Mary Lou Nutterfield (03/28/1931 - 12/18/2020)

It is with deep sadness that the Nutterfield family announces that Mary Lou Nutterfield passed away on December 18th, 2020. Mary Lou died at Hospice House in Hutchinson, Kansas, after dealing with complications after a fall she suffered earlier in the week. There are no services planned for the time being but a memorial foundation will be announced for family and friends to donate to in her honor.

Her curious spirit, laughter, and insightful posts will be missed by all - She was a glorious lady who was a great wife, mother and grandmother and will not be forgotten. Thank you all who have followed her blog, this space meant something very dear to her and you all shared a very special place in her heart.

No More Excitement

 My sister-in-law says maybe something exciting will happen on days when we chat. I'll take calm days. For instance, Jill, the bully dog, kept following me around the house. Very unusual. She wasn't making her "feed me" sound. No crying or barking just walking with me. Very unusual.

I walked to the front room window to see if the mail flag was up. I had put out some bill payments. I saw a dog across the street walking along the grass near the sidewalk just like the neighbor's dog used to do. I had asked Mr. H. how he got the dog to stay on his property and not leave. "He knows better," and sort of laughed." I didn't know if the dog was well trained or had been severely treated. I knew Mr. H. would never mistreat that dog. Trooper was well trained!

So I looked again and it sort of looked like our dog, Jack. Oh my gosh. I saw the red tag. It was Jack.

I whipped off my O2 ( the tube doesn't reach outside, opened the garage door and by that time he had reversed course and was headed south. I called him and he looked at me for several seconds. He has to think things over. Thank goodness there was no traffic. I kept calling and he came across the street and up between the houses. I finally got him to come with me but when we got to the garage door, he balked. I had no leash so I grabbed his collar and sort of dragged him to the door control. Jill was glad to see him and was jumping around. They both  headed out the dog door and into the back yard. A few minutes later I heard Jack barking. No trace of him the back yard. He had found a broken board and had gone through it to freedom for the second time! Our neighbor tried to call us but my phone was inside in my coat. He was out in his yard where the opening led. We got him inside and secured the doggie door. Our  wonderful neighbor, Mr. S. offered to temporarily fix the opening. The only reason Jill didn't follow was because she is 30 lbs. and Jack is much smaller. 

That is not the kind of excitement J. is talking about and I surely don't want it. 

Time Goes By

 I can't believe how long it's been since I wrote in this blog.

Today I made a list of what I wanted to do. So far I have marked one and half tasks off the list of five. I made stew. I've probably mention here before that McCormick makes a very good flavoring mix for stew. Just add all the vegies you want and let it simmer. Oh - and the browned meat goes in first.

The half task was getting a RX from the doctor's office for filters for the CPAP. I am getting so forgetful that I had forgotten I even needed a prescription! 

Note to the New Jersey connection. What do they expect at this age? We have memories from childhood...who cares about memories concerning filters?

Yesterday's Tuna Casserole

 Lee loves tuna casserole. So I started to make it about 11:00 a.m. Looked in the cupboard for the large can of tuna in water. No tuna. I remembered some nice person had sent me two packages of tuna salad (Bumble Bee brand) and I had some other just plain tuna in a packet. These three did not total up to the right number of ounces - but almost!

Then I went for the frozen pea packet that was lying upside down in the freezer. Ah Oh. It was frozen brussel  sprouts. Well they are green. I gave them a zap in the microwave and cut them up into small pieces. Chopped onion. Had milk. No sour cream so I  threw in a couple of teaspoons of mayonnaise. 

Salt and pepper. No grated cheese but I don't use that anyway and no crushed cheese cracker topping. Also not generally used. And of course, the canned mushroom soup was on hand. Melted butter and garlic powder.

When I first started cooking, I remember I had to have every item that the recipe called for.  I have learned to substitute. 

Lee thought it was grand.

A Very BIG Birthday

Lee's birthday started out with a large cake delivered from our local Dillons (now Kroger) grocery store. They also had a sweet bouquet and a card for Lee. It was from all the kids (2 sons, 2 daughter-in-laws and 4 grand daughters  - plus some one added the two dogs.)

The name that is hard to see is Lily which they had trouble getting all on one line. The pastry person would have had more room if she/he had left out the extra L but all things considered, she/he did a pretty good job! Later a few of us talked on Zoom and sang the birthday song. PN had a meeting so he couldn't make it. Technology is nice but we all would rather have the real thing!

Happy Birthday on the big  Nine Oh!  Egad, I'll be there in four months.

New Ideas

 Today I saw some boot toppers, designed to keep the stiff plastic boots from irritating your legs. This is from a blogger friend who knits mittens for school kids, all kinds of useful things to give away and is a wonderful person!

I remember over a year ago I made some boot toppers that I saw somewhere. There was no pattern so I just made it according to the photo. They are only for being stylish. I should have made them be useful and fold over the top of the boot. Oh well. Our niece in Jersey liked them anyway. I guess they help keep the leg warm.

Question of the Day

 How many things can a person hang on their ears?  Back in the '60's a lot of us were piercing our ears. I went the cheap route and bought some self piercers. My husband and younger sent went to a jewelry store and had one ear pierced for a really small flat do dad. That didn't last long but I kept mine till this year.

Shortly after my ear experience, I needed reading glass so I bought those half glass jobs like Gypsy Rose Lee wore. That was our only similarity.

After regular glasses came along in the late '70's, I was set until this spring when it was decided that I needed O2. The nasal canula hangs from the ears and serves the nose/lungs. I took out the earrings because the tubing kept in touch with the small hoops. (This really didn't count since they were on the lobe, not over the ear.)

 And to top it off, our older son said my quality of life would be better if I used some hearing aides. Since Lee can't hear me and I can't hear him, I yell and I now wear the hearing devices. 

That makes three layers of equipment over the ears. 

It's a good thing the ears are big ones.

Nothing Exciting to See Here

 A couple of days ago I was reaching under the sink for the Dawn dish washing soap. From my right eye I thought I saw a fly - but flies don't hover. I reached up and it was small spider on a thread of a web either hanging from the ceiling or my hair. I grabbed it and and disposed of it in the sink. I felt like there might be a nest of spiders in my hair but could find no more guests - thank goodness.

Maybe we need pest control to make a visit.

A Repeat

 

I just read the October blog. My brain is in reverse and saying the same thing over again. . . anyway, here's a photo of the ladder, bulb remover and bleeping smoke alarm. The sign on the right says, "Welcome to the Nut house."

It's Been A While

 I would love to say that things are back to normal but it's only two and half months when the people who know says it will be six months. Among putting on pressure "socks," doing exercises, taking pills and fixing something to eat the blog gets left out. All normal stuff for human beans (as I used to think the word was.) But when everything takes longer, I'm trying to catch up. I know how lucky I am so have a good result - just learning patience.

