Up at 7:30 to a dark day, with thunder rumbling in the distance. It wasn't long before the rain started. Only got about a half inch, but more is predicted for tomorrow.
Did stair stepping exercises after breakfast, but skipped weights exercises, since I got a really good resistance workout at the pool yesterday.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house as soon as the rain abated. Before I went upstairs, I washed the Venus grapes we got at the grape festival, and mother removed them from the stems, while I got ready for the day.
We decided to juice them, since Hubbie isn't fond of them as table grapes. When I got back downstairs, I set the grapes to simmer for ten minutes. Once the grapes had cooled, Mother and I squeezed them in a juicing bag. If we have time tomorrow, we'll make jelly from the juice.
After lunch, I mixed a boxed chocolate cake, which Mother put into cupcake pans. Then we watched several episodes of "Wind at My Back."
Later, Mother helped me prepare bagel pizzas for supper. We had them with salad and cottage cheese, and cupcakes for dessert.
Then we resumed watching "Wind at My Back," until around 8:30, when Mother was ready to go home. Hubbie accompanied her.
Hubbie and I finished the evening watching a couple of one-hour programs.
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Note: I'm sort of concerned for the grandson of the lady who stands beside me at water aerobics. He's a helicopter paramedic, and a very good one apparently, since he was assigned to go to Saudia Arabia to work. It's a six-month-on/six-month-off type of job, but it pays very well. However, with the current threats from that region, I'm sure my friend is on pins and needles worrying about his safety.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
Friday, August 2
Up at 6 a.m. to get ready for water aerobics. Nice morning...not overly hot or humid. The hill leading to the college was pretty, with a cloud layer nestled among the trees. The variable oak trees closest to the road are winter bare, though, after hordes of caterpillars feasted on the leaves.
The pool was pleasant, and a dozen of us enjoyed the aerobics session. The pool will be closed now until August 19, since the coach/lifeguard has other business to attend to.
Back home, after a couple of cups of coffee, I was ready to go upstairs. I wasn't in the bathroom long, though, before I got a call on the land line from Niece in New York. We chatted for quite a while, and it was 11 a.m. before I went back upstairs.
By the time I was ready for the day, it was close to noon, so I fixed lunch. Hubbie had accompanied Mother to our house earlier, and she was working on a jigsaw puzzle.
After lunch, she went back to her puzzle, and Hubbie and I ran errands...to a grocery store to pick up this week's free item (a box of hamburger helper, which I'll bequeath to a family member), and cans of beef and chicken broth; to the health store for fish oil gels; and to the WDCS for a few grocery items. We decided today was a better day to go to that store, since we figure it'll be crowded wall-to-wall tomorrow with folks trying to take advantage of back-to-school tax-free days.
Spent the afternoon doing this and that, and then for supper we had spaghetti, with the same sides as last night.
Later, we watched a few episodes of "Wind at My Back." Around 10 p.m., Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house.
The pool was pleasant, and a dozen of us enjoyed the aerobics session. The pool will be closed now until August 19, since the coach/lifeguard has other business to attend to.
Back home, after a couple of cups of coffee, I was ready to go upstairs. I wasn't in the bathroom long, though, before I got a call on the land line from Niece in New York. We chatted for quite a while, and it was 11 a.m. before I went back upstairs.
By the time I was ready for the day, it was close to noon, so I fixed lunch. Hubbie had accompanied Mother to our house earlier, and she was working on a jigsaw puzzle.
After lunch, she went back to her puzzle, and Hubbie and I ran errands...to a grocery store to pick up this week's free item (a box of hamburger helper, which I'll bequeath to a family member), and cans of beef and chicken broth; to the health store for fish oil gels; and to the WDCS for a few grocery items. We decided today was a better day to go to that store, since we figure it'll be crowded wall-to-wall tomorrow with folks trying to take advantage of back-to-school tax-free days.
Spent the afternoon doing this and that, and then for supper we had spaghetti, with the same sides as last night.
Later, we watched a few episodes of "Wind at My Back." Around 10 p.m., Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Thursday, August 1
Whew! What a beginning to the new month!
Slept late, until around 7:30, then did stair stepping after breakfast.
Hubbie's sister called early to ask if we'd consider taking his niece's dachshund dog. Seems the dog snapped at the baby yesterday, so her dad, fearing that the dog might bite the baby, decided it had to go. So Niece was desperately looking for someone in the family to take him.
We don't want a dog right now, particularly a lively male dachshund. Also, we don't think our cats would be fond of a dog. However, we did agree to take the dog for the day, just to get it out of Niece's house, since her husband was so adamant about getting rid of it.
So Hubbie went to Niece's house right away and got the dog. It had been banished to the garage, and was on a chain. Niece was so distraught at losing her dog that she sobbed when Hubbie took him. Niece has had the dog for ten years.
The dog was not happy at being here, but he adjusted somewhat...enough to eat and drink, and hop in our laps for comfort. But he kept watching the front door, anticipating that his family would come soon and rescue him.
Hubbie spent a good part of the day talking by phone to his sister in an effort to come to some agreement about the dog. It was finally agreed that the dog would be better off living with his sister, since he has spent a lot of time there, and he loves Hubbie's sister.
His sister was concerned about what she would do with the dog when Niece visited, since Niece's husband is adamant that the baby not be around him. Hubbie suggested that the dog could be confined to a room, or to the backyard when Niece visits.
