Saturday, March 15

March 15...The Ides of March, which is the date that Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC (beware the Ides of March). It's also a March Madness day for basketball tournaments. March is an interesting word, e.g., the march of time, the wedding march, March of Dimes, patriotic march, marching band, March comes in like a lion, etc.

We were up around 7:30 this morning, so Hubbie could get ready to go to a plant dig at the home of a Master Gardener. The group is digging plants to offer for sale at their annual plant sale, scheduled for sometime in April.

Before he left around 8:30, he checked on Mother. She is still nursing a cold, but she's okay. She opted to stay home today, though.

After breakfast, I did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises, then got ready for the day. Then I gathered food for Mother's lunch and took it to her. As I was visiting, Hubbie returned, just after 11 a.m.

We waited to have our lunch until after we went to the new athletic area to watch a young man begin a two and a half year trip through all forty-nine states. I wanted to take pictures of the event. The young man is 21 years old and enthusiastic about his adventure.

Both of his sets of grandparents were on hand, none of whom are as enthusiastic as the young man about the trip. They are hoping he will abandon the venture after a time. The young man is doing the trip for charity, and he enlisted several sponsors, as demonstrated by patches sewn to his western shirt.

We talked briefly to the young man, who hopes to travel 20 miles a day. His route is already mapped out, and I'm sure local folks have alerted media along the way, and have contacted people who will be willing to board him and his horse from time-to-time, though he'll no doubt be spending time under the stars, as well.

I'm sure his grandparents hope he'll be ready to come home before he reaches the desert southwest. I can't imagine crossing a desert!

I felt sorry for a mule tied up nearby. The animal was pawing and desperately trying to get loose. We were told the mule is a pasture pal to the horse that will be making the trip. His owner said he'll probably need to keep the mule in a barn for a couple of weeks, until it adjusts.

Reporters from a regional TV station, and our local newspaper were on hand to cover the event.

Before the main rider, and a group that was to ride with him for about five miles, left the area, I spied a platform with stairs that I though would make a great vantage point for taking pictures, so Hubbie and I went there. Hubbie was grateful for a place to sit, after we'd stood around for about half and hour.

As I finished snapping shots from the platform, the local newspaper reporter came up and commented that I'd found a good place to take pictures. I offered to email a few of them to the newspaper, if she wanted. So she gave me her email address, and as soon as we got back home, I sent several to her.

Back home, after Hubbie and I had PB&J sandwiches, Hubbie watched tournament basketball, and I spent time uploading pics from this afternoon to my social network page, and then read my novel.

Later, I put potatoes in the oven to bake. I strained my brain tonight trying to think of something for supper, and finally decided on barbecued pork and coleslaw, with the potatoes, which meant that Hubbie went to pick up the meat, slaw mix, and buns. I recorded the ball game on DVR while he was gone.

When the potatoes had baked, around 4:30, I heated a hot dog for Mother, and then we took the meal to her house so she wouldn't have to eat alone.

We came back home shortly after supper, though, so Hubbie could finish watching his game. When the game finished, we watched one-hour shows.

Friday, March 14

Slept late, until 8 a.m., then did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 10 a.m. She was sniffling and sneezing with a head cold. So she didn't feel like going to her jigsaw puzzle. I wondered why she had come over at all, since she obviously felt cruddy. She said she had spent too many days lately home alone, thanks to bad weather days.

Hubbie ran errands this morning, while I got ready for the day. He returned around 11:30. After a lunch of Ramen noodle soup for Mother,  and leftover stirfry for Hubbie and me, Mother agreed to lie down on the couch for a nap.

Hubbie watched a basketball tournament game on TV for the afternoon, while I caught up on reading newspapers, and then read my novel. I'm finding this book to be very interesting, though I'm not familiar with the author. It's titled, "Elizabeth Street," by Laurie Fabiano, and it traces the story of an immigrant Italian woman, who tries to make a life in America at the start of the twentieth century. The book is based on her own family history. This was a bargain book, downloaded to my tablet, and well worth the nominal price.

Mother slept until after 4 p.m. She said she hadn't rested well last night, so this long nap made her feel a lot better.