Last night was a new experience. I had just gone to bed at 10:00. The dang smoke alarm started beeping that the battery was low. This freaks out the dog - just the little spaced out beeps. The plump one headed under the bed - a first as far as I know and the thinner one took off outside.

Two ladders, a bulb extractor (which was no help at all) lots of grunting and groaning, we got it unscrewed and stopped the noise. Lee had to go outside to find Jack and Jill exited the bed site.

It's now midnight.

Finally I woke up at 8:00 a.m.

The ladders are in the dining room. I put the light bulb remover away and still haven't showered or gotten dressed.

It's things like this that mess up your day.

We Did It

 I saved this sticker from the last time we voted - 2018. So our ballots arrived today and will be mailed tomorrow.

Time Goes By

 I have graduated to walking around the house without a walker or cane. Not the case outside. Some days a nap is necessary - some days not. Everything takes several two to three times longer (could we say ten times?) than it did. We have had home care nurses here since the first of September. What a wonderful system. My friend in Omaha says they are called VNA; Volunteer Nurses? These are not volunteers but they sure knw all the hints to help someone getting back to where they were.

So that's enough about that. However, since the days are filled with exercises, RX, meals, putting on pressure hose and trying to not step on O2 tubing, it is challenging. Lee has his four wheeled walker so we try to stay out of each other's way!

Thanks for all the comments and good wishes. Not much else to report.

A Little News

 Long time - no post! A little trip through the operating room, a couple of stents and not as good as new!

Six months recovery time? Well, one month is almost gone. Procedure done on August 31. Two angels were here to help. 

Old age ain't for sissies and I'm afraid I am a sissy and a wimp.

Help is Good

 We have Home Health Care coming to our house. Helping with vital signs, any changes etc. And then there is PT. And no, not like someone very dear to me, I do not find exercising "fun!"

Saw the doctor today. He gave me a choice of another visit in six months or a year. What???? I'm so old I remember what the physician said was LAW!

Thanks

 I appreciate the nice thoughts. Now have two stents all of a sudden - CHF. Guess they couldn't see it before. Quite a change in life style but we're learning new ways to do things!

How NOT to Spend Your 68 Wedding Anniversary

 In the hospital ICU with chest pains, X ray and CT scan, lab work and nothing is wrong.  Call Monday morning for follow up and the first date is Friday afternoon. That sounds like quite a while off to me  but I'll try to make it.

The Big Six Eight

 Today is our anniversary. Who knew it would last after knowing each other three and a half months? I guess he put up with me and I put up with him at certain times (!) but we not only love each other, we like each other. 

Seems to be working so far.

This is our wedding photo. My three friends waited out side the manse and Carlene, Barb or Darline took this picture. She forgot to wind the film - remember those quaint operations? So I guess you would call this our wedding album.

Wednesday

 Wednesday means today it "put out the polycarts" day.  Every other week the tan recycle cart goes out.

That's about as exciting as our days are here. They were not exciting before so there is not a big change! I did put on my mask and go to Hobby Lobby for some yarn. I think their "I Love This Yarn" is better than the other brand I usually use. I could see no reason to make afghans or hats from expensive types of wool. Now a sweater or a dress - Yes!

The dress didn't shrink! The girl just hadn't reached her full height which is now taller than her grandmother ever was! Good yarn in this one made for me way back in the '70's.

 We've had the most unusual coolness for the past several days. It ended yesterday with the high in the nineties but the mornings are still cool.

Yesterday was grocery ordering day. We picked it up at 7:00 this morning. No other cars were there. 

My sister-in-law in Jersey talk on Skype every day (I may have mentioned this before.) But my computer seemed  very slow over the week-end. The younger son whose job involves computers, spend an awfully long amount of time on my device from the far Northwest. It seems a little speedier but I am convinced that Skype is having problems. There are freezing pictures, cutting out on voices and just a very irritating condition going on! I searched for a place to reach them to ask about or report the trouble to them but can find nothing. Maybe so many folks are hunkered down that the system is overloaded.

Coolness

We have been having lovely cool weather. I have been dumping stuff from the garage shelves and cleaning up some junk inside. If we had a basement, it would be the home to all this stuff!

I made stew (again!) and it's much easier to use the slow cooker. Even without browning the meat, it's very tasty. Thanks to Mrs. McCormick's flavor pack.

Tuna is Tuna

Last time we ordered Tuna Creations (the packet on the left) we got the box of Tuna Salad. It contained a can of tuna which I could not open,  a tiny spoon and five crackers. Today our order was correct and we got the tuna salad for sandwiches.  So I ate the boxed variety. It was surprisingly good with come relish and veggies in it. I'll not buy it again though. Lee likes the other concoction for his sandwiches.

Busy Saturday

There were lots of chores to do today. Laundry, clean the sweeper (!) I thought it was supposed to clean for us. Order groceries. That operation is still amazing. I can type in what I want and almost immediately their computer verifies that they have received my order. We will pick it up at the time of our choosing (tomorrow morning between 7 and 8 a.m.) No money changes hands. Charged on a card and paid once a month. A pleasant teen delivers the bags to the back of the van after I have opened that door. They also tell us about any changes or substitutions. Then home to unload.

My mom would have been so impressed.

Oh yes. And since it's the first of the month, write checks. I know. That could be done by computer automatically too, but I haven't tried that here yet. We did it in TX for a short time and then decided not to do it here.

Also, the weather is in the 80's and this is August in Kansas! That is amazing too.

Calendar Towels

Can you believe the 70's were fifty years ago? I cannot. For several years we received these towels from New Jersey at Christmas. Everything has faded except the embroidery of our name. This year we received many calendars from companies and they were appreciated. We had them hanging in three rooms so last month I knew we didn't need the surplus so I recycled about four "extras." Suddenly two of the ones on display disappeared! Now we are short places to record appointments!

Easy come, easy go. (Lee thinks he took them down and threw them out.) I should use the calendar on my phone!

A First for Me

Today I had an appointment with "infectious control." This happens every six months unless I have a problem. I got a phone call early from that office asking me if I had a cell phone and what version it is (model? type? etc.?) I wish I knew these things. We got it figured out and I was facing the nurse! They would be calling about 9:00.

History was made when I was called into an appointment with a doctor EARLY. About twenty minutes till nine my phone rang. We connected on their app and I was interviewed. We reviewed prescriptions, weight, conditions etc. It was quite nice. I think if a patient is having no symptoms, this is the future of routine check-ups. Of course, if you need to see someone, that should be arranged .

Welcome to the future.

Sunday Sleeping

I am so blessed to have a husband who understands when I don't feel well, Maybe it's because he has those days too.

I believe I ate a combination of food Saturday night that was not good for my digestion.  I slept all morning and then all afternoon and evening.

I feel almost normal today - whatever that is!

The Phone

We have had problems with our house phone. When it rained, there was only static. It was reported and checked several times by technicians. No problem was found. Last week we weren't getting any calls - political or otherwise - so I knew something must be wrong again. It was not raining.

