Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Getting old
Well, that's a topic I'm familiar with. I remember when I was growing up and beginning to really notice things that people did, it seemed to me that old people did some things (by old people, I mean the ones with gray hair) I thought were strange or common or just plain weird. And now that I've gotten to that stage of my life, I understand why these actions are necessary.
Item 1: The finger in the ear. Did you know that as you age your ear fluffs off more wax than when you are younger. This can be bothersome and very itchy. I know because, as my doctor tells me, I have eczema of the ear. Who knew? I never heard of that before, but the itching in my ear is very annoying and I just have to scratch. I try to do that as privately as I can, but it's not always possible.
Item 2: Grunting. Almost all elderly people grunt. They grunt when they turn over in bed, they grunt when they get out of a chair, they grunt when they walk, they grunt when they eat. The elderly are just a bunch of grunters. Well, youngsters, if you had the aches and pains we oldsters endure, you'd grunt, too. I hear that some almost-40-somethings, are having a more difficult time getting up in the morning and making that first run to you know where, and there is a lot of grunting going on, on that trek. Just sayin'.
Item 3: Hand wringing. A lot of us old folks are constantly wringing our hands. I call it hand rubbing. We are really just rubbing the joints in our hands trying to keep them limber so that when we have to use them, they function.
Item 4: The cough. I know you all have notice this. The ah-hem, or the plain out-and-out upchucking type of cough you see and laugh at on TV. Well, a lot of us take blood pressure medicine which can as a side effect cause a tickle in the throat. Some of us can just get by with an ah-hem type of cough; others actually dry cough, which is annoying if you're talking on the phone and every five seconds, the elderly person is coughing in your ear, and some of us never learned how to be discreet when we cough and just plain upchuck as loud as we can. That would be mostly the male population, by the way.
Item 5: The walk. Or should I say the shuffle. My brother has always hated it when someone shuffles their feet, and at 62, he still walks like a man and doesn't have to shuffle his feet. You may recall Tim Conway's comedic portrayal of the old man, and his walk. Well, while it was funny when we were younger, now that we're walking like that, it isn't funny any more. My dear husband can do a perfect Tim Conway -- not by choice, but because he's deteriorated to that level of a walk, as have I.
Item 6: The nose blowers and the dirty hankies. How I wish I could get my husband to use a tissue instead of a handkerchief. Yuck. The nose blowers, again, are mostly male. We females are a little more inhibited when it comes to nose-blowing in public or anywhere else. We sort of just wipe, and rarely blow, unless we have a cold. Seems like some men I know either always have a cold, or find comfort in carrying around a wet rag in their pocket.
Item 7: The hand cupped over the outer part of the ear, pulling the ear forward as if to cup the sound. Let me just say, it doesn't work, but some people think it does. Again, mostly men. I personally find this annoying still, as I did when my father did it. That little action didn't seem to help him hear me any better than if he wasn't raising his hand to his ear and, well, you know.
And now, all joking aside, there's always a serious note, isn't there?
Item 8: The God thing. As I get older I find fewer and fewer elderly people who don't believe in God, and who don't believe in an after-life. Maybe it's just the people I've surrounded myself with, but I don't think so. We all went through the "love fest" in the 60s, and we all ended up with a belief that soon we will be either dead and that's it, or we'll be enjoying being with our Lord in Heaven.
I read an interesting book yesterday and it talks about getting older, and going through the last stages of life, and there are when we face terminal illness several ways we actually get better and don't die -- YET. There are five stages of healing: Attitude -- our attitude toward disease can be a healing balm or not; immune system -- our immune system is fearfully and wonderfully made, and it can kick in at the oddest times, even at death's door; medical science -- God has given men and women the ability to design new drugs, new treatments, etc., and medical science can be a seque to our physical healing; a true miracle of God -- a healing for which there is no other explanation, except that "God did it!"; and last, the final healing -- when we leave this earth and rest in the arms of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Oh what a day that will be!
Item 1: The finger in the ear. Did you know that as you age your ear fluffs off more wax than when you are younger. This can be bothersome and very itchy. I know because, as my doctor tells me, I have eczema of the ear. Who knew? I never heard of that before, but the itching in my ear is very annoying and I just have to scratch. I try to do that as privately as I can, but it's not always possible.
