Saturday, April 20, 2013

Saturday, April 20

Up at 6:30, so Hubbie could get ready to go to the armory to help the Master Gardeners with the plant sale, and so Mother and I could go to the Literacy Council yard sale. Obviously, I skipped my exercises today.

Hubbie left just after 7 a.m. to help get things ready before the sale began at 8 a.m. I showered, dressed, and went to Mother's to help her get to the van.

The yard sale was already well attended when we arrived. The first thing Mother spotted was a large rectangular basket that she thought would work to organize stuff at her house. It was only a dollar. I saw a small live plant, also a dollar, that I thought Hubbie might like. We don't know what it is, but the leaves remind us a little bit of a poinsettia, except they are all green, with a hint of red on a few of them.

With these two purchases, we were told that we could select a couple of books from the boxes and laden table. While I was looking at them, a lady walked over and handed me a plastic grocery bag, telling me to pick up as many as I wanted for free, because the purpose of the Literacy Council is to get books into the hands of people. She didn't have to tell me twice...I loaded up on children's books, and picked up a few for me, too.

While I was browsing the books, though, I noticed Mother, who had been browsing the other tables, was looking pooped. So I assisted her to a platform rocker to rest for a few minutes, while I fetched the car and drove as close as I could to where she was seated.

Got her into the car, and we were back home around 9 a.m. She was pretty wobbly by the time we got in the house. She just doesn't have any strength in her legs anymore, and really had no business going to the sale. But she insisted, so I took her. She's not happy about it, but I think she now realizes that unless we go somewhere that allows her to be in her wheelchair, then she needs to stay home. The yard sale was in a grassy yard, and her wheelchair doesn't operate well on that kind of surface.

Around 9:30, I changed into clothes appropriate for going to a wedding. I wasn't sure how limited the parking would be near the church, so I left home around 10:15 for the 11 a.m. event. Glad I did, because it appeared everyone else had the same idea.

Inside the church, the pews were already pretty full. But I found a seat near the back. Soon, the church was packed rafter to rectory. Some folks were consigned to folding chairs in the back, and many others stood. I had no idea there would be so many people. After attending the bride's wedding shower, at which there were only nine of us, I was afraid few would attend the wedding. That's why I went, to be sure there would be some in attendance. Obviously, I needn't have worried!

This is an Episcopal church, so the wedding was very long. I thought it might be over around noon, but when 12:15 rolled around, and the celebration was only at the communion, I knew I would have to leave, because it was going to take at least thirty minutes to slowly bless each congregant at the altar. And then there were several hymns and prayers to follow.

Mother was home alone, and she needed her lunch. Besides, my own tummy was rumbling, and my bladder was calling. Hubbie would be having lunch with the Master Gardeners at the plant sale, so he wouldn't be home. I felt awkward leaving the service, but I couldn't make Mother wait until 1 p.m., or later for her lunch. I'm glad I wasn't seated all the way up front and in an aisle seat.

The wedding was nice, though, if low-key. The bride is a very shy and modest young woman, who expressly said she wanted a simple wedding. Her gown reflected her modesty...high-necked, floor-length A-line, with a short train. It was antique ivory colored, with a long-sleeve bolero style jacket. It had no sequins, lace, or other adornments. She wore a simple, old-fashioned brooch at her neck (maybe an heirloom from a relative), and her shoulder-length hair was swept to the back of her head and caught into a decorative barrette. No veil. No makeup, either, or very little as far as I could tell. She looked as shy and innocent as she seems to be, though I figure she is in her mid to late 20s. The church was undecorated, too, with just a small vase of white flowers on the altar.

I don't know her well enough to know her family situation, but I assume there were no male members to walk her down the aisle, because she walked on the arm of her husband-to-be, who was attired in a black suit with a priest's collar. The bride is slightly taller than he is, or maybe she wore heels. The term blushing bride aptly sutied her, because each time I saw her up close, she was flushed pink.

At home, Mother was very glad to get her lunch. I had spinach quiche, leftover from last night's supper, along with cottage cheese, and toast with strawberry jelly. I called Hubbie to be sure he wasn't coming home for lunch, and he said he was having barbecue at the armory.

Spent the rest of the afternoon doing this and that. Hubbie returned home around 2 p.m. Mother worked on her jigsaw puzzle. Later, I went out to the yard to snap pictures of the dogwood tree, the lilac tree, azalea bushes, and irises, then downloaded them to my social network page.

Around 4:30, Mother and I put together bagel pizzas. The pizzas were ready just after 5 p.m., and I served them with cottage cheese and chips. Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then he and I did the usual...watched TV, including an episode of "Call the Midwife," from PBS. This is a really good series.




