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.
Sunday, May 31, 2020
Saturday, May 30, 2020
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.
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.
Thursday, May 28, 2020
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.
(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.
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
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.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
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.
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.
Monday, May 25, 2020
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.
Sunday, May 24, 2020
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.
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.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Four Snaps in Time
Thursday, May 21, 2020
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!
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!
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
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!
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
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 . . .
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, May 18, 2020
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.
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.
Sunday, May 17, 2020
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.)
Friday, May 15, 2020
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.
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, May 14, 2020
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Napkin Ring
Monday, May 11, 2020
The Three Mugs
But whenever I pick this mug for my coffee, I remember those two and the fun we had.
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Happy Mother's Day
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.
Friday, May 8, 2020
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.
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.
Thursday, May 7, 2020
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
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.
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.
Monday, May 4, 2020
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.
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, May 3, 2020
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.
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.
Saturday, May 2, 2020
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.
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.
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