Busy Day

My daughter took me to my dentist appointment for my bi-annual cleaning.

From there we made a stop at Rite-Aid for my calcium supplement and body lotion. I asked the lady in pharmacy if the 2nd Moderna boosters were available. Yes they were, so I filled out the paper work and had it done.

Then we went to the local hometown market and only she went in. I was wearing out with all of the activity! It's not easy for her either, as she has the need for a hip replacement. We are the two-cane ladies. At least she can drive!  Some cheese and half and half were my only current needs and we returned home. She removed her foods she had stored in my freezer and took them back. Her other cold and frozen foods were lost during the power outage and she had a really hard cleanup but got it finished. The car ride in and out really showed me all the damage with trees and limbs down in just the 5 mile area we traveled. No wonder we lost power for so long.

I called the golf car place to be sure my buggy was functioning properly on the uphill and downhill sections of the dirt road because it was different from the old 2013. He said, yes I would have to use the brake more but the battery consumption will be much less. OK with me! It still is not warm enough to go for long rides and I sure am looking forward to some. 

Daughter has the tomato seeds planted and they are starting off in her neighbor's sun dome. YAY! This image is from August last year.

That's it for today. 

Potted and Unmasked and Shopped

I sure created a mess on the porch when filling the pot with soil and succulents. However, the end result is fine. I poked 7 varieties into this container and hope they survive. It was a rough journey for them. The little Dutch shoe plants are settling in well.

I unmasked James and put his forsythia garland away. Now he sports June flowers. He's much happier.

We traveled to grocery shop at Walmart for the first time in over two months.  We made the mistake of parking at the left end of this store where we usually go to enter. We walked to the entrance and saw signs that it was designated for emergency EXITS only. Then we walked to the far end and the entrance there had a fellow with a clipboard. Already we had trouble breathing. We agreed to meet near the rest area as usual after checkout. The Mister went to get all over-the-counter items and soda. I found everything on my 27 item list. Was surprised to see all Charmin toilet paper racks were full.

Still didn't need any but bought a 9 pack just because I could! The meat slicing lady in the deli section was new to me. I had asked her for 1/2 lb. Sahlen's Smokehouse Ham sliced thin, not shaved, and laid flat. It took long. Finally when she put the stack up to weigh it it weighed 1.68 lbs. WHAT? She was chatting with the co-worker the entire time she was slicing and not paying attention, I guess. I refused the large amount and had her take away the excess and only package 1/2 lb. for me. When checking out, the lady was new to me too. She was overly pleasant BUT constantly checking an item and then voiding the entry and then entering it again! There was a total of 6 "voids" on my slip at the end. Now when finished, we usually sit on the bench by the restrooms to wait for the partner to check through. NO SITTING BENCHES THERE! So I stood and the Mister finally came through. I was very surprised that they let the clerk use our own Walmart blue bags to pack our purchases. They are old. We brought them back to PA from SC in 2016! Even the town grocer won't let us use our own bags no matter what kind. They pack in plastic bags. The main reason we like shopping there is because we know where to easily find things and the prices are much lower than shopping locally. I think we'll wait a few weeks more before returning as it wasn't worth the aggravation. Shoppers and employees were all wearing masks and keeping their distance. Shelves were well stocked but there was a feeling of pressure to just get through this and get back home.

(please click on image to view larger)

Shopping

We went to the hometown market this morning and no one is allowed in the store without wearing a mask. Of course, we were and shopping was a breeze. The only thing I didn't like was it was all packed in flimsy plastic store bags and we can't use our own bags. Things were crunched together and I don't like that. They do hose down all carts all the time with a sprayer with sanitary stuff; pretty well stocked too. We only spent $80.14 and that included bakery cookies, cheese curls, Kit Kats, (all for the Mister); two pizzas, and a lot of canned fruit to put in jello; bread, milk, you know - staples. Good day. We won't need another thing for at least two more weeks. 

The masks made our eyeglasses steam up. Nuisance!