Item 2: Grunting. Almost all elderly people grunt. They grunt when they turn over in bed, they grunt when they get out of a chair, they grunt when they walk, they grunt when they eat. The elderly are just a bunch of grunters. Well, youngsters, if you had the aches and pains we oldsters endure, you'd grunt, too. I hear that some almost-40-somethings, are having a more difficult time getting up in the morning and making that first run to you know where, and there is a lot of grunting going on, on that trek. Just sayin'.
Item 3: Hand wringing. A lot of us old folks are constantly wringing our hands. I call it hand rubbing. We are really just rubbing the joints in our hands trying to keep them limber so that when we have to use them, they function.
Item 4: The cough. I know you all have notice this. The ah-hem, or the plain out-and-out upchucking type of cough you see and laugh at on TV. Well, a lot of us take blood pressure medicine which can as a side effect cause a tickle in the throat. Some of us can just get by with an ah-hem type of cough; others actually dry cough, which is annoying if you're talking on the phone and every five seconds, the elderly person is coughing in your ear, and some of us never learned how to be discreet when we cough and just plain upchuck as loud as we can. That would be mostly the male population, by the way.
Item 5: The walk. Or should I say the shuffle. My brother has always hated it when someone shuffles their feet, and at 62, he still walks like a man and doesn't have to shuffle his feet. You may recall Tim Conway's comedic portrayal of the old man, and his walk. Well, while it was funny when we were younger, now that we're walking like that, it isn't funny any more. My dear husband can do a perfect Tim Conway -- not by choice, but because he's deteriorated to that level of a walk, as have I.
Item 6: The nose blowers and the dirty hankies. How I wish I could get my husband to use a tissue instead of a handkerchief. Yuck. The nose blowers, again, are mostly male. We females are a little more inhibited when it comes to nose-blowing in public or anywhere else. We sort of just wipe, and rarely blow, unless we have a cold. Seems like some men I know either always have a cold, or find comfort in carrying around a wet rag in their pocket.
Item 7: The hand cupped over the outer part of the ear, pulling the ear forward as if to cup the sound. Let me just say, it doesn't work, but some people think it does. Again, mostly men. I personally find this annoying still, as I did when my father did it. That little action didn't seem to help him hear me any better than if he wasn't raising his hand to his ear and, well, you know.
And now, all joking aside, there's always a serious note, isn't there?
Item 8: The God thing. As I get older I find fewer and fewer elderly people who don't believe in God, and who don't believe in an after-life. Maybe it's just the people I've surrounded myself with, but I don't think so. We all went through the "love fest" in the 60s, and we all ended up with a belief that soon we will be either dead and that's it, or we'll be enjoying being with our Lord in Heaven.
I read an interesting book yesterday and it talks about getting older, and going through the last stages of life, and there are when we face terminal illness several ways we actually get better and don't die -- YET. There are five stages of healing: Attitude -- our attitude toward disease can be a healing balm or not; immune system -- our immune system is fearfully and wonderfully made, and it can kick in at the oddest times, even at death's door; medical science -- God has given men and women the ability to design new drugs, new treatments, etc., and medical science can be a seque to our physical healing; a true miracle of God -- a healing for which there is no other explanation, except that "God did it!"; and last, the final healing -- when we leave this earth and rest in the arms of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Oh what a day that will be!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Do you see what I see?
These are pictures of some of the interior of my condo. The bottom tree is what I fondly call my "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree." It's six feet tall, straggly, and has very little greenery on it, but I love it. It's mostly decorations, it's loaded with them. And the best thing about it, is that it's a pop-up tree, pre-lit, so I only have to "open the umbrella" each year and put the various decorations on it.
The tree next to the bottom one is the tree which is in my office and faces the street. It, too, is a six footer, pre-lit, umbrella. A little fuller than the Charlie Brown one.
The piano is lit under the angel hair and covered with little angels, which were mostly my mother's collection. I'm not an angel collector, but sometimes people give me angels and they get put on the piano. That's where my mom always put them surrounded with greens and when the little lights became available, she'd put a string of the little lights under the greens so they'd show through and hide the wires.
And then, there is a view of about 1/4 of my snowmen. I'm up to 131 now, not including those that are hung on the various trees. Most of the collection is in the sunroom.