Hubbie did the honors of making French toast for supper. I fried eggs to go with the meal. I also heated pancake syrup, cups of coffee, and did all the other little things necessary to getting the meal on the table.

Mother thoroughly enjoyed the meal, calling it "fun food." She was ready to go home right after the news, so Hubbie accompanied her.

There was a  5-7 p.m. reception at the art gallery tonight for an artist showing there, but we opted out of going, since 5 p.m. is our supper hour, and by the time we finished eating and changed clothes, it would have been too late to attend.

Sometimes, we do attend these receptions, but when we do, I try to serve supper a little earlier, so Mother won't have to wait to eat. Since she napped so long this afternoon and was under the weather, I decided to skip the reception.

We spent the rest of the evening watching TV...a couple of one-hour shows, and then a tournament basketball game.

Thursday, March 13

Today is Great-Granddaughter's birthday. Happy Birthday, Great-Granddaughter!

We slept late, until 8 a.m. We just can't seem to get adjusted to the time change. Monday, water aerobics begins again, so I need for my brain and body to cooperate with Daylight Saving Time.

After breakfast, Mother got ready to go to a Master Gardener meeting. Before he left, he accompanied Mother to our house. She went to her jigsaw puzzle, while I did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises.

It was late morning before I went upstairs to get ready for the day. While I was in the bathroom, the pest control guy came. I'd forgotten that he was to stop by sometime between 10 a.m. and noon. I heard the doorbell ring, so I threw on a bathrobe and hurried downstairs. But by the time I got down there, Mother had already answered the door. The guy did not have to come indoors...he just wanted us to know he was here and would be treating the house from outdoors. I hurried and dressed, so I would be ready when he came to the door again to hand me the paperwork.

Hubbie returned around noon. After lunch, Mother helped prepare veggies for stirfry, and then she went back to her puzzle. Hubbie watched a basketball game on TV, and I became absorbed in a novel I'm reading on my tablet. While I read, I began washing and drying afghans to be stored until next fall. Hopefully, the time for needing afghans is done for this winter.

Around 2 p.m., Hubbie's sister, niece, and great-niece dropped by for a short visit. They only stayed about 30 minutes. Great-Niece was of course fascinated by the cats, though she could only see them through the sunroom glass door. Even with the door closed, some of the cats scattered to hide under the hot tub. The blind cat was the most curious, and cautiously got close to the door.

At 3 p.m., I joined Hubbie in watching our favorite college basketball team as they lost by only a couple of points in tournament play. Phooey.

The stirfry with rice was very good, and it was a way to use up the remainder of fresh veggies from the Saturday birthday party, as well as packages of frozen oriental veggies that have been in the freezer for a while and needed to be used.

We enjoyed the meal in the den, so we could finish watching the ballgame. After the game, we watched the movie, "Quartet," a comedy/drama about elderly musicians and opera singers who live at a retirement home in England. The residents are planning a concert to celebrate the Verdi's birthday. Rated PG-13. Good movie.

Following that, we watched various one-hour shows. Mother stayed until after 10 p.m. We're not sure why. Maybe because she stayed home alone all day yesterday, and wanted the company tonight.

Wednesday, March 12

Whoa! What a windy day! Mother and I both opted to stay indoors, though Hubbie went out for various reasons...feeding birds and squirrels, fetching mail and newspapers, checking on Mother and taking meals to her, etc.

About 20 degrees cooler today, too, but we can't expect to have too many 76 degree days in a row just yet, I guess...not yet, at least. But the weather is slowly trying to moderate into spring.

We were up at 8 a.m., though we meant to be up at 7 a.m., since the guy who worked on our bathroom was to be here at eight to check on the toilet, which has been leaking somewhere and causing a water spot on the den ceiling. Fortunately, he didn't arrive at the appointed hour, but instead came around noon.

I skipped my exercises after breakfast, since I expected the worker to be here sometime this morning. Because I didn't know just when he'd be here, I didn't accomplish much else, either. I find it difficult to launch into a project when a worker meanders through several rooms. Today, the guy ran up and down stairs, filled a bucket with water in the kitchen, and climbed a ladder in the den to paint that water spot. He finally accomplished the task around 2 p.m.