Another nice gentleman came out checked it out and got it to work. Yesterday, no calls. Today it rang once and stopped. The person knew our cell number so he called it. He said your phone rang once and disconnected.

So I tried it. Same thing. I called our provider, asking to just disconnect our phone and leave us with the internet and television! He apologized for the problems and then told me what the bill would be without the "bundle." The amount went down. Yes! Contrary to what I had been told by every other employee, it did not go up. I do hope he is correct. Now I can't wait for the next bill to see if he knows his stuff! 

About five hours later, I decided to call the house phone to see if I get a disconnect message. It rang through perfectly, the answering machine answered and I am now aware that if you want it fixed, just tell them to cancel.

Car Disaster

The car in yesterday's blog was a 1953 Ford Custom - the 50th year Ford had manufactured cars.

We bought it and my salary at the phone company just covered the payments of $93.00 per month.

I don't remember how long that went on but I claimed it must be MY car.

One week after we bought it, we met another car at an unmarked intersection. We were almost through the intersection and she approached and hit us, ruining both doors on the  passenger side.

This proved to the officer that we were not at fault (!) and no ticket was given to us. 

As for the other woman driver, when I saw her, she was looking back over her shoulder. I sat down on the curb and cried. My dear sweet husband said, "Don't cry. People will think you are hurt." I'm sure  he was as upset and frustrated as I was.

The doors were replaced but they never fit tightly. Later, during a windy dust storm near Russell, Ks, where this happened, dust sifted in around those doors.

No seat belts then and we were not hurt. I guess she wasn't injured either but that is her car in the lower photo.

Speaking of Large Buttons -

I loved that coat.

Shopping for clothes to go away to college was such a big deal. I had already gone to a junior college locally and was ready to go about one hundred miles up the road to Emporia State Teachers College.

My dad actually was with my mom and me looking for a coat. There were several others there that were cheaper. I Loved this one but thought I should pick one of the less expensive one. I guess my dad could tell. He said if that's the one I wanted, let's get it. It was $75.00, long and full and a gorgeous raspberry  deep red shade.

This picture was taken shortly after we were married and starting my senior year. I met Lee at the end of my junior year in April. Three and a half months later we got married. I'm sure there was talk and calendars marked to see how long THAT was going to last. Or when the first child arrived. (That was seven years later.)

I don't remember what happened to it. Coats don't last forever but I wish I had kept it.

A Ring

I am always surprised how lovely things were

made for simple uses. This is a napkin ring for my dad to use when he was a young boy. He was born in 1898. There are no chips on it. I remember my mom telling to take care of my things. Plastic was just coming into use when I was a kid - at least it was new to me! Celluloid was the big thing and I think it was flammable!

Groceries

Another pick-up of groceries at 7:15 a.m.  We were the only ones there. I had a lot of coupons and saved about $10. Sometimes I wonder why they just don't lower the price but I guess they want us to put out some effort in return for a lower price.

It's hot but rain is in the future - I hope the weather people are correct!

Also another day to make stew. Somebody sure likes it! Wish I had those helpers like the cooks on tv do and they would cut up all the five cups of veggies "off camera" and bring them to me. Cabbage, celery, carrots, onion, tomatoes and beef which we let the butcher cube.

A Failed Trip

Today someone wanted to go to the store to pick up a sale item. I think he forgot it was Saturday.

There were no "riding carts."

We returned home and I ordered online. Pick up is our choice and I chose between  7 and 8 a.m.

And so far, no nap today but I did watch an old film noir from 1944. Dick Powell's first real role as a serious actor instead of a young singer in a musical comedy. After this one, he made several more and then changed to directing and producing many tv shows. (I like to hear those details on TCM.)

May some crocheting will happen before bed time but I wouldn't bet on it.

A Few Errors

About ten after one we traveled to Micky D's to get two large cokes for Lee. They have two lanes which merge, mostly successfully. I had exact change and moved on to the other window. The clerk tried to give me a large sack of food. I explained our order. "Please drive forward and we will bring them out."

Ten minutes later I used my phone and called, explained, accepted her apology and waited. A young man appeared and tried to give me a sack of food. "Two large cokes, only, please." He said, "They just hand them to me and say take care of it!"  What a concept. They are really busy at lunch time which Lee thought was over by noon.

I wonder how they keep the straight at all!

IV Day

Today I sneak out for the first time in several weeks to go into another building. Every eight weeks I get some "stuff" to help my immune system fight off bugs - germs. This is done at the regional medical center (it's not just a hospital anymore.)

There are some cases of coronavirus in the local hospital but I'm sure they are isolated.

So now that the county requires a mask when outside and inside, we'll see how the Reno countians are responding. Eight weeks ago there were still people going in without their faces covered.

Temperature will be taken. Questions will be asked. No to all. The only thing is, I have had all those symptoms for the last forty-five plus years. Nothing new to see here; move along.

Oh My Goodness

I  glanced over to where the mesh laundry bag had fallen over after I had propped against the table. And at the top of the bag was this dead looking creature. I knew it wasn't one of the squirrels which drive the dogs crazy. It looked more like a rat. I can't believe either dog would bring something like that inside. Maybe a cat would but all the cats that Lee feeds are in the garage!

So I leaned over, looked further and saw that Jill was in her favorite spot under that table and this creature was one of her hind feet.

New glasses needed?

No New News

I seem to have something to say only every other day! Yesterday was no nap day so I went to bed very early last night.

I do like the main (large) meal at noon. Someone else seems to like it at night. This noon we had soup so tonight it will be spaghetti and salad. 

Our van has had no A/C for a long time. Our two sons, separated by many miles (one in the South and one in the Northwest) coordinated to get cool air for us. What a deal! The garage picked up the vehicle, fixed it and returned it. We are so grateful to one of their friends for recommending a repair shop. It is nice to find out there are places who still do good work and are good people! 

Grocery Pick Up

Yesterday was the day to pick up groceries. We got everything but olives. Hmmmm. The total was $84.84. I think we are spending  much less by doing this ordering by computer!

After hauling them home and putting them away, I as ready for a nap. It was a short one - two hours.

So this morning, nothing was on the calendar except a mechanic coming between nine and eleven to pick up the car.

For lunch I made the Jiffy corn bread casserole that we usually have at Christmas. It's so easy The main reason I did it was that when I ordered cottage cheese online, I accidentally clicked on a carton of sour cream. Looking at pictures instead of reading will cause an error. The corn bread and corn was delicious and a nice side dish for a change. Google has several versions of the recipe. I picked the simplest one.

No nap so far today. Yay!

Friends on Line

For the second day in a row I have spent half an hour or more with two technical people from our service provider for the television.

Lee was watching his GIANT tv and it just stopped showing any picture.

After all the rigmarole* of verifying who I was, they were very nice and helped me by sending a signal to the cable into the television to restart the dang thing. Success both days but frustration also. It seemed to take much longer than it actually did! 