I didn't take a picture of the three, three-foot trees. I'm bummed about them. I changed all the light strings last year, and this year only one tree is lit. I suppose they are now making lights to only last one year and then they break. I have a green garland which has lights running through it, it's over 10 years old, and the lights are still working on it. So, I know they can do it -- make lights that last more than a year. My tall glass jar filled with Christmas balls and lights also has a light string in it that is at least 5 years old.
I didn't buy any new lights this year. I have plenty in the storage room under the stairs. Just too lazy to get them out at this late date. Maybe next year.
TTFN
A White Christmas?
Well, they're predicting one, anyway. I'll believe that when I see it. Before we get to Christmas, though, we have to go through snow flurries (today), snow (tomorrow), sleet/freezing rain/rain/snow (Tuesday and Wednesday), then more snow on Friday night into Saturday. That's the latest weather prognostication. Guess. Wish on the part of the weather channel?
So, I'm looking forward to that. Alan and I will be alone on both Christmas Eve and Christmas. I'm going to make a capon for dinner on Christmas day. I remember my mother making capon on several occasions. I could never tell the difference between that and chicken. I realize that capon is a male chicken (rooster, unroostered), so I shall roast it the same way I would chicken. I recall growing up and enjoying capon because we got a bigger portion of "chicken" than normal. One chicken split six ways doesn't give the eater much meat. But capon...that's different because the bird tends to be much larger.
Of course, with just Alan and me eating the bird on Saturday, I'll have plenty left over for salad and soup. I was unable to get a duck, which is our normal fare on Christmas day.
Used to be, when the children were growing up, I'd splurge and get a standing rib roast for Christmas day. Just a couple of ribs. Well, I sent my shopper to get a four-rib roast. It weighed almost 10 pounds! And cost -- well, you can imagine what it cost. I cut it in half and we'll get two guest meals out of it. And since Dan (my grandson) will be visiting me on New Year's weekend, and he loves beef, I'll be able to use up the large of the two halves. You see, while I cut it into two ribs each, one side had more meat on it than the other, so one of the resulting roasts is larger than the other. Have no fear, Dan will eat it all up. I know that from past experience. He just loves roast beef or steak. And he especially likes the way I cook it.
I'm almost finished wrapping gifts. Just a few grandchildren prizes to wrap and I'm finished, I think. Than I can clean up "Christmas central" and get my newly organized office back in order.
Did I get Christmas cards addressed? NO! I did not. I only got 13 cards addressed and stamped and they are ready to be put into the mail box. 13 cards -- one for each grandchild. I hope they like them.
So, since I didn't address any cards, if you're reading this, you know you won't be getting a card from me this year. And it's a shame. I bought beautiful Hallmark cards after Christmas last year, and they will go back into the closet, into the card container, for another year. I feel so guilty!
But my writing out 50 or so cards, just wasn't "in the cards" this year! :)
ttfn
So, I'm looking forward to that. Alan and I will be alone on both Christmas Eve and Christmas. I'm going to make a capon for dinner on Christmas day. I remember my mother making capon on several occasions. I could never tell the difference between that and chicken. I realize that capon is a male chicken (rooster, unroostered), so I shall roast it the same way I would chicken. I recall growing up and enjoying capon because we got a bigger portion of "chicken" than normal. One chicken split six ways doesn't give the eater much meat. But capon...that's different because the bird tends to be much larger.
Of course, with just Alan and me eating the bird on Saturday, I'll have plenty left over for salad and soup. I was unable to get a duck, which is our normal fare on Christmas day.
Used to be, when the children were growing up, I'd splurge and get a standing rib roast for Christmas day. Just a couple of ribs. Well, I sent my shopper to get a four-rib roast. It weighed almost 10 pounds! And cost -- well, you can imagine what it cost. I cut it in half and we'll get two guest meals out of it. And since Dan (my grandson) will be visiting me on New Year's weekend, and he loves beef, I'll be able to use up the large of the two halves. You see, while I cut it into two ribs each, one side had more meat on it than the other, so one of the resulting roasts is larger than the other. Have no fear, Dan will eat it all up. I know that from past experience. He just loves roast beef or steak. And he especially likes the way I cook it.