His sister's next objection was what she would do with the dog when she came over for overnight visits with Niece. Hubbie said we would agree to keep the dog for a couple of days when she visits, if we have no other plans.
We kept the dog all day, until Hubbie's sister and a nephew traveled over here to pick him up later this evening.
In the meantime, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house this morning, and she made garlic butter and then sliced French bread to slather it on. She also cut up salad. I got ready for the day, and then started a recipe of spaghetti sauce simmering.
After lunch, Mother and I made another batch of apple jelly, using the automatic jelly maker. Yesterday's batch turned out beautifully.
Later, I cooked spaghetti, and put the garlic bread in the oven. Yesterday, Grandson said he would be here around 5 p.m. At 4:30, he called to say he was bringing his family with him. So I put another pan on to cook just a little more spaghetti.
Just after 5 p.m., they arrived, and we sat down to supper. Everyone seemed to enjoy the spaghetti and sauce, salad with grape tomatoes from our garden, cottage cheese, and garlic bread, with grapes (from the festival) for dessert.
Shortly after supper, Hubbie's sister called to ask if he'd take the dog to Niece's house, because Niece wanted to see him one last time before he left. Back home, Hubbie commented that both Niece and his sister were distraught, so there was a lot of crying going on.
We visited with Grandson and his family until around 8 p.m. Grandson said he has a dentist's appointment early in the morning, so they needed to head home. It was a fun evening of jigsaw puzzles and toys.
Slept late, until around 7:30, then did stair stepping after breakfast.
Hubbie's sister called early to ask if we'd consider taking his niece's dachshund dog. Seems the dog snapped at the baby yesterday, so her dad, fearing that the dog might bite the baby, decided it had to go. So Niece was desperately looking for someone in the family to take him.
We don't want a dog right now, particularly a lively male dachshund. Also, we don't think our cats would be fond of a dog. However, we did agree to take the dog for the day, just to get it out of Niece's house, since her husband was so adamant about getting rid of it.
So Hubbie went to Niece's house right away and got the dog. It had been banished to the garage, and was on a chain. Niece was so distraught at losing her dog that she sobbed when Hubbie took him. Niece has had the dog for ten years.
The dog was not happy at being here, but he adjusted somewhat...enough to eat and drink, and hop in our laps for comfort. But he kept watching the front door, anticipating that his family would come soon and rescue him.
Hubbie spent a good part of the day talking by phone to his sister in an effort to come to some agreement about the dog. It was finally agreed that the dog would be better off living with his sister, since he has spent a lot of time there, and he loves Hubbie's sister.
His sister was concerned about what she would do with the dog when Niece visited, since Niece's husband is adamant that the baby not be around him. Hubbie suggested that the dog could be confined to a room, or to the backyard when Niece visits.
His sister's next objection was what she would do with the dog when she came over for overnight visits with Niece. Hubbie said we would agree to keep the dog for a couple of days when she visits, if we have no other plans.
We kept the dog all day, until Hubbie's sister and a nephew traveled over here to pick him up later this evening.
In the meantime, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house this morning, and she made garlic butter and then sliced French bread to slather it on. She also cut up salad. I got ready for the day, and then started a recipe of spaghetti sauce simmering.
After lunch, Mother and I made another batch of apple jelly, using the automatic jelly maker. Yesterday's batch turned out beautifully.
Later, I cooked spaghetti, and put the garlic bread in the oven. Yesterday, Grandson said he would be here around 5 p.m. At 4:30, he called to say he was bringing his family with him. So I put another pan on to cook just a little more spaghetti.
Just after 5 p.m., they arrived, and we sat down to supper. Everyone seemed to enjoy the spaghetti and sauce, salad with grape tomatoes from our garden, cottage cheese, and garlic bread, with grapes (from the festival) for dessert.
Shortly after supper, Hubbie's sister called to ask if he'd take the dog to Niece's house, because Niece wanted to see him one last time before he left. Back home, Hubbie commented that both Niece and his sister were distraught, so there was a lot of crying going on.
We visited with Grandson and his family until around 8 p.m. Grandson said he has a dentist's appointment early in the morning, so they needed to head home. It was a fun evening of jigsaw puzzles and toys.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Wednesday, July 31
Last day of July already. It hasn't been a bad month...the weather has been great compared to last year, when temps stayed in the 100's for a few weeks, and there was a terrible drought. By this time in 2012, the trees were stressed and covered in dust. This year, they are as green and bright as they were in the spring.
I guess we had a trace of rain last night, since the ground was slightly wet. I did hear thunder in the distance when I got up around 2 a.m.
Fortunately, when I returned to bed, I fell right back to sleep, unlike some nights when sleep eludes me after I've gotten up.
Monday night, we were awakened twice with fierce thunder that accompanied storm producing about three inches of rain. Our rain-starved veggie gardens loved it.
Got up at 6 a.m. to get ready for water aerobics. Fifteen of us showed up. Our leader had to leave early for an appointment, and so I decided to leave early too. Learned today that Friday is the last day of aerobics for two weeks, since the lifeguard/coach has other business to attend to.
Back home, after a couple of cups of coffee, I headed upstairs to get ready for the day. In the meantime, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, and she went to work on her jigsaw puzzle.
Later, after lunch, I gathered supplies and ingredients for making apple jelly. I wanted to try the automatic jelly maker (the replacement for the one that didn't work). Mother helped and we made four half pints. This time, the jelly maker came to a rolling boil, so I think it worked as it is supposed to. I'll know for sure when I check the jelly tomorrow.
