Up around 8 a.m. this morning, then did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 10 a.m., and she went to her jigsaw puzzle.
Once I was ready for the day, I did this and that until time to fix lunch. Mother opted for her usual Ramen noodle soup, while Hubbie had a leftover turkey cheeseburger, and I decided on egg substitute scrambled with cheese, and a thin bagel with cream cheese and strawberry jam.
After lunch, Hubbie ran errands, and I spent an hour hemming a pair of new jeans, while I watched an episode of the Olympics. When I finished the jeans, I gave myself a manicure.
Around 3 p.m., Mother and I started supper preparations. She made slaw dressing and mixed it with slaw, and I brushed chicken breasts with barbecue sauce and put them in the slow cooker, along with a can of diet 7-UP. Later, we had the chicken and slaw with servings of rice and whole kernel corn.
After supper, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and around 7 p.m., we went to the college to watch the basketball team play to a nail-biter win of 60-59. It was a very physical game, resulting in several injuries that sent the sports medicine guy scurrying frequently to bandage wounds, and clean up blood.
Wow, was it windy for the walk from the parking lot to the gym! Other than the wind, the day was warm, reaching a temperature of over 70 degrees.
We got back home after the game around 9:30. By then, the temperature had dropped to 45 degrees. Watched TV for a while before heading to bed.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Wednesday, Feb. 19
Up at 6 a.m. this morning, to get ready for water aerobics. Today, I had to wear three decorative waterproof bandaids to cover cat claw marks. Last night, our nearly blind cat got startled by something, shot up into the air, and came down, claws out, on my left leg around the knee. I thought it advisable to protect the scratches from the pool water.
This is the first morning since I can't remember when that I didn't see my breath when I went out to the van..a promise of another mild day. I know this glorious weather won't last long, so I'm going to enjoy it as much as possible.
Eighteen of us attended the session today. Our leader reversed the order of the exercises, because she needed to leave early to be with a friend who was to have surgery to remove a small malignant tumor from her breast.
Her friend is our income tax preparer, so when I advised Hubbie of her medical problem last Friday, he immediately called her. She is confident that the tumor was caught early enough for her to be encouraged for a complete recovery.
Back home after aerobics, I enjoyed a cup of coffee, and then Hubbie put color in my hair in anticipation of a beauty shop appointment this afternoon. While I showered and dressed, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house.
She went to her jigsaw puzzle, and Hubbie and I watched an episode of the Winter Olympics, both before and after lunch. Lunch was Ramen noodle soup for Mother, and leftovers for Hubbie and me.
Shortly after 2 p.m., Mother and I left to go meet our 2:30 haircut appointment. We arrived a few minutes early, but my hairdresser was ready for me, and it was only a few minutes before Mother's hairdresser was ready for her.
We were back home just after 3 p.m., and Mother went back to her jigsaw puzzle, while I read newspapers and played on my tablet. One thing I did was upload a snapshot of the monkey we saw yesterday to my social network page.
Later, for supper, we had turkey cheeseburgers, with sides of salad and low fat cottage cheese. Mother helped with the meal by slicing onions for the burgers, and preparing individual salads. This is the kind of meal usually reserved for Saturdays, but we will be going to a 4 p.m. basketball game at the college that day, and we won't be back until about an hour after suppertime. So I need to make a pot of soup that will be ready for Mother at 5 p.m., as well as be ready for us to heat when we get home around 6 p.m.
After supper, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and then he watched a basketball game on TV, while I read a novel on my tablet. Later, we watched and episode of "Bones," on a DVD we borrowed from the library. Then we watched our favorite state college basketball team, as they played to a narrow-margin win. This was a really late game that didn't start until 9 p.m., so I'm glad we won't have to get up at 6 a.m. for water aerobics tomorrow.
This is the first morning since I can't remember when that I didn't see my breath when I went out to the van..a promise of another mild day. I know this glorious weather won't last long, so I'm going to enjoy it as much as possible.
Eighteen of us attended the session today. Our leader reversed the order of the exercises, because she needed to leave early to be with a friend who was to have surgery to remove a small malignant tumor from her breast.
Her friend is our income tax preparer, so when I advised Hubbie of her medical problem last Friday, he immediately called her. She is confident that the tumor was caught early enough for her to be encouraged for a complete recovery.
Back home after aerobics, I enjoyed a cup of coffee, and then Hubbie put color in my hair in anticipation of a beauty shop appointment this afternoon. While I showered and dressed, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house.
She went to her jigsaw puzzle, and Hubbie and I watched an episode of the Winter Olympics, both before and after lunch. Lunch was Ramen noodle soup for Mother, and leftovers for Hubbie and me.
Shortly after 2 p.m., Mother and I left to go meet our 2:30 haircut appointment. We arrived a few minutes early, but my hairdresser was ready for me, and it was only a few minutes before Mother's hairdresser was ready for her.
We were back home just after 3 p.m., and Mother went back to her jigsaw puzzle, while I read newspapers and played on my tablet. One thing I did was upload a snapshot of the monkey we saw yesterday to my social network page.
