Daylight Savings Time...we'll spring forward tonight before bedtime, which means that there will be more daylight hours to enjoy. But it also means we'll lose an hour of sleep tomorrow morning. Changing our internal clock is going to be a whole lot more difficult than changing the external ones. It'll take a few days to adjust. It's said that the incidence of heart attacks increases at this time, but I figure that's more of a problem for folks still on the job. I'm not going to worry about it...water aerobics begins again Monday morning, but if I oversleep and don't make it, so be it.
Slept late, until around 8 a.m. Did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, and then he went out to work in the yard. Mother worked on her puzzle, while I got ready for the day.
Did this and that around the house for the rest of the morning, including laundry. I usually do our laundry on Sundays, but since there could be storms tomorrow, I decided to get it done today.
After lunch, Hubbie went back into the yard, Mother continued with her puzzle, and I made a trip to the grocery store to pick up bananas and a bag of slaw mix. It was a glorious day to be out and about...sunny and warm and very spring-like.
I noticed on the way back from the store that a vendor had set up a roadside veggie stand behind a grocery store at the four-way stop. The vendor is an older gentleman who sets up at that spot every year. Seeing him there was heartening, since it's another sign that my favorite seasons of spring and summer are upon us.
Back home, I relaxed with my novel until around 3 p.m. Hubbie came in out of the yard about that time and showered, so he could be ready to watch our favorite college basketball team as they played to a much-need win. The game was at 1 p.m., but I had recorded it on DVR.
Tonight, I decided to shred the leftover chicken and add barbecue sauce for sandwiches on buns, and peel and slice sweet potatoes to be oven-fried. Mother helped with this by slicing the potatoes after I'd peeled and quartered them. She also made dressing for coleslaw.
I seasoned the potatoes by drizzling olive oil over them, and sprinkling pepper, lemon pepper, no-salt seasoning, and paprika over them. I popped them in the oven around 4 p.m., and put the dish of barbeque chicken in around 4:30. By the time the game was over, our meal was ready. It was very good, and suited my aim of making Saturday "fun foods."
Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and set her clocks forward. Then we settled in front of TV to watch a movie borrowed from the college library..."Thirteen Days," made in the year 2000, about the Cuban Missle Crisis of 1962. I clearly remember this very scary time for America, when Russia moved nuclear weapons into Cuba with the threat of a strike against the U.S. that would catapult the world into a nuclear war. Stars Kevin Costner and Bruce Greenwood.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
Friday, March 8
Slept late again, until around 8 a.m. Walked on the treadmill after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 10 a.m., and then he ran errands, including to a laundromat to wash area rugs and Mother's bath mat that got soaked when the potty overflowed while Sis was here last week.
While he was gone, I noticed that the potty in our downstairs bathroom flushed very slowly, and so I mentioned it to Hubbie when he returned home. He admitted that this toilet had run over a few days ago, but he failed to mention it to me at the time...probably because he knew I'd insist we call a plumber, which is exactly what I did today.
Weather forcasters predict a possible two inches of rain for our area of the state over the weekend, and that kind of a soaking can cause real problems with the plumbing. So Hubbie called the plumbing business, and a lady there said she would give a plumber a work order, and hope that he could get around to it sometime today, but she couldn't promise anything. If he couldn't stop by today, it would be Monday before he could come.
Not an hour later, he came by. He told Hubbie that a plumbing problem of a young unmarried man who lives alone was actually next on his list, but since he knew that older ladies live at our house, he made our problem his priority. Chivalry is not dead.
We didn't accomplish much else before noon. Lunch was varied, as usual...leftover macaroni and cheese, with cold chicken, for Mother, the remainder of the meal from the Japanese restaurant for Hubbie, and a fried egg sandwich, with a side of cottage cheese for me.
After lunch, Hubbie went out to work in the yard, Mother resumed her jigsaw puzzle, and I went to the public library and to the libary at the college down the road to check out movies. I got three at the public library, and three at the college. We can keep the movies from the public library for two weeks. The ones from the college would ordinarily need to be returned in three days, but since the librarian knows and trusts me, because I've been tutoring my ESL student there for the past year, she gave me an extra couple of days.
Back home, I spent an hour or so reading my novel. Around 3 p.m., Mother and I began supper preparations...she sliced onions and diced potatoes for a favorite dish for the oven, and then seasoned a salmon filet, also for the oven. Hubbie had peeled the potatoes, and I measured the ingredients necessary for both dishes.
