was interested in knowing when the local Scottish Festival is scheduled, which is in April. She really enjoyed it last year and wants to go again this year.
By now, it was time for lunch, so Hubbie heated the chicken noodle soup, which we had with blueberry muffins. Afterward, I finally went upstairs to get ready for the day (which was half over by now). Afterward, Mother and I spent the afternoon working on scrapbook pages. We each completed two pages.
Later, she and I made a recipe of pancake batter, and Hubbie did the honors of cooking them. After supper, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and then he and I spent the evening watching TV, including a 2009 British movie called "The Disappearance of Alice Creed," about two ex-convicts who kidnap a woman for ransom.
We followed that with a DVD movie borrowed from the library...the 2009 "State of Play," starring Russell Crowe, and Ben Affleck. A congressman's daughter is murdered, and a seasoned investigative male reporter, and a young up-and-coming female reporter, work with a police detective to try to solve the crime. We've seen this movie before, but Hubbie didn't remember it when we picked it up at the library, but soon after we began watching it, he finally remembered it.
Got up with the alarm to get ready for water aerobics. There was still ice on the vegetation outside, but the temperature had risen, and it was melting. Hubbie had to chip a thick glaze off the van windows, though.
The road was clear, so I assumed the schools were back in session, which meant the pool would be open. As I was leaving the driveway, I noticed how pretty the melting ice was on a cedar tree. So I hopped out of the van and snapped a pic with my cell phone.
The trees on either side of the road going up the hill to the college were lovely, too, and I decided I'd get snaps of them after the water aerobics session, if the ice hadn't melted by then.
At the college, I noticed that a stand of pine trees really took a hit from the ice storm, which uprooted a couple of them, and broke branches off several. The ice was melting from them at this hour, though, which caused a shower of ice pellets. I discovered that falling ice pellets sting when they hit bare flesh, as one did on my right hand. I wondered if I'd get a bruise on that hand later, but I didn't. I walked at a brisk clip to the gym, though, worrying just a little that an ice-laden tree branch could snap and fall on my head.
Only seven of us showed up for aerobics today, but we enjoyed a great workout with the water noodles, and using the water for resistance by walking fast in a circle in one direction, and then abruptly turning and walking fast in the other direction. We also split into two lines and raced to the middle, clapped hands with a partner, and raced back again. I'll miss these forms of water exercise when we go back to our old routine.
On the way back home, I saw that the trees on the hill were still white with ice, so at home, I grabbed my camera, and Hubbie and I went back so I could take some photos. He drove, while I did rapid-fire shots through the windshield. This is the only way I could get the shots from the perspective of the middle of that winding road.
We drove around town, too, to see if there were any other photo opportunities, but the ice had melted in the residential areas, which are warmer than the higher elevations. We finished our tour by driving down a dirt road, where the trees were still frozen. On this road, we saw a roadrunner skitter past.
As we drove past our own yard, we saw for the first time that a tree had been damaged, when the top of it broke out with the weight of ice. Last night, we heard a loud noise, like a gun shot, or a car backfiring, but thought nothing of it. Today, we realized that what we'd heard was that tree breaking.
This is a favorite tree of mine, because it turns a lovely yellow-gold in the fall. I don't know what it will look like next fall, though. It's sad, because a number of years ago, when it suffered damage, Hubbie wanted to remove it and level the hill it stands on, but I argued against it. It turned out to be a very nice focal point, until now. I don't know if it can come back again, but I'd like to see if it can.
At home, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, while I indulged in a couple of cups of coffee. Daughter called during this time, and we chatted for a while. She was interested in knowing when the local Scottish Festival is scheduled, which is in April. She really enjoyed it last year and wants to go again this year.
By now, it was time for lunch, so Hubbie heated the chicken noodle soup, which we had with blueberry muffins. Afterward, I finally went upstairs to get ready for the day (which was half over by now). Afterward, Mother and I spent the afternoon working on scrapbook pages. We each completed two pages.
Later, she and I made a recipe of pancake batter, and Hubbie did the honors of cooking them. After supper, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and then he and I spent the evening watching TV, including a 2009 British movie called "The Disappearance of Alice Creed," about two ex-convicts who kidnap a woman for ransom.