Friday, April 19, 2013

Friday, April 19

Had a little trouble getting to sleep last night, so I wasn't quite ready to get up this morning at 7 a.m. But I hopped out anyway, since Hubbie was up. He was scheduled to go to the armory at 8 a.m. to help the Master Gardeners set up for their plant sale.

I dragged my feet in getting ready for the day after breakfast, mainly because I was glued to the TV watching reports of the newest developments in the hunt for the Boston Marathon bombers, one of which was killed in a shootout, and the other of which was on the run.

Finally, around 9 a.m., I dressed and went to Mother's house to accompany her to our house. The two of us continued watching coverage of the news from Boston. When nothing new seemed to be happening, I decided to do stair stepping exercises, but not weights today. Since I'd exercised with water noodles on Wednesday, and with resistance bands and weights yesterday, I felt I needed to rest my muscles (other than my heart) for a day.

Hubbie returned right at noon for lunch, and we all had something different...Ramen Noodle soup for Mother, leftover stirfry and rice for me, and PB&J sandwich for Hubbie. Before Hubbie left to go back to the armory, he mentioned that if Mother and I wanted to, we could go down there and select plants that Mother might like to buy.

Naturally, this was one of those rare days when I was in grubby clothes and without makeup, so I had to scurry upstairs and make myself presentable, so I could take Mother to the sale. At the armory, Hubbie was on the spot to help get the wheelchair out of the van.

Mother thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the plants, reading information about them, and selecting what she wanted. We spent about an hour there, and I snapped pics of her to download to my social network page. The family always love seeing snapshots of Mother online.

Among the plants Mother bought were petunias and marigolds. There didn't seem to be a very big variety of herbs, so she passed on those. Though we weren't interested in buying any of them, we were amused by the names of some heritage daylilies that will go for premium prices tomorrow...among them are "Mexicalli Miss," "Washington's Farewell," "Brocaded Gown," "Dawn's Light," "Moonlit Masquerade," and "Hemerocallis Woohoo."

Back home, Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, and I spent time messaging with my Daughter. Hubbie returned home with us, and relaxed after working hard at the armory. Later, Mother and I prepared a quiche for the oven. She grated Monterey Jack cheese, and cut up provolone cheese, and after I gathered the rest of the ingredients...sauteed green onions and bell peppers, spinach, and egg/milk/spice mixture, she layered it into the quiche dish.

The dish was ready at 5 p.m., and I served it with cottage cheese, toast and jelly, and fresh oranges. Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then he and I continued watching coverage of the hunt for the bomber, which finally ended with his capture later in the evening.






Thursday, April 18, 2013

Thursday, April 18

Up around 8 a.m., and did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house mid-morning.

Before I went upstairs to get ready for the day, I washed four quarts of strawberries for Mother to slice and sweeten for the weekend. Before she sliced them, she sorted the largest, sweetest ones out of the batch to put in a bowl for me to munch on. It's hard to resist grabbing one everytime I pass the bowl.

It was a dismal day that started out warm, but chilled with the passing of rain storms. I didn't have an alternate plan for the day after our scrapbook club meeting was cancelled, so Mother abandoned the jigsaw puzzle she started a few days ago, and started another one; Hubbie did this and that, including taking the lawn mower back to the John Deere place, because it threw a belt after only thirty minutes of mowing yesterday, thanks to the blanket of gumballs in our yard; and the weather inspired me to do nothing but curl up with the novel I've been reading.

So it was a pretty non-productive day. We kept one eye on the TV for weather warnings, but though our county was in a tornado watch area, nothing came of it but a rumble of thunder and drenching rain.

Supper tonight was leftover stirfry and rice. Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, but before he did, he fetched her coat from her house, since the temperature had dropped so much after the storm.

Hubbie and I spent the rest of the evening watching TV, including a PBS series, "Call the Midwife," about nuns and nurses in London, who deliver babies in the late 1950s. It's based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth.

******************************************************************************

What a terrible week of tragedies, with the bombings in Boston, and the explosion in Texas. America is grieving right now. My heart goes out to all those affected.



Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Wednesday, April 17

Up at 6:30 to get ready for water aerobics. It was a balmy morning, but I wore my fleece outfit, anyway, because I knew it would be comforting after swimming. And indeed, I couldn't wait to jump into it after walking into that freezing air conditioned dressing room in my wet swimsuit. I guess the room has to be kept cool to discourage bacteria and mold.

The pool wasn't as warm as it had been last Friday, and I soon found out why. Seems the jets weren't operating, so the water wasn't circulating and filtering. We don't know how long the jets were off, but as soon as a couple of ladies were aware of the problem, they opted to leave the pool, and a couple of other didn't bother to get in at all.