I'm almost finished wrapping gifts. Just a few grandchildren prizes to wrap and I'm finished, I think. Than I can clean up "Christmas central" and get my newly organized office back in order.
Did I get Christmas cards addressed? NO! I did not. I only got 13 cards addressed and stamped and they are ready to be put into the mail box. 13 cards -- one for each grandchild. I hope they like them.
So, since I didn't address any cards, if you're reading this, you know you won't be getting a card from me this year. And it's a shame. I bought beautiful Hallmark cards after Christmas last year, and they will go back into the closet, into the card container, for another year. I feel so guilty!
But my writing out 50 or so cards, just wasn't "in the cards" this year! :)
ttfn
Friday, December 17, 2010
Christmas dinner
We enjoyed a "Christmas dinner" with my youngest child (Cyndi) and her husband (Shandon) and her children (Shandon 2.0, Tori, Adam, Jonah, Ellie, Jack) -- six of my grandchildren -- last night -- the 16th of December. It was a blessing for me and Alan.
We don't really get to see this set of grands very often, and, of course, they have grown a bit since we last saw them. My oldest grandchild, almost 17 now, is a tall 6 feet 2 inches. And to think it wasn't so long ago that he was only 17 inches long. Times sure does fly. But Shandon 2.0 is such a sweetheart. [We call him Shandon 2.0 because his dad is the first version and he is the second version and his father is really into computers.] He is the only grandchild that has always, without fail, hugged me as soon as I get in the door. Even when he was in the grunchy, I don't hug adults stage -- that being 10-14 -- he still always gave me a hug hello and good-by. I have really loved that about him.
Part of the time last night, besides eating an elk dinner which was absolutely delicious, we played Apples to Apples. I don't usually play games with the whole crowd. But I did last night, and it was a fun game, especially with the grandchildren. Their take on words is so different from the adults take, and then there is also the difference between male and female definition, but all in all it was a blast.
Oh, and I must mention that my daughter made her Boston Creme Pie, which is to die for. It is so good. I couldn't get any extra pieces of the pie though. I did try.
I do have to say, I'm really bummed that I didn't take any pictures. I forgot my camera. I was in a lot of pain and doing things in five-minute spurts all day in order to get everything wrapped, loaded, the car scraped, myself dressed, etc., that I forgot the camera.
Jack, the youngest, is so very shy, and so cute. He hides his head behind his arm, and thinks no one can see him. He was playing with his gift (a FP van) with one hand over his eyes and the other hand pushing the van. I finally decided I was going to put my arm over my eyes as well. When I did that, he would put his arm down so that he wasn't "hiding". I now know why my dear daughter can't bring him over to stay with me. He would never go for it. I don't need a crying baby for two or three hours. When he outgrows this shyness, I'll hope to have him come spend some time with me, or I'll go spend some time with him.
So, it was a very pleasant day. We had a snow storm go through just before we got there, but the drive was all cleared off and we had no trouble at all getting up "the hill" to their home. None of the children really wanted to go to school today, so their dad told them to pray for more snow.
Guess what? When we were leaving, it was snowing hard! And it snowed most of the night. I still don't know whether schools were closed, but when I got up at 10 a.m. (yes, I slept that late, which is not something I've been doing lately) the roads were covered and it was still snowing.
Anyway, I hope that they got their prayer answered with a yes and school was closed today. For them school is over until 2011. How nice to have so much time to enjoy family and friends.
ttfn
We don't really get to see this set of grands very often, and, of course, they have grown a bit since we last saw them. My oldest grandchild, almost 17 now, is a tall 6 feet 2 inches. And to think it wasn't so long ago that he was only 17 inches long. Times sure does fly. But Shandon 2.0 is such a sweetheart. [We call him Shandon 2.0 because his dad is the first version and he is the second version and his father is really into computers.] He is the only grandchild that has always, without fail, hugged me as soon as I get in the door. Even when he was in the grunchy, I don't hug adults stage -- that being 10-14 -- he still always gave me a hug hello and good-by. I have really loved that about him.
Part of the time last night, besides eating an elk dinner which was absolutely delicious, we played Apples to Apples. I don't usually play games with the whole crowd. But I did last night, and it was a fun game, especially with the grandchildren. Their take on words is so different from the adults take, and then there is also the difference between male and female definition, but all in all it was a blast.