Later, for supper, we had turkey cheeseburgers, with sides of salad and low fat cottage cheese. Mother helped with the meal by slicing onions for the burgers, and preparing individual salads. This is the kind of meal usually reserved for Saturdays, but we will be going to a 4 p.m. basketball game at the college that day, and we won't be back until about an hour after suppertime. So I need to make a pot of soup that will be ready for Mother at 5 p.m., as well as be ready for us to heat when we get home around 6 p.m.
After supper, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and then he watched a basketball game on TV, while I read a novel on my tablet. Later, we watched and episode of "Bones," on a DVD we borrowed from the library. Then we watched our favorite state college basketball team, as they played to a narrow-margin win. This was a really late game that didn't start until 9 p.m., so I'm glad we won't have to get up at 6 a.m. for water aerobics tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Tuesday, Feb. 18
Up at 7:30 on this sunny day. Did stair stepping exercises after breakfast, but skipped the resistance bands and weights exercises, since my left shoulder sort had twinges yesterday, and I thought it would be good to rest that arm for a day rather than risk a rotator cuff injury.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, while I got ready for the day. Back downstairs afterward, Mother and I made preparations for a supper meal, since we planned to be gone most of the afternoon.
Mother diced onions, bell pepper, and mushrooms, as well as cubing leftover baked potatoes. She also grated Monterey Jack cheese. I sauteed the veggies and potatoes, and the put them in the fridge. I planned to use the veggies in making omelets for supper.
Later for lunch, I heated the remainder of the veggie soup for Mother, and Hubbie and I settled for PB&J sandwiches and chips.
Shortly after 12:30, the two other ladies of our scrapbook club arrived, and we all headed to a neighboring town to shop flea markets. We decided on this outing in place of a scrapbook meeting this week. We try to go on outings a couple of times a year just for fun, and to search for scrapbook or card making materials.
I was the driver for the excursion. The first place we visited was a relatively new flea market, the main attraction of which is a live monkey. The monkey is housed in a very large cage that accommodates a couple of small hammocks suspended from the top, and a swinging ladder, as well as riding toys, and other toys. The monkey wears a something resembling a diaper, and the cage is extremely clean.
In fact, the whole building is clean and neat, and well lighted, with organized booths. One booth featured 50% off merchandise, and I found six nice place mats priced at only $3. They have a fruit patttern in colors that are perfect for our dining room.
The other two ladies didn't buy anything at this market. From here, we went to another flea market. I didn't find anything I wanted at this one, but the other two ladies did. One found a tin lunch box...apparently, she collects them. The other found a hanging plaque that features a frog, which she plans to use as a secret pal gift for a lady who collects frogs.
After visiting this flea market, we headed back to town. I suggested we stop somewhere in our town for refreshments, and the ladies agreed. Rather than going to a fast food restaurant, I decided we might enjoy the new hospital cafeteria. The gift shop is near the cafeteria, which I thought the ladies might like to visit.
There were no handicap parking spots in the row closest to the hospital, so I let the ladies out, and got Mother into her wheelchair, and then went in search of a parking place. As luck would have it, I found a handicap one in the row just across from the one near the hospital.
Mother and I opted for chocolate scones and coffee, one of the other ladies chose a muffin with a peanut butter cup in the middle, and the other chose a small pizza. We had to wait ten minutes for the pizza, and when the lady went to pick it up, she learned that a doctor who was in line ahead of her had paid for the pizza. She said she'd heard that he did that once in a while, and today she was the beneficiary of his generosity. Good for her! That was an $8 pizza. Of course, I'd meant to pay for our outing...gas and refreshments...from our treasury, anyway, but it saves the treasury $8.
Headed home after that, and arrived in our yard around 3:30. It was a really fun outing, on a perfect, relatively balmy day. I think we all needed this after several weeks of freezing weather, with snow and ice that kept us indoors. It became a bit windy toward the end of the trip, but not so much that it chilled us.
At 4 p.m., Mother helped me put together the omelets, for which we used Sis's fresh eggs. Supper was ready by 5 p.m. We had the omelets with the sauteed potatoes, and the remainder of the bran muffins.
Mother was pretty tired afterward, even though she rode in her wheelchair all day. Just the effort of traveling and getting in and out of the van wearies her, even though she's always excited to go on an outing. Hubbie accompanied her home around 6 p.m.
Surprisingly, I wasn't at all weary after doing the driving, hefting the wheelchair in and out of the van several times, and doing quite a bit of walking. I didn't experience any twinges in that rotator cuff, either, when lifting the wheelchair.
Funny: I had quite a time keeping up with the automatic doors on the van. Either I'd forget to open the side doors for the ladies, or forget to close them after they were seated, or I'd forget to lower the hatch after putting the wheelchair in (a lady at one of the flea markets had to frantically wave at me to alert me the hatch was open).
Back home, I made sure to stop the van close to the other lady's car, so she and the the lady who rode with her would not have to walk all the way down the driveway, but I had to be reminded to open the doors for them. They just laughed at me, since they're used to my loopiness.
Hubbie and I spent the evening watching TV, including the final episode of the first season of "Friday Night Lights," and episodes of the first season of "Bones."
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, while I got ready for the day. Back downstairs afterward, Mother and I made preparations for a supper meal, since we planned to be gone most of the afternoon.