After that, we all relaxed...Mother went back to her puzzle, Hubbie watched TV, and I read a novel on my e-tablet.
Later, Mother and I made supper preparations...she peeled the new potatoes I steamed yesterday, and diced an onion, so I could saute' them. While she did that, I peeled and cubed the steamed squash to make a casserole. I mixed the squash with egg substitute, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese, along with spices...salt free seasoning, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Topped the dish with bread crumbs, and baked it for an hour. Heated the rest of the leftovers...steak strips with peppers and onions, green beans, and baked beans.
As the meal was cooking, we got a surprise visit from Grandson. He is working nearby, and decided to chance dropping by for a visit. We were so happy when he agreed to stay for supper. I sliced a plate of tomatoes from the garden, and popped a pan of canned biscuits into the oven.
It was an unusual meal of various foods, but Grandson seemed to enjoy it. I insisted that he finish the remainder of it, since I didn't want to put it back in the refrigerator. Grandson works hard, so he has a good appetite. Served ice cream topped with fresh peaches for dessert.
He'll still be on the same job tomorrow, so he said he would come by for supper tomorrow night, too. I made sure he like spaghetti, since that's what I have planned for tomorrow's meal. He said he loves spaghetti.
Grandson visited for a little while after supper and then headed home. We spent the rest of the evening watching episodes of "Wind at My Back." Mother was ready to go home around 9 p.m., and Hubbie accompanied her.
I guess we had a trace of rain last night, since the ground was slightly wet. I did hear thunder in the distance when I got up around 2 a.m.
Fortunately, when I returned to bed, I fell right back to sleep, unlike some nights when sleep eludes me after I've gotten up.
Monday night, we were awakened twice with fierce thunder that accompanied storm producing about three inches of rain. Our rain-starved veggie gardens loved it.
Got up at 6 a.m. to get ready for water aerobics. Fifteen of us showed up. Our leader had to leave early for an appointment, and so I decided to leave early too. Learned today that Friday is the last day of aerobics for two weeks, since the lifeguard/coach has other business to attend to.
Back home, after a couple of cups of coffee, I headed upstairs to get ready for the day. In the meantime, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, and she went to work on her jigsaw puzzle.
Later, after lunch, I gathered supplies and ingredients for making apple jelly. I wanted to try the automatic jelly maker (the replacement for the one that didn't work). Mother helped and we made four half pints. This time, the jelly maker came to a rolling boil, so I think it worked as it is supposed to. I'll know for sure when I check the jelly tomorrow.
After that, we all relaxed...Mother went back to her puzzle, Hubbie watched TV, and I read a novel on my e-tablet.
Later, Mother and I made supper preparations...she peeled the new potatoes I steamed yesterday, and diced an onion, so I could saute' them. While she did that, I peeled and cubed the steamed squash to make a casserole. I mixed the squash with egg substitute, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese, along with spices...salt free seasoning, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Topped the dish with bread crumbs, and baked it for an hour. Heated the rest of the leftovers...steak strips with peppers and onions, green beans, and baked beans.
As the meal was cooking, we got a surprise visit from Grandson. He is working nearby, and decided to chance dropping by for a visit. We were so happy when he agreed to stay for supper. I sliced a plate of tomatoes from the garden, and popped a pan of canned biscuits into the oven.
It was an unusual meal of various foods, but Grandson seemed to enjoy it. I insisted that he finish the remainder of it, since I didn't want to put it back in the refrigerator. Grandson works hard, so he has a good appetite. Served ice cream topped with fresh peaches for dessert.
He'll still be on the same job tomorrow, so he said he would come by for supper tomorrow night, too. I made sure he like spaghetti, since that's what I have planned for tomorrow's meal. He said he loves spaghetti.
Grandson visited for a little while after supper and then headed home. We spent the rest of the evening watching episodes of "Wind at My Back." Mother was ready to go home around 9 p.m., and Hubbie accompanied her.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Tuesday, July 30
Slept late this morning, until around 8 a.m. Did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30.
Then before I went upstairs to get ready for the day, I washed green beans, and the three of us snapped them. We got two Dutch ovens of them, which I seasoned and set to simmering.
As usual, by the time I was showered and dressed, it was time for lunch. After lunch, the air conditioner repairman came and did whatever was needed to the unit, including putting freon in it. He also suggested that if it freezes up again, we should set the thermostat for fan only to help thaw it.
After the repairman left, Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, and I did this and that until around 3 p.m., when we prepared veggies for the steamer...patty pan and yellow squashes topped with quartered onions and banana pepper strips, and new potatoes.
The squashes, potatoes, and green beans, were delicious. Baked a recipe of cornbread for Hubbie and Mother, but I skipped bread with my supper.
Mother was ready to go home afterward. Hubbie and I spent the evening watching TV, as usual.
Then before I went upstairs to get ready for the day, I washed green beans, and the three of us snapped them. We got two Dutch ovens of them, which I seasoned and set to simmering.
As usual, by the time I was showered and dressed, it was time for lunch. After lunch, the air conditioner repairman came and did whatever was needed to the unit, including putting freon in it. He also suggested that if it freezes up again, we should set the thermostat for fan only to help thaw it.
After the repairman left, Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, and I did this and that until around 3 p.m., when we prepared veggies for the steamer...patty pan and yellow squashes topped with quartered onions and banana pepper strips, and new potatoes.
The squashes, potatoes, and green beans, were delicious. Baked a recipe of cornbread for Hubbie and Mother, but I skipped bread with my supper.