The potato dish went into the oven at 4 p.m., and the fish, along with a dish of peas, went in at 4:30. Everything was ready by 5 p.m. It was a delicious meal, just right for a Lenten Friday.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house afterward, and then he and I watched one of the borrowed movies...a 1975 film called, "I Will Fight No More, Forever," starring Sam Elliot and James Whitmore, that dramatizes the struggle of a community of Indians, led by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce nation, who were forced to stand their ground against the military in an effort to keep from being forced onto a reservation. According to Wikipedia, they were pursued by the U.S. Army in a campaign led by General Oliver O. Howard. This epic 1,170-mile fighting retreat by the Nez Perce in 1877 became known as the Nez Perce War.
While the public library offers both educational-based and purely entertainment movies, the offerings at the college library must all have educational value. But they can also be very entertaining, since they are done as dramas rather than as documentaries. I'm a fan of documentaries, but Hubbie...not so much.
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Speaking of chivalry...at the Japanese restaurant last Monday night, the wait staff were very solicitous of Mother. They made sure she was placed at the most comfortable spot at the hibachi grill table, and when one of the young men saw that Mother's wheelchair footrests prevented the chair from rolling closer to the table, he stooped down and folded them back out of the way. When another young man saw that Mother was struggling to drink from a very tall glass of water, he hurried to bring her a cup. I think this kind of solicitousness in Asian folks is ingrained, since they tend to respect and revere the elderly.
While he was gone, I noticed that the potty in our downstairs bathroom flushed very slowly, and so I mentioned it to Hubbie when he returned home. He admitted that this toilet had run over a few days ago, but he failed to mention it to me at the time...probably because he knew I'd insist we call a plumber, which is exactly what I did today.
Weather forcasters predict a possible two inches of rain for our area of the state over the weekend, and that kind of a soaking can cause real problems with the plumbing. So Hubbie called the plumbing business, and a lady there said she would give a plumber a work order, and hope that he could get around to it sometime today, but she couldn't promise anything. If he couldn't stop by today, it would be Monday before he could come.
Not an hour later, he came by. He told Hubbie that a plumbing problem of a young unmarried man who lives alone was actually next on his list, but since he knew that older ladies live at our house, he made our problem his priority. Chivalry is not dead.
We didn't accomplish much else before noon. Lunch was varied, as usual...leftover macaroni and cheese, with cold chicken, for Mother, the remainder of the meal from the Japanese restaurant for Hubbie, and a fried egg sandwich, with a side of cottage cheese for me.
After lunch, Hubbie went out to work in the yard, Mother resumed her jigsaw puzzle, and I went to the public library and to the libary at the college down the road to check out movies. I got three at the public library, and three at the college. We can keep the movies from the public library for two weeks. The ones from the college would ordinarily need to be returned in three days, but since the librarian knows and trusts me, because I've been tutoring my ESL student there for the past year, she gave me an extra couple of days.
Back home, I spent an hour or so reading my novel. Around 3 p.m., Mother and I began supper preparations...she sliced onions and diced potatoes for a favorite dish for the oven, and then seasoned a salmon filet, also for the oven. Hubbie had peeled the potatoes, and I measured the ingredients necessary for both dishes.
The potato dish went into the oven at 4 p.m., and the fish, along with a dish of peas, went in at 4:30. Everything was ready by 5 p.m. It was a delicious meal, just right for a Lenten Friday.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house afterward, and then he and I watched one of the borrowed movies...a 1975 film called, "I Will Fight No More, Forever," starring Sam Elliot and James Whitmore, that dramatizes the struggle of a community of Indians, led by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce nation, who were forced to stand their ground against the military in an effort to keep from being forced onto a reservation. According to Wikipedia, they were pursued by the U.S. Army in a campaign led by General Oliver O. Howard. This epic 1,170-mile fighting retreat by the Nez Perce in 1877 became known as the Nez Perce War.
While the public library offers both educational-based and purely entertainment movies, the offerings at the college library must all have educational value. But they can also be very entertaining, since they are done as dramas rather than as documentaries. I'm a fan of documentaries, but Hubbie...not so much.