This winter has been hard on the guy. He said he has missed about a month of work, which puts a serious dent in his budget, since he's self-employed. Besides the weather, his family vehicle quit, and he's now faced with buying a new one.

After he left, I did this and that around the house including a couple of loads of laundry, and sorting and organizing a kitchen drawer. The drawer was so full that it was difficult to close, which frustrated Hubbie so much that he recently tried to kick it shut. In doing so, he managed to break the drawer pull.

I figured we would have to replace all 28 door and drawer pulls on the cabinets, but we found a matching one on a door under the bar, so he put that one on the drawer, and we can find another one for that door. It won't matter if it matches exactly, since it's pretty much out of sight anyway.

The drawer was full of aprons, pot holders, and assorted other things, some of which I threw away, and some of which I found homes for in other drawers. The drawer is no longer overstuffed.

Later, for supper, we had leftover spaghetti, served with cottage cheese and garlic bread. Spent the evening watching SEC basketball on TV. Tonight, we'll learn which team our favorite state college team will play tomorrow evening.

Tuesday, March 11

Up at 7 a.m. this morning, but skipped my exercises so I could get ready to take Mother to the clinic for a 9 a.m. fasting lab appointment.

Sis accompanied Mother to our house just after 8 a.m., and around 8:30 we headed to the clinic. Sis helped hoist the wheelchair in and out of the van.

We rode the elevator in the clinic with a young woman, her mother, and a friend or relative, who were all elated, because the young woman had just received a sonogram (which she proudly showed to us) revealing that the child she is carrying is a boy, which is what she hoped for. 

In the clinic, we didn't have to wait long before being taken back to the lab. Sis stayed in the waiting room while we were gone.

Once the lab had drawn blood, we were escorted to the exam room. While we waited there, I gave Mother three fig cookies to eat, since she couldn't have breakfast this morning.

Everything seems to be fine with Mother. Her blood pressure is good, and she has no particular problems. So we weren't in the exam room long.

While we were in there though, we talked about last week's winter storm, which prompted the doctor to mention that she once lived in Albany, New York, where she worked as a geneticist. But after the first harsh winter there, she realized that this was not the part of the country where she wanted to make a permanent home. So she headed south and became a general practitioner. If circumstances ever warrant, though, she would gladly return to being a geneticist, since she loves the work.

We were back home around 10 a.m. Hubbie, who had made a haircut appointment, soon left to go to the beauty shop (where Mother and I also get haircuts...my hairdresser now cuts Hubbie's hair).

Shortly after 11 a.m., Mother, Sis, and I went to the Italian restaurant to meet friends for lunch. When we arrived at the parking lot, we saw that Hubbie had arrived too (he was invited to join us). One of our friends had brought quilling supplies to give to me, and since she and our other friend had arrived at the same time Hubbie did and were parked next to him, she gave him the supplies to put in his truck.

This lady is cleaning house in hopes of selling it so she can move to another town closer to her daughter and grandson. Besides the quilling supplies, she had tiles for the art gallery, and bird feeders for Hubbie, which he picked up at her house after lunch.

Shortly after we were seated in the restaurant, our friend who lives here in town spotted a woman who has been staying with her from time to time and invited her to join us. Our friends have often talked about this lady, but we had never met her.

Apparently, they have also talked about us to her, because she immediately asked if we were the ladies who made cards and other crafts.

With the addition of this lady, there were seven of us at the table, and we all enjoyed visiting. All of us except the friend who lives here in town ordered spinach quiche (a specialty of the house), with a side of mixed fruit. Toasted garlic bread and marinara sauce came with the meal.

Our friend opted for a cheeseburger and fries. We were all able to finish our meals, except the lady with the over-sized cheeseburger. She was only able to eat a quarter of the burger, and a few fries. She took the rest of her meal home.

After lunch, Hubbie followed the ladies home and picked up the tiles and bird feeders. Back home, we went through the tiles and picked out some we might want to use in making stepping stones.