Mother was ready to go home afterward. Hubbie and I spent the evening watching TV, as usual.
Monday, July 28
Up at 6 a.m. to get ready for water aerobics. Cool morning for the walk to the gym. The water in the pool was okay, if a little cool. Seventeen of us showed up this morning for a good workout with the water noodle dumb bells.
Back home, I enjoyed a couple of cups of coffee. Then before I went upstairs to get ready for the day, I worked with Mother and Hubbie to peel and slice peaches for the freezer, because Hubbie was antsy about the fruit going south if we didn't immediately work it up. I'm pretty sure they would have kept until I was showered and dressed, though.
Finally, I went upstairs. Of course, by the time I came back down, it was close to lunchtime. After lunch, I helped Mother set up a jigsaw puzzle, and then Hubbie and I ran errands.
Our first stop was the library. I got a call this morning that the two DVD's I'd requested to be put on hold were ready to be picked up. They are the final two seasons of "Wind at My Back."
We were annoyed to find that allotted library parking spaces were nearly all occupied by folks with court business (courtrooms are upstairs in the same building as the library). I really think that library parking should be reserved for patrons only. We managed to find one space left, but it was a squeeze to get into, and tricky to get out of later.
From the library, we went to the post office, and then to the bank. The pharmacy/grocery store was next. Picked up a free tube of toothpaste there, in a brand that Mother uses. I'd loaded the coupon to the store's plus card last Friday while we were at camp. Since I can't access my e-mail account on my phone, Sis let me use her phone to load the coupon.
Went to the farmer's market after that, where we picked up green beans and new potatoes. The WDCS was our last stop.
Funny: at the register, the checker was exceptionally cheerful. "It's refreshing to see a young woman like yourself so obviously happy to have a job and be working," I commented.
"I'm happy because my shift's almost over," she laughed. "Guess you spoke too soon, huh?"
"Guess so," I agreed.
Back home, Mother helped me prepare supper...she cut beef into strips, which I seasoned and browned, and then set to simmering in beef broth. Then she sliced onion, bell peppers, and mushrooms, which I added to the beef after it had cooked for a while. We had the beef with baked potatoes and canned corn.
Afterward, we watched several episodes of "Wind at My Back." Around 9:30, Mother was ready to go home. I was surprised that she wanted to stay so long. I figured she'd still be tired from the trip.
When Hubbie returned from accompanying Mother to her house, he discovered that the air conditioner was working right, because the temperature was at 77 degrees. He went out to check the unit, and discovered it was iced. So he turned the unit off, and we turned a fan on in the bedroom to sleep by. It wasn't a particularly hot, humid night, so the fan was enough.o
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Notes: got two phone calls today. The first was from my former Literacy Council student, who called from Florida to ask me to go (at my convenience) to a town about forty-five minutes away and pick up her art work at a gallery there. She'd like me to pack them to mail to her. For my trouble, she asked me to choose one of the five works for myself. That's very generous of her.
The other call was from one of my grandsons, who announced that he and his wife are expecting a baby sometime in the spring.
So in the past weeks and months, I've learned that four more great-grandchildren are expected...one this fall, and three in the spring.
Back home, I enjoyed a couple of cups of coffee. Then before I went upstairs to get ready for the day, I worked with Mother and Hubbie to peel and slice peaches for the freezer, because Hubbie was antsy about the fruit going south if we didn't immediately work it up. I'm pretty sure they would have kept until I was showered and dressed, though.
Finally, I went upstairs. Of course, by the time I came back down, it was close to lunchtime. After lunch, I helped Mother set up a jigsaw puzzle, and then Hubbie and I ran errands.
Our first stop was the library. I got a call this morning that the two DVD's I'd requested to be put on hold were ready to be picked up. They are the final two seasons of "Wind at My Back."
We were annoyed to find that allotted library parking spaces were nearly all occupied by folks with court business (courtrooms are upstairs in the same building as the library). I really think that library parking should be reserved for patrons only. We managed to find one space left, but it was a squeeze to get into, and tricky to get out of later.
From the library, we went to the post office, and then to the bank. The pharmacy/grocery store was next. Picked up a free tube of toothpaste there, in a brand that Mother uses. I'd loaded the coupon to the store's plus card last Friday while we were at camp. Since I can't access my e-mail account on my phone, Sis let me use her phone to load the coupon.
Went to the farmer's market after that, where we picked up green beans and new potatoes. The WDCS was our last stop.
Funny: at the register, the checker was exceptionally cheerful. "It's refreshing to see a young woman like yourself so obviously happy to have a job and be working," I commented.
"I'm happy because my shift's almost over," she laughed. "Guess you spoke too soon, huh?"
"Guess so," I agreed.
Back home, Mother helped me prepare supper...she cut beef into strips, which I seasoned and browned, and then set to simmering in beef broth. Then she sliced onion, bell peppers, and mushrooms, which I added to the beef after it had cooked for a while. We had the beef with baked potatoes and canned corn.
Afterward, we watched several episodes of "Wind at My Back." Around 9:30, Mother was ready to go home. I was surprised that she wanted to stay so long. I figured she'd still be tired from the trip.
When Hubbie returned from accompanying Mother to her house, he discovered that the air conditioner was working right, because the temperature was at 77 degrees. He went out to check the unit, and discovered it was iced. So he turned the unit off, and we turned a fan on in the bedroom to sleep by. It wasn't a particularly hot, humid night, so the fan was enough.o
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Notes: got two phone calls today. The first was from my former Literacy Council student, who called from Florida to ask me to go (at my convenience) to a town about forty-five minutes away and pick up her art work at a gallery there. She'd like me to pack them to mail to her. For my trouble, she asked me to choose one of the five works for myself. That's very generous of her.