******************************************************************************************************************
Speaking of chivalry...at the Japanese restaurant last Monday night, the wait staff were very solicitous of Mother. They made sure she was placed at the most comfortable spot at the hibachi grill table, and when one of the young men saw that Mother's wheelchair footrests prevented the chair from rolling closer to the table, he stooped down and folded them back out of the way. When another young man saw that Mother was struggling to drink from a very tall glass of water, he hurried to bring her a cup. I think this kind of solicitousness in Asian folks is ingrained, since they tend to respect and revere the elderly.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Thursday, March 7
Slept late again, until around 8 a.m. Did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, where she resumed her jigsaw puzzle. Then he ran errands, while I got ready for the day.
I had absolutely nothing planned today, and nothing is pretty much what I did. Spent a lot of time playing on my tablet, and reading my novel.
Since there were plenty of leftovers, it didn't take much effort to prepare meals either. For lunch, we each had something different...Ramen noodle soup for Mother, a turkey burger and fruit for me, and a bowl of rice with milk, butter, and sugar, along with toast, for Hubbie.
For supper, we had the leftovers from the Japanese restaurant. I added the leftover rice from Sunday's meal to the restaurant-seasoned rice, and stirfried a side dish of frozen mixed veggies, onions, and bell peppers, to which I added the chicken and shrimp from the restaurant. Mother ate two helpings of this.
After supper, I checked Mother's blood pressure...I've been checking it twice a day this week, as suggested by the doctor. Her BP has vacillated from a low of 132/68 to a high of 156/78.
Afterward, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house. Then he and I watched TV, including a History Channel feature, "The Bible." This is a five-part docudrama series that takes viewers through the stories of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Tonight, we watched part one, which focuses on Noah, Abraham, and Moses. This episode will be re-broadcast March 10, from 6-8 p.m.
I had absolutely nothing planned today, and nothing is pretty much what I did. Spent a lot of time playing on my tablet, and reading my novel.
Since there were plenty of leftovers, it didn't take much effort to prepare meals either. For lunch, we each had something different...Ramen noodle soup for Mother, a turkey burger and fruit for me, and a bowl of rice with milk, butter, and sugar, along with toast, for Hubbie.
For supper, we had the leftovers from the Japanese restaurant. I added the leftover rice from Sunday's meal to the restaurant-seasoned rice, and stirfried a side dish of frozen mixed veggies, onions, and bell peppers, to which I added the chicken and shrimp from the restaurant. Mother ate two helpings of this.
After supper, I checked Mother's blood pressure...I've been checking it twice a day this week, as suggested by the doctor. Her BP has vacillated from a low of 132/68 to a high of 156/78.
Afterward, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house. Then he and I watched TV, including a History Channel feature, "The Bible." This is a five-part docudrama series that takes viewers through the stories of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Tonight, we watched part one, which focuses on Noah, Abraham, and Moses. This episode will be re-broadcast March 10, from 6-8 p.m.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Wednesday, March 6
Today is Nephew's birthday. Happy Birthday, Nephew!
Slept late again this morning, until 8 a.m. Again, I had no desire to leave the house on this windy-cold day. Exercised on the treadmill after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, and then he ran errands. Mother worked on her jigsaw puzzle, and finished it while I got ready for the day.
Mother had abandoned another jigsaw puzzle she'd started before her birthday, but today she was ready to work on it again, so I brought it out of the spare bedroom.
If I accomplished nothing yesterday, I accomplished even less today, preferring instead to play on my tablet and read my novel.
After lunch, while Mother continued with her puzzle, Hubbie and I watched the 1996 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical movie, "Evita," starring Madonna, and Antonio Banderas. The movie has its critics, but we enjoyed it.
For supper, we had leftovers from Sunday's meal...chicken, rice, gravy, and green beans. Afterward, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house. Then he and I spent time watching TV, including a History Channel docudrama about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, narrated by Tom Hanks. We followed that with a couple of one-hour shows.
It wasn't an exciting day, but it was a relaxing one. We don't have anything special planned for tomorrow, or for the rest of the week, for that matter. Goofing off is on the agenda, since next week promises to be fairly busy.
Slept late again this morning, until 8 a.m. Again, I had no desire to leave the house on this windy-cold day. Exercised on the treadmill after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, and then he ran errands. Mother worked on her jigsaw puzzle, and finished it while I got ready for the day.
Mother had abandoned another jigsaw puzzle she'd started before her birthday, but today she was ready to work on it again, so I brought it out of the spare bedroom.