Mother diced onions, bell pepper, and mushrooms, as well as cubing leftover baked potatoes. She also grated Monterey Jack cheese. I sauteed the veggies and potatoes, and the put them in the fridge. I planned to use the veggies in making omelets for supper.
Later for lunch, I heated the remainder of the veggie soup for Mother, and Hubbie and I settled for PB&J sandwiches and chips.
Shortly after 12:30, the two other ladies of our scrapbook club arrived, and we all headed to a neighboring town to shop flea markets. We decided on this outing in place of a scrapbook meeting this week. We try to go on outings a couple of times a year just for fun, and to search for scrapbook or card making materials.
I was the driver for the excursion. The first place we visited was a relatively new flea market, the main attraction of which is a live monkey. The monkey is housed in a very large cage that accommodates a couple of small hammocks suspended from the top, and a swinging ladder, as well as riding toys, and other toys. The monkey wears a something resembling a diaper, and the cage is extremely clean.
In fact, the whole building is clean and neat, and well lighted, with organized booths. One booth featured 50% off merchandise, and I found six nice place mats priced at only $3. They have a fruit patttern in colors that are perfect for our dining room.
The other two ladies didn't buy anything at this market. From here, we went to another flea market. I didn't find anything I wanted at this one, but the other two ladies did. One found a tin lunch box...apparently, she collects them. The other found a hanging plaque that features a frog, which she plans to use as a secret pal gift for a lady who collects frogs.
After visiting this flea market, we headed back to town. I suggested we stop somewhere in our town for refreshments, and the ladies agreed. Rather than going to a fast food restaurant, I decided we might enjoy the new hospital cafeteria. The gift shop is near the cafeteria, which I thought the ladies might like to visit.
There were no handicap parking spots in the row closest to the hospital, so I let the ladies out, and got Mother into her wheelchair, and then went in search of a parking place. As luck would have it, I found a handicap one in the row just across from the one near the hospital.
Mother and I opted for chocolate scones and coffee, one of the other ladies chose a muffin with a peanut butter cup in the middle, and the other chose a small pizza. We had to wait ten minutes for the pizza, and when the lady went to pick it up, she learned that a doctor who was in line ahead of her had paid for the pizza. She said she'd heard that he did that once in a while, and today she was the beneficiary of his generosity. Good for her! That was an $8 pizza. Of course, I'd meant to pay for our outing...gas and refreshments...from our treasury, anyway, but it saves the treasury $8.
Headed home after that, and arrived in our yard around 3:30. It was a really fun outing, on a perfect, relatively balmy day. I think we all needed this after several weeks of freezing weather, with snow and ice that kept us indoors. It became a bit windy toward the end of the trip, but not so much that it chilled us.
At 4 p.m., Mother helped me put together the omelets, for which we used Sis's fresh eggs. Supper was ready by 5 p.m. We had the omelets with the sauteed potatoes, and the remainder of the bran muffins.
Mother was pretty tired afterward, even though she rode in her wheelchair all day. Just the effort of traveling and getting in and out of the van wearies her, even though she's always excited to go on an outing. Hubbie accompanied her home around 6 p.m.
Surprisingly, I wasn't at all weary after doing the driving, hefting the wheelchair in and out of the van several times, and doing quite a bit of walking. I didn't experience any twinges in that rotator cuff, either, when lifting the wheelchair.
Funny: I had quite a time keeping up with the automatic doors on the van. Either I'd forget to open the side doors for the ladies, or forget to close them after they were seated, or I'd forget to lower the hatch after putting the wheelchair in (a lady at one of the flea markets had to frantically wave at me to alert me the hatch was open).
Back home, I made sure to stop the van close to the other lady's car, so she and the the lady who rode with her would not have to walk all the way down the driveway, but I had to be reminded to open the doors for them. They just laughed at me, since they're used to my loopiness.
Hubbie and I spent the evening watching TV, including the final episode of the first season of "Friday Night Lights," and episodes of the first season of "Bones."
Monday, February 17, 2014
Monday, Feb. 17
Today is President's Day, so the first thing Hubbie did was hang our flag on the well house, and Mother's flag on her porch.
Up around 8 a.m., and did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, and then he ran errands. One errand was to the propane service to report that there was an odor in the spare bedroom and the utility room.
I've been complaining about this odor for months, which I suspected to be a gas leak, but Hubbie, who has malfunctioning olfactory glands, insisted that if it was a gas leak, it would smell like rotten eggs or skunk or something.
While Hubbie was gone, Mother worked on her jigsaw puzzle, and I did this and that, and then got ready for the day. It was 11:30 by the time I came downstairs, so I fixed a lunch of veggie soup and bran muffins.
The propane guy came after lunch. Since he was in and out of the house, going from the bedroom to the utility room, to the central heat upstairs, I didn't feel comfortable doing anything. So I played on my tablet and generally goofed off.
Later, Hubbie told me that indeed there was a small gas leak in a copper tube in the bedroom (which is no longer used, since we now have an electric water heater). He plugged that tube.
More than that, he found a sizable leak in the line that runs from the propane tank to the house that required digging a trench and replacing a large portion of the line.
All of this could have been accomplished a long time ago if Hubbie had been willing to believe me when I first mentioned there was something amiss.
Spent the rest of the afternoon catching up on reading newspapers, while we watched an episode of the Winter Olympics.