The other call was from one of my grandsons, who announced that he and his wife are expecting a baby sometime in the spring.
So in the past weeks and months, I've learned that four more great-grandchildren are expected...one this fall, and three in the spring.
Sunday, July 28
Camping trip, Day two:
Woke up at 5 a.m. this morning, and then couldn't go back to sleep. Hated that, since I would need to drive later.
It was a beautiful, cool morning. Several geese, lined up one behind the other, paddled through the mist to their feeding ground farther down the lake. Snowy white cranes winged to areas near the bank, where they stood on long legs and watched the shallow water for fish.
After a fruit and bread breakfast, I joined Sis outdoors to take pictures of the geese and cranes. Mother joined us.
While we relaxed, Hubbie prepared the camper to be hooked up to the truck. When he had readied it, I helped him guide the truck to the camper hitch. A few more preparations, and we were ready to leave around 9 a.m.
The trip was uneventful, except when we stopped for a break, Sis mentioned that the left-hand brake light on the camper was not working. Drat. We got the right-hand one fixed before we left on Friday, and now the right-hand one was on the blink. Oh well, it would have to wait until we got back home...just hoped a traffic cop wouldn't see it.
Arrived back at the shopping center parking lot in the town where Sis lives at around 11:30. Nephew soon arrived to pick her up. Since it was so close to lunch time, we went ahead and had a sandwich and chips lunch.
From here to home, I drove the van. I was afraid I'd be sleepy, but I wasn't. We arrived back in our town around 2 p.m., and lost no time unloading the camper. I accompanied Mother to her house before I helped with the job.
Spent the rest of the afternoon stowing things, doing laundry, etc. Then we showered and got into comfortable clothes for relaxing in front of TV. We were plenty ready for bed when the time came. It's always fun to go on trips, but it's also good to get back to the comfort of home.
Woke up at 5 a.m. this morning, and then couldn't go back to sleep. Hated that, since I would need to drive later.
It was a beautiful, cool morning. Several geese, lined up one behind the other, paddled through the mist to their feeding ground farther down the lake. Snowy white cranes winged to areas near the bank, where they stood on long legs and watched the shallow water for fish.
After a fruit and bread breakfast, I joined Sis outdoors to take pictures of the geese and cranes. Mother joined us.
While we relaxed, Hubbie prepared the camper to be hooked up to the truck. When he had readied it, I helped him guide the truck to the camper hitch. A few more preparations, and we were ready to leave around 9 a.m.
The trip was uneventful, except when we stopped for a break, Sis mentioned that the left-hand brake light on the camper was not working. Drat. We got the right-hand one fixed before we left on Friday, and now the right-hand one was on the blink. Oh well, it would have to wait until we got back home...just hoped a traffic cop wouldn't see it.
Arrived back at the shopping center parking lot in the town where Sis lives at around 11:30. Nephew soon arrived to pick her up. Since it was so close to lunch time, we went ahead and had a sandwich and chips lunch.
From here to home, I drove the van. I was afraid I'd be sleepy, but I wasn't. We arrived back in our town around 2 p.m., and lost no time unloading the camper. I accompanied Mother to her house before I helped with the job.
Spent the rest of the afternoon stowing things, doing laundry, etc. Then we showered and got into comfortable clothes for relaxing in front of TV. We were plenty ready for bed when the time came. It's always fun to go on trips, but it's also good to get back to the comfort of home.
Saturday, July 27
We were up around 7 a.m. this cool morning. Had a yummy breakfast of raisin-cinnamon bread (smeared with cream cheese) that Sis had provided, along with fresh fruits...Bing cherries, cantaloupe, and peaches, and coffee.
We all took turns getting ready for the day, and around 9:30, Hubbie, Sis, and I were ready to head to the festival grounds. Mother opted to stay home this morning.
Festival organizers mentioned yesterday that if predicted rain materialized, the festival would be cancelled today, but fortunately the front passed, and it was a lovely day, so the the festival proceeded.
Our mission was to see if that vendors at that refrigerated truck was dispensing grapes, yet. They were, so I bought two boxes of the sweet Reliance grapes, and one box of Venus. Sis bought one of each.
We took our bounty to a shade tree, where I peered in my bags. I found that one of the boxes seemed short of grapes. When Hubbie returned, he gave me some more money, and I went to buy three more boxes of grapes.
Before I did, though, I pointed out to the vendor that one of boxes I'd already purchased seemed short. He agreed, and took all three of the boxes and stuffed them with more grapes. He did the same with the three other boxes I got. I now felt I'd gotten my money's worth.
We toured the festival grounds while we were there, stopping at a woodworker''s booth. This older gentleman displayed a beautiful mug holder that caught my eye. I have some specialty mugs that I thought would look nice on it, so Hubbie bought it for me.
At a "Treasures From Africa" booth, I saw beautiful basket-weave totes. I would have liked to have one, but I had run out of cash. Phooey.
We headed back to camp after that, but before we turned toward the campground, we stopped at a grocery store to get a smoked chicken. I actually wanted a rotisserie chicken, but when we checked this morning, we were told the rotisserie was down, and the only ones available were the smoked ones in the cooler. We settled for one of them.