If I accomplished nothing yesterday, I accomplished even less today, preferring instead to play on my tablet and read my novel.
After lunch, while Mother continued with her puzzle, Hubbie and I watched the 1996 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical movie, "Evita," starring Madonna, and Antonio Banderas. The movie has its critics, but we enjoyed it.
For supper, we had leftovers from Sunday's meal...chicken, rice, gravy, and green beans. Afterward, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house. Then he and I spent time watching TV, including a History Channel docudrama about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, narrated by Tom Hanks. We followed that with a couple of one-hour shows.
It wasn't an exciting day, but it was a relaxing one. We don't have anything special planned for tomorrow, or for the rest of the week, for that matter. Goofing off is on the agenda, since next week promises to be fairly busy.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Tuesday, March 5
Since we had nothing pressing scheduled today, we slept late, until around 8 a.m. I did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house while I got ready for the day. She went right to her jigsaw puzzle.
I was glad we didn't have anything planned, because it was a miserable windy-cold day today. I had no desire whatever to go outside. So I was pretty lazy and didn't accomplish a lot other than sending a sample citizenship test to my student, who is anxious to study to become an American citizen; and sending a recipe for pickling and canning mushrooms to Granddaughter and Sis. This is a recipe I found in a magazine. I want to try it, and I thought they might like to, too.
Did this and that around the house, and then wasted the rest of the day playing on my tablet and finishing a John Grisham novel. Chose a new novel titled "True Colors," by Kristin Hannah. This is the story of three very different sisters, whose mother dies when they are young. They always banded together, until something happens to pit them against each other. The oldest is overweight and yearns for her father's approval; the middle sister is the family peacemaker; the youngest, beautiful and popular, has chosen to stay with her father on the family's horse ranch.
Later, for supper, we had leftover hot dogs and turkey burgers, with corn-on-the-cob, and cheesy rice. Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then he and I watched TV, including the two-hour pilot of "Red Widow," a thriller about a woman whose life of luxury is masked by the fact that her father, brother, and husband are organized criminals. Her husband is shot dead in front of her house, and then she has to do what's necessary to protect her family.
Followed that by watching our favorite college basketball team as they played to a miserable loss.
I was glad we didn't have anything planned, because it was a miserable windy-cold day today. I had no desire whatever to go outside. So I was pretty lazy and didn't accomplish a lot other than sending a sample citizenship test to my student, who is anxious to study to become an American citizen; and sending a recipe for pickling and canning mushrooms to Granddaughter and Sis. This is a recipe I found in a magazine. I want to try it, and I thought they might like to, too.
Did this and that around the house, and then wasted the rest of the day playing on my tablet and finishing a John Grisham novel. Chose a new novel titled "True Colors," by Kristin Hannah. This is the story of three very different sisters, whose mother dies when they are young. They always banded together, until something happens to pit them against each other. The oldest is overweight and yearns for her father's approval; the middle sister is the family peacemaker; the youngest, beautiful and popular, has chosen to stay with her father on the family's horse ranch.
Later, for supper, we had leftover hot dogs and turkey burgers, with corn-on-the-cob, and cheesy rice. Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then he and I watched TV, including the two-hour pilot of "Red Widow," a thriller about a woman whose life of luxury is masked by the fact that her father, brother, and husband are organized criminals. Her husband is shot dead in front of her house, and then she has to do what's necessary to protect her family.
Followed that by watching our favorite college basketball team as they played to a miserable loss.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Monday, March 4
Today is Mother's 91st birthday. Happy Birthday, Mother!
Slept late this morning, until after 8 a.m., There was no water aerobics session today, since this is spring break for the college, but I did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, and she worked on her jigsaw puzzle while I got ready for the day.
Once I was dressed, I did this and that until lunchtime. After lunch, I completed a monthly report for the Literacy Council, and then reviewed the lesson plan for today.
I met the student at 2:30, as usual. Today, we began Level four studies. The first lesson involved learning the long sound of the letter "u," how to separate words into syllables, and how to recognize which word syllables are stressed.
The student also read aloud a story about computers, and then answered questions about the story to show she comprehended what she read. Her workbook included a lesson on prepositions...prepositions still stump her a bit, so we'll be working on that as much as possible in the future.