For supper, I heated leftover pork chops and sweet potatoes in the oven, and served the meal with coleslaw and Sis's homemade bread.
Later, around 6:30, we went to the college down the road to see the capital city's repertory children's theater version of "Sleepy Hollow." The performance, which lasted only about 45 minutes, had it's comical moments, but wasn't one of the theater's better efforts.
We might have enjoyed it more if a young mother with a noisy two-year-old child would have immediately left instead alternating between standing behind us near the back of the auditorium, or walking up and down the aisle, hoping the child would suddenly stop disturbing folks.
Back home, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and then we watched episodes of "Friday Night Lights."
Up around 8 a.m., and did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, and then he ran errands. One errand was to the propane service to report that there was an odor in the spare bedroom and the utility room.
I've been complaining about this odor for months, which I suspected to be a gas leak, but Hubbie, who has malfunctioning olfactory glands, insisted that if it was a gas leak, it would smell like rotten eggs or skunk or something.
While Hubbie was gone, Mother worked on her jigsaw puzzle, and I did this and that, and then got ready for the day. It was 11:30 by the time I came downstairs, so I fixed a lunch of veggie soup and bran muffins.
The propane guy came after lunch. Since he was in and out of the house, going from the bedroom to the utility room, to the central heat upstairs, I didn't feel comfortable doing anything. So I played on my tablet and generally goofed off.
Later, Hubbie told me that indeed there was a small gas leak in a copper tube in the bedroom (which is no longer used, since we now have an electric water heater). He plugged that tube.
More than that, he found a sizable leak in the line that runs from the propane tank to the house that required digging a trench and replacing a large portion of the line.
All of this could have been accomplished a long time ago if Hubbie had been willing to believe me when I first mentioned there was something amiss.
Spent the rest of the afternoon catching up on reading newspapers, while we watched an episode of the Winter Olympics.
For supper, I heated leftover pork chops and sweet potatoes in the oven, and served the meal with coleslaw and Sis's homemade bread.
Later, around 6:30, we went to the college down the road to see the capital city's repertory children's theater version of "Sleepy Hollow." The performance, which lasted only about 45 minutes, had it's comical moments, but wasn't one of the theater's better efforts.
We might have enjoyed it more if a young mother with a noisy two-year-old child would have immediately left instead alternating between standing behind us near the back of the auditorium, or walking up and down the aisle, hoping the child would suddenly stop disturbing folks.
Back home, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and then we watched episodes of "Friday Night Lights."
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Sunday, Feb. 16
Up around 7:30, but skipped my exercises after breakfast, as usual on Sunday. Got ready for the day, and spent the morning sprucing the house for a visit from Hubbie's daughter.
I debated whether or not to get a Sunday meal of pork chops and sweet potatoes ready for supper, and put them in the fridge until time to put them in the oven, then decided against it. Daughter had said she planned to be here around 2 p.m., and would enjoy the veggie soup and muffins we made yesterday.
So at lunch, we decided to have soup and muffins, and save Daughter's helping for when she arrived. In the meantime, we watched both the Kitten Bowl, and the Puppy Bowl on TV. I'd recorded the shows on DVR on Super Bowl weekend.
After that, Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, and Hubbie and I watched a episode of the Winter Olympics. Around 1 p.m., Daughter called to say she would be later than she expected, since she'd forgotten a bag at her mother's house, about 30 miles from where she was, and her aunt was bringing it to her. And then her aunt wanted her to have lunch at a restaurant with her.
At this point, I thawed fresh peaches from the freezer, and used a package cobbler mix to make the dish for the oven.
At 3:30, I decided I needed to fix the pork chop dinner, since it looked like Daughter would be arriving around that time, and there wasn't enough soup for four. Mother and Hubbie helped with the meal.
Mother sliced onions and apples for the pork chop dish, and Hubbie washed the sweet potatoes, and trimmed the fat from the pork chops. I browned the meat, which I put on top of the layered onions and apples. Mother mixed a honey/mustard sauce to brush the chops with, and then I put them in the oven.
Daughter arrived around 4 p.m., and by 5 p.m. the meal was ready. I served the meat and potatoes with a side of coleslaw, and after supper, we had peach cobbler and ice cream.
Daughter stayed around until around 7:30. At 7 p.m., I accompanied Mother to her house, since I could see she was tired.
Hubbie and I spent the evening watching TV, including episodes of "Friday Night Lights."
I debated whether or not to get a Sunday meal of pork chops and sweet potatoes ready for supper, and put them in the fridge until time to put them in the oven, then decided against it. Daughter had said she planned to be here around 2 p.m., and would enjoy the veggie soup and muffins we made yesterday.
So at lunch, we decided to have soup and muffins, and save Daughter's helping for when she arrived. In the meantime, we watched both the Kitten Bowl, and the Puppy Bowl on TV. I'd recorded the shows on DVR on Super Bowl weekend.
After that, Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, and Hubbie and I watched a episode of the Winter Olympics. Around 1 p.m., Daughter called to say she would be later than she expected, since she'd forgotten a bag at her mother's house, about 30 miles from where she was, and her aunt was bringing it to her. And then her aunt wanted her to have lunch at a restaurant with her.