Our fine wine and good spirits store is supposed to be open for curbside pickup. The notice online for PA says we have to call them between 9a.m. to 1p.m. and pre-order. We are limited to one order of no more than 6 bottles, and only one order will be accepted per store, per day. Well, wouldn't you know that the telephone line is constantly busy!  Oh well, a bottle of Baileys Original Irish Cream would have been a tasty treat so we'll have to try again.  Since the stores have been closed and are now opened for orders, I'll just bet it will be several days before we can even get through via telephone.

Tomorrow is laundry duty. Face masks all washed and are drying. We are ready!

Trapped ANOTHER shrew! Saw 5 deer all at once a couple of days ago. Had a difficult time capturing them all in one shot. They were hanging out at the far side of the cabin. 

please click on image to view larger

That's it for today...Be safe.

Have To....

Though cloudy skies and cold temperatures with winter blasts prevailed, down the road we went.

It never felt like such an accomplishment through all of my years of grocery shopping, but today it sure did. We travel about 25 miles every two weeks and it is a mandatory way to get out in the winter. Today was a big shop due to not having gone for 18 days. Yes, we have a full freezer, but then I run out of things like mustard, curry powder, black pepper, cocktail sauce, mayonnaise, cold cereals, lemons; oh I could go on and on, but you get the gist.

There is not much on the trip that is uglier than old roadside dirty snow. Well, perhaps dead animals compete in that category. The pretty stuff is now showing up on homes decorated with Valentine hearts and cupids. Yes, the store was full of red and sweets too.

Our driveway and road

A nice thing is that the SiriusXM radio plays music that we like and we also sing along as we travel. His side of the seat is warmed to 82° but I like mine around 70° and that is a new option for us.

So now we relax. The unloading and putting away is finished. We're having homemade beef stew tonight. I made it a couple of days ago to use up my carrots, onions, rice and shredded beef. It was easy because all of the meat had been prepared several months ago. I had even frozen the broth. Toasted ciabatta bread with garlic and butter will top it and our day will be complete.

New storm coming this weekend.

Coffee Maker Monster

 Whew! Again!        NEVER again now!

The other night we had a short power loss. The short ones usually happen when nobody is looking.

I knew it happened because the complete silence and darkness woke me up - at about 1:30 am. I listened and heard my live in companion (ha ha) mulling around and then going back to bed. I know this because I heard his door shut. He must not have been worried about a long time blackout or freezing water pipes. Those issues are his department. The next thing that woke me again was a sound of gurgling. What? Soon the Mister was out and up and back in the kitchen area. Shortly after, the gurgling stopped so I went back to sleep. 

In the morning the power was back full swing and I asked him what the funny sound I heard was.  He told me that, apparently, after the power returned, it started the coffee maker brewing our morning waker-upper.  You see, I put in the grounds and the water before going to bed and it's ready to go in the morning. He hadn't turned it on with the on/off switch but it was plugged in.

Oh! Oh! That's not good! What if it had not been filled with water? 

Then the break of the cake was that it did it again yesterday when we had a very short power loss and it was empty! It started by itself. This I know, because I heard a noise that made me go and look. The hot plate was hot. The pot was in the dish drainer. there was no water in the reservoir. The switch was OFF!

NOW it is in the trash can. Today we went to buy a new coffee maker. I have been wanting an electric percolator for a long time and found one at a favorite hardware store. It was a two to four cupper. GREAT. Stainless steel!  The maker monster, now in the trash, was one I bought 10 years ago when I was taking care of my mother because I just couldn't take instant coffee and her drip coffee was way too weak for my taste. Ten years isn't a very long time for a quality appliance to last, but at least we didn't have a fire!

This beauty has to be plugged in to start and unplugged to stop. Farberware has the right idea!

XXXXXXXXXXX

The little Cuisinart was a wolf in sheep's clothing pretending to be safe.

Soon I'll be telling you all about our favorite hardware store. It is a story all by itself. 