We followed that with a DVD movie borrowed from the library...the 2009 "State of Play," starring Russell Crowe, and Ben Affleck. A congressman's daughter is murdered, and a seasoned investigative male reporter, and a young up-and-coming female reporter, work with a police detective to try to solve the crime. We've seen this movie before, but Hubbie didn't remember it when we picked it up at the library, but soon after we began watching it, he finally remembered it.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Thursday, Feb. 21
Woke up this morning expecting to see a glaze of ice on everything, but there was nothing but some sleet pellets on the roof. I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking we had dodged the ice-storm bullet. I was wrong. It just hadn't arrived yet. And when it did, it came with a vengeance. I later learned that the storm took aim at our county, leaving a heavier coating of the frozen stuff than anywhere in the state, and causing power outages to the greatest number of energy company customers. Our lights flickered a couple of times, but, thank goodness, the power stayed on all day.
Naturally, Mother stayed home today. And while I was getting ready for the day, the other two ladies of the scrapbook club called to say (not surprisingly) that they wouldn't be here this afternoon.
Since I didn't need to get ready for guests, I decided to seize the day and go outside to take pictures of the ice on the trees, bushes, birdfeeders, etc. I didn't venture into the yard, but stayed on the porches...didn't want to risk slipping and falling.
Hubbie ventured out, though, and seemed to have no problem, even on Mother's wheelchair ramp, which was coated with ice. He said it was a crusty ice that didn't hinder him in navigating it.
Traffic wasn't slowed, since the icing occurred mainly on vegetation. Now it remains to be seen if inclement weather will continue in the morning. If the local school district is closed, then the swimming pool will be, too.
At noon today, Hubbie took a bowl of hot homemade chicken noodle soup, a couple of warmed blueberry muffins, and part of a fresh orange to Mother for her lunch. Hubbie and I had the same.
After lunch, I did this and that, including making a recipe of chai tea for Daughter-in-Law, and locating a gift bag and tissue for a gift for Hubbie's sister. Recently, when we saw her, she commented on how much she liked the lacy scarf I wore, and said she'd like one in red and white. So we ordered one from the lady at the vet's clinic who made mine, as well as the one that I gave to my sister for her birthday.
Did a lot of goofing off, too, reading and playing on my e-reader tablet. Later, I heated leftover baked beans, sweet potatoes, and boiled chicken for our supper. Hubbie took a serving of it to Mother.
After supper, we watched TV, including our favorite college basketball team, as they once again squeaked by to a win...a two-point basket saved them in the last few seconds, after they'd maintained a commanding lead in the first half of the game.
Naturally, Mother stayed home today. And while I was getting ready for the day, the other two ladies of the scrapbook club called to say (not surprisingly) that they wouldn't be here this afternoon.
Since I didn't need to get ready for guests, I decided to seize the day and go outside to take pictures of the ice on the trees, bushes, birdfeeders, etc. I didn't venture into the yard, but stayed on the porches...didn't want to risk slipping and falling.
Hubbie ventured out, though, and seemed to have no problem, even on Mother's wheelchair ramp, which was coated with ice. He said it was a crusty ice that didn't hinder him in navigating it.
Traffic wasn't slowed, since the icing occurred mainly on vegetation. Now it remains to be seen if inclement weather will continue in the morning. If the local school district is closed, then the swimming pool will be, too.
At noon today, Hubbie took a bowl of hot homemade chicken noodle soup, a couple of warmed blueberry muffins, and part of a fresh orange to Mother for her lunch. Hubbie and I had the same.
After lunch, I did this and that, including making a recipe of chai tea for Daughter-in-Law, and locating a gift bag and tissue for a gift for Hubbie's sister. Recently, when we saw her, she commented on how much she liked the lacy scarf I wore, and said she'd like one in red and white. So we ordered one from the lady at the vet's clinic who made mine, as well as the one that I gave to my sister for her birthday.
Did a lot of goofing off, too, reading and playing on my e-reader tablet. Later, I heated leftover baked beans, sweet potatoes, and boiled chicken for our supper. Hubbie took a serving of it to Mother.