Oh, and I must mention that my daughter made her Boston Creme Pie, which is to die for. It is so good. I couldn't get any extra pieces of the pie though. I did try.
I do have to say, I'm really bummed that I didn't take any pictures. I forgot my camera. I was in a lot of pain and doing things in five-minute spurts all day in order to get everything wrapped, loaded, the car scraped, myself dressed, etc., that I forgot the camera.
Jack, the youngest, is so very shy, and so cute. He hides his head behind his arm, and thinks no one can see him. He was playing with his gift (a FP van) with one hand over his eyes and the other hand pushing the van. I finally decided I was going to put my arm over my eyes as well. When I did that, he would put his arm down so that he wasn't "hiding". I now know why my dear daughter can't bring him over to stay with me. He would never go for it. I don't need a crying baby for two or three hours. When he outgrows this shyness, I'll hope to have him come spend some time with me, or I'll go spend some time with him.
So, it was a very pleasant day. We had a snow storm go through just before we got there, but the drive was all cleared off and we had no trouble at all getting up "the hill" to their home. None of the children really wanted to go to school today, so their dad told them to pray for more snow.
Guess what? When we were leaving, it was snowing hard! And it snowed most of the night. I still don't know whether schools were closed, but when I got up at 10 a.m. (yes, I slept that late, which is not something I've been doing lately) the roads were covered and it was still snowing.
Anyway, I hope that they got their prayer answered with a yes and school was closed today. For them school is over until 2011. How nice to have so much time to enjoy family and friends.
ttfn
Thursday, December 9, 2010
My girls
All my girls: Becky (darkest hair); Cyndi (medium brown hair); Amy (strawberry blond hair).
My girls! We had our "annual" Christmas breakfast. I started this tradition back when Becky and Cyndi were teenagers. Amy wasn't part of my family yet. I tried to have a breakfast with them every year, and then we'd meet up with their father, who worked downtown in Cincinnati, and we'd walk around looking at the decorations and go over to what is now Duke Energy and look at the model train display.
I continued this even when the grandchildren started coming. It seemed like every year for a few years we added a new baby and the restaurant we always went to downtown was getting more and more cramped. The restaurant was just a little "hole-in-the-wall" place, but we enjoyed it, and we could get a good, inexpensive breakfast there. Until...
The last time we went there -- service was horrible (I think the waitress was put off by so many babies), the food was really bad, and by the time we got out of there because of the poor service, the children, even the older ones, were all cranky. So, I decided, never again would we go there.
And that was the year we moved to Kentucky. I could have continued the trips to Cincinnati proper, but there is a Bob Evans about 1/4 mile from our home, and we have gone there most years since.
There has been a gap in our visits to Bob Evans over the past couple of years, but this year I was determined to have my daughters -- and whatever children could come and join us -- have breakfast with me.
It was a time of getting reacquainted and talking and getting caught up on all the children's lives and even the adults' lives. I am so glad we were able to get together just to chat (and eat).
It was lovely.
ttfn
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
I did it!
I know, I look so much heavier -- it's the new anti-fibromyalgia drugs I'm taking -- puffs up my face. I have actually lost about 10 pounds in the past two months.
Well, I finally did it. I got my hair colored. The first time in over 30 years. Since I started going gray at 16, I just pulled the hair out, but when I started going bald at 23, I started coloring it.
Well, I finally did it. I got my hair colored. The first time in over 30 years. Since I started going gray at 16, I just pulled the hair out, but when I started going bald at 23, I started coloring it.I just used Lady Clairol -- that was the only thing that was around back that many years ago (44). And I always wanted to be a blond, but even using the lightest color that Clairol had, my black hair would only turn brown, and a cruddy brown at that.
When we moved to Cincinnati and I had a wonderful lady in our church who did my hair, by that time (my mid-30s) I was completely white. But she colored it, so it looked "salt and pepper". That's what they call mostly black, some gray.
I remember one time, fortunately it was near Christmas, and something in the toner didn't sit well with my hair, and it turned purple. Well, in the shop it didn't look purple, but when I got to work after my appointment, I was being kidded about my purple hair, and since that was a Friday, I had to wait until the following Monday to get it fixed, which meant going to church with purple hair. Not a fun thing! My stylist today remembers that incident. She was about 12 when that happened.