Who remembers bringing home the tv, taking it out of the box, plugging it in, adjusting the "rabbit ears" and watching the three magic channels? 

I do.

*I had always pronounced this word rigamarole but Webster's 1988 Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary says that is a variation of rigmarole. 

Let Your Little Light Shine

Can you see the small purple lighter among the double crochet stitches? Lee spotted something reflecting light in the lower part of a chair. Our older son and his wife gave us the couch and chair when we moved to Texas in 2006. Honestly, I have used the vacuum on that chair more than once. My excuse is the lighter was wedged in the lower part between the cushion and the wooden arm. How Lee happened to see it, is really amazing. (He has very sharp eyes.) It is about one fourth full of fluid. No leaking and thank goodness no fire. Maybe it fell out of someone's pocket. Lee and I don't smoke. A doctor who was treating me for bronchitis and allergies in Dodge City about sixty-five years ago asked me if I smoked. When I answered, "No." He said, "Good thing. You wouldn't be alive much longer if you did." 

Don't you love an honest doctor? 

So we are lucky to have found the lost lighter after fourteen years. I may put it on the knick-knack shelf.

Oh. The afghan is one huge Granny Square with all the colors I had left over and a few new ones.

Planes

Only one channel carried the fly overs in Washington D.C. I know. Everybody has seen airplanes but this was quite a collection from before WWII to the present.

I thought all the news channels would carry the event. Not so. I enjoyed seeing and hearing the facts about the different planes - especially one called A-10. They forgot to mention it's nickname: Warthog.

Happy Fourth of July!

How Can It Be Friday?

Well, because after some stuff to do yesterday, I took a nap. How does sleeping from 1:00 p.m. till just after 9:00 p.m. sound? My husband is so understanding. "You need to rest when you can."

So the reason it is Friday is that I slept half of Thursday. Today was another day for a couple of errands. We got an adjustment on escrow so a deposit was made. And then, the huge cable bill arrived with an almost thirty dollar increase per month. I got on the phone "chat" with their employee. Many years ago they mentioned bundles. That term must have gone away. An offer was made to take away channels we don't watch. That's what I had been hollering about for a long time. Well, I said YES. That knocked it down $42 and he said it would never go up again. He most likely realizes that I have his name and the number. 

It it is raised, they will hear from me!

Wrong Date

I had an appointment at the clinic today. On one calendar it said 11:45 and on the other it said 9:45. Somehow I picked the wrong one and missed the early time.

The nice clerk rescheduled me for 3:45 p.m. We were out early  at 8:00 a.m. to pick up animal food and it was cool. Not so nice in the afternoon. It was a hot 92.

This the second time in a week that I have had the time wrong. Right on the calendar and  wrong in my head. I told Lee I need a helper and it is him! We are both going to double check dates and time. So embarrassing and IRRITATING! Along with leaving the water on, I think I need a Keeper - not a helper!

So It's Hot

What better meal to enjoy than beef stew. Lee loves it and I do too. Two pounds of stew beef. It comes in one pound packs so I use that. Five cups of vegetables and on McCormick envelope of stew mix flavoring.

It will be done at 12:30. 

We went to the podiatrist yesterday for Lee. Tomorrow it's another doctor for me. As one of my favorite doctors used to say, "After fifty, it's patch, patch, patch." So far we've retired three in our sixty two and a half years here in Hutch. And they were all our favorites when they were our family doctor!

Now at the hospital, you see a hospitalist whom you have never met before. Times do change.

Sleep

Yesterday was not a nap day. It was a go to bed early day and sleep late this morning day. And it's a miracle - I am not as tired today. I actually finished some things that needed to be done. Laundry and ordering groceries.

Maybe I should try an earlier bedtime more often. The only hitch is, after about 3 1/2 hours I am wide awake for about two hours; then back to sleep for another four. Strange sleeping patterns for these later years!

The Dumb Thing

Yesterday was the day of the "lulu."  I was in the shower and I  heard Lee calling me. He said the water was running in the kitchen sink. I said, "Turn it off."  His answer, "I did."

So when I got out and was dressed, I was ready to go mop up the mess. This was when I found out that even though the sink we had installed in 2008 after we moved in had no overflow drain, it was constructed with a lip around the edge. The divider between the two sinks, was lower and the water had gone over that barrier like a dam and drained out the other side. Luckily, I hadn't blocked up that side with the drain stopper. Nothing was on the floor. I just wasted a whole lot of water. 

This is the first time I had done this since we were in an apartment in Dodge City, KS, in 1955. I would bet that land lady never forgot the idiot girl who did it then. My record has been clean on this error for sixty-five years. I am determined to pay attention what I am doing from now on.

What could have distracted me? 

Easy Open

Over a year ago I was given Ensure while I had a short stay at the hospital. It is supposed to be full of vitamins and good stuff. So we have been buying it and drinking it. It couldn't hurt. Right?

Well, Lee picked up some that is High Protein and Easy Open.

I was having trouble opening my first container. After struggling and trying to pull up the plastic from the point of the lowest arrow, it dawned on me that the arrows were pointing DOWN !

How dense can you get? I hated to do it but I mentioned it to Lee. He said he had the same reaction - he had tried to pull the tab up. Maybe for us dummies they should replace the words Easy Open with Pull Down.

Tuesday

We did get one and 35 hundredths inches of rain.  And we are a little behind for the year.

I got a call from the east and my Skype buddy fell this morning while carrying laundry upstairs. Thank goodness nothing was broken, no concussion and her phone landed close by. She was able to call her daughter. She has had enough trouble for half a dozen people.  She is ok and her pre-planned surgery is still on for tomorrow. She's a strong woman.

I am still trying to figure out how to set up speed dial on a flip phone. After a couple of hours, I gave up. Then Lee told me he knew how to get to my cell number with only two steps. Wish I'd know that earlier!

A Nice Rain

We were spared the strong winds last night. I looked at the weather statistics in the newspaper but they went to press too early to report last night's rain total.

Since there have no injuries or other unhappy events, we consider it a good day!

Storm Time Is Here

Local stations are reporting dangerous straight line winds are on the way. Eighty miles per sounds bad. Radar is a wonderful addition for forecasters.

Let's hope the winds stay straight!

Nice Rain

We had a nice rain overnight and a lot of thunder. This morning a trip to the co-op for more peanuts. The squirrels lead a life of leisure around here.

I was ready to make a meat loaf. Amazingly, I had no McCormick mix for an easy way to make it.

So the old method kicked in. Ground up bread crumbs, two eggs, steak rub, liquid smoke, garlic powder, a dash of beef broth, chopped onion and red pepper. 

I asked Lee how the meat loaf was. "Good." I explained. He said he would never have known it wasn't made with the mix.

I can cook!

Dog Trouble and More

There was a problem with the dog. We needed to see the vet. So we drove there and waited in the parking lot for them to open at 7:30 a.m. The dog involved is Jill, the rambunctious one. She was so excited while Jack sat quietly waiting calmly. After explaining the problem to the two girls, we signed a form and attempted to transfer dog to girl. The toe nails were trimmed a few weeks ago but they caught Lee's arm and slashed a gash and a large round opening the size of a silver dollar with a flap.