After supper, we watched TV, including our favorite college basketball team, as they once again squeaked by to a win...a two-point basket saved them in the last few seconds, after they'd maintained a commanding lead in the first half of the game.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Wednesday, Feb. 20
Up at 6:30 to get ready for water aerobics. Br-r-r, cold outside, the kind of weather that called for a coat, hat, and gloves. Only nine of us showed up at the pool today. The water was warm, or at least I thought it was. A few of the other ladies declared it was cold.
Our leader was still not able to come, but the word was that she has regained her appetite, and is eating everything in sight. So she should get stronger soon. But I hope she stays home for a while longer to be sure she's out of the woods.
The substitute leader was on board today, and we got a good workout with the water noodles. It was pretty chilly walking to the van afterward, though, so I was glad for hot cups of coffee when I got home.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house as soon as I got home, and we put a pot of chicken on to simmer. Mother diced the veggies, as usual, and I did the rest. Then she went to her jigsaw puzzle, Hubbie ran errands, and I got ready for the day.
By now, it was lunchtime, so I fixed Ramen noodle soup for Mother, and egg substitute with diced leftover baked potatoes, onions, and ham, for Hubbie and me. Served this with toast and jelly. Hubbie had returned by the time lunch was ready.
Afterward, Mother went back to her puzzle, which she finished this afternoon, and I put the regular birdhouse decorations back on the mantel. Then I gathered materials necessary for making scrapbook pages tomorrow afternoon. It appears that an ice storm is imminent tonight and early tomorrow, but if the temperature rises, maybe the roads will be fine for the other member to come and join us.
I have several page designs in mind for tomorrow, though we probably will only have time to complete a couple apiece. Two pages will feature Mother being "kissed" by a wolf, and petting a snake, during an event at the local museum last fall, and a few other pages will feature Daughter making a snowman after a rare Christmas snow last December.
A big part of doing scrapbook pages is choosing appropriate snapshots and just the right plain and patterned card stock to complement them. So I worked (or played) until around 3:30, and then Mother and I adjourned to the kitchen to make a double batch of blueberry muffins to go with chicken noodle soup.
The soup really hit the spot on this threat-of-wintry-weather night. Soon after supper, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house. I sent some blueberry muffins with her for her breakfast, since she loves them so much.
Hubbie and I spent the rest of the evening watching TV, during which our electic company called to apologize ahead of time if we lose power during a predicted ice storm tonight and it takes a while for them to restore it. Yikes! They must be anticipating the worst!
We're trying to be prepared by stocking up on water, making a couple of thermoses of coffee, and charging the cell phones, the laptop, the e-reader tablet, etc.
Our leader was still not able to come, but the word was that she has regained her appetite, and is eating everything in sight. So she should get stronger soon. But I hope she stays home for a while longer to be sure she's out of the woods.
The substitute leader was on board today, and we got a good workout with the water noodles. It was pretty chilly walking to the van afterward, though, so I was glad for hot cups of coffee when I got home.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house as soon as I got home, and we put a pot of chicken on to simmer. Mother diced the veggies, as usual, and I did the rest. Then she went to her jigsaw puzzle, Hubbie ran errands, and I got ready for the day.
By now, it was lunchtime, so I fixed Ramen noodle soup for Mother, and egg substitute with diced leftover baked potatoes, onions, and ham, for Hubbie and me. Served this with toast and jelly. Hubbie had returned by the time lunch was ready.
Afterward, Mother went back to her puzzle, which she finished this afternoon, and I put the regular birdhouse decorations back on the mantel. Then I gathered materials necessary for making scrapbook pages tomorrow afternoon. It appears that an ice storm is imminent tonight and early tomorrow, but if the temperature rises, maybe the roads will be fine for the other member to come and join us.
I have several page designs in mind for tomorrow, though we probably will only have time to complete a couple apiece. Two pages will feature Mother being "kissed" by a wolf, and petting a snake, during an event at the local museum last fall, and a few other pages will feature Daughter making a snowman after a rare Christmas snow last December.
A big part of doing scrapbook pages is choosing appropriate snapshots and just the right plain and patterned card stock to complement them. So I worked (or played) until around 3:30, and then Mother and I adjourned to the kitchen to make a double batch of blueberry muffins to go with chicken noodle soup.
The soup really hit the spot on this threat-of-wintry-weather night. Soon after supper, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house. I sent some blueberry muffins with her for her breakfast, since she loves them so much.