Sis was ready to head home later this afternoon, but she wants to return in April for the film festival. After she left, Mother started a new jigsaw puzzle, Hubbie found things to occupy himself outdoors, and I read newspapers, and played on my tablet.

We weren't hungry at our usual supper hour, so when Mother was ready to go home after the evening news, I sent soup and cheese home with her, in case she got hungry later. I also sent a cupcake, some fig cookies, and veggies chips for snacks.

Hubbie and I spent the rest of the evening watching TV, as usual.

Monday, March 10

Slept later this morning, until nearly 8:30, and then was draggy all day. I think I felt the effects of the time change more today than I did yesterday. Did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast, anyway.

Sis accompanied Mother to our house mid-morning. They'd eaten breakfast late, too, so we were in no hurry for lunch, and waited until close to 1 p.m. to have soup and sandwiches.

I did this and that around the house after getting ready for the day, while Mother and Sis started a new puzzle, and Hubbie took the borrowed tables and chairs back downtown.

It was a beautiful day today, with temps in the 70s, but I didn't get outside. Tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer, and we will all get to enjoy it, when we meet Mother's and my friends at the local Italian restaurant around 11:30.

I made the lunch date this morning, when one of the friends called to say our other friend was to arrive in town this afternoon, so the two of them would be available to meet tomorrow. The Italian restaurant is one of the few that is convenient for Mother's wheelchair.

In the morning, though, I will take Mother to meet a doctor's appointment at 9 a.m. This is a routine fasting lab exam, so she'll be plenty ready for lunch at 11:30. Of course, if we get away from the clinic soon enough, she'll probably eat a small bite before lunch.

It was a pretty lazy day, but I did manage to plow through a stack of newspapers that have been waiting since last Friday. Later in the afternoon, I started a pot of spaghetti sauce simmering.

Mother and Sis finished the new jigsaw puzzle today, so I guess they'll start a new one tomorrow. We watched TV for a while this afternoon, and then Sis made salads, and Mother sliced French bread and spread garlic butter on it.

I waited until around 5 p.m. to begin cooking spaghetti, so the meal wasn't ready until 6 p.m. We were in no hurry for supper tonight, since we had eaten lunch late.

After supper, we watched TV, including an episode of "When Calls the Heart."

Sunday, March 9

I would have thought we'd have awakened much later this morning, since it's the first day of Daylight Savings Time, but no, we woke up at 7:30.

 Did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast, and then got ready for the day.Sis and Mother were here when I came downstairs. Since it's Sunday, we didn't do much for the rest of the morning.

No one was hungry at noon, so we waited until around 1 p.m. to fix lunch. Sis cut up veggies for salads, and I heated a loaf of bread that Sis brought with her. We had the salads topped with cottage cheese, and slices of bread and margarine, with bowls of soup. We each chose and microwaved the soup we preferred.

After lunch, Mother and Sis finished a jigsaw puzzle and began a new one, and Hubbie and I watched TV. While I sort of watched TV, I caught up on posting blogs, read part of the Sunday newspaper, and played on my tablet (I ordered two new on-sale e-books...both classics. One is "The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Conner," and the other is "The Poisonwood Bible," by Barbara Kingsolver.

Later, around 4 p.m., we had cups of coffee with choices of chocolate cupcakes or pineapple/angel food cake for a snack. Around 7 p.m., we had sandwiches and/or soup for supper. Then we watched TV for a while, before Sis and Mother headed to Mother's house.

It was a lazy day...exactly what was needed after a busy few days.





  

Saturday, March 8

We were up early this morning, around 7 a.m., so we could finish preparations for Mother's birthday party. Sis accompanied Mother to our house pretty early, and we set to work getting veggie, fruit, and deli meat/cheese trays ready, heating soups, etc.

The menu included four soups...11-bean, chicken noodle, vegetable, and potato; sandwich makings of turkey and ham, plus Havarti, baby Swiss, American, and Pepper Jack cheeses; veggie tray of salad tomatoes, yellow squash, cucumber, broccoli, baby carrots,  and cauliflower; fruit tray of strawberries, oranges, pineapple, and grapes; breads of whole wheat, white, bread rounds, and rye. Drink choices were tea, coffee, soft drinks, or water. Dessert choices were pineapple/angel food cake, chocolate cupcakes, and ice cream.