I asked him if he wanted to to same day care or the ER. No. We got home, bleeding all the way. He decided maybe we'd better go. Mask on, he entered the clinic. ("At the hospital, I'd be there all day.")

I stayed in the car. Luckily a strong breeze rocked the van so I wasn't heated - maybe a little motion sickness.

After fifty minutes he came out. They glued both places and waited fifteen minutes for it to dry. He can remove the bandage tomorrow.

Later I poured water over the blood in the garage. Luckily, we had two hand wipes in the car which Mike had sent us and they helped on the ride home. A towel wrapped it on the way to the clinic.

Not a restful start for a Thursday. In fact, pretty stressful. The girl at the small animal hospital called our house phone while we were at the clinic. So back to the car to pick up the dog. I totally forgot to give her the cell number. I came home and napped.

Hoping for a calmer tomorrow.

A Trip to the Doctor

Lee had a follow up. I waited in the car. The wind was out of the south at a good clip so I was cool. My phone said it would start blowing at 11:00. At 10:15 it was a nice breeze. Then it stopped. It started to get hot in the sun. No shade in the parking lot. Forty-five minute later it was HOT. I forgot to take any water.

Next time I will remember!

Oh. And everything is fine with Lee. . . well, as fine as anyone can be at  89 1/2.

Light Bulbs

We moved into this house twelve and a half years ago. I can't remember how many light bulbs we have replaced in the ceiling fans, the hall and the closets. They burn out (quit working) after an amazingly short amount of time.

Except for the one on the back screened in porch. It is the large Sylvania bulb on the left.

So a trip to the hardware store resulted in two bulbs like the 60 W one on the right.  The old one states 14 W and the same 120 volts. I wonder why the big difference in the wattage? We'll see how long the new one lasts. Who knows how long it had been in place before we arrived.

Oh yes. They were already making them in the same place thirteen years ago - China. 

Sizzling Saturday

So what else is new except we are still having the high 90's. 

The other "new" is getting used to being on O 2 twenty-four seven. The approximately 15 feet of green tubing is lots of fun to drag around, avoiding furniture, dogs and closed doors. At least it's not heavy like the "portable" one. I am thankful to have access to it and I do think I have a bit more energy with the extra air! Never smoked or vaped. In fact, I never heard of vaping until the last couple of years. So I can't blame the existing condition on those two things. Allergies, bronchitis and COPD seem to have been on a diagnosis sheet. . . lucky to still be here!

Dull Friday

Nothing much happened today. It was really hot again. Official temperature is unknown but our thermometer on the porch said 101. Way too hot to be out with no A/C in the van!

From Shaggy to Short

Before:

And after:

I'd forgotten how big my ears are. I used my courage and mask and went to the hair cut place. They were observing mask, social spacing, disinfecting and had me wash my hands before I sat in the newly wiped down chair.

I may not look better, but I sure feel better.

Do your ears and nose continue to grow into old age? I heard that once. Egad!

Best Socks

According to Lee, these are the best socks in the world. We bought one package yesterday and had to go back this morning for two more packs. That's nine pairs. He is so thrilled with how they feel, he insisted I wear a pair over night to see how cozy and soft they are.

This reminds me of a joke in Spanish. A man who spoke only Spanish went into a shop where they knew only English. He was looking for a particular item but didn't know how to say it so the clerk would understand. She finally guided him around the store until they came to the counter where the men's stockings were.  The man exclaimed, "Eso si que es!"  The clerk said, "Why didn't you spell it in the first place?"

That has stayed with me since high school.

Other memories are long gone. . .

P.S. To help you get it, that Spanish phrase is pronounced as if you are spelling S O C K S.

Busy Morning

I did more today than I usually do in a week. One large task a day is about all I can manage. Before lunch the kitchen floor was mopped, someone's hair was cut and the beef stew was on the stove. I wonder if I can find chopped cabbage - not slaw. That is the hardest part for me. The chefs on tv make it look so easy. Chopping and slicing and fileting. I think they secretly have sharper knives. Or it could be that I don't have the muscle it takes.

Needless to say there was a nap later. 

Oh and I forgot. There was an early morning trip to the store that's open all hours for new socks. Found the perfect ones for Lee! No crowds at the early hour and only one cashier. If I wanted to scan purchases, I'd get a job doing so. Some modern things are not my favorites. For those who love them, good for you!

People! What Are You Thinking?

A trip to the clinic for a follow up appointment. First let me say I woke up for the first time in more months than I can count with no pain. Not even my thumb hurt.

And now on to the important stuff. In the clinic I saw person after person with no mask. True, there were some of all ages wearing them but so many middle aged and elderly were not. I asked the APRN what was the deal? She said they were optional. The last time I was at the hospital, the sign said you must wear one.

Not at the clinic.

I told her they must not believe the news, their government, figures from over the world or the president. I saved the card, "Slow the Spread" from March 16th; President Trump's Coronavirus Guidelines For America.

OOPS. I just reread it. Not one word about wearing a mask. It does refer one to the site coronavirus.gov. 

I'll check that out - I know I heard it somewhere.

Later:  I found this quote on the .gov site:

Wearing cloth face coverings is a public health measure people should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in addition to (not instead of) social distancing, frequent hand cleaning, and other everyday preventive actions. A cloth face covering is not intended to protect the wearer but may prevent the spread of virus from the wearer to others. This would be especially important if someone is infected but does not have symptoms. Medical face masks and N95 respirators are still reserved for healthcare personnel and other first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.

Old Candy

When I was a little kid, there was an old man who lived in the next block. He always had Horehound drops that he gave to all the little ones in the neighborhood. I think he enjoyed seeing all the little kids and we rode our trikes and scooters on the sidewalks around the blocks.

I saw some Horehound drops at a farm store this morning. I was on an errand to buy two lids for Country Tuff buckets. These are containers to store bird seed and squirrel food for our wild life friends.

So I bought the sack for $1.99. After lunch I tried one. No flavor. Maybe it's my taste buds. I was talking to New Jersey about five minutes later and I choked up, had trouble breathing and had to drink a lot of water to recover.

No more Horehound for me!

Saturday and a New Blog Style

Why am  I so resistant to change? I am so used to doing things in the same old way that I don't want to learn something new.

But here we are I kept poking around till I found the option to write a new blog. Too bad I have so little to say.

Yesterday was not a good day. Exhaustion is the word that comes to mind. Today seemed pretty much the same. I finally hooked up the O2 and feel better. 

Old age ain't for sissies.

Confusion

Today I received a notice about changes to Blogger. I really wish I understood what the heck they are talking about. I guess if this blog disappears, it will be no great loss. I have had fun doing to and sharing what boring things we do and the odd things that happen once in a while.

