Saturday, July 12, 2014

Saturday, July 12

We were up at 7 a.m. so we could get ready to go to the monthly downtown farmer's market at the pocket park. This is a new endeavor by the downtown merchants association to lure folks to main street downtown.



We left the house at 7:30, and arrived downtown in time to snag one of the new pull-in parking spaces right in front of the pocket park. So it was fairly convenient to get Mother into her wheelchair. There is a low curb there, but Hubbie was able to lift the chair over it. I'm thinking I need to contact the powers that be to suggest they add a curb cut and some handicap spaces in that area.


Lots of folks had, like us, arrived early and were already milling around the pocket park, even though the vendors were still setting up.




Aside from locally grown/organic vegetables, there were also homemade jams and jellies, homemade breads and pastries, flowers, handmade jewelry, and other goods. I was tempted by a loaf of sun-dried tomato bread, but opted against it, since I figured Sis might make this kind.




I did buy a one-dollar box of small yellow squash, a couple of cucumbers, and a baggie of organic lemon-berry muffins. I bought the muffins, because they were being sold by a couple of little girls...daughters of a woman I know from Caring Hands Hospice.




In chatting with her, I learned that after she had her baby a few years ago, she began cooking organic, because the baby had some sort of stomach problem. The pediatrician said she could prescribe medication, or the mother could try organic cooking. She opted for organic, and the baby's problem soon disappeared.




After visiting the farmer's market, we went to the hospital cafeteria for breakfast, where we got scrambled eggs, a biscuit and gravy, and bacon, plus cups of coffee. Cost: a little over $5 total for the three of us.




We were back home by 9:30. I set up a new jigsaw puzzle for Mother to work on, and Hubbie went out to the yard. I spent my time planning meals and making lists for a future trip.




We weren't hungry by lunchtime. Around 1 p.m. Hubbie and I ate muffins, orange juice, and coffee. Mother only wanted coffee.




After lunch, Hubbie and I went to get the truck washed, because we had a $7 coupon for the automatic service, acquired as part of a prize at a Literacy Council bingo event recently. Ordinarily, I wouldn't be interested in going to a car wash, but Hubbie seemed reluctant to go alone, so I assured him it was just the thing I wanted to do.




Even after the wash, though, there were still streaks of dirt on the truck...tree sap, really, which isn't easy to remove. So when we got back home, Hubbie had to get out the old bucket and brush to finish the job.


I spent a lazy afternoon reading the newspaper, and a novel on my e-tablet. I had really meant to snap and cook beans for the freezer this afternoon, but forgot them. Guess now I'll wait until Monday.


For supper, we had leftover ham and beans, sautéed zucchini squash, and sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, along with a choice of cornbread or biscuits.


Mother was ready to go home shortly afterward, so Hubbie accompanied her.
















Friday, July 11, 2014

Friday, July 11

Up at 6 a.m. to get ready to go to water aerobics. For the past week or so, a road crew has been working right at the intersection of the road where I normally turn to go to the gym. So I've been forced to drive through the parking lot in front of the college chapel to get to the road leading to the parking lot near the gym.


It was cloudy and a bit muggy this morning, but pretty nice for walking to the gym. The pool, however, was a bit chilly today, though it was okay once I got used to it. A dozen of us attended the session.


Funny: during the session, the leader instructed..."touch your toes, ladies, and if you can't touch your own, touch someone else's."


Back home afterward, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, and she went to her jigsaw puzzle, while I got ready for the day. In the meantime, Hubbie ran errands and met an appointment for a haircut. Since his barber died, he has been using the same hairdresser as I do.


Once I was dressed, it was close to 11:30, so I prepared lunch.


Afterward, around 1 p.m., I took Mother to meet a doctor's appointment. She has had problems with overgrown tough toenails. She had this problem once before, and it was necessary to visit a podiatrist. Today we learned that she needs to again.


I haven't seen Mother's feet in a few months, so I had no idea how much her toenails had grown...so much so that they are curled over her other toes. I don't know why she didn't alert me to this earlier. I would have known it if I was still helping her bathe, but she insisted some time ago that she wanted to take care of herself.


After I saw her feet at the doctor's office, I felt terrible.. like I've been absolutely neglectful. As thick as her nails are, it's doubtful I could have trimmed them, anyway...even the doctor couldn't deal with them...but I could have seen she got help sooner. After she sees the podiatrist, I'll be more observant, and insist on inspecting her feet from time-to-time. Mother's toes aren't giving her any pain, but they sure are unsightly.


While we were gone, Hubbie took the truck to the shop for an oil change. We arrived in our driveway at the same time after Mother and I returned from her appointment, and Hubbie got back from the shop.