Family began arriving around 10 a.m., and by noon, most folks were here and ready to eat. I feared that there would not be enough seating room, but with the dining room table that can seat ten, and three card tables, each seating four, we managed nicely. Altogether, twenty-two family members and guests attended. So it was a lively group.

This was an opportunity for us to see a new great-grandson, baby Isaac. We all had a great time holding and cuddling him.

Mother received gifts of cash, gift cards, Jelly Belly jelly beans, and jigsaw puzzles. Daughter, who always manages to bring the "party," supplied a child's tiara for Mother to wear, and a birthday card with a lighted candle that, when blown out, starts the card flashing lights and playing the Happy Birthday song.

But Mother just couldn't seem to blow that candle out. Others tried and had no problem with it, but Mother just couldn't do it. She finally flicked the candle with her finger, and the light went out. Her antics blowing on that candle were just hilarious, and she had us all in stitches watching her.

Around 3 p.m. folks were ready to leave. One family had another birthday party to attend this evening, and younger son and his family wanted to go to the hospital to be with Grandson and his wife and new baby.

Sis remained. She has recently retired, so she is now on no particular schedule and can stay as long as she wants.

We relaxed for a while, and then later had more soup for supper. Afterward, we watched a movie borrowed from the library..."Road to Avonlea," a PG rated film about a young socialite girl, who is sent to live with her deceased Mother's relatives. She has to learn to adjust to a different lifestyle and to get along with her cousins. Good family movie.

Followed that with an episode of "Castle." Mother and Sis were ready to head home after that. Hubbie and I continued to watch TV for a while, and then headed to bed.

We set the clocks ahead an hour tonight, since tomorrow begins Daylight Savings Time. This means a one-hour loss of sleep time. Fortunately, we don't have anything pressing to get up for in the morning, so we'll rise when we awaken.

Friday, March 7

Today, a new great-grandson arrived. Mom was in labor most of the day, and baby Matthew Lee Jr., finally made his appearance this evening!

Up at 7:30 this morning. I decided to skip going to water aerobics, because I had plenty to do to get ready for tomorrow's birthday party for Mother. When I go to the pool, it's noon before I am ready to do anything. This was the last day of aerobics until after spring break next week, so I hated missing it, though I wondered if the water would be cold today after so many days of the pool being closed. Learned later from another member that the water was pleasantly warm.

After breakfast, I did stair stepping, but skipped the rest of the routine. In the meantime, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, and before I went upstairs to get ready for the day, we started pots of soup...chicken, and eleven bean. She diced veggies, and cubed ham, and I did the rest. When the soups were simmering, I mixed chocolate cake, and Mother spooned it into cupcake pans.

By noon, we finished our tasks. We had a lunch of leftovers, and then I finally got ready for the day. Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle after lunch, and once I was dressed, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the library, to the bank, to the pharmacy, and to the WDCS for groceries needed for the party.

Back home, we did a few things around the house to get ready for tomorrow, and then we went to the fish house for supper. Before we left, I learned that Sis planned to be here this evening. I left a note telling her where we would be, but she opted out of joining us.

Tonight, Mother ordered fried catfish and a baked potatoes, along with the sides of beans, slaw, and hush puppies. Hubbie also ordered the fried catfish, but with a side of French fries, etc. I chose grilled catfish and a baked potato. Mother and I couldn't eat the beans...they were too salty, but Hubbie, who is compelled not to waste anything, ate them anyway. This was a three-piece dinner, and I was surprised that Mother ate every bit of it. Of course, she loves fish, and can seem to eat more of it than anything else.

Sis was here by the time we returned, and she agreed to go with us to a program of Broadway show tunes at the college down the road. The troupe that performed was really great in this fast-paced song and dance show. We really enjoyed it. The colorful costumes, and simple set that included two wide-screen TVs, were effective.

Back home, we enjoyed coffee and a choice of lemon pudding cake or brownies, with coffee, and then Sis accompanied Mother to her house.

It was a busy, but good day, and we were ready to head to bed right after the news.