So if at the end of June, there is no more rambling, it was fun while it lasted.

It is 98 again here today.

A Lovely Morning -

Followed by ninety-six degrees this afternoon. We ran an errand early (squirrel food.)

Even though Lee's sister can't have visitors in the hospital in New Jersey, she has her iPad and we talk several times a day. She may get "out" tomorrow. I hope so. Thank goodness for technology so we can see each other and talk even when the No Visitor sign is out!

A Late Post for Monday

A day filled with unwelcome news. My Skype buddy is in the hospital in N J with pancreatitus. That must be spelled wrong. Too lazy to look it up. So we didn't communicate except by phone. I think she'll be getting her iPad soon but I was so worn out after a doctor's appointment, I slept from noon till 11:00 p.m. (Not good.)

Missed fixing Lee anything to eat. Luckily he is a good person in the kitchen. When I worked (outside the home) he would cook meals for us! I know he didn't go hungry. And he even asked me, when I finally woke up, if he could fix something for me!  What a guy!

By the way, the doctor told me to keep doing what I'm doing. That's encouraging!

Another Beautiful Day

Eighty-six is pretty warm.  I guess summer is here. We trimmed some branches off the trees that were hanging over the side walk. I pulled them down and Lee lopped them off. We had noticed them some time ago and today a woman walked by and had to duck down.  Time to trim!

We decided on a treat - Ken's pizza - for lunch. I also ordered groceries online so we will pick them up between 5:00 and 6:00. What a great service, temporarily free. After this pandemic is over, it will be $4.95. That is still a bargain.

Later: There are eleven spots for grocery pick-up. All seven on one side of the lot were taken! We have ever seen that before. Luckily one van left so we had a spot on the closer side. Sunday evening must be a popular time to get an order.

Saturday? Already?

The days just fly by with so many naps. We successfully got Jack through his wellness appointment except that I had trimmed his nails the night before but doctor thought they looked way too long (!)

So he trimmed them some more. He said two of them bled but he put powder on them and he'll be ok. Dang! He did this before to Jill. Doesn't he have a trimmer with a guard? I do and I've never cut our dogs' nails and cause them to bleed.  I was really irritated that he did it again.

And yes, he charged us for the trim. It should have been free with an apology to Jack. This sweet, shy dog is so laid back, I'm sure he didn't even protest. Since we had curb service, I was in the car. If I had been in there I think I would have said something - or maybe not. I didn't say anything when he told me outside,

Oh. And he needs his teeth cleaned.

So do I.

Money

Tomorrow we have an errand to do which will involve paying money. We have plenty of cash on hand to just hand them the amount which they are going to charge us. In the checking account we might go below the amount required to keep in the account if we wrote a check.

(Is this clear so far?)

My decision was to use the cash. Someone else had a different opinion. His solution: Drive to the bank, use the drive-through, write a deposit slip, deposit the money, tomorrow write another check.
On my count this is five separate transactions or steps. For my idea, one deal - hand them the money.

Guess which one we did.

Nice Weather

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Middle 70's is great. Too bad I wasted it with a couple of naps.

Trip to the Clinic

From 8:45 am to 10:45 am I was at the doctor's office. Checking up on some different stuff going on. One of our former doctors (we've retired three so far) told me that after fifty it was patch, patch, patch. I believe it.

The main reason for the delay was an attempt to send an order from the second floor to the first floor by means of computer. Could the call it down? Could they write a note and have it delivered? I was ready to go get it my "own" self!

After EKG, X-Ray and lab,  I was free to go home. A very long stretch.  About 90% of the public were wearing masks. All of the employees were.

Popcorn

This is an Atom Popper, made right here in the flatlands of Kansas. I saw something on the internet about a chef making popcorn in a metal bowl instead of a popper. You needed heavy pot holders or gloves to hold the metal bowl in order to shake it. A wok was mentioned. Well here is the answer to all that fol der rol.  It has actual wooden handles. And shaking is unnecessary because all the kernels on the bottom stay there until they pop (or not) and the lovely popped corn rises to the top. It is a joy to use and we had one many years ago. Where it disappeared to, I'll never know. This one showed up at a thrift store and I grabbed it. Best item ever to top corn.

More Groceries

I guess I am not a very good planner. The last time I ordered from our Dillons/Krogers store, I thought I had enough to last a couple of weeks.

Nope. So today Someone decided he would go, ride their scooter and pick up what we (he?) needed. For the third time the battery died on the store's scooter. This time in just a short trip to the back of the store. An employee got him another one and he shopped. And shopped. And I waited. And waited.

I would guess that about ninety percent of the people who went in and out of the store in the 80 minutes I was there, did not have masks on. The spike hasn't hit here. We'll see how this works out.

We came home and unloaded and put away.

Oh yes. We are battling some ants. Mainly in the bathroom. Irritating and disgusting little insects. I'm glad the aren't in the kitchen.

Four Snaps in Time

This was a while ago. Our son MLN is beating up on his cousin, MLN, in Emporia. If it were wrestling, I think Mitch would have pinned Mike in a minute but since it looks like boxing, Mike is ahead of the game.

A Book

In November, 2018 or oldest granddaughter asked if I would do Story Worth. Since I had no idea what this was, I said, "Please tell me more." (Or something like that. I really don't remember what I said but the thing was all new to me.)

It seems there is this company that will send you subjects to write about - things in your life from the beginning to now. If you aren't inspired by the subject of the day, you can choose another idea. Well, since I was already blogging and writing about present stuff, I could do that and write about my childhood - or whatever they had questions about. At the end of the year, it was possible to buy a book with all these short pieces published.

It went on, once a week, for a year. It was fun to see what ideas they suggested. None were very deep, or philosophic questions . . . mostly daily life.

And today the book arrived. Miss Taylor sent it to me and it is very nicely done! Lee and I are both excited about it. I had no idea it would be of such high quality.

Thank you, Taylor. It was a very lovely thing that you wanted me to do this and so kind of you to give me a copy!

IV Day

Today I go get an infusion at our local hospital. They call it a regional medical center, but I still say hospital. The nurses are so nice. They offer a warm blanket or a drink of coffee. I go every eight weeks and they even remember my name!

Errand Day

Well, we had to pick up groceries. And pet food. And return a mutilated bill that we must have received from the ATM to the bank for a full, untorn bill.

Speaking of bills, I saw a program today about scamming. Some clever people can convince other persons that if they dip white paper cut to the size of a United States $20 bill into a secret solution, the bill will reveal that it is actually a hundred dollar bill. They demonstrate this with three bills they select from a stack and it works. So the victim of the scam believes they are all hundreds and pays some huge amount for the chance to be cheated. It is very sad.

Our weather is very nice. However, there seems to a lot of pollen on the loose.

One of life's smaller problems . . .

Monday

Today I made stew again. We really like it. I had forgotten that I used the last of the carrots so I added a lot of celery, onion and cabbage plus the can of diced tomatoes. And the meat was very tender.