Hubbie said he discovered something unusual while he was gone, and when he opened the back of the truck, I heard a cat wailing. Hubbie coaxed it out, and I saw that it was our black yard cat. We don't know when she got in there...maybe a couple of days ago. We're so glad the temperature has been moderate for a few days. She might have perished if the temp had risen into the high 90s, as it typically does in July here in the south.


We didn't accomplish anything for the rest of the afternoon. For supper, we put together a breakfast casserole. Mother sliced mushrooms, onions, and bell pepper, which I sautéed. She also diced leftover potatoes, and a slice of ham. We layered the potatoes and ham, the seasoned sautéed veggies, egg substitute, French bread that I had crumbed in the blender, and Monterey Jack cheese that Mother had shredded. Baked the dish at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.


I heated white gravy left from yesterday, and baked a can of biscuits. Served the meal with a side of sliced cantaloupe, and cups of coffee.


Mother was ready to go home shortly afterward, so Hubbie accompanied her. Later, I went to her house and put drops in her eyes.


Then we continued binge watching "The Good Wife" episodes.












Thursday, July 10, 2014

Thursday, July 10

Up around 7:30, and did stair stepping exercises after breakfast. The computer shop called just after 8 a.m. to say my laptop was ready to pick up. I was pretty surprised that it had been repaired that soon, and said so. The staff member said that the owner stayed late last night to fix not only my laptop, but several others plagued with the same virus.


Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9 a.m., and then he got ready to go to a 10 a.m. Master Gardener meeting.


Before I went upstairs, I washed carrots and banana peppers, and set out an onion for Mother to dice. I also set out slices of ham to be cubed. Once I was ready for the day, I started pinto beans cooking with cans of chicken and beef broth, the veggies and ham, and spices...pepper, no salt seasoning, paprika, and garlic powder.


Did this and that around the house after that until lunchtime. One thing I did was make a doctor appointment for Mother, who is having a problem with an overgrown toenail. This has happened before, and she was referred to a podiatrist. I'm sure that will be the case again.


For lunch, Mother had Ramen noodle soup, and Hubbie and I had burgers left from last night. Hubbie returned from his meeting just before noon.


After lunch, Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, and Hubbie and I ran errands...to the newspaper office to leave this week's word search puzzle contest; to the Chamber of Commerce to pick up this month's slick magazine about events around town; then to the computer shop in a nearby town. There was no charge for the laptop repair.


At the shop, a little Pomeranian dog greeted us at the door. She is so cute and friendly. Hubbie and I really enjoyed her. Her owner, the staff member who called me this morning, said the dog recently had puppies, all of which now have homes except two males. We are not interested in another pup, but if we were, I'd be tempted by one of these.


From the computer shop, we visited a couple of roadside veggie stands. I picked up a box of green beans at one (on the honor system, where we put our money in a coffee can), and at another, we got tomatoes, zucchini squash, and more green beans.


Then we went to the WDCS for a few groceries before coming back home. At home, I washed the zucchini, adding a couple of squashes from our garden, and Mother sliced them, along with an onion. I sautéed the squash for supper.


Later, we had the squash, with the beans and ham, leftover Parmesan potatoes, and sliced tomatoes, as well as cornbread for Hubbie and Mother.


Shortly after supper, Mother was ready to go home, so Hubbie accompanied her. Later, I went to her house to put drops in her eyes.


Hubbie and I spent the evening watching "The Good Wife" episodes.




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


On the way home yesterday, we were aggravated when we saw folks in a pickup truck ahead of us toss drink cups out of their window....just yards down the road, a sign warned that there is a $1000 fine for littering.


There was no license plate on the truck, or I would have been tempted to report it. Probably wouldn't have done any good, though, since I couldn't prove they littered. I suppose the only way a fine can be enforced is if a cop catches the litter bug. But what fool would toss litter out a window if they know a cop is trailing them?







Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Wednesday, July 9

Up at 6 a.m. to get ready to go to water aerobics. It was a humid morning, but not bad for the walk to the gym. Thirteen of us attended today. The pool was cooler, but still pleasant, and I enjoyed it.

Back home afterward, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, and she sorted pinto beans, while I got ready for the day. I spent the rest of the morning doing this and that, including a couple of loads of laundry.

I also called the computer store about not being able to access the Internet. I was told that Windows 7 is prone to a pesky virus, and I'd need to take my laptop in. What a bummer!

After a sandwich lunch, Hubbie and I took the laptop to the shop. The guy who owns the shop, and also repairs computers, was not expected to return until late this afternoon or in the morning.

So we left the laptop and went up the road to look for cantaloupes. Found a wagon load of them in the yard of our favorite grower. No one was there, but there was a sign telling customers to select what they wanted and leave the money in the coffee can provided.