Back at camp, we had a sandwich lunch and watermelon, and then we all went back to the festival. Mother went with us this time.
Hubbie bought festival wine glasses for Sis and me, which we used to sample wines at the various booths set up around the grounds. The festival featured the usual events...grape stomping, grape pie eating contests, etc.
Just after a grape stomping contest, we noticed that an elderly woman, assisted by her daughter and frail husband, was about to faint. I could see that the husband was not going to be able to hold the woman up very long, so I slipped into his place and helped hold her up, while festival staff ran in search of a chair, and went to inform attending paramedics of the crisis.
Someone brought a chair, and we got the lady seated. She was slumped head forward, and I couldn't tell if she was breathing. I knelt down and kept calling to her, asking if she could hear me. I gently patted her cheek to get her attention. She finally answered that she could hear me.
By now, paramedics arrived and went to work putting an ice pack on her neck, checking her vitals, etc., while a staff member asked her a battery of questions to be sure she hadn't had a stroke. She was able to answer everything, so it appeared that she had simply gotten heat stressed. Her daughter said she wasn't accustomed to walking that much.
The temperature today, although much moderated from past years in July, was still pretty warm by this time of the afternoon, so I'm not surprised that this 84-year-old woman got heat stressed. I hope her daughter considers a wheelchair for her for similar outings in the future. I know Mother is very grateful for hers.
This was one of those times when I was very grateful that I've kept up my stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises, as well as water aerobics, which have given me good leg and arm muscle power.
After that, Mother was ready for a cup of soft-serve ice cream, which I fetched for her. This treat is one of her favorite things about summer festivals.
When we had tired of the festival, we decided to head back to camp. First, though, we stopped at a primitive tools museum, just across the highway from the festival grounds.
This museum is anything but handicapped accessible, so it was a trick getting Mother into her wheelchair and then into the museum. Hubbie drove across the lawn to get closer to the building, because we didn't want to try to push the wheelchair across the ground.
There is no ramp at the entrance...only three steps leading up to a narrow landing. So it took all three of us to get Mother up the steps and into her wheelchair. The landing is narrow, so it was hard to open the door past the wheelchair.
But we finally managed all that, and got into the building. Oddly, there was no one in attendance at the museum. I guess it was on-your-honor, though I don't know who would want to steal all that ancient stuff. And there's a lot of stuff in there, from farm implements to household appliances.
Stopped by a couple of wineries after. Hubbie wanted to get more bottles of $2 port (Sis bought some, too), and I wanted a bottle of sangria from another winery.
At the second winery, I stood at the counter, a little way away from Hubbie, while he purchased the wine. As we stood there, a middle-aged African-American and his wife came up, pushing a dolly with several cases of wine on it.
"Are you in line?" he asked.
"Oh, no," I said, as I stepped aside. "I'm just waiting for my husband. I'll get out of the way."
"You don't want anybody to know you're with him?" he laughed.
"No, that's not it," I objected, "I think he's cute."
The man turned to his wife. "How come you ain't never told me I'm cute?" he asked.
"What? Now I got to tell you you're cute?" she chided.
The man put his arm around my shoulder and pretended to walk with me toward the door. "I think I'll just go home with her," he laughed.
That was funny enough, but it was even funnier that Hubbie was so engrossed in dealing with the clerk at the counter that he didn't even notice the conversation. At the van, though, he commented to Mother and Sis that he'd almost lost me to another man.
Back at camp, Sis and I prepared supper...the smoked chicken, with more baked beans, and macaroni salad, along with grape tomatoes from our garden, and Sis's yeast bread.
After supper, we peeled and slice peaches for the freezer. We got three quarts for us, and three for Sis. The rest would have to wait until we got home.
When we finished with the peaches, we relaxed outdoors, enjoying the cool evening. We noticed that there were no gnats or mosquitoes. Maybe the cooler weather discouraged them.
Later, closer to sunset time, we went to the dam site overlook. Here, mosquitoes were in evidence, so Hubbie retrieved the bug spray from the van.
At the overlook, we watched a tugboat maneuver multiple barges into the lock. This takes a very long time, and we didn't stay for the whole process. But we were there long enough to see a beautiful sunset. I snapped several shots of it.
We headed back to camp after that, but not before we swung by the lighted bridge, where I also snapped several shots.
At camp, we were ready to call it a day. Festival time was over. Time to head home tomorrow.
We all took turns getting ready for the day, and around 9:30, Hubbie, Sis, and I were ready to head to the festival grounds. Mother opted to stay home this morning.
Festival organizers mentioned yesterday that if predicted rain materialized, the festival would be cancelled today, but fortunately the front passed, and it was a lovely day, so the the festival proceeded.
Our mission was to see if that vendors at that refrigerated truck was dispensing grapes, yet. They were, so I bought two boxes of the sweet Reliance grapes, and one box of Venus. Sis bought one of each.
We took our bounty to a shade tree, where I peered in my bags. I found that one of the boxes seemed short of grapes. When Hubbie returned, he gave me some more money, and I went to buy three more boxes of grapes.
Before I did, though, I pointed out to the vendor that one of boxes I'd already purchased seemed short. He agreed, and took all three of the boxes and stuffed them with more grapes. He did the same with the three other boxes I got. I now felt I'd gotten my money's worth.
We toured the festival grounds while we were there, stopping at a woodworker''s booth. This older gentleman displayed a beautiful mug holder that caught my eye. I have some specialty mugs that I thought would look nice on it, so Hubbie bought it for me.