Yes, little girls who go to your church do grow up and become hair stylists.
That was my last time getting the hair colored, and I just let it go pure white. Now after all these years, I finally decided I needed a new hair style and a new color. The picture doesn't really show the style because I forgot that I had a hat on after the visit to my hair-stylist and it's flat. But the style I chose is a pixie/Audrey Hepburn style, and color is sort of a blondish/tanish/grayish/ non-descript color which will, I am told, wash well.
So, that was our day. Alan and I both had out hair cut. He had a beard trim, and since I haven't grown one of them, yet, I just got a cut and color.
Tomorrow morning (Thursday) is my girls' breakfast day. I can't wait. I have been praying and preparing for this for weeks. My prayer is that we'll all have a great time and enjoy each other's company and get caught up on what's been going on in the families. My preparation has been to select very special gifts for each of the ladies -- separate from their Christmas gifts in a couple of weeks -- and hope they enjoy them. And...
I'll finally be able to give my youngest her birthday present -- it's only two months late!
ttfn
Monday, December 6, 2010
Salads,
Silly topic for a BLOG title, but I'll get to "salads" in a few.
First, I have to say that our ladies' Christmas lunch (an annual community event for the past 8 years) was spectacular as always. The ladies of the Chain Gang did a wonderful job with the decorations, and the gift wrapping, and, of course, the food. An enjoyable time was had by all.
Saddened to hear that one of my neighbors died last week (nobody let me know) and one of our favorite, funny, women is in Hospice. She wasn't even sick a week ago. And now she's under Hospice care. Life is never a given, is it?
Now to the topic of salads.
I love green, leafy/vegetable salads. My favorite, currently, is romaine and avocado and cucumbers, maybe some celery greens, if I can get them, all mixed together with some lemon (fresh squeezed) juice, seasoned with just a little bit of sea salt.
I sometimes put some sardines on top, or some tuna, or some other kind of fish, but sardines (in olive oil) are my favorite.
Now, I say currently, because I go through phases.
When I was growing up we had a green salad at the end of the meal with a simple olive oil/vinegar dressing. And we kids would fight over who got the bottom of the bowl, because that's where all the dressing was.
So, I've always had an affinity for green leafy salads. But I also like potato salad, tomato salad, macaroni salad, tuna salad, chicken salad, salmon salad, fruit salad. The list probably goes on. I would have to say, however, my second favorite salad is macaroni salad and then I put that on top of a bed of green leafy something, and spritz it with lemon juice (fresh squeezed).
Tonight, Alan wasn't feeling great and he didn't want me to cook anything because of the smell -- today was an "I don't want to smell anything" day. Stomach upset. Anyway, I did make myself a large salad, and he decided he wanted a Cobb salad (his favorite), so I made him a Cobb salad.
I know, if I were sick to my stomach, I would want toast or crackers. He wanted a salad, so I gave him a salad and he digested it well.
I'm still enjoying the snow. We had a few puffs of snow again today, just enough to put a shine on top what fell on Saturday and Sunday.
And...
I'm getting to my cards tomorrow, I promise.
ttfn
First, I have to say that our ladies' Christmas lunch (an annual community event for the past 8 years) was spectacular as always. The ladies of the Chain Gang did a wonderful job with the decorations, and the gift wrapping, and, of course, the food. An enjoyable time was had by all.
Saddened to hear that one of my neighbors died last week (nobody let me know) and one of our favorite, funny, women is in Hospice. She wasn't even sick a week ago. And now she's under Hospice care. Life is never a given, is it?
Now to the topic of salads.
I love green, leafy/vegetable salads. My favorite, currently, is romaine and avocado and cucumbers, maybe some celery greens, if I can get them, all mixed together with some lemon (fresh squeezed) juice, seasoned with just a little bit of sea salt.
I sometimes put some sardines on top, or some tuna, or some other kind of fish, but sardines (in olive oil) are my favorite.
Now, I say currently, because I go through phases.
When I was growing up we had a green salad at the end of the meal with a simple olive oil/vinegar dressing. And we kids would fight over who got the bottom of the bowl, because that's where all the dressing was.