In conversation, the student talked about how the home of her in-laws, where she lives, is being improved to make it ready to put on the market. Improvements include spackling, sanding, and painting. The student joked that she has sanding dust in her teeth. This is a lady who loves order, and right now the home is anything but orderly, and it's driving her crazy.
Back home, Mother and Hubbie had changed clothes to go out to dinner. In honor of Mother's birthday, we took her to the local Japanese restaurant. She was very entertained by the hibachi chef, who cooked our meals of chicken and shrimp, with veggies and rice right at our table.
I wasn't sure Mother would enjoy the food, since she's not a real fan of oriental food, but she ate more than I've seen her eat in a long time. The servings are huge, though, and we all brought a good deal of it home. There's enough for another meal.
At home again, I accompanied Mother to her house, and then Hubbie and I settled in front of TV, as usual.Tonight, we watched the first episode of "Vikings," a nine-part series from the History Channel that depicts the Norse reign of terror in Europe. In the first episode, a farmer develops a navigational tool based on a sundial. He works with a shipbuilder who builds the first ocean going long boat. Drama based on history. Anxious to see the second episode.
Slept late this morning, until after 8 a.m., There was no water aerobics session today, since this is spring break for the college, but I did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, and she worked on her jigsaw puzzle while I got ready for the day.
Once I was dressed, I did this and that until lunchtime. After lunch, I completed a monthly report for the Literacy Council, and then reviewed the lesson plan for today.
I met the student at 2:30, as usual. Today, we began Level four studies. The first lesson involved learning the long sound of the letter "u," how to separate words into syllables, and how to recognize which word syllables are stressed.
The student also read aloud a story about computers, and then answered questions about the story to show she comprehended what she read. Her workbook included a lesson on prepositions...prepositions still stump her a bit, so we'll be working on that as much as possible in the future.
In conversation, the student talked about how the home of her in-laws, where she lives, is being improved to make it ready to put on the market. Improvements include spackling, sanding, and painting. The student joked that she has sanding dust in her teeth. This is a lady who loves order, and right now the home is anything but orderly, and it's driving her crazy.
Back home, Mother and Hubbie had changed clothes to go out to dinner. In honor of Mother's birthday, we took her to the local Japanese restaurant. She was very entertained by the hibachi chef, who cooked our meals of chicken and shrimp, with veggies and rice right at our table.
I wasn't sure Mother would enjoy the food, since she's not a real fan of oriental food, but she ate more than I've seen her eat in a long time. The servings are huge, though, and we all brought a good deal of it home. There's enough for another meal.
At home again, I accompanied Mother to her house, and then Hubbie and I settled in front of TV, as usual.Tonight, we watched the first episode of "Vikings," a nine-part series from the History Channel that depicts the Norse reign of terror in Europe. In the first episode, a farmer develops a navigational tool based on a sundial. He works with a shipbuilder who builds the first ocean going long boat. Drama based on history. Anxious to see the second episode.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Sunday, March 3
Up around 7 a.m., but skipped my exercises again, because I needed shower and dress and begin preparations for lunch right away. The first thing I did was cook lemon pudding to use on the lemon cake later. While the pudding cooled, we had breakfast.
Then I put chicken in the slow cooker. Daughter and the kids woke up around 8:30 and had a breakfast of juice and cereal. Then they occupied themselves, while I did other things for lunch.
Son, Daughter-in-Law, and three great-children arrived around 10:30. Hubbie had accompanied Mother to our house by this time, and she resumed her jigsaw puzzle. Great-Grandson helped.
Daughter, and Daughter-in-Law helped in the kitchen, and shortly after noon everything was ready. Besides the chicken, the meal included rice and gravy, macaroni and cheese (mainly for the kids), corn-on-the-cob, green beans, and Sis's homemade bread. Dessert, of course, was the lemon cake spread with lemon pudding and meringue, and chocolate cupcake.
Funny: the kids thought there should be candles on the cake, but I forgot about buying number candles for it. So I searched a drawer for the numbers 9 and 1, thinking those numbers surely must be there, leftover from birthday parties for our now deceased shih tzu dog. But there was no number 9, so Hubbie suggested we use the numbers 5, 4, and 1, which add up to 91. This inspired jokes about Mother being 541 years old, or if read from the opposite side, 145. I took a picture of the cake and candles to post on my social network page, and Mother suggested I add "do the math" to the photo, which I did.