I wonder where but in a small southern town could fresh produce be sold on the side of the road using an honor system like this? Apparently, there are plenty of honest folks in this area, though, because there was quite a bit of money in the can.

Back home, I didn't accomplish much for the rest of the afternoon except play on my tablet and read newspapers and my novel.

Later, Mother joined me in the kitchen, and we started supper preparations. I washed potatoes, which she halved for a baked Parmesan potato recipe. She also sliced a tomato and a Vidalia onion for burgers, and then she pattied hamburger.

Around 4 p.m., I put the potatoes in the oven, and twenty minutes before 5 p.m., cooked the burgers...beef for Hubbie, and turkey for Mother and me. I topped them all with cheese.

It was a good meal. This is what we call a fun meal, which we would ordinarily have on Saturday. In fact I'd planned to have it last Saturday, while Daughter was here, but we opted for leftovers instead that day, so I decided to have it tonight.

Shortly after supper, Mother was ready to go home, so Hubbie accompanied her. Then we watched "The Good Wife" episodes. Later, I went to Mother's house to put drops in her eyes.

Note: both times I tried to wake Mother up...to help in the kitchen, and then to eat...I had to practically shout to rouse her, because she was so deeply asleep. I wouldn't have disturbed her to help in the kitchen, if I hadn't known she'd have been unhappy not to help.









Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Tuesday, July 6

Up at 7:30, and did stair stepping, resistance band and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, and she went to her puzzle, while I got ready for the day.

I did this and that around the house until 11 a.m., when I prepared a sandwich lunch for Mother. She could have gone with us to the noon luncheon/talk at the hospital, but she preferred to stay home.

Hubbie and I left just after 11:30 to go to the hospital. Today's presenter, a radiation therapy doctor, is the husband of one of the Master Gardeners. His talk revolved mainly around a new radiation unit the hospital has recently installed. He gave us a lot of info on the structure of cancer, by way of explaining how accurately the machine pinpoints the affected area, while not damaging surrounding tissue.

The talk was a sales pitch in some respects, trying to encourage cancer patients to utilize thid hospital, rather than assuming hospitals in our Capital City are the only ones with state-of-the-art equipment.

I was amused when the doctor related the frustrations of removing the old machine and getting the new one installed. Everything that could go wrong, did, of course. Reminded me of our own home improvement project.

Today's lunch was pretty much the usual...chicken in a white sauce, oven fried potatoes, green bean/wax bean/carrot medley, rolls, and fresh fruit medley.

Back home, I posted photos to my social network page using my old laptop, because I couldn't figure out how to import photos to my new laptop. Later, I called the computer shop to find out how to do it. It's quite a bit different from my old one.

Now tonight the new laptop won't let me access the Internet, so I'll have to call the shop again tomorrow.

At 3 p.m. today, Mother and I went to the beauty shop. Nothing much going on there, except that my hairdresser has a foot problem. She's unwilling to see a doctor right now, though. Like most of us do in similar circumstances, she's hoping the pain will just go away. But the way she was limping, she was in obvious pain. I'm sure standing on her feet all day isn't helping.

At home again, I relaxed and read newspapers until time to prepare supper. Tonight, I made a little more white gravy to add to what was leftover from last night, and we had it over biscuits. Served cantaloupe on the side, and cups of coffee.

Mother was ready to go home afterward, so Hubbie accompanied her. Then he and I watched episodes of "The Good Wife."

Later, I went to Mother's house to put drops in her eyes. I took her a helping of instant chocolate pudding that I made earlier, and Cool Whip for a snack.












Monday, July 7, 2014

Monday, July 7

Up at 6 a.m. to get ready to go to water aerobics. I've been away from it for two weeks, so it was high time I got back to it.




Sixteen of us attended this morning. The pool was scrumptiously warm, and I enjoyed being in it. Our regular leader recently had knee surgery, so she will be absent for several weeks. Two other ladies split leadership duties. One led the aerobics session, the other led the water noodle session.


We are amused, because the lady who insisted on doing the aerobics sessions is someone who rarely attended aerobics when our regular leader was there. But she is interested in being in the limelight, so she volunteered for the job. It's just as well she volunteered,  because no one else wants the responsibility. Certainly, I don't want it. So I'll suffer this lady, even though she can't seem to remember the regular routine, and just makes stuff up as she goes along
.


It was just as well that I missed the only two days there were sessions last week, since the pool was chilly both days. I wasn't the only one who missed...last Wednesday, only eight attended.


Today, we were brought up to date on three ladies who are no longer attending. Two of them are in their 80s, and both have medical problems that have forced them into nursing homes. One has Alzheimer's Disease.




One of these ladies learned to drive after her husband died about ten years ago. We thought that was very courageous. Most women, having never driven in their lives, wouldn't attempt it in their senior years.