Communication Situation

Communication Situation

I'm writing about this to perhaps lighten or somehow ease thoughts of everyone regarding the awful pain and suffering so many folks are experiencing because of the horrible events that have happened this week. My thinking is that maybe your attention will be diverted for just a little bit and maybe my silly situational story will move your thoughts to a better place for a moment.

Usually, my husband and I travel about 30 miles about every two weeks to grocery shop. It's important to us that we also pick up our preferred soda and Walmart is the only place that sells it.

For about four times last year and then again last week when we went,  they were out of the soda - completely out. I made the mistake of not calling first to ensure that a supply existed.

This time I called first and the beverage manager said there was plenty on the shelves but she would also hold a case for me. When I asked how many were in a case she didn't know, but thought there was six. She asked when we were coming and I told her we'd be there in about an hour.

We arrived at the store, and went our usual ways - me with my cart to shop for groceries, he with his cart to shop for soda and other sundry items. The usual routine is for us to meet at the checkout nearest the door we entered. Whoever if finished first, just waits, sometimes by sitting on the provided bench.

He was finished first and after I checked out and we started to exit I noticed that his cart didn't hold very many bottles of soda so I asked him if there were more on the shelf. His reply was that the ones we buy were gone and there was no one to check on the case that was being held so he just checked out. My answer was that I'd go to Customer Relations and get someone to bring my case to me there. 

BIG Mistake: I could have suggested that he take his cart to the car, unload and then come back in because I'd stay in the Customer Relations area. I didn't suggest it. I assumed that is what he would do. 

SECOND BIG Mistake: Never assume.

The Customer Relations Manager contacted the person to whom I spoke on the phone that morning and she came to the area. She told me she'd be back with the soda for me and I asked her if there was more than one case available, would she bring back two and she said she would. I sat down and waited and waited. Finally she showed up and was looking like a wild woman. She told me she had brought back two cases on a gurney, left the gurney for just a moment to help another customer and when she returned the cases of soda had disappeared. She wondered if I had it. She couldn't believe someone had taken them right off her cart! WHAT? I just told her to never mind, I had waited long enough and was going home. She marched out of the area where I was waiting in search of who took her soda. I think you know what is coming............

As I was heading for the exit, I passed the checkout near the door and THERE HE WAS! CHECKING OUT TWO CASES OF SODA. All of this time, I thought he was waiting for me either by the door or by the car. Then....the woman who had brought it up from the back area spotted him and confronted him. She had NO idea he was a member of my family. I high-tailed it outta there!!!

I stood in the parking lot and he finally arrived. When he unlocked the door, I entered and just sat there. After unloading and taking the carts to the proper area, he entered the car and gave me heck for not helping him unload! (I usually do.) My mouth was sealed - TIGHT! I was so angry and so humiliated and so embarrassed that I was afraid of myself. I really wanted to rip him up and down with my words of contempt - but couldn't. 

All the way home I worked at getting myself under control and after arriving, helped unload and then put it all away, but still kept from saying anything about the incident or my feelings. It's my way to hold things in and I must say I did well, knowing I would cause more trouble. I'm usually a patient person and not angered easily, and he is impatient and flares up very easily. You know what I mean - oil and water. After 52 years, we haven't "killed" each other, so I guess this communication situation will prevail for a few more. 

I'm still waiting for an apology but those are rare. I truly believe that he doesn't even realize that he made a fool of himself, a fool of the store employee and embarrassed and humiliated me.  I'll get over it. In a while......

There! Did I make you forget real pain and suffering, even for a minute?

Goodies

Ya cain't send this guy anyplace without him getting into trouble! This morning I sent him to the store to get half gallon container of milk and this is what he brought back, including the milk.

Now, don'tcha know we already have snacks galore, including Cheez-its, and Lance Captain Wafers, grilled cheese variety. We absolutely LOVE the Voortman's Lemon Wafers. Voortman's carries others, including strawberry, coconut, chocolate, and vanilla. They are all good, but the lemon are great! In the 'no sugar added' category there are fudge vanilla wafers, fudge peanut butter wafers and mocha cappuccino as well. (I sound like a Voortman's saleslady, don't I?) 