After Mother blew out the candles, she opened gifts. She got a gift card to her favorite department store from Son and Daughter-in-Law, and five new jigsaw puzzles from me. She was anxious to open and begin one right after we enjoyed dessert.
Daughter and the three kids needed to go home right after lunch, so they left around 1 p.m. Son, Daughter-in-Law, and the other three kids stayed to visit until around 3 p.m., then they headed home, too.
Mother stayed at our house until after supper. For supper, she and Hubbie had hot dogs and chips, and I had a chicken salad sandwich and chips. Afterward, Hubbie accompanied her to her house, and then he and I watched TV, including the 2003 movie, "Beyond Borders." Angelina Jolie, stars as a wealthy married woman, who meets and falls in love with a renegade doctor (Clive Owen) in war-torn Africa. Their love seems doomed, but she follows him to one world hot spot after another, leaving her family periodically to do so.
Followed that with the 2011 movie, "The Descendants," starring George Clooney. A woman is bedridden and comatose after a boating accident, and her husband, a Hawaiian land-baron, is inept at handling his two daughters. As his wife's condition deteriorates, he learns things about her, and about himself.
Then I put chicken in the slow cooker. Daughter and the kids woke up around 8:30 and had a breakfast of juice and cereal. Then they occupied themselves, while I did other things for lunch.
Son, Daughter-in-Law, and three great-children arrived around 10:30. Hubbie had accompanied Mother to our house by this time, and she resumed her jigsaw puzzle. Great-Grandson helped.
Daughter, and Daughter-in-Law helped in the kitchen, and shortly after noon everything was ready. Besides the chicken, the meal included rice and gravy, macaroni and cheese (mainly for the kids), corn-on-the-cob, green beans, and Sis's homemade bread. Dessert, of course, was the lemon cake spread with lemon pudding and meringue, and chocolate cupcake.
Funny: the kids thought there should be candles on the cake, but I forgot about buying number candles for it. So I searched a drawer for the numbers 9 and 1, thinking those numbers surely must be there, leftover from birthday parties for our now deceased shih tzu dog. But there was no number 9, so Hubbie suggested we use the numbers 5, 4, and 1, which add up to 91. This inspired jokes about Mother being 541 years old, or if read from the opposite side, 145. I took a picture of the cake and candles to post on my social network page, and Mother suggested I add "do the math" to the photo, which I did.
After Mother blew out the candles, she opened gifts. She got a gift card to her favorite department store from Son and Daughter-in-Law, and five new jigsaw puzzles from me. She was anxious to open and begin one right after we enjoyed dessert.
Daughter and the three kids needed to go home right after lunch, so they left around 1 p.m. Son, Daughter-in-Law, and the other three kids stayed to visit until around 3 p.m., then they headed home, too.
Mother stayed at our house until after supper. For supper, she and Hubbie had hot dogs and chips, and I had a chicken salad sandwich and chips. Afterward, Hubbie accompanied her to her house, and then he and I watched TV, including the 2003 movie, "Beyond Borders." Angelina Jolie, stars as a wealthy married woman, who meets and falls in love with a renegade doctor (Clive Owen) in war-torn Africa. Their love seems doomed, but she follows him to one world hot spot after another, leaving her family periodically to do so.
Followed that with the 2011 movie, "The Descendants," starring George Clooney. A woman is bedridden and comatose after a boating accident, and her husband, a Hawaiian land-baron, is inept at handling his two daughters. As his wife's condition deteriorates, he learns things about her, and about himself.
Saturday, Feb. 2
Up around 7 a.m., but skipped my exercises, because we expected Daughter, and three great-grandchildren to arrive mid-morning to join us in going to the Extension Homemakers annual yard sale. As soon as family got here, we went to the fairgrounds.
Gad, it was cold this morning! At the fairgrounds, there was a one dollar per person admission fee at the gate...the gate being a brisk walk to the commercial building, where the yard sale was held. It was a good workout pushing Mother in the wheelchair.
As usual, the kids weren't dressed warmly enough for the weather. The youngest child used the money her Mother had given her to buy a knitted scarf and hat, which she donned for the walk back to the van later. The other girl wore capri-length pants and flats, but she seemed unaffected by the weather. Daughter, like the youngest girl, bought a knitted scarf to ward off the chill.
Mother and I bundled up for the outing in warm coats, hats, scarves, and gloves. It might be March, but windy winter weather is windy winter weather, no matter what the calendar says.