So, I've always had an affinity for green leafy salads. But I also like potato salad, tomato salad, macaroni salad, tuna salad, chicken salad, salmon salad, fruit salad. The list probably goes on. I would have to say, however, my second favorite salad is macaroni salad and then I put that on top of a bed of green leafy something, and spritz it with lemon juice (fresh squeezed).
Tonight, Alan wasn't feeling great and he didn't want me to cook anything because of the smell -- today was an "I don't want to smell anything" day. Stomach upset. Anyway, I did make myself a large salad, and he decided he wanted a Cobb salad (his favorite), so I made him a Cobb salad.
I know, if I were sick to my stomach, I would want toast or crackers. He wanted a salad, so I gave him a salad and he digested it well.
I'm still enjoying the snow. We had a few puffs of snow again today, just enough to put a shine on top what fell on Saturday and Sunday.
And...
I'm getting to my cards tomorrow, I promise.
ttfn
Saturday, December 4, 2010
SNOW!
This is a picture from my "snow" (sun) porch just before it got dark and it was just starting to snow heavily.
You can see the snow coming down. This is a view of our swimming pool.
Unfortunately, you can't see the blue lights that line the "memory" walk. This is a little area we have set aside for to remember those who have passed on. Their names are engraved in the bricks of this little patio. The light is in the middle. And you can see the snow coming down.Well, we did get snow. We didn't get as much as they said, though. Not too happy about that. We have probably an inch on most surfaces. The streets are just wet (and icy?). I don't know about the icy because I haven't been out, but if the temperature is hovering around 30 degrees, and getting ready to fall, I guess the water will freeze sometime during the night.
I got up early this morning, just as the sun was supposed to be shining in my window, and there was snow on the roofs and cars. The second day in a row. Yipee! But it wasn't really snowing hard, like it was supposed to be doing, and as radar was showing that it was. So, I got my coffee -- yes, I'm back on coffee again, since my stomach seems to be tolerating it -- And promptly fell asleep while I was waiting for my meds to take effect. I usually just read for about an hour before I get moving.
So, since I fell asleep in my "reading" chair, I went back to bed. Got up at 1:30. How slovenly is that? Retirement -- you've got to love it!
My neighbor downstairs (Teresa) called and she is having breathing and coughing problems. I'm on "alert" in case I have to take her to the ER. She dropped the phone while she was talking to me, and I thought she fell. I was all set to "run" downstairs and get her some help. Well, she didn't fall, she just said she was so weak that the phone fell from her hands.
I got up early this morning, just as the sun was supposed to be shining in my window, and there was snow on the roofs and cars. The second day in a row. Yipee! But it wasn't really snowing hard, like it was supposed to be doing, and as radar was showing that it was. So, I got my coffee -- yes, I'm back on coffee again, since my stomach seems to be tolerating it -- And promptly fell asleep while I was waiting for my meds to take effect. I usually just read for about an hour before I get moving.
So, since I fell asleep in my "reading" chair, I went back to bed. Got up at 1:30. How slovenly is that? Retirement -- you've got to love it!
My neighbor downstairs (Teresa) called and she is having breathing and coughing problems. I'm on "alert" in case I have to take her to the ER. She dropped the phone while she was talking to me, and I thought she fell. I was all set to "run" downstairs and get her some help. Well, she didn't fall, she just said she was so weak that the phone fell from her hands.
Monday is our annual Christmas luncheon here at Chardonnay. And I'm looking forward to it, again. We always have such a good time. Although, each year the group gets smaller and smaller because of those who have passed on.
So, I'm going to go take those snow pictures now, and then get the evening shots in about an hour. I'll be back. As you can see I posted the pictures. Snow..I love it.
ttfn
So, I'm going to go take those snow pictures now, and then get the evening shots in about an hour. I'll be back. As you can see I posted the pictures. Snow..I love it.
ttfn
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Snow fixation
I know people think I have a snow fixation. Just because I love seasonal snowmen figures, either stuffed or glass or wooden (not plastic, please) or because I love snow showers and yes, even love deep snow that stops all traffic for days, doesn't mean I have a snow fixation, does it?