After all that chopping, I needed a nap after lunch. It is amazing what a few household chores do to make me tired!

I called the vet to get an appointment for Jack's "wellness check." Lee had told me we needed to do that for Wally. That was our last dog before these two. We laughed about it. I get on the phone and waited with Claire de Lune as the wait tune! Very delightful listening and then I told the receptionist I needed to make an appointment for Wally.

I'll swear, I do miss my mind.

Two Shawls

I have seen some beautiful shawls on a blogger friend's posts. I made three many years ago - one was even knitted. They were brown and white. So since my blogger friend did her first selfie with a scarf, I decided to try it with two of mine. As I look at the triangular white one, I cannot see how it was constructed! I do not have the pattern and I can't tell if I started at the narrow end and increased or vice versa. I remember seeing a photo of Kathrine Hepburn in a movie roll wearing a shawl with a similar stitch. The knit number looks way to complicated for me now!

You can also tell that I have not been to a hair cut place for quite some time. ( I was concentrating on keeping the reflection of the light glare out of my glasses.)

Early Rumbling

I went to bed very early last night. We have no schedule here. When we are tired, we sleep. When we are hungry, we eat.

So about 4:00 a.m. I woke up hearing this continual rumbling sound. Someone had turned on the tv so I thought it was coming from the movie that was showing. I found the remote and hit the mute button. Still rumbles!

Finally I figured out it was constant thunder. Not the loud crashing kind; just low and never stopping.
I have never heard that before in Kansas. As I write this four and a half hours later, I have the thought, "Is that the sound of a tornado that people refer to as a train approaching?

I looked out the window and it was a real downpour. We won't have to water for a while. Our great neighbor to the north has the yard looking beautiful. He mows and he even fertilized a while back. Such good people surround us here on all sides.

Thursday Already?

I must have lost a day. I woke up feeling not so alert yesterday so after I had some breakfast, I just went back to bed. About eleven I got up and put the roast in the small crockpot. With the potatoes, carrots and onion, that may have been a mistake. Five hours on high and we had a delicious supper. It didn't run over but the liner broke so I had a different clean up job.

I didn't tell my room mate that we didn't get an eye of the round roast which is what he prefers. They substituted a chuck roast which he considers too fat. I cut off all the fat after it was slow cooked and it was very good. He evidently didn't notice any difference and I am not about to mention it.

I checked the receipt from the grocer and they did not charge us for the roast! Hmmmmm. I knew if they had to substitute something that was more expensive, they would only charge the lower price but I didn't know that they might give a "sub" away!  It's almost like the lottery only this time we won.

So today I will make hash out of what it left with a jar of gravy (how lazy can you get? I could hear my mom saying, "Canned gravy!!!!" if she had ever heard of such a thing.

Napkin Ring

Didn't they make lovely things to hold your napkin, which was cloth, many years ago? This was my dad's napkin ring when he was a child. How many times was it moved, carefully wrapped and packed away by my grandmother from Iowa, to Kansas; then by me to Texas and back to Kansas? It is porcelain and very beautiful.

The Three Mugs

Fifty-seven years ago I bowled on a team with two other friends, Vera May and Nancy. We had more fun. I was a terrible bowler with horrible form. No athletic grace or ability here.

 But whenever I pick this mug for my coffee, I remember those two and the fun we had.

Happy Mother's Day

This is my mom on her thirty-fifth wedding anniversary.  She was a great mom and I'm sorry for any troubles I gave her - mostly after I was old enough to know better.

Sadly she didn't get to her thirty-sixth. She was only sixty but we had lots of good times and I have good memories.

One Day Service

There is a pot hole growing on a  near-by busy street. I kept thinking I should call the city street department.

This morning I did. A nice man took my message with the location.

About two hours later we were driving home from a clinic visit for Lee and the city truck was filling the hole!

Wow.

Who Irons Seersucker?

Putting the laundry away straight out of the dryer is mostly the way we do it around here. Very few things need ironing. Sweat shirts and old seersucker blouses make up a lot of my wardrobe so straight onto a hanger they go!

Well, I decided to wear one of my favorite thrift shop blouses, purchased years ago when Linda P. and I used to go look for bargains. I put it on and holy moly! The whole right sleeve was ripped from the elbow down.  It must have had a rough ride in the washer and dryer.

Someone said, "Buy some new blouses!" I said, "Now? Are you serious?" I never liked to shop anyway and I have plenty of things to wear. But I decided to save it.

I got out a pen, marked the cut lines and whacked it off below the elbow. (I did take it off first.)

My sewing machine is sitting idle on a desk. It's an Elna Quilters Dream machine. Since I stopped quilting. it has seen very little use. So little in fact, that I forgot how to use the automatic needle threader. After about fifteen minutes I got that solved and stitched a hem into those sleeves.

A nice summery blouse that needs no ironing.

P.S. Judith, tell Grace I saved the buttons.

Mumbles

Am I the only one who remembers the character, Mumbles, in the Dick Tracy comic strip? He was a criminal (I don't remember his crime) who spoke so low and so indistinctly that his nickname was Mumbles.

This morning I was listening to the local radio talk show - a once a week program that lets the locals express the complaints or praise for situations in our town or country. The voices all sounded garbled. I wondered if it is our radio or their mics. I had noticed this before but today was especially annoying.

I grabbed the hearing aides that our older son had given me (was that a hint?) I had tried them before and noticed how paper crinkles loudly and the water is very noisy coming out of the tap.

After I had them on for a short time, I heard a very dim male voice. My first thought was a walkie-talkie in the neighborhood that was bleeding into my frequency (!) A few minutes later I heard it again. It was saying, "Batteries are low." Spooky.

I got the new batteries out of the box and replaced the old ones. Suddenly the voices on the radio were much clearer.

Now if could just get the mumbler that I live with to speak like he does when he talks on Zoom, I wouldn't need the hearing aides around the house.

No Nap Today

For the first time in many days I have not had to take a nap. No idea why. I've done my minimal exercises and only walked around in the house. Last night on Silent Sunday Night Movies on TCM I watched Paul Robeson in his movie debut from 1925. These old movies are so much fun to watch. I like to watch the way they dressed the sets, the fabrics they used and furniture with old "bridge lamps," radio sets or phonographs.

There were several things in this one that I particularly noticed. Someone really liked checks. The curtains were checked; the dresses and blouses were different sizes of the same type design. The cloche hats were amazing with one having a large circle on each side that appeared to have been made by tracing around a doctor's mirror that is worn on the head to direct light down a throat and attached by a small button to the hat.

And then - in the corner was a knick-knack shelf just like the one my mom and dad had and I now have in one of the bedrooms.  This one may have a few more turns on the shelf separators but very similar!
The little Amish girl on the bottom was half of a set of salt and pepper shakers that my friend gave me after she had two girls and I had two boys. She said it was the only way I'd ever get a girl! Later she got a grandson and a granddaughter and I got four granddaughters! (I think my friend may have kept the little Amish boy.)   Since I was up late watching the old movie, I expected to be very tired today. So far,  so good.