Mother enjoyed the yard sale, because lots of ladies we know either had booths there, or were working in the kitchen, where inexpensive lunch items were available. Our real reason for attending the sale was to visit. Mother didn't buy anything, and I only bought a Christmas gift pack of cups, hot chocolate, marshmallows, etc., which I got from the former Extension Services agent. Her daughter had gotten it for Christmas and didn't want it. I gave it to the kids.
Back home, we had a lunch of potato soup and sandwiches, and then Daughter and the kids gave Mother birthday gifts...balloons, jigsaw puzzles, and a musical card featuring cats meowing the happy birthday song. Daughter gave Mother a really cute plant holder...it's black metal in the shape of a cup and saucer. Inside it was a pot of African violets.
The jigsaw puzzles were from the kids, one of which is a 100-piece Sponge Bob Square Pants design, sent to her from her great-great-granson, who chose this especially because he likes Sponge Bob, and thinks that surely his grandma must, too. The kids and Mother worked this one first, so I could snap a picture for my social network page.
Following that one, Mother and Great-Grandson worked a 200-piece puzzle featuring cats, and then a 400-piece Noah's Arc one.
While they did this, the girls played on the stairs, Daughter napped, Hubbie shopped for groceries for supper, and I baked a lemon cake, and two dozen chocolate cupcakes.
Later, I prepared a supper of hot dogs and turkey burgers, served with chips, and a dessert of chocolate cupcakes. While I was fixing supper, Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team as they played to a win.
Mother was ready to go home after supper, so Hubbie accompanied her. Then he and I spent part of the evening reading our novels, while Daughter and the kids played on their smartphones.
Daughter and the kids were ready to retire fairly early, but before they headed to bed, we had bowls of ice cream with chocolate syrup. Hubbie and I were ready for bed right after watching the nightly news. It was a busy day, but a good one.
Gad, it was cold this morning! At the fairgrounds, there was a one dollar per person admission fee at the gate...the gate being a brisk walk to the commercial building, where the yard sale was held. It was a good workout pushing Mother in the wheelchair.
As usual, the kids weren't dressed warmly enough for the weather. The youngest child used the money her Mother had given her to buy a knitted scarf and hat, which she donned for the walk back to the van later. The other girl wore capri-length pants and flats, but she seemed unaffected by the weather. Daughter, like the youngest girl, bought a knitted scarf to ward off the chill.
Mother and I bundled up for the outing in warm coats, hats, scarves, and gloves. It might be March, but windy winter weather is windy winter weather, no matter what the calendar says.
Mother enjoyed the yard sale, because lots of ladies we know either had booths there, or were working in the kitchen, where inexpensive lunch items were available. Our real reason for attending the sale was to visit. Mother didn't buy anything, and I only bought a Christmas gift pack of cups, hot chocolate, marshmallows, etc., which I got from the former Extension Services agent. Her daughter had gotten it for Christmas and didn't want it. I gave it to the kids.
Back home, we had a lunch of potato soup and sandwiches, and then Daughter and the kids gave Mother birthday gifts...balloons, jigsaw puzzles, and a musical card featuring cats meowing the happy birthday song. Daughter gave Mother a really cute plant holder...it's black metal in the shape of a cup and saucer. Inside it was a pot of African violets.
The jigsaw puzzles were from the kids, one of which is a 100-piece Sponge Bob Square Pants design, sent to her from her great-great-granson, who chose this especially because he likes Sponge Bob, and thinks that surely his grandma must, too. The kids and Mother worked this one first, so I could snap a picture for my social network page.
Following that one, Mother and Great-Grandson worked a 200-piece puzzle featuring cats, and then a 400-piece Noah's Arc one.
While they did this, the girls played on the stairs, Daughter napped, Hubbie shopped for groceries for supper, and I baked a lemon cake, and two dozen chocolate cupcakes.
Later, I prepared a supper of hot dogs and turkey burgers, served with chips, and a dessert of chocolate cupcakes. While I was fixing supper, Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team as they played to a win.
Mother was ready to go home after supper, so Hubbie accompanied her. Then he and I spent part of the evening reading our novels, while Daughter and the kids played on their smartphones.
Daughter and the kids were ready to retire fairly early, but before they headed to bed, we had bowls of ice cream with chocolate syrup. Hubbie and I were ready for bed right after watching the nightly news. It was a busy day, but a good one.
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