At this point, I thawed fresh peaches from the freezer, and used a package cobbler mix to make the dish for the oven.
At 3:30, I decided I needed to fix the pork chop dinner, since it looked like Daughter would be arriving around that time, and there wasn't enough soup for four. Mother and Hubbie helped with the meal.
Mother sliced onions and apples for the pork chop dish, and Hubbie washed the sweet potatoes, and trimmed the fat from the pork chops. I browned the meat, which I put on top of the layered onions and apples. Mother mixed a honey/mustard sauce to brush the chops with, and then I put them in the oven.
Daughter arrived around 4 p.m., and by 5 p.m. the meal was ready. I served the meat and potatoes with a side of coleslaw, and after supper, we had peach cobbler and ice cream.
Daughter stayed around until around 7:30. At 7 p.m., I accompanied Mother to her house, since I could see she was tired.
Hubbie and I spent the evening watching TV, including episodes of "Friday Night Lights."
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Saturday, Feb. 15
Up at 7:30, and did stair stepping after breakfast, but skipped my weights exercises, because I needed to get in the kitchen and start a soup for later.
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, and she chopped veggies for the soup. While we worked in the kitchen, Hubbie vacuumed and did other household things in anticipation of his daughter visiting tomorrow afternoon.
I discovered that before I could start the soup, I needed no-salt diced tomatoes. Seems the last ones Hubbie bought were the full salt kind. Since I also needed pork chops for tomorrow's dinner, Hubbie made a trip to the grocery store. I started the soup as soon as he got back.
At this point, I was still in my exercise clothes, and now it was close to noon. So I fixed lunch...Ramen noodle soup for Mother, and leftover steak, ribs, and chicken from last night's meal at the restaurant for Hubbie and me. Hubbie had the steak and ribs, and I had the chicken. I added chicken and dumplings to the lunch.
Just as we were finishing our meal, we heard a loud boom, like an explosion. Hubbie hurried to the window and saw that there had been an automobile accident. A white car, with air bags deployed, was in the ditch across the road from Mother's house. Hubbie rushed out to see if anyone was injured.
I called 911, but was told that several others had already reported the accident. I went upstairs and changed out of my exercise clothes, grabbed a coat and my camera, and went outside. I saw that there was another car down the road in the ditch. A lot of people were gathered around it, and an ambulance had already arrived.
Someone nearby commented that the driver of that car sustained a lacerated leg, and possibly glass in an eye. We don't know who was at fault in the accident, but it appeared that one of the drivers crossed the center line, and the cars collided on the driver's sides.
Accidents frequently happen because of a curve in the road near our house. It mystifies us why the highway department does not place caution signs and rumble strips at that location.
Back inside after I took several shots of the accident, Mother and I made a double batch of bran muffins to go with the soup.
While the muffins cooled, I finally showered and dressed. Mother was ready to go home around 2:30, since she knew that Hubbie and I planned to go to a basketball game at the college today. Hubbie accompanied her to her house. She took the leftover salmon and sweet potatoes, plus a yeast roll, with her for her supper. She also took a cupcake from the "Red Hot" event to have as a snack later.
Hubbie and I headed to the college around 3 p.m., and arrived a few minutes before the women's game ended. Our women won. The men, however, did not fare as well, and they lost by about 20 points.
Back home afterward, I heated some of the veggie soup and muffins for our supper. It was so comforting on this cold evening. Since it was an hour past our regular supper time, we had healthy appetites.
While we enjoyed our supper, we watched our favorite state college basketball team as they played to a win. I'd recorded the game on DVR, but the last four minutes did not record, drat it. We had to watch the evening news (also recorded) to learn the final score.
After the game, we watched episodes of "Friday Night Lights."
Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, and she chopped veggies for the soup. While we worked in the kitchen, Hubbie vacuumed and did other household things in anticipation of his daughter visiting tomorrow afternoon.
I discovered that before I could start the soup, I needed no-salt diced tomatoes. Seems the last ones Hubbie bought were the full salt kind. Since I also needed pork chops for tomorrow's dinner, Hubbie made a trip to the grocery store. I started the soup as soon as he got back.
At this point, I was still in my exercise clothes, and now it was close to noon. So I fixed lunch...Ramen noodle soup for Mother, and leftover steak, ribs, and chicken from last night's meal at the restaurant for Hubbie and me. Hubbie had the steak and ribs, and I had the chicken. I added chicken and dumplings to the lunch.
Just as we were finishing our meal, we heard a loud boom, like an explosion. Hubbie hurried to the window and saw that there had been an automobile accident. A white car, with air bags deployed, was in the ditch across the road from Mother's house. Hubbie rushed out to see if anyone was injured.
I called 911, but was told that several others had already reported the accident. I went upstairs and changed out of my exercise clothes, grabbed a coat and my camera, and went outside. I saw that there was another car down the road in the ditch. A lot of people were gathered around it, and an ambulance had already arrived.
Someone nearby commented that the driver of that car sustained a lacerated leg, and possibly glass in an eye. We don't know who was at fault in the accident, but it appeared that one of the drivers crossed the center line, and the cars collided on the driver's sides.
Accidents frequently happen because of a curve in the road near our house. It mystifies us why the highway department does not place caution signs and rumble strips at that location.