Another lady, in her 70s, has also been having medical problems. She has been in a hospital for several weeks, and recently was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This one bothers me the most, because she was the strongest one of our group
.


She always arrived at the pool early and did lap swimming (she was once an Olympic swimming hopeful, though she didn't get to compete). She also owned cattle that she cared for on her own. She was very strong, and we all admired her.




Back home after aerobics, Hubbie said the guy who is to lay a new floor in the sunroom had come while I was at water aerobics. He estimated the amount of tile we will need, and gave us an estimate for doing the job.




When he came into the sunroom, he noticed three cats scurry away into the house. So he asked if the cats would be around while he worked, because it seems he's allergic to them. He said that he and his wife used to have cats, but had to get rid of them when he started reacting to them.




Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house shortly after I came home, and then he put color in my hair in anticipation of a haircut appointment tomorrow afternoon.




It was close to noon by the time I was ready for the day. After a sandwich lunch, Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, while Hubbie and I ran errands




We went first to the library to return a couple of DVDs. A thunderstorm cropped up just as we arrived at the library. I nearly jumped out of my skin when a streak of lightning, followed immediately by a crash of thunder, occurred just as Hubbie was walking across the parking lot. He seemed not to even notice it, though.



From the library, we went to a flooring store to look at tile samples. I found one I like, but naturally it doesn't come in the size we need. So we continued our errands...to the bank, and to the pharmacy/grocery store to pick up a prescription, cartons of fat-free ice cream, and this week's free item, which was an energy bar.




Returned home after that to put the ice cream in the freezer. Then we went to the wholesale flooring store down the road from our house, where we found tile that will be okay in the sunroom.  We brought a sample home to try in the room to try against the walls. It isn't quite the color I wanted. But as with any home improvement we've embarked upon, I've always had to compromise.






Then we went to a dollar store to find a birthday card, and finished our errands at the WDCS to pick up a few groceries.




Back home, I relaxed for a while. Around 4 p.m., I put veggies in the oven to heat...mashed potatoes, green beans, and yellow and zucchini squash. Later, I made a recipe of white gravy.


Mother was ready to go home afterward, so Hubbie accompanied her. I went to her house to put drops in her eyes around 8:30.




Tonight's TV fare was episodes of "The Good Wife" on DVD. We've seen these shows, but Hubbie wanted to go back to the beginning of the series before we get the later episodes. We enjoy this show, but in the past few seasons, there has been a reality show that preceded it, so that half of every episode was cut. I finally quit  recording it. Now we can binge watch it and catch up to date.


























Sunday, July 6, 2014

Sunday, June 6

Up at 7:30 this morning. Skipped my exercises, as usual on Sunday. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house after breakfast, and after we did our usual Sunday morning stuff, we headed to the kitchen to begin lunch preparations.


Hubbie peeled potatoes, while Mother sliced green tomatoes that Daughter had provided. I began frying the tomatoes around 11 a.m., while Mother snapped beans that I washed earlier. There wasn't time to cook the beans before lunch, since there wasn't a large burner left for the Dutch oven, after one of them was being used to fry the tomatoes, and the other was occupied by a Dutch oven of potatoes.


While I did the tomatoes, I also started an electric fry pan of chicken breasts frying. While the food cooked, I woke Daughter up, after she'd snoozed until close to noon.


She woke with an appetite, and was ready for lunch by the time the tomatoes and chicken were done, and I got the potatoes mashed and made a pan of white gravy. Since the green beans weren't cooked by this time, I heated a can of whole kernel corn for a side dish.


We did absolutely nothing but visit and watch TV after lunch. Daughter was ready to head home around 5 p.m. She had a dish of peach cobbler and ice cream before she left, and since there was chicken salad, and a lot of egg salad left, I sent some of it home for her to have later. I also sent helpings of today's meal, and a container of the green beans, since I'd cooked more than we needed.


Mother was ready to go home shortly after Daughter left, so Hubbie accompanied her. I would have sent sandwich makings with her, but she insisted she'd eaten way too much at lunch and didn't want anything for supper except maybe a piece of toast, or some yogurt. Later, I went to her house to put drops in her eyes.


Hubbie and I watched a couple of movies this evening. The first was, "Prefontaine," a 1997 movie about the life of a long-distance runner and Olympic hopeful, who broke every imaginable record, before dying in an auto accident at the young age of 24. A very good biopic movie.


We followed that with a movie called, "The Cold Light of Day," starring Henry Cavill. Sigourney Weaver, and Bruce Willis. This PG-13, 2012 film is about a family that is kidnapped while on a sailing trip in Spain. Their grown son is onshore when it happens. When he goes in search of them, he is accosted by the police, and is rescued by his father. He learns that his father is an agent of some sort, and that foreign agents are after him, because he has something they want.