Sixteen of us, though, decided to brave it, figuring that the pool maintenance guy had probably checked the PH balance and deemed it safe for today. Those of us in attendance didn't want to miss this session, since we will not meet on Friday, because the lifeguard/coach will be away with the college's baseball team. We don't know if we will be able to go on Monday, either...it's possible that if the pool needs repairs again, water aerobics could be suspended for a while.

We got a good workout today, though, including a water noodle session. Funny: one of the ladies...our neighbor...was vigorously working with her noodle, when suddenly it "threw her" as it popped off her foot and unbalanced her to the point that she fell backward into the water. She quickly regained her balance, captured the noodle, and (blushing) exclaimed, "This ain't my first rodeo!" Cracked us up.

The discussion today was about one of the aerobics members, who hasn't attended in quite some time...not since last fall. Seems that she has been hospitalized for three weeks for an illness that resulted in her contracting C-difficile, a highly contagious disease of the bowel and colon caused by bacteria, acquired mainly after lengthy stays in hospitals or long-term care facilites.

Now, it has been determined that she has a mass in her colon. Once the C-diff is under control, she is scheduled to be placed in a nursing home to regain her strength before she undergoes further treatment.

I first learned of this lady's illness from Hubbie, who found out about it at the Master Gardener's meeting this week. Apparently, only a few people knew about it, and when they have visited her at the hospital, they were required to wear protective gear.

Elderly people with weakened immune systems, or who have recently had surgery, are especially at risk of developing C-diff. It is a bacteria that is found in the gut of 1 in 33 adults, and is more common in babies. But it generally doesn't cause a problem in healthy folks. It's elderly people who are more at risk.

Back home, I relaxed with a cup of coffee, and then got ready for the day. In the meantime, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house. Before lunch, I hand-washed a dressy jacket and blouse that I'll wear to a wedding Saturday, if I get to go.

I say "if I get to go" because it seems like everything has been scheduled for Saturday...the Master Gardener plant sale, the Literacy Council yard sale, and the wedding. To jigsaw everything, I plan to get dressed for the wedding, and then take Mother to the MG plant sale, and on to the yard sale. Then I'll deliver her home, and hurry downtown for the wedding. The MG plant sale begins at 8 a.m., the yard sale will go on for several hours, and the wedding is at 11 a.m. Good luck to me squeezing it all in.

After a Ramen Noodle soup lunch for Mother, and pork roast sandwiches for Hubbie and me, Hubbie ran errands, while I gathered veggies for Mother to slice for stirfry later. Then Mother and I watched last night's elimination episode of "Dancing With the Stars."

As part of Hubbie's errands, he went to the veggie stand again and bought four more quarts of strawberries, because I (with only a little help from Hubbie) had already devoured the two quarts we bought yesterday.

Shortly after he returned, he got a call from the John Deere place letting him know the riding mower was ready to be picked up. He was surprised by this, since he fully expected it to be in the shop until sometime next week. So he went and picked it up, and as soon as he could, he hopped on it and happily mowed part of the yard, since rain is predicted for the next couple of days.

Also, since storms are in the offing, both of the other scrapbook club members have bowed out of meeting tomorrow. But we have all agreed that if we can find another suitable day that is not busy for any of us, we will meet before our next scheduled May meeting.

Later, I finished preparations for the stirfry and rice supper. It was especially good tonight, and Mother even ate two helpings. Afterward, Hubbie accompanied her home, and then he and I watched TV, as usual.








Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Tuesday, April 16

Up at 7:30 this morning, and did a treadmill session after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, and then he went to the Extension Services office to join the Master Gardeners, who are responsible for maintaining the gardens there. The organization maintains several gardens around town.

While he was gone, I did this and that around the house, including calling the scrapbook club members to remind them of our monthly meeting Thursday. But, of course, severe storms are predicted for that day, so one of the members will not plan to be here. I left a message for the other member. If she decides to come, she, Mother, and I will meet. Otherwise, unless we can find an alternate date before that, it'll be yet another month before we get together.

I also tried to call a friend of ours, who is cleaning her closets again and wants Mother and me to visit her and pick up bags of artificial flowers. She also wants us to enjoy refreshments with her. I thought we might do that this afternoon, but since I couldn't reach her, I guess I'll have to try again another time. I'm not sure I need any more artificial flowers, but I'll take them and then pass them on if I can't use them.

Hubbie returned before lunch, and after lunch he went out into the yard to work, and continued to do that most of the afternoon. Naturally, after being in the garage all winter, the riding lawnmower had a few problems, so he hauled it to the John Deere place to be fixed.

Speaking of the lawnmower, sometime during the winter, one of the cats managed to knock a length of 2x4 board off the rafters in the garage, which dropped onto the hood of the mower, knocking a hole in it. Bless the cats...it's always something with them.