Back inside after I took several shots of the accident, Mother and I made a double batch of bran muffins to go with the soup.
While the muffins cooled, I finally showered and dressed. Mother was ready to go home around 2:30, since she knew that Hubbie and I planned to go to a basketball game at the college today. Hubbie accompanied her to her house. She took the leftover salmon and sweet potatoes, plus a yeast roll, with her for her supper. She also took a cupcake from the "Red Hot" event to have as a snack later.
Hubbie and I headed to the college around 3 p.m., and arrived a few minutes before the women's game ended. Our women won. The men, however, did not fare as well, and they lost by about 20 points.
Back home afterward, I heated some of the veggie soup and muffins for our supper. It was so comforting on this cold evening. Since it was an hour past our regular supper time, we had healthy appetites.
While we enjoyed our supper, we watched our favorite state college basketball team as they played to a win. I'd recorded the game on DVR, but the last four minutes did not record, drat it. We had to watch the evening news (also recorded) to learn the final score.
After the game, we watched episodes of "Friday Night Lights."
Friday, February 14, 2014
Friday, Feb. 14
This is Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day to everyone.
Up at 6 a.m. Hubbie and I exchanged Valentines during breakfast, then after breakfast, I got ready for water aerobics. It was cloudy and pretty cool this morning for the trip to the college. I noticed that in the neighborhood near the college, snow/ice lingers on the lawns of houses facing north, while the yards across the street are clear, except for patches of the white stuff that persists on the north side of trees.
The pool was pleasant today, though a bit cooler than it was on Wednesday. Fourteen of us showed up...fourteen on Feb. 14. We were amused when one of the ladies suggested we should form ourselves into the shape of a heart in the pool. We did not do this.
I noticed when I went up to the pool area that another of those concrete tiles had fallen and smashed to the floor. No one left their swim bags on the bench below those tiles, so I didn't either, even though I still think this is a knee-jerk response to the situation. No tiles fell during the aerobics session.
I talked with the lady who is deathly afraid of falling tiles. We discussed our plans for Valentine's Day. She wasn't sure where she and her husband would want to go to dinner. I suggested that the local steak house serves really good talapia. She's not up for talapia, it seems, ever since she learned what it contains (?). Another good reason for her to be afraid, I guess.
Back home after aerobics, I enjoyed a cup of coffee, and relaxed a while. In the meantime, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, and then he ran a couple of errands. I gave Mother her Valentine, along with a small package of Jelly Belly jelly beans. She gave Hubbie and me a homemade Valentine, which I'll prize because it has her handwriting on it.
Then I showered and dressed to go to the "Red Hot" luncheon. As luck would have it, it started raining just as I was ready to leave the house, so Hubbie drove me to the college where the event was held and dropped me off right at the door, so I wouldn't get wet. Very sweet of him.
As usual at these annual events, it was a sea of red and white decorations, and 300 red-clad women. When I arrived, I was escorted to a table by a man in a tuxedo (several men, called "heart throbs," acted as escorts).
There seemed to be confusion as to which table I was to be seated at, even after I told the ladies who were taking tickets the name of the lady who had reserved our table. They found her name on their list, but thought that at least five ladies had already been seated at the table. Oh, well, the escort should take me to that table anyway and see if it was the correct one.
No, it wasn't...I didn't recognize anyone at that table. But one of the ladies who was supposed to be at our table came and rescued me and led me to the table where she and others were seated. No sooner did we arrive at that table than we were told we were at the wrong table, and we were moved to yet another one. I hadn't been at the event for five minutes, and already I'd been shuttled to three different tables.
They were pretty tables though, covered in white table clothes, with centerpiece vases of carnations, surrounded by cute red and white cupcake boxes. The napkins were red, and the chairs backs were covered, alternately, in red or white.
Each chair held a red tote, containing a photo calendar, an issue of the county's slick magazine (which I already have), a big metal red heart key chain (pretty), a plastic teaspoon/tablespoon wet measure, a pen and notepad, a large plastic heart bag clip, and discount coupons.
In the center of the room, tables were arranged in a t-shape, upon which was a tall vase of red roses. This is where the silent auction items were displayed. I checked out all the items, but even if I'd been of a mind to bid on any of them, I'd forgotten to bring a checkbook or cash. I guess I inadvertently saved myself, because I really didn't need anything I saw in the auction anyway.
Lunch was salad, big fluffy yeast rolls, and a main course of baked peppered chicken breast, with a side of veggie medley...cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots. The meal was served on attractive white square plates. The only beverage was water, but it was served in pretty goblets.
Our servers were teen girls from the two nearby high schools. They were all slim and cute, and clad in fancy short dresses, and high heels. Some shoes and dresses were sparkly. Their youth and good looks provided a contrast to the ladies they were serving, most of whom were old enough to be their grandmothers. But they were very sweet to us, and were eager to please.
The only drawback to the lunch was that no coffee was available. Several ladies asked for it and were disappointed when they learned there was none. If I attend again next year, I'll be tempted to take a pump pot of coffee for our table.
I enjoyed the speaker, a reknown heart specialist, though I was surprised that she didn't address heart issues at all, but rather spoke about things that help keep a heart healthy, like love, passion, and faith. She told an amusing story of a woman who contacted her about intense pain she was experiencing. The doctor reserved a hospital room for her and told her to come right in.