Hubbie and I spent the rest of the evening watching TV, during which our electic company called to apologize ahead of time if we lose power during a predicted ice storm tonight and it takes a while for them to restore it. Yikes! They must be anticipating the worst!
We're trying to be prepared by stocking up on water, making a couple of thermoses of coffee, and charging the cell phones, the laptop, the e-reader tablet, etc.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Tuesday, Feb. 19
Up around 7:30 this morning, and did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, and after I was ready for the day, we put together a recipe of baked beans for the oven later.
Did this and that before lunch, including making a haircut appointment for next week, and doing the word search puzzle contest. After lunch, we all pursued our own activities. Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, of course, and I spent my time on my computer.
I ordered photos to use in making scrapbook pages Thursday, if we have a meeting (it's questionable now, since predictions are for possible wintry weather that day). I also ordered four 350-piece to 400-piece jigsaw puzzles for Mother's birthday.
Then I scanned a copy of our high school graduation photo to e-mail to a friend who graduated with me. The photo shows 25 in our graduating class, but she sent me a list of 28 classmates. It's true that there were originally 28 in the class, but two dropped out before graduation, and one failed.
She also didn't have a complete list of the deceased. My information shows eight have passed. Sunday, when my friend and I discussed the most recent death, I thought she was number seven. So only seventeen of the graduating class are remaining...and that's scary. My friend pointed out that we might have ten more years left. Well, she might have ten years, but I'm planning on a lot more.
At 3 p.m., I put the beans into the oven, and at 4 p.m., Hubbie put sweet potatoes in. At 4:30, I put a ham slice in, and Just after 5 p.m. supper was ready. It was all very good.
Mother was ready to go home shortly afterward, and Hubbie accompanied her. Then we watched the 2011 movie, "Tower Heist," starring Ben Stiller, and Eddie Murphy. In this comedy-crime feature, a wealthy man, who lives in the penthouse of an apartment building, skins a group of people out of their retirement funds in a Ponzi scheme. So a group of the employees plan to rob the penthouse to get their money back. Of course, they are inept, so everything that can go wrong, does.
Did this and that before lunch, including making a haircut appointment for next week, and doing the word search puzzle contest. After lunch, we all pursued our own activities. Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, of course, and I spent my time on my computer.
I ordered photos to use in making scrapbook pages Thursday, if we have a meeting (it's questionable now, since predictions are for possible wintry weather that day). I also ordered four 350-piece to 400-piece jigsaw puzzles for Mother's birthday.
Then I scanned a copy of our high school graduation photo to e-mail to a friend who graduated with me. The photo shows 25 in our graduating class, but she sent me a list of 28 classmates. It's true that there were originally 28 in the class, but two dropped out before graduation, and one failed.
She also didn't have a complete list of the deceased. My information shows eight have passed. Sunday, when my friend and I discussed the most recent death, I thought she was number seven. So only seventeen of the graduating class are remaining...and that's scary. My friend pointed out that we might have ten more years left. Well, she might have ten years, but I'm planning on a lot more.
At 3 p.m., I put the beans into the oven, and at 4 p.m., Hubbie put sweet potatoes in. At 4:30, I put a ham slice in, and Just after 5 p.m. supper was ready. It was all very good.
Mother was ready to go home shortly afterward, and Hubbie accompanied her. Then we watched the 2011 movie, "Tower Heist," starring Ben Stiller, and Eddie Murphy. In this comedy-crime feature, a wealthy man, who lives in the penthouse of an apartment building, skins a group of people out of their retirement funds in a Ponzi scheme. So a group of the employees plan to rob the penthouse to get their money back. Of course, they are inept, so everything that can go wrong, does.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Monday, Feb. 18
Today is Granddaughter's birthday. Happy Birthday, Granddaughter!
Today is also President's Day, so the first thing Hubbie did was hang the flag on the well house. It is a holiday for state and federal offices, banks, and some schools, but not for either of the colleges here in town, so it was business as usual for me.
We were up at 6:30, so I could get ready for water aerobics. Daughter got up around 7 a.m. She hurried to get dressed, and then she had a glass of orange juice before heading home.