At a "Treasures From Africa" booth, I saw beautiful basket-weave totes. I would have liked to have one, but I had run out of cash. Phooey.
We headed back to camp after that, but before we turned toward the campground, we stopped at a grocery store to get a smoked chicken. I actually wanted a rotisserie chicken, but when we checked this morning, we were told the rotisserie was down, and the only ones available were the smoked ones in the cooler. We settled for one of them.
Back at camp, we had a sandwich lunch and watermelon, and then we all went back to the festival. Mother went with us this time.
Hubbie bought festival wine glasses for Sis and me, which we used to sample wines at the various booths set up around the grounds. The festival featured the usual events...grape stomping, grape pie eating contests, etc.
Just after a grape stomping contest, we noticed that an elderly woman, assisted by her daughter and frail husband, was about to faint. I could see that the husband was not going to be able to hold the woman up very long, so I slipped into his place and helped hold her up, while festival staff ran in search of a chair, and went to inform attending paramedics of the crisis.
Someone brought a chair, and we got the lady seated. She was slumped head forward, and I couldn't tell if she was breathing. I knelt down and kept calling to her, asking if she could hear me. I gently patted her cheek to get her attention. She finally answered that she could hear me.
By now, paramedics arrived and went to work putting an ice pack on her neck, checking her vitals, etc., while a staff member asked her a battery of questions to be sure she hadn't had a stroke. She was able to answer everything, so it appeared that she had simply gotten heat stressed. Her daughter said she wasn't accustomed to walking that much.
The temperature today, although much moderated from past years in July, was still pretty warm by this time of the afternoon, so I'm not surprised that this 84-year-old woman got heat stressed. I hope her daughter considers a wheelchair for her for similar outings in the future. I know Mother is very grateful for hers.
This was one of those times when I was very grateful that I've kept up my stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises, as well as water aerobics, which have given me good leg and arm muscle power.
After that, Mother was ready for a cup of soft-serve ice cream, which I fetched for her. This treat is one of her favorite things about summer festivals.
When we had tired of the festival, we decided to head back to camp. First, though, we stopped at a primitive tools museum, just across the highway from the festival grounds.
This museum is anything but handicapped accessible, so it was a trick getting Mother into her wheelchair and then into the museum. Hubbie drove across the lawn to get closer to the building, because we didn't want to try to push the wheelchair across the ground.
There is no ramp at the entrance...only three steps leading up to a narrow landing. So it took all three of us to get Mother up the steps and into her wheelchair. The landing is narrow, so it was hard to open the door past the wheelchair.
But we finally managed all that, and got into the building. Oddly, there was no one in attendance at the museum. I guess it was on-your-honor, though I don't know who would want to steal all that ancient stuff. And there's a lot of stuff in there, from farm implements to household appliances.
Stopped by a couple of wineries after. Hubbie wanted to get more bottles of $2 port (Sis bought some, too), and I wanted a bottle of sangria from another winery.
At the second winery, I stood at the counter, a little way away from Hubbie, while he purchased the wine. As we stood there, a middle-aged African-American and his wife came up, pushing a dolly with several cases of wine on it.
"Are you in line?" he asked.
"Oh, no," I said, as I stepped aside. "I'm just waiting for my husband. I'll get out of the way."
"You don't want anybody to know you're with him?" he laughed.
"No, that's not it," I objected, "I think he's cute."
The man turned to his wife. "How come you ain't never told me I'm cute?" he asked.
"What? Now I got to tell you you're cute?" she chided.
The man put his arm around my shoulder and pretended to walk with me toward the door. "I think I'll just go home with her," he laughed.
That was funny enough, but it was even funnier that Hubbie was so engrossed in dealing with the clerk at the counter that he didn't even notice the conversation. At the van, though, he commented to Mother and Sis that he'd almost lost me to another man.
Back at camp, Sis and I prepared supper...the smoked chicken, with more baked beans, and macaroni salad, along with grape tomatoes from our garden, and Sis's yeast bread.
After supper, we peeled and slice peaches for the freezer. We got three quarts for us, and three for Sis. The rest would have to wait until we got home.
When we finished with the peaches, we relaxed outdoors, enjoying the cool evening. We noticed that there were no gnats or mosquitoes. Maybe the cooler weather discouraged them.
Later, closer to sunset time, we went to the dam site overlook. Here, mosquitoes were in evidence, so Hubbie retrieved the bug spray from the van.
At the overlook, we watched a tugboat maneuver multiple barges into the lock. This takes a very long time, and we didn't stay for the whole process. But we were there long enough to see a beautiful sunset. I snapped several shots of it.
We headed back to camp after that, but not before we swung by the lighted bridge, where I also snapped several shots.
At camp, we were ready to call it a day. Festival time was over. Time to head home tomorrow.
Friday, July 26
Camping trip, day one:
Up 6 a.m., though I simply could not drop off to sleep before 2 a.m. this morning. Dragged myself out, anyway, so I could help do last-minute stuff before heading out on a camping trip to grape country, about four hours away.
We'd spent the past several day preparing food, and packing the camper, but there are always things to do on the morning of the trip. I allow at least two hours for last-minute preparations.
By 8 a.m., we were ready to head out. Hubbie drove the truck/camper, and I followed in the van, since Mother is no longer able to climb into the back seat of the truck. Down the road a ways, I noticed the right-hand brake light on the camper wasn't working. So I called Hubbie, and he pulled into our favorite auto repair shop.