Mother's and my after lunch activity was watching last night's episode of "Dancing With the Stars." Afterward, I decided I wanted to go out to the roadside vendor stand to pick up the first of this season's strawberries. This morning, the vendor called to tell us that strawberries from one of the towns south of us are ready.

Mother was up for a ride on this pleasant afternoon, so I helped her get to the car. Hubbie was at the John Deere business at this time, so I called him to let him know where I was going. Didn't want him to come home and find both Mother and me gone...he might think Mother had had an emergency.

He was on his way home, he said, and he'd like to go with us to the veggie stand. When he arrived, he hopped in the back seat, and I drove us out there. At the stand, I bought strawberries, yellow and zucchini squash (from Florida), and new potatoes, and Hubbie bought Big Boy tomato plants, and sweet banana pepper plants.

Back home, Hubbie went back into the yard again, and Mother and I relaxed until time to prepare supper. Tonight, we had Spanish Chicken, served with potatoes, carrots, and onions leftover from Sunday's pork roast, along with a choice of Lima beans or butter beans. Mother helped with the meal by chopping the onion and mixing seasonings in a Ziplock bag in which she coated the chicken. After supper, Mother had a dish of ice cream for dessert, and I had a dish of ice cream over sliced srawberries.

Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then he and I watched TV.








Monday, April 15, 2013

Monday, April 15

Up around 7:30 this morning. No water aerobics, so I did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house mid-morning, and she went to her jigsaw puzzle. This is a 550-piece puzzle that seems to be a bit difficult, so I don't think she's enjoying it much. I'll need to look for another one she might like better.

It was a this-and-that sort of day, as I caught up with chores, like laundry, that I couldn't complete over the weekend, because we spent a lot of time at the Scottish Festival.

A locally beautiful, sunny, warm day was scarred by news of bombings at the Boston Marathon. We were glued to the TV for a good while after we heard the news around 2 p.m. What a horrible tragedy. How could someone do a thing like that? I'm heartsick for the victims.

Supper was leftovers from yesterday's pork roast dinner, so it didn't take long to get it on the table at 5 p.m. After supper, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and then we watched TV for the evening, including episodes of "Vikings," from the History Channel, and "Mr. Selfridge," from PBS.











Sunday, April 14, 2013

Sunday, April 14

Woke up at 5:30 a.m., and was unable to go back to sleep. We got up when Hubbie awoke around seven. Skipped my exercises, as usual on Sundays. Got ready for the day right after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9 a.m., and before 10 a.m., Hubbie and I went back to the Scottish Festival to watch the sheep herding event.

Not many folks were at the festival this morning, so we had no problem finding a parking space. The sheep herding event didn't go exactly as planned, since all but one of the sheep took off across the campus, winding their way among the exhibit booths. The sheep dog was hot on their heels, and the shepherd hurried off after them, too. I managed to snap a couple of photos of one of the escaping sheep, with the dog at its heels. One sheep was left behind, and it bleated in panic at being separated from the flock. A woman managed to shoo it into the sheep trailer, where it continued to be agitated, but was at least safe.

When the sheep, dog, and shepherd didn't come back for a long time, Hubbie and I decided to walk around the festival, where we visited with clan exhibitors. At one of the booths, an exhibitor found our clan tartans in a book. He told us that not only does Hubbie have a Scottish tartan, and I have an Irish one, but there is a tartan and for every U.S. state. So on April 6, Tartan Day, a day to celebrate Scottish heritage, we could wear our choice of clan tartans.

We also stopped to watch a couple of Highland dances. Here, we learned that the dances were orginally performed by men, of course (the sword dance, the sailor's dance, etc.) but in the late 19th century, women began to take over the tradition. Now, ninety-eight percent of the dancers are women.

At noon, there was to be a Bonniest Knees contest, but we didn't stay long enough for this. The contest consists of blindfolded women feeling the knees of men in kilts to determine the bonniest ones. It would have been fun to see this, but it wasn't scheduled until noon, and we needed to get home before that.

At home, around 11:30, I heated the potato soup, which we had with egg salad and tuna salad sandwiches. Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle after that, and I did this and that around the house until time to prepare supper. Mid-afternoon, Hubbie peeled and quartered potatoes, and Mother peeled and quartered onions, and I browned a pork roast and put it in a slow cooker, along with the veggies (carrots included), beef and chicken broths, and herbs and spices.

Relaxed for the rest of the afternoon, then enjoyed the pork roast meal around 5 p.m. Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then he and I watched TV.

It was a nice day today...started a bit chilly, but warmed up nicely later. It's supposed to get a lot warmer tomorrow, and humid, as well. Then, we can expect storms mid-week...hoping they won't be severe.

We can sleep late tomorrow, though, because there won't be a water aerobics session, since the coach/lifeguard will be out of town with the college's baseball team.