At 7:30, I went to the college gym. It was a cool morning, but not bad, until I began walking from my van to the gym. That's when a cold wind cropped up.
The pool was pleasant, and sixteen of us showed up. But the leader is still unable to come. She is just having an awful time shaking her sinus infection. She is weak, dehydrated, and feverish, and is suffering oral thrush from taking so many antibiotics.
One of the substitute leaders is also out. She had a case of flu before Thanksgiving, which turned into congestion that traveled to her lungs, so she is having difficulty recovering, too.
I'm anxious for our regular leader to get well and return to the pool, but I'm enjoying our sessions using water noodles. It's different and fun, and it's giving me a stronger workout.
I left the session a few minutes early, as I usually do, so I could get to the restroom (which has only two stalls), and get dressed, before the rest of the ladies throng the dressing room. Today, a younger woman (in her 40s) came to the dressing room shortly after me. She was blue with cold, and shivering. She rushed to the showers and stood under the hot water. I asked if she was okay, and she said she was...she'd just gotten chilled in the pool. I'm not sure why, because I thought the water was warm. Hope she isn't getting sick, which might expose the rest of us.
By the time I walked in the cold wind back to the van and came home, I was chilled too, so I was grateful for a hot cup of coffee. As soon as I was home, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house.
While I got ready for the day, Hubbie went to the WDCS for a few grocery items for us and for Mother. It was lunchtime by the time I was back downstairs, so I fixed Ramen noodle soup for Mother, and heated a small helping of chili from the fast food restaurant for Hubbie, and the remainder of the Autumn Stew for me.
Afterward, Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, and I did this and that, including calling the other two scrapbook club members, because Thursday is meeting day. However, weather predictions are for rain at best, and wintry weather at worst, so I figured one member would say she probably would not come, and she confrmed this when I called. The other one said she can come, and won't let the weather hinder her, unless it is extreme.
At 2:30, I went to the college down the road to meet my ESL student. Today, I asked her to read stories from a correlated reader, and point out the prepositions. We spent the entire session doing this.
Since she successfully identified all the prepositions, and was able to complete a quiz on them, I gave her a certificate of achievement. Next week, we will continue to read, and then begin Level 4 instruction.
Back home, Hubbie had put potatoes in the oven to bake, along with a dish of aspargus, and then he'd gone to the WDCS to pick up a rotisserie chicken. This was the only idea I could come up with, since we'd eaten the Autumn Stew last night.
During the meal, a thunderstorm with strong winds cropped up. It was pretty scary for a few minutes, as it blew things around in the yard, rained hard, and knocked the power out temporarily. Fortunately, it was short-lived.
After the storm had passed, and we'd finished supper, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house...she had opted out of going to the college down the road to attend a "Masters of Motown" concert at 7 p.m. It was just too windy and cold for her.
But Hubbie and I enjoyed the performance..I more so than Hubbie, of course. The show included music of The Temptations, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Thelma Houston, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and the Jackson 5. The five-piece band, and the six singers...three men and three women...performed to a very appreciative packed-house audience.
We were back home by 9 p.m., and ready to thaw out with hot drinks. We watched TV for a while, and then headed to bed. It was a long and busy day.
Today is also President's Day, so the first thing Hubbie did was hang the flag on the well house. It is a holiday for state and federal offices, banks, and some schools, but not for either of the colleges here in town, so it was business as usual for me.
We were up at 6:30, so I could get ready for water aerobics. Daughter got up around 7 a.m. She hurried to get dressed, and then she had a glass of orange juice before heading home.
At 7:30, I went to the college gym. It was a cool morning, but not bad, until I began walking from my van to the gym. That's when a cold wind cropped up.
The pool was pleasant, and sixteen of us showed up. But the leader is still unable to come. She is just having an awful time shaking her sinus infection. She is weak, dehydrated, and feverish, and is suffering oral thrush from taking so many antibiotics.
One of the substitute leaders is also out. She had a case of flu before Thanksgiving, which turned into congestion that traveled to her lungs, so she is having difficulty recovering, too.
I'm anxious for our regular leader to get well and return to the pool, but I'm enjoying our sessions using water noodles. It's different and fun, and it's giving me a stronger workout.
