Saturday, October 12, 2013

Saturday, Oct. 12

Slept late, until around 8 a.m. Did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast.

Shortly after that, there came a thunderstorm. I'm not keen on being either in the kitchen or the bathroom during thunderstorms, so I waited to hit the shower.

The annual citywide yard sales were scheduled for today, but we opted out, of course. I wonder how many of the sales were cancelled due to the weather. It's just as well that we didn't go, because I don't need anymore stuff cluttering my house.

During a period when the storm slacked a bit, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house. Not long after she got here, the rain started up again. We didn't really feel like doing anything useful, so we decided to watch movies on TV.

The thunderstorms finally stopped around noon, so I went upstairs to get ready for the day. Mother adjourned to her jigsaw puzzle, and Hubbie continued watching TV.

Later in the afternoon, Hubbie and I watched our favorite college football team as they played to a positively embarrassing loss. Boo-hiss.

After a thoroughly unproductive day, we had leftovers for supper. I put spaghetti and sauce in the oven to heat, and Mother prepared salads and garlic bread. She and I also snapped beans from the garden, which I seasoned and put on the stove to simmer with chicken and beef broths, banana peppers and onions, and various seasonings. We'll have these with other veggies at lunch tomorrow.

Mother stayed around for a while after supper to watch TV, and then Hubbie accompanied her home. He and I vegged in front of TV after that, including episodes of "One Tree Hill."  I only half paid attention, since I spent time on my laptop, browsing my e-reader, or reading newspapers and Smithsonian magazines.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Friday, Oct. 11

Slept late, until around 8 a.m. Skipped my exercises after breakfast, so I could get ready to go to an event at the museum, where there was to be a display of Model-T's, or "Tin Lizzies." The cars were first to be at the local Ford dealer, so that's where we went.

By the time we got there, though, it was only minutes before the drivers fired up their vehicles to go to the museum. So we traveled to the museum, too, passing the antique cars on our way. We arrived at the museum in time to snag a handicap space.

The cars paraded to their assigned parking spaces, and then we were able to walk among them and snap pictures. I just love these old cars, some of which are colorful, and others that have stuck to traditional black.

We spent about an hour at the museum, touring the dozen or so cars, and talking with the owners. What a gorgeous day for this event.

From there, we went to the farmers market, where we picked up apples, butternut squash, as well as a couple of small pumpkins to add to the outdoor display. Then we went to a fast food restaurant to get cups of chili for lunch.

Back home, after lunch, while Hubbie ran errands, I set a pan of eggs on to boil, and then made a recipe of Chinese beets.

When I was done in the kitchen, Mother and I watched both the 1953 and 2005 versions of "War of the Worlds." These are two of the movies we traditionally watch in October...Halloween month. Hubbie isn't keen on them, though, so he finds other things to do.

Later, for supper, Mother peeled and chopped the eggs, which I added to white gravy. Served the egg gravy over toast.

Afterward, I accompanied Mother to her house, and then Hubbie and I changed clothes to go to a reception at the art gallery.

The artist, 91 years old, paints whimsical acrylics depicting life in the south. He attended the reception and spoke briefly of his varied life as an artist, which included advertising, and creating cartoon cells for Walt Disney.

Back home around 7 p.m., I took a sample of the refreshments from the gallery to Mother, and then Hubbie and I settled in to watch one-hour shows on TV.

It was a pleasant day.

  

  

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Thursday, Oct. 10

Slept late, until around 8 a.m. Did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. While I got ready for the day, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, and she went to her puzzle.

At 9:30, Hubbie headed out to run a couple of errands before going to a Master Gardener meeting at 10 a.m.

I did this and that around the house while he was gone. Lunch was on the table by the time he returned at noon. Mother opted for her usual Ramen Noodle soup, and I heated the remainder of the pork roast, potatoes, and gravy, for Hubbie's and my lunch.

Afterward, Mother returned to her puzzle, Hubbie shopped for groceries, and I started a pot of spaghetti sauce simmering. While the sauce cooked, I settled in to read back issues of Smithsonian magazine. When I'm through with them, I'll check to see if any family members want them. If not, I'll toss them, or leave them in the doctor's office waiting room. This is part of a plan to purge the house of unwanted or unneeded "stuff" of which I have a ton.

When Hubbie returned, he said he'd contacted the man who is to complete the job in the stairwell and upstairs bathroom, and the man said the job he is on now is taking longer than expected, so instead of beginning the project here tomorrow, it will be Monday. Dad gum it, this disruption has dragged on long enough! I feel like I'm living out of a suitcase.

Later, I cooked the spaghetti, and Mother prepared salad and garlic bread. It was a good meal, of course. We love spaghetti, and it's a standby meal that's quick to prepare on nights I can't think of anything else, or when I've failed to plan a week's menu, like I did this week.

Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house afterward, and then he and I watched one-hour shows on TV.









Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Wednesday, Oct. 9

Up at 7 a.m. to get ready for an 8:45 doctor appointment. Part of the appointment was a fasting lab blood draw, so I didn't eat or drink anything (except water) this morning.

It was a chilly morning, so a jacket felt good. At the clinic, I didn't have to wait long before the lab called me back. After the blood draw, I waited for the nurse to fetch me. In the meantime, a man seated in the same area engaged me in conversation. He was worried, because he has been experiencing what he called frequent "head rushes," and episodes of his right hand involuntarily turning inward.  He said doctors have so far said he is suffering seizures, but they have not been able to find the source of his problem. Like me, he was there for lab and urine tests.

Before long, a nurse fetched me to go to an exam room. The routine exam was quick, but then the doctor was in a talkative mood, so we chatted for quite a while. Somehow, we got on the topic of genealogy.

She said her aunt was the one who traced their family tree, and had compiled a large volume of information. But she has recently died (at the age of only 53), and now no one knows where that volume is. Family lore says that they are possibly related in some convoluted way to Robert E. Lee.

She told a couple of funny tales. One involved another of her aunts (who, I take it, is rather snooty). She was on a trip to Atlanta, Georgia with a group of friends, and while there, they took a carriage  tour of stately homes.

As they traveled, the aunt bragged about how her ancestors came from the area, but quickly buttoned her lips when the tour guide mentioned that they were riding through what was once known as the red light district.

The doctor said that family lore also has it that her long ago ancestors once owned and operated plantations in Jamaica. "We think that's where our blue eyes turned brown," she laughed.

Finally, near 10 a.m., I was ready to leave the clinic. Hubbie and I had agreed that he would meet me for breakfast at the hospital cafeteria after my appointment, so I called him to let him know I was on my way there. The hospital is the building across the street from the clinic, so I thought I'd have to wait for him to arrive. But it turned out he was already there.

For breakfast we had scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, bacon (and a patty of sausage for Hubbie), and cups of coffee...all for under $5. This was the price for both plates. After we'd eaten, I got a to-go order of the same breakfast for Mother's lunch.

Back home, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house. I didn't have anything planned for the rest of the day, so we watched a PG-13 suspense movie..."Barricade." A man loses his wife, and then takes his kids on a winter trip to a remote cabin. They are besieged by what appears to be an unnatural force.

Around noon, the guy who is to do the work on the stairwell and upstairs bathroom brought a texture sample by for me to look at and think about. It's a large sample piece...maybe two feet by three feet...so I could hold it up in various places along the wall. I like it, and I think it will add interest to the walls.

Later, for supper, we had the remainder of the leftover roast pork and trimmings. Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then we watched various one-hour shows on TV.

While we did that, I decided to make an apple cobbler. There was a package of apples in the freezer that had been there for a couple of years, and I wanted to use them while they were still good. When the cobbler was done, I took a dish of it to Mother. Hubbie and I enjoyed ours warm, topped with ice cream.















Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Tuesday, Oct. 8

Up at 6:30. Skipped my exercises and got dressed to go to a luncheon/talk at the hospital later. I would have waited to do this, but I needed to be ready and have the bathroom cleared for the woman who was to come and start work again on the stairwell and bathroom.

After breakfast, we waited...and waited...for the woman to come and begin work. When she hadn't arrived by 9 a.m., Hubbie called and left a message on her phone. She didn't call back.

We went on to our luncheon event just after 11 a.m. Today's talk was about a new procedure for hip replacement. Hubbie has a little problem with his hips, but nothing serious enough for surgery. Neither Mother nor I seem to have hip problems.

But Mother enjoys the outing each month, because we meet folks we haven't seen in a while. The lunch is always pretty good, too. It's usually some variation of chicken, with oven fried potatoes, green beans, a roll, and fresh mixed fruit. Today, the chicken was baked and topped with sauteed onions and mushrooms.

The speaker, a doctor, presented a very brief slide program...it lasted around five minutes...and then for the rest of the time answered questions. This doctor is one of only a handful in our state that uses what he calls a non-invasive method of hip repair that requires no therapy afterward.

Back home, we didn't accomplish much for the afternoon, but later, a guy came by and said he was the uncle of the woman who was supposed to be here this morning. He said he was willing to finish the job that she isn't going to do. So he assessed things and promised to drop by around noon tomorrow and show me some texture samples. Then he has agreed to come Friday to begin the task, which he will continue doing every work day until everything is accomplished.

By the time the job is complete, it'll be nearly a month from the time we chose paints to the point everything's done. I hate home improvement projects.

For supper, Hubbie and I had hot pork roast sandwiches, with grape tomatoes topped with cottage cheese for me, and coleslaw for Hubbie. We both had individual cups of applesauce. Mother wasn't hungry, so I sent a slice of pork roast and a cup of applesauce home with her to have later.