Well, the lady said, she couldn't come right away, because her bowling team was playing in a tournament, and her teammates were depending on her. But she'd come in as soon as the tournament ended. This was an extreme example of passion, and love. Turned out the lady's pain wasn't caused by anything that required hospitalization after all.
Entertainment for the event was a woman who sang two love songs. She is really talented, and we enjoyed her a lot.
The luncheon ended around 1:30, and I called Hubbie to come get me. I first tried his cell phone, but he didn't answer, so I called the landline, and he arrived about ten minutes later.
On the way home, Son called to ask if I'd called him. No, I hadn't. Well, he had a message that I'd called a few minutes ago. Phooey, I must have hit his name instead of Hubbie's on my contact list. Son said he was at the doctor's office, and if I had nothing important to discuss, he needed to hang up. I got the feeling he was a bit irritated with me, but when I contacted Daughter-in-Law, she assured me he wasn't irritated with me...he's just stressed about having to miss work for doctor appointments. Still, I need to be more careful when I'm trying to call someone.
I brought an extra goodie bag home for Mother, as well as three of the boxed cupcakes, since there were extra ones at an unoccupied table. Other ladies at our table did the same thing. Mother loved the goodie bag and cupcake. It was a small compensation for her not feeling up to attending the event. She felt more comfortable staying home and working her jigsaw puzzle.
I didn't accomplish anything for the rest of the afternoon, especially since I stayed in my "Red Hot" outfit...black jeans, black turtleneck shirt, black ankle boots, red jacket, my new heart earrings, two heart pendants on gold chains, and a sparkly bracelet...because we planned to go out for dinner.
Spent the afternoon playing on my tablet and visiting with Mother. We listened and watched the videos of artists who are competing in a contest to find a theme song for our state's tourism council. We chose the one we wanted to vote for, and if I can remember, I'll vote each day until the contest deadline.
Later, we went to the local steak house for supper. We left the house around 4:15, so we could stop by the library and pick up a DVD that was on hold, before we went to the restaurant. Gad, it was windy, which made it bone-chilling cold. I'm so glad it wasn't windy yesterday for the graveside service.
We were at the restaurant by 4:30, and even that early, there were a lot of cars on the parking lot. Fortunately, there was no line inside, and we were seated immediately. Mother ordered baked salmon and baked sweet potato; Hubbie had the steak and shrimp combo; and I opted for mesquite chicken breast and barbecued ribs combo. Salad and rolls came with the meal.
Hubbie and I exchanged foods...shrimp for me, and ribs for Hubbie. There was so much food that none of us could finish it. I especially couldn't eat a lot, since I'd had a big lunch. We brought two take-out boxes of leftovers home with us, which will be our lunch tomorrow.
When we left the restaurant, the foyer was full of folks waiting for tables, and a line of people extended all the way to the sidewalk outside, where they shivered in the wind. This is what comes of having only a few sit-down restaurants in our small town.
Mother was ready to go home as soon as we got back, so Hubbie accompanied her. Then we relaxed in front of TV and watched episodes of "Friday Night Lights."
Up at 6 a.m. Hubbie and I exchanged Valentines during breakfast, then after breakfast, I got ready for water aerobics. It was cloudy and pretty cool this morning for the trip to the college. I noticed that in the neighborhood near the college, snow/ice lingers on the lawns of houses facing north, while the yards across the street are clear, except for patches of the white stuff that persists on the north side of trees.
The pool was pleasant today, though a bit cooler than it was on Wednesday. Fourteen of us showed up...fourteen on Feb. 14. We were amused when one of the ladies suggested we should form ourselves into the shape of a heart in the pool. We did not do this.
I noticed when I went up to the pool area that another of those concrete tiles had fallen and smashed to the floor. No one left their swim bags on the bench below those tiles, so I didn't either, even though I still think this is a knee-jerk response to the situation. No tiles fell during the aerobics session.
I talked with the lady who is deathly afraid of falling tiles. We discussed our plans for Valentine's Day. She wasn't sure where she and her husband would want to go to dinner. I suggested that the local steak house serves really good talapia. She's not up for talapia, it seems, ever since she learned what it contains (?). Another good reason for her to be afraid, I guess.
Back home after aerobics, I enjoyed a cup of coffee, and relaxed a while. In the meantime, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house, and then he ran a couple of errands. I gave Mother her Valentine, along with a small package of Jelly Belly jelly beans. She gave Hubbie and me a homemade Valentine, which I'll prize because it has her handwriting on it.
Then I showered and dressed to go to the "Red Hot" luncheon. As luck would have it, it started raining just as I was ready to leave the house, so Hubbie drove me to the college where the event was held and dropped me off right at the door, so I wouldn't get wet. Very sweet of him.
As usual at these annual events, it was a sea of red and white decorations, and 300 red-clad women. When I arrived, I was escorted to a table by a man in a tuxedo (several men, called "heart throbs," acted as escorts).
There seemed to be confusion as to which table I was to be seated at, even after I told the ladies who were taking tickets the name of the lady who had reserved our table. They found her name on their list, but thought that at least five ladies had already been seated at the table. Oh, well, the escort should take me to that table anyway and see if it was the correct one.