I left the session a few minutes early, as I usually do, so I could get to the restroom (which has only two stalls), and get dressed, before the rest of the ladies throng the dressing room. Today, a younger woman (in her 40s) came to the dressing room shortly after me. She was blue with cold, and shivering. She rushed to the showers and stood under the hot water. I asked if she was okay, and she said she was...she'd just gotten chilled in the pool. I'm not sure why, because I thought the water was warm. Hope she isn't getting sick, which might expose the rest of us.
By the time I walked in the cold wind back to the van and came home, I was chilled too, so I was grateful for a hot cup of coffee. As soon as I was home, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house.
While I got ready for the day, Hubbie went to the WDCS for a few grocery items for us and for Mother. It was lunchtime by the time I was back downstairs, so I fixed Ramen noodle soup for Mother, and heated a small helping of chili from the fast food restaurant for Hubbie, and the remainder of the Autumn Stew for me.
Afterward, Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, and I did this and that, including calling the other two scrapbook club members, because Thursday is meeting day. However, weather predictions are for rain at best, and wintry weather at worst, so I figured one member would say she probably would not come, and she confrmed this when I called. The other one said she can come, and won't let the weather hinder her, unless it is extreme.
At 2:30, I went to the college down the road to meet my ESL student. Today, I asked her to read stories from a correlated reader, and point out the prepositions. We spent the entire session doing this.
Since she successfully identified all the prepositions, and was able to complete a quiz on them, I gave her a certificate of achievement. Next week, we will continue to read, and then begin Level 4 instruction.
Back home, Hubbie had put potatoes in the oven to bake, along with a dish of aspargus, and then he'd gone to the WDCS to pick up a rotisserie chicken. This was the only idea I could come up with, since we'd eaten the Autumn Stew last night.
During the meal, a thunderstorm with strong winds cropped up. It was pretty scary for a few minutes, as it blew things around in the yard, rained hard, and knocked the power out temporarily. Fortunately, it was short-lived.
After the storm had passed, and we'd finished supper, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house...she had opted out of going to the college down the road to attend a "Masters of Motown" concert at 7 p.m. It was just too windy and cold for her.
But Hubbie and I enjoyed the performance..I more so than Hubbie, of course. The show included music of The Temptations, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Thelma Houston, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and the Jackson 5. The five-piece band, and the six singers...three men and three women...performed to a very appreciative packed-house audience.
We were back home by 9 p.m., and ready to thaw out with hot drinks. We watched TV for a while, and then headed to bed. It was a long and busy day.
Sunday, Feb. 17
We were up around 7:30. Skipped my exercises, as usual, on Sunday. As soon as we had breakfast, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, while I got ready for the day.
The first thing we did was prepare ingredients for Autumn Stew. Mother diced onions, carrots, and apples, and cubed a pork roast. After that, I browned the meat, cooked the veggies and apples, and added broth, tomatoes, a can of beer, and spices to the mixture, and let the stew simmer for an hour and a half.
In the meantime, I did the usual Sunday things...programming the DVR, reading the newspaper, washing cloths. Mother clipped coupons to send to Granddaughter. Hubbie busied himself sprucing the house for a visit from his daughter later.
The stew was very good, as usual, served with biscuits and honey. Afterward, we just relaxed. Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, and Hubbie and I read our novels.
Daughter arrived about 3 p.m. We understood that she would only be able to stay an hour or so, and then would have to head out to make the five-hour trip to her home.
When 4 p.m. rolled around, and Daughter was still absorbed in the jigsaw puzzle with Mother, I asked if everyone would like a snack of ice cream and strawberries. We were all up for that, and I served it with a choice of chocolate cake sprinkled with powdered sugar, or Girl Scout Thin Mints.
We chatted after that until around 6:30. Now, I had a dilemma. Was Daughter planning to have supper with us? Usually, we just have cereal and toast on Sunday evenings. But she'd mentioned earlier that she doesn't drink milk. So the only other thing I had in the refrigerator was the leftover Autumn Stew, which I'd planned to have on Monday night. I try to fix a Sunday meal that will carry over to Monday, because by the time I go to water aerobics in the morning, and tutor for two hours in the afternoon, I don't have time to fix a fresh meal.
But...I had no choice. I asked if Daughter would like to join us for supper, and she accepted. I heated the stew, and baked a batch of canned biscuits, and cornbread to go with it.