My point here is that the Mister must have had a chocolate urge, he is so deprived! Pectin jelly beans and peppermints just didn't fit the ticket!

Of course, I won't eat anything chocolate - at least I'll try to control myself. (I lied.) Oh, heck, I already had one. (I lied again. I had several.)

The Shopper - Part 2

The Shopper - Part 2

On January 13, I told you about my husband and his recent TV shopping experience. After the first TV went back, he came home, reset up his old TV and was back in his groove.

I was sure he'd go again and he did! He wanted a TV that would accommodate his wireless headphones and would allow the football scores and downs to be fully displayed on the screen.

This time he knew he had to get one with audio output ports. A trip to Walmart (once more) was in order. The one he purchased three days ago was 42" and had them! Whoopee!  It was a little bit too large to suit him but it did fit into the space where it had to go. Ok - Perform the whole operation again of unpacking, setting up, hooking up, attaching everything and then get ready to have it all. Did it!

Well, no one can have it all. Yes, the wireless headset was plugged into the correct ports and would work - IF - IF the sound on the new TV was turned all the way down. It didn't have the ability in the program to be turned OFF so it wouldn't annoy others in the room, but it did go down. Then, the headphones had to have the volume adjusted by turning the knobs on the headphones and NOT by just pushing the button on the remote hand controller up or down as the old one would; that annoyed him to no end. He said he could live with that, BUT..........

He also was very displeased with the quality of the picture and no matter how ALL picture adjustments were changed and tried many different ways, the picture was BLURRY - well, not actually blurry, but lousy. He had 7 screen choices and NONE made the picture sharp and clear either. I agreed.

Today after the tearing down, repacking and resetting the old TV back in place, he again took the 60 mile round trip back to Walmart with the second new TV for completion of his second return. The second credit IN FULL was applied to his credit card and he "seems" to be happy again, sitting in the old lounge chair, hearing and seeing everything in the way he likes.

The old, large JVC TV was purchased December 7, 2009! It's time for a new TV, don't you agree?

The Shopper

My husband is frustrated with our old large TV because he can't read the football downs and scores on some of the channels. They are posted on the far upper left side of the screen and we don't have a wide screen TV! He has a cable box hooked up already so he can see the Speed channel for his auto races. That had to be done when there were some of them being run on an channel that isn't in our cable plan. He didn't want to upgrade to a better channel selection just for that one channel due to increased costs. A digital box was installed a couple of years ago.

I think by now you're getting my point - he watches a lot of TV in the wintertime. Every time we go to Walmart, a 60 mile round trip, for grocery items that we can't get here, he heads to the back of the store to check out TVs. The last time we went he came home and said he found the one he wants. He then told me he was determined to have it and will put it on the credit card! That is supposed to be used only for emergencies. Oh well, I gave in. After all, I have my computer to keep me busy and he only has an old TV. 

The very next day, he left early heading to Walmart. He really must have had itchy britches, you think?  He returned several hours later with a large, but not heavy box. Or so he said. It reminded me of this quotation "He's not heavy, he's my brother." 

It took about 3 more hours for him to set it up. The stand stood empty because the first thing he did was to put the older TV in the middle of the living area floor. When I asked where he would move it to later, he said nothing. All the input/output wires from the cable box, CD player and VCR were attached and it functioned perfectly after being programmed.  He loved his new TV. The only thing yet to do was to attach his remote wireless headset. Oops! No output port ANYWHERE!

Nadda! Nuttin! NO WAY! He cannot use his wireless headphones and charging cradle with his new TV.

You see, he is VERY hard of hearing. His hearing aids pick up too much of surrounding noises and annoy him to the point of taking them out. The next thing he did was call for customer support. The answer was that he needs a TV that has an audio output port. DUH! 

Next day.........New TV all repacked to perfection, loaded in truck and a trip back to Walmart.

The only ones they have with the necessary hole are too large, too expensive, or not in stock.