Around 7 p.m., Hubbie and I went to Niece's house to deliver four 40-lb. boxes of sweet potatoes, which his sister will be taking to another town to distribute to various family members. On the way, we enjoyed seeing the crescent moon, with the planet Venus shining brightly below it. On the way home, we saw three deer on the roadside. Thankfully, they didn't dash out in front of our van.

Back home, we watched episodes of "One Tree Hill."





Monday, October 7, 2013

Monday, Oct. 7

Up at 6 a.m. to get ready for water aerobics. Br-r-r...chilly morning. I dug out my fleece wear and hoodie for the trip to the college. Thankfully, the pool was nice and warm.

Everybody wanted to know where I was last week, and when I told them that I hadn't gotten word that the pool was open, several apologized for not getting in touch with me. I assured them that it was fine...no one could have known that I'd been left out of the loop.

Our leader was there this morning, too. I know she had a rough time when the elderly man she was taking care of died, and I offered my condolences. He'd been a family friend for many years, and since he had no family living nearby, she saw as her duty to care for him. She did it graciously, but I know it was burdensome to her at times.

I didn't ask, but she felt the need to talk about his final day. She said he had decided to take a shower Saturday night before the college football game. While he was in the shower, our leader heard a crash and went to see about him. He was slumped in the shower and bleeding from the nose.

She tried to get him up, but he couldn't help himself, and he was too heavy for her to lift. He was conscious...in fact, he told her to shut the shower off, since she was fully clothes and getting soaked.

She called an ambulance, but he lost consciousness on the way to the hospital. Doctors wanted to airlift him to our capital city, but our leader stressed that the man (92 years old) had emphasized that if anything happened to him, he didn't want to linger.

So he was placed on life support until his sons and grandsons could arrive and make decisions for him. After family, and our leader, had seen a scan that showed he had suffered a brain hemorrhage, they agreed that he should be taken off life support.

This was a man who was well loved and respected in our community. He served as a preacher right up to his last day. There was a front page story about his life in our local newspaper last Monday.

Our leader reminded us this morning that the pool will be closed again until a week from Wednesday...I'm not sure why.

Back home, I enjoyed a couple of cups of coffee to warm up, and then got ready for the day.  In the meantime, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house.

Back downstairs, I began decorating the mantel for fall. The first thing I discovered was that I didn't know where my pilgrims were. Hubbie had re-boxed them last year and then stowed them we knew not where.

We went through the closet in the spare bedroom, where they'd been stored every other year, but they were nowhere to be found. Hubbie removed every box in there. Nope, they just weren't there. They weren't on any of the storeroom shelves, in the upstairs closet, or in the outdoor shed.

I was sure there was another tote of decorations somewhere, because there were other items missing. So Hubbie scoured the garage. Sure enough, he'd stowed a tote there, and the pilgrims were in a smaller tote inside of it.

Problem solved, and I finished the mantel. By now, it was time for lunch, so I fixed Ramen Noodle soup for Mother, and the leftover Dragon Soup for Hubbie and me, along with bread and peanut butter.

After lunch, Mother went to her puzzle, Hubbie ran errands, and I did this and that. Later, Hubbie decided to go buy boxes of sweet potatoes for family, and Mother and I went along for the ride.

For supper, I heated leftover Salisbury steaks in gravy, mashed potatoes, and spinach. Afterward, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and then he and I watched episodes of "One Tree Hill."













Sunday, October 6, 2013

Sunday, Oct. 6

Slept late this morning, until after 8 a.m. Skipped my exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house mid-morning, and she prepared veggies for a pork loin roast. Hubbie peeled potatoes to go with it, and I browned the meat, seasoned everything, and put the roast in the slow cooker with cans of chicken and beef broth.

Mother went to her puzzle after that, and I finished the library book I'd borrowed for my tablet. Close to noon, the roast was done, so I made gravy and served the meal with individual cups of applesauce, and a side of coleslaw.

Afterward, Mother went back to her puzzle, and Hubbie and I ran errands...to a grocery store for a few on-sale items, and this week's free item, and to the library to take back the "One Tree Hill" DVDs. We finished watching season seven, but didn't have time to start season eight. Since Hubbie had checked both of them out, we turned in season seven, and I checked out season eight. Then he checked out season nine, which is the end of the series this.

From there, we went to the WDCS for more groceries. While there, I picked up a gray fleece hoodie for Mother. She wore mine yesterday and liked it so much that I figured she needed one of her own.

At home, Mother joined us in watching a couple of Hallmark movies. Afterward, Hubbie did the honors of making French toast for our supper. Then we both accompanied Mother to hr house.

Hubbie and I spent the rest of the evening watching episodes of "One Tree Hill."