Sunday

A beautiful, warm spring day and we did go for a short ride - pick up a pizza from Ken's....our local favorite. This is the first outside food I have eaten since March.  The other person here has had a couple of burgers and fries. Oh no - not me. But today pizza sounded good.

We'll see how this does. So far Kansas is not opening restaurants for inside seating. I think they are pushing this opening up stuff too fast.

Skipped another Day

Yesterday was a trip to the clinic for a simple check-up. I had cancelled an appointment but when I made a mistake and called my pulmonologist to check on a medication he had ordered, they switched me to our newer GP. Dang! You can't fool those people.

So then they called me back and wanted me to come in. Nothing has changed so why go? But I did.

Lab work - ok. Everything - ok.  Most people at the clinic had face masks but there always a few rebels.

So we had a nice visit with one of the PA's. Our doctor has two Physician Assistants and now no nurses. They have laid off all the nurses in their area. So one week the PA I saw "helps" the other one and vice versa next week.

What a strange case we are experiencing. Is it a Chinese curse that says, "May you live in interesting times?"

Later: I looked up the Chinese curse and it is only a story started in the 1930's. No link to any Chinese origin can be found after research according to Wikipedia.

Grocery Pick-Up

We have now picked up groceries twice and had them delivered twice. I like picking them up. They are so efficient. All employees were wearing masks. They do not touch the vehicle. I open the door where we want the sacks located and then close it after they put them inside.

They had this service quite some time before the present situation. It is really a convenience. We may just do this from now on.

Nice warm day here - so someone turned on the AC. I have a blanket over my legs.

April 29, 1952

The second most important day in my life.

The first was when my parents adopted me and gave me wonderful life. "Only child" is dirty word - phrase - but if you mean I had lots of stuff, I did. I also had lots of love, care, teaching of morals and discipline, applied with swats on the bottom. No slaps or abuse but plenty of corrections!

And now, the Other Day. The day I met Lee and had a blind date. He had a date with another girl in the dorm but she had received a letter from her boy friend and decided she didn't want to go out. (the idea of not cheating.) So she asked if I would go on this double date with another girl and her boy friend. Sure. Anything to help a friend and a sailor home on leave.

On seeing the last name on the key chain in the 1948 coupe, I thought, "What a weird last name. Never heard that one before."

We had a picnic with fried chicken made by Lee's mom. She was a good cook! We went to a place near the river where for some forgotten reason Lee went wading. It was a grand time.

Three and a half months later, we were married. And yes, our oldest son arrived as all the gossips held their breath, seven years later.

We are so blessed. We've had our good times and bad, but so blessed to never be out of work. Sixty- eight years. My mother-in-law told me they didn't come to the manse where we got married because she figured it wouldn't last and she didn't want to be a witness to the crime! By the way, she and I got along great.  She was tough but I was lucky - she liked me and I liked her. In later years she had a different opinion, but I blame that on age and mental outlook.

So celebrating today on a blind date that turned out O. K. (We appear to be a little cracked.)

Who Knew?

I have been ordering a prescription every month for almost a year. Let's say it costs x number of dollars for one month supply. 

Yesterday I drove through the pharmacy area and picked up the pills. Instead of x dollars it was 3x dollars. I luckily had more than that in my wallet.

Shocked at why it would go up triple amount in one month, I came home and opened the sack. I had three bottles of medicine instead of one. I began figuring (and this took a lot of brain power!) and I had eight months of pills for the price of three months when buying them every thirty days.

Who knew there was a discount in volumes of pills?

Monday Could Be the Best Day

I had my grocery list. I hadn't ordered online since Easter so I was rusty on the site.

I finally got everything ordered and couldn't find the site to view my "cart." Finally I found it - after signing out and figuring I had deleted the whole thing.

The choice for delivery to our porch was two hours or five hours. I picked five. It was two minutes till 10:00. The estimate was between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.

About forty-five minutes later the doorbell rang. Groceries were here! I could hardly believe it. We got everything we ordered in the food category.  Some Air Wyck thingy was broken accidentally so we didn't get that but we were not charged for it.

Putting it all away was almost fun. What a system! It's back to the twenties and thirties when they delivered milk to your door and groceries if you wanted the store to do that!

Day Forty-Two

But who's counting? I am and I don't mind it a bit. As I have said earlier, we don't go very many places normally. We used to bring home a pizza once in a while but not lately.

I have heard all they have said about how to stay safe. I am still not sure how bringing carry-out food home is safe. I guess we will just do the best we can and stay home.

I may cancel another doctor appointment next week. I last saw this doctor  six months ago and as far as I can tell, nothing has changed. Next week may bring up something different but so far, so good.

I hope you are finding fun things to do at home.

Chili in April

We like chili any time of the year. So I made a batch yesterday. Lee announced it delicious. I told him to thank Mrs. McCormick. I do add some other stuff - a shot of Liquid Smoke, a couple of shakes of Worcestershire Sauce, celery, green pepper, onions and of course canned tomatoes and kidney beans.

We are so easily pleased.

Today it will be Beef Stew. And then, leftovers for a while. With soup and sandwiches in between.

I read that we should eat a 1 1/4 vegetables every day and a cup of fruit daily. We don't quite meet that requirement but we're still here and eating.

People!

This morning I sat in a parking lot for forty-five minutes, watching people go in and out of a place of business. I estimate that 90% were not wearing masks. All ages - young, old and middle aged. Perhaps they don't watch television news or read the guide lines that have been published.

PEOPLE!  Please protect yourself and others. Our county has fifteen cases and several other possible patients with the virus.

I cannot believe that several states are opening tattoo parlors and gyms.

This is a serious time.

Temperatures

We have seventy-two degrees at 1:00p.m. I think I'll spend some time on the back porch. It is screened in and in the winter, someone puts plastic up to keep the snow off the porch. The first year we did not do that. Lots of snow. Since then we have arranged to tack up the plastic barrier. Not so much snow at all. This last fall, we didn't get it installed but there was still very little snow! 

Can you tell I am running out of things to  blog about?

Helpers?

Today we had to make a trip to the drug store to get an item Lee needed for his health. We both wore masks. I stayed in the car as usual. He left the van and a middle aged woman WITHOUT a mask approached him and took his arm and helped him into the building. She even offered to wait and help him back to the car! He declined. People are very nice and thoughtful - except where was  her mask?

As he came out, another woman, slightly older than the first, approached him and offered to help. He said no, he was fine. As she passed the window on the passenger side she told me that he hadn't wanted to accept her help. She was probably a foot away from him - with his mask on.

I would probably do it, but he wouldn't; "Please back away six feet."

Don't tell me people are all complying. As I sat there, most of the older people were wearing masks but none of the teen age types were. And these two nice, helpful women who evidently don't have a clue.

Slight Snow

We also need to harvest that field of  green.