After returning home, he completely reset up his old TV, and today is sitting comfortably in his lounge chair, headset on head, watching football. A credit IN FULL (no re-packing charges) has been applied to his card and I'm sure, this will all start over very soon.  

He has been one very busy, very frustrated fellow. 

To Market, To Market,

Well today, after traveling about 30 miles one way, we traipsed around Binghamton and Vestal and then had lunch at Applebee's. I had absolutely no printer paper and not even one file folder left after doing my year-end home office work and I didn't even have any manila envelopes or file folders left.  The Office Max store that I used to go to disappeared. I couldn't find any acceptable items in Target or Walmart. Finally, we found a Staples and they had everything I needed and I MEAN NEEDED! Mission complete. I even found red ball point pens that were not gel or marker. They were hard to find! Now I have a dozen! Need a red ball point pen? I also purchased a nice small gooseneck lamp so I can read paperwork by the keyboard. I tossed out the last one a few months back when it pooped the bed and have been doing without it. Wow! What a difference good lighting makes. I had forgotten. 

Tomorrow will be a reorganization and cleanout of my desk and files. That's a project I look forward to. Organization is my middle name. 

On the way there and return, I saw numerous homes with larger and more beautiful icicles than we have and could have kicked myself for not bringing my camera. I almost never take it with us because I don't want it stolen or broken. It's not valuable, but it's all I have! Oh well, maybe we'll go to market again sometime soon.

Clam Pasta

For all food lovers who are on a very limited grocery budget, I would like to share one of my creative experiments that was successful - as far as we are concerned.

Is taste and enjoyment of a meal ruled by constrictions of a sparcely stocked cupboard? Is a meal hindered and constrained by meager supplies? NO! Is the cook restricted to no exploration or inventiveness? NO!

A two-serving meal or three-servings if appetites were moderate, was enjoyed by this couple last evening.

Ingredients were as follows:

1/2 of 1 pound box of Ronzoni Trio Italiano Pasta

($1.00 on sale**Used 1/2 so 50¢!) reg. $1.49

Two 6.5 oz. cans of Snows (by Bumblebee) minced clams in juice

($1.00 ea. on sale) reg. $1.83 ea.

One 15 oz. can of Progresso white clam sauce

($1.19 on sale) reg. $1.79

Method used:

Empty the 2 cans of minced clams, including juice, and the one can of white clam sauce into a teflon pot. Heat very slowly and when it is steaming, add the uncooked pasta. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until all liquid is absorbed and the pasta is ready. (About 15 minutes, as I remember.)

Serve in large pre-heated (in microwave oven) soup or spaghetti bowls. Top with grated Parmesan/Romano cheese.

There is enough left over for today's lunch.

Total cost: $3.69 Thanks to ShurSave Gold Card

and Tuesday Senior Shopping day!

Don't ask me "Where's the salad?"

Our vegetable intake is just fine.

Start of a New Week

This will be a busy one. Today we have to take "Pal" to the vet for his annual booster and 3 year rabies injections. His Science Diet food supply is always purchased there, both canned and kibbles, plus it's time for a Heartgard replenishment. It will be a costly morning. He's absolutely worth it, and at age 10, is vibrant, healthy and gives us much joy.

I will have my annual lab bloodwork tomorrow in preparation for the once-a-year checkup. The only thing that I know, is that my endurance has faded and my body has enlarged! (Probably related, ya think?)

My husband has just had the truck inspected and serviced and is ready for travel south in two weeks. The car is scheduled for the same, to stay home and be ready for July, when we return. There's grocery shopping, a trip to town for laundry, a 30 mile trip to Wal*Mart for necessary economical needs in larger sizes and a bi-annual dentist appointment for checkup and cleaning all on the calendar for this week.

I want to create three birthday cards on the computer to take with us for my May birthday daughters and grandson. I WILL find time.

The sun is shining brightly as I write and James is back with restored headpiece arrangement after being battered and blown with the spring storms last weekend.

I see buds on the trees now and a very VERY large woodpecker was on the ground this morning poking his awesome bill in the damp earth for grubs.

The week has begun.