No, it wasn't...I didn't recognize anyone at that table. But one of the ladies who was supposed to be at our table came and rescued me and led me to the table where she and others were seated. No sooner did we arrive at that table than we were told we were at the wrong table, and we were moved to yet another one. I hadn't been at the event for five minutes, and already I'd been shuttled to three different tables.
They were pretty tables though, covered in white table clothes, with centerpiece vases of carnations, surrounded by cute red and white cupcake boxes. The napkins were red, and the chairs backs were covered, alternately, in red or white.
Each chair held a red tote, containing a photo calendar, an issue of the county's slick magazine (which I already have), a big metal red heart key chain (pretty), a plastic teaspoon/tablespoon wet measure, a pen and notepad, a large plastic heart bag clip, and discount coupons.
In the center of the room, tables were arranged in a t-shape, upon which was a tall vase of red roses. This is where the silent auction items were displayed. I checked out all the items, but even if I'd been of a mind to bid on any of them, I'd forgotten to bring a checkbook or cash. I guess I inadvertently saved myself, because I really didn't need anything I saw in the auction anyway.
Lunch was salad, big fluffy yeast rolls, and a main course of baked peppered chicken breast, with a side of veggie medley...cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots. The meal was served on attractive white square plates. The only beverage was water, but it was served in pretty goblets.
Our servers were teen girls from the two nearby high schools. They were all slim and cute, and clad in fancy short dresses, and high heels. Some shoes and dresses were sparkly. Their youth and good looks provided a contrast to the ladies they were serving, most of whom were old enough to be their grandmothers. But they were very sweet to us, and were eager to please.
The only drawback to the lunch was that no coffee was available. Several ladies asked for it and were disappointed when they learned there was none. If I attend again next year, I'll be tempted to take a pump pot of coffee for our table.
I enjoyed the speaker, a reknown heart specialist, though I was surprised that she didn't address heart issues at all, but rather spoke about things that help keep a heart healthy, like love, passion, and faith. She told an amusing story of a woman who contacted her about intense pain she was experiencing. The doctor reserved a hospital room for her and told her to come right in.
Well, the lady said, she couldn't come right away, because her bowling team was playing in a tournament, and her teammates were depending on her. But she'd come in as soon as the tournament ended. This was an extreme example of passion, and love. Turned out the lady's pain wasn't caused by anything that required hospitalization after all.
Entertainment for the event was a woman who sang two love songs. She is really talented, and we enjoyed her a lot.
The luncheon ended around 1:30, and I called Hubbie to come get me. I first tried his cell phone, but he didn't answer, so I called the landline, and he arrived about ten minutes later.
On the way home, Son called to ask if I'd called him. No, I hadn't. Well, he had a message that I'd called a few minutes ago. Phooey, I must have hit his name instead of Hubbie's on my contact list. Son said he was at the doctor's office, and if I had nothing important to discuss, he needed to hang up. I got the feeling he was a bit irritated with me, but when I contacted Daughter-in-Law, she assured me he wasn't irritated with me...he's just stressed about having to miss work for doctor appointments. Still, I need to be more careful when I'm trying to call someone.
I brought an extra goodie bag home for Mother, as well as three of the boxed cupcakes, since there were extra ones at an unoccupied table. Other ladies at our table did the same thing. Mother loved the goodie bag and cupcake. It was a small compensation for her not feeling up to attending the event. She felt more comfortable staying home and working her jigsaw puzzle.
I didn't accomplish anything for the rest of the afternoon, especially since I stayed in my "Red Hot" outfit...black jeans, black turtleneck shirt, black ankle boots, red jacket, my new heart earrings, two heart pendants on gold chains, and a sparkly bracelet...because we planned to go out for dinner.
Spent the afternoon playing on my tablet and visiting with Mother. We listened and watched the videos of artists who are competing in a contest to find a theme song for our state's tourism council. We chose the one we wanted to vote for, and if I can remember, I'll vote each day until the contest deadline.
Later, we went to the local steak house for supper. We left the house around 4:15, so we could stop by the library and pick up a DVD that was on hold, before we went to the restaurant. Gad, it was windy, which made it bone-chilling cold. I'm so glad it wasn't windy yesterday for the graveside service.
We were at the restaurant by 4:30, and even that early, there were a lot of cars on the parking lot. Fortunately, there was no line inside, and we were seated immediately. Mother ordered baked salmon and baked sweet potato; Hubbie had the steak and shrimp combo; and I opted for mesquite chicken breast and barbecued ribs combo. Salad and rolls came with the meal.
Hubbie and I exchanged foods...shrimp for me, and ribs for Hubbie. There was so much food that none of us could finish it. I especially couldn't eat a lot, since I'd had a big lunch. We brought two take-out boxes of leftovers home with us, which will be our lunch tomorrow.
When we left the restaurant, the foyer was full of folks waiting for tables, and a line of people extended all the way to the sidewalk outside, where they shivered in the wind. This is what comes of having only a few sit-down restaurants in our small town.
Mother was ready to go home as soon as we got back, so Hubbie accompanied her. Then we relaxed in front of TV and watched episodes of "Friday Night Lights."
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