Tomorrow, they say, we will be getting more snow showers. Yesterdays bluster provided us with a nice dusting. I love those dustings. It looks like it snowed, but it doesn't stop any traffic -- you see I feel sorry for those folks that don't like snow because of what it does to their drive time. I hope the prognosticators are correct again -- that would be three for three, dare I hope? -- and we get the predicted amount -- 3 inches at least. I think that would be so pretty, especially this time of year.
In my next BLOG, or maybe I'll edit this one tomorrow, I'll post pictures of our community at night. The landscape committee did an outstanding job this year and the view from my sun porch is so pretty. The views, of necessity, will have to be at night. Although, I do get a fine view of the club house and the day decorations are quite nice as well.
My decorations are still not all up. I do a little each day. But now, I'm throwing myself into getting everything wrapped, the candy bags made up for the grandchildren, the money jar ready, and making sure I have ordered all those on-line gifts that a person who can't walk has to order. I wonder how did people who didn't have access to the Internet get those gifts for their grandchildren. Oh, yeah, I remember, they just gave them cash.
I really prefer giving cash, because I hate to give something that a child wouldn't like, but what does a two-year-old do with a $20 bill? You see the problem? I have several "younger" grandchildren who still enjoy toys, so I call my children every year to find out what I should get their child(ren). I tell them how much I can spend, they tell me what their child would want.
Tonight I asked my dear DIL what she thought her youngest daughter would want. She said a make-up kit. Well, I know that Rachel (my granddaughter) would love that, but I can get that at the dollar store for under $5. So I told my DIL that I was thinking of spending a little more money than what it would cost me to get the make up stuff.
Macy's is having a great sale on children's clothing now through Dec. 8. I have an extra 25 percent-off card. I'm thinking of risking my life and going to Macy's tomorrow to pick up some clothes for the little girls who like pretty dresses that are on my list.
Pray for me. I'm not joking about that. I am so afraid I'll fall or get pushed and then fall that I really don't want to go to Macy's, but I do love their clothing bargains.
Today I rested all day. I'm feeling great tonight, so hopefully that will spill over into tomorrow and the change in weather won't affect my legs and back.
ttfn
Tomorrow, they say, we will be getting more snow showers. Yesterdays bluster provided us with a nice dusting. I love those dustings. It looks like it snowed, but it doesn't stop any traffic -- you see I feel sorry for those folks that don't like snow because of what it does to their drive time. I hope the prognosticators are correct again -- that would be three for three, dare I hope? -- and we get the predicted amount -- 3 inches at least. I think that would be so pretty, especially this time of year.
In my next BLOG, or maybe I'll edit this one tomorrow, I'll post pictures of our community at night. The landscape committee did an outstanding job this year and the view from my sun porch is so pretty. The views, of necessity, will have to be at night. Although, I do get a fine view of the club house and the day decorations are quite nice as well.
My decorations are still not all up. I do a little each day. But now, I'm throwing myself into getting everything wrapped, the candy bags made up for the grandchildren, the money jar ready, and making sure I have ordered all those on-line gifts that a person who can't walk has to order. I wonder how did people who didn't have access to the Internet get those gifts for their grandchildren. Oh, yeah, I remember, they just gave them cash.
I really prefer giving cash, because I hate to give something that a child wouldn't like, but what does a two-year-old do with a $20 bill? You see the problem? I have several "younger" grandchildren who still enjoy toys, so I call my children every year to find out what I should get their child(ren). I tell them how much I can spend, they tell me what their child would want.
Tonight I asked my dear DIL what she thought her youngest daughter would want. She said a make-up kit. Well, I know that Rachel (my granddaughter) would love that, but I can get that at the dollar store for under $5. So I told my DIL that I was thinking of spending a little more money than what it would cost me to get the make up stuff.
Macy's is having a great sale on children's clothing now through Dec. 8. I have an extra 25 percent-off card. I'm thinking of risking my life and going to Macy's tomorrow to pick up some clothes for the little girls who like pretty dresses that are on my list.
Pray for me. I'm not joking about that. I am so afraid I'll fall or get pushed and then fall that I really don't want to go to Macy's, but I do love their clothing bargains.
Today I rested all day. I'm feeling great tonight, so hopefully that will spill over into tomorrow and the change in weather won't affect my legs and back.
ttfn
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