Now it was arund 7:30 p.m. Surely, Daughter didn't intend to hit the road this late, so I said that I hoped she planned to stay the night, because we didn't really want her on the road so late. She agreed. So we don't know if she planned all along to stay the night, or if she just dragged her feet until the time got away.
Whatever the reason, after Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, he dragged out a big box of old photos, so he and Daughter could take a trip down memory lane. Around 10 p.m., I left them to enjoy themselves, and went upstairs to shower and go to bed, since I want to get up early in the morning for water aerobics.
Note: this afternoon, a lady who was my friend in high school called to inform me of the classmate who died recently. She was helping relay the message after another classmate called her.
Of course, I already knew this, but it gave us a chance to catch up on each other's lives, and to reminisce about high school days. She, like I, and a couple of other girls, came to the small parochial school from other states, whereas most of the others had been there since kindergarten. So we were the outsiders, who never really fit into a clique of girls known as "The Big Five."
I think she still harbors resentments about it. I admit that I probably wouldn't have attended the first class reunion a number of years ago, if Hubbie hadn't encouraged me to go so he could meet my classmates. I'm glad I did, because, of course, everyone has outgrown their childish clique attitudes, and are quite friendly and likeable now...all just aging grandparents like us.
The first thing we did was prepare ingredients for Autumn Stew. Mother diced onions, carrots, and apples, and cubed a pork roast. After that, I browned the meat, cooked the veggies and apples, and added broth, tomatoes, a can of beer, and spices to the mixture, and let the stew simmer for an hour and a half.
In the meantime, I did the usual Sunday things...programming the DVR, reading the newspaper, washing cloths. Mother clipped coupons to send to Granddaughter. Hubbie busied himself sprucing the house for a visit from his daughter later.
The stew was very good, as usual, served with biscuits and honey. Afterward, we just relaxed. Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, and Hubbie and I read our novels.
Daughter arrived about 3 p.m. We understood that she would only be able to stay an hour or so, and then would have to head out to make the five-hour trip to her home.
When 4 p.m. rolled around, and Daughter was still absorbed in the jigsaw puzzle with Mother, I asked if everyone would like a snack of ice cream and strawberries. We were all up for that, and I served it with a choice of chocolate cake sprinkled with powdered sugar, or Girl Scout Thin Mints.
We chatted after that until around 6:30. Now, I had a dilemma. Was Daughter planning to have supper with us? Usually, we just have cereal and toast on Sunday evenings. But she'd mentioned earlier that she doesn't drink milk. So the only other thing I had in the refrigerator was the leftover Autumn Stew, which I'd planned to have on Monday night. I try to fix a Sunday meal that will carry over to Monday, because by the time I go to water aerobics in the morning, and tutor for two hours in the afternoon, I don't have time to fix a fresh meal.
But...I had no choice. I asked if Daughter would like to join us for supper, and she accepted. I heated the stew, and baked a batch of canned biscuits, and cornbread to go with it.
Now it was arund 7:30 p.m. Surely, Daughter didn't intend to hit the road this late, so I said that I hoped she planned to stay the night, because we didn't really want her on the road so late. She agreed. So we don't know if she planned all along to stay the night, or if she just dragged her feet until the time got away.
Whatever the reason, after Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, he dragged out a big box of old photos, so he and Daughter could take a trip down memory lane. Around 10 p.m., I left them to enjoy themselves, and went upstairs to shower and go to bed, since I want to get up early in the morning for water aerobics.
Note: this afternoon, a lady who was my friend in high school called to inform me of the classmate who died recently. She was helping relay the message after another classmate called her.
Of course, I already knew this, but it gave us a chance to catch up on each other's lives, and to reminisce about high school days. She, like I, and a couple of other girls, came to the small parochial school from other states, whereas most of the others had been there since kindergarten. So we were the outsiders, who never really fit into a clique of girls known as "The Big Five."
I think she still harbors resentments about it. I admit that I probably wouldn't have attended the first class reunion a number of years ago, if Hubbie hadn't encouraged me to go so he could meet my classmates. I'm glad I did, because, of course, everyone has outgrown their childish clique attitudes, and are quite friendly and likeable now...all just aging grandparents like us.
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