He startled us a bit when, as he was pulling through the narrow gravel road beside the shop he grazed a large tank at the corner of the building. He felt it, though, stopped, and maneuvered the camper away from it.
About fifteen minutes later, the brake light was fixed and we were on the road again. The trip was uneventful for the rest of the way to a town about two hours away, where we met Sis at a shopping center parking lot.
Once she'd packed her things into the van and camper, she took over driving the van, while I rode with Hubbie.
Except for a downpour along the way, the trip to the campground was uneventful. We stopped along the way for lunch around noon, before proceeding on the last lap of the journey.
Once the camper was set up, and Mother was comfortably ensconced for a nap on the couch, Hubbie, Sis and I went on an excursion to the small town where a grape festival was to be held this afternoon and tomorrow.
At the festival site, we learned that the festival had been cancelled for today. Some vendors were already setting up. A refrigerated truck containing luscious Reliance and Venus grapes was stationed in its usual place, but no one was available to dispense the grapes. So we would have to wait until tomorrow to buy some.
From the festival venue, we went to a roadside fruit stand just outside of town to buy area peaches. Last year, there were no peaches to be had, due to the drought, but this year they seemed to be plentiful. We bought a half bushel of them, and Sis also bought some.
The peaches come from a nearby county that is known for them. Nowhere in the state are peaches as large, and succulent as in this area. At this time of the year, though, they are a bit beyond their peak, so we knew the ripest of them would not hold until we returned home to process them for the freezer. We'd have to set aside some time to work up some of them here at camp.
From the fruit stand, we visited three wineries, where we sampled some of our favorites, along with some we hadn't tried before. We bought several bottles, including a couple of on-sale port. Hubbie had sampled the port and decided it was worth the price, but when I tasted it, I found it to be a bit strong. It can be mixed with a sweet wine, though, to be made more palatable, or I can use it in cooking.
Back at camp, Mother was snoozing peacefully. It was near suppertime, so Sis and I prepared a meal of BLT's, served with baked beans heated in the microwave, and macaroni salad, as well as a salad of tomatoes, Vidalia onions, yellow squash, mushrooms, and cucumbers (the cucumbers turned out to be bitter, though, so we had to discard them). Sis had brought along baked goods, so we had yeast rolls with the meal.
After supper, we played several games of Skipbo. Mother, Hubbie, and Sis each won a game, but I went down with a goose egg.
We were ready to head to bed after that. It had been a good day, but we were all tired.
Up 6 a.m., though I simply could not drop off to sleep before 2 a.m. this morning. Dragged myself out, anyway, so I could help do last-minute stuff before heading out on a camping trip to grape country, about four hours away.
We'd spent the past several day preparing food, and packing the camper, but there are always things to do on the morning of the trip. I allow at least two hours for last-minute preparations.
By 8 a.m., we were ready to head out. Hubbie drove the truck/camper, and I followed in the van, since Mother is no longer able to climb into the back seat of the truck. Down the road a ways, I noticed the right-hand brake light on the camper wasn't working. So I called Hubbie, and he pulled into our favorite auto repair shop.
He startled us a bit when, as he was pulling through the narrow gravel road beside the shop he grazed a large tank at the corner of the building. He felt it, though, stopped, and maneuvered the camper away from it.
About fifteen minutes later, the brake light was fixed and we were on the road again. The trip was uneventful for the rest of the way to a town about two hours away, where we met Sis at a shopping center parking lot.
Once she'd packed her things into the van and camper, she took over driving the van, while I rode with Hubbie.
Except for a downpour along the way, the trip to the campground was uneventful. We stopped along the way for lunch around noon, before proceeding on the last lap of the journey.
Once the camper was set up, and Mother was comfortably ensconced for a nap on the couch, Hubbie, Sis and I went on an excursion to the small town where a grape festival was to be held this afternoon and tomorrow.
At the festival site, we learned that the festival had been cancelled for today. Some vendors were already setting up. A refrigerated truck containing luscious Reliance and Venus grapes was stationed in its usual place, but no one was available to dispense the grapes. So we would have to wait until tomorrow to buy some.
From the festival venue, we went to a roadside fruit stand just outside of town to buy area peaches. Last year, there were no peaches to be had, due to the drought, but this year they seemed to be plentiful. We bought a half bushel of them, and Sis also bought some.
The peaches come from a nearby county that is known for them. Nowhere in the state are peaches as large, and succulent as in this area. At this time of the year, though, they are a bit beyond their peak, so we knew the ripest of them would not hold until we returned home to process them for the freezer. We'd have to set aside some time to work up some of them here at camp.
From the fruit stand, we visited three wineries, where we sampled some of our favorites, along with some we hadn't tried before. We bought several bottles, including a couple of on-sale port. Hubbie had sampled the port and decided it was worth the price, but when I tasted it, I found it to be a bit strong. It can be mixed with a sweet wine, though, to be made more palatable, or I can use it in cooking.
Back at camp, Mother was snoozing peacefully. It was near suppertime, so Sis and I prepared a meal of BLT's, served with baked beans heated in the microwave, and macaroni salad, as well as a salad of tomatoes, Vidalia onions, yellow squash, mushrooms, and cucumbers (the cucumbers turned out to be bitter, though, so we had to discard them). Sis had brought along baked goods, so we had yeast rolls with the meal.
After supper, we played several games of Skipbo. Mother, Hubbie, and Sis each won a game, but I went down with a goose egg.
We were ready to head to bed after that. It had been a good day, but we were all tired.
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