Home!

Yes, Home. I love being at home. In spite of what some people think, I like a boring life. But sometimes Life stands in the way of boring.

Ideally I would be here reading and napping most of the time and cooking wonderful meals for my Hubby, but since I can't stand for very long these days the wonderful meals are done in stages on the rare occasions they happen. 

You might see 10 pounds of ground beef and onions cooked and stored in the freezer portioned in ziploc bags. In that stage they are ready for chili or Hamburger Helper or anything for which we want or need to use it. 

Sometimes I will boil a couple of chickens, remove the skin and bones and portion the chicken and broth then freeze it just in case I need to quickly put a meal on the table. 

I always try to deliver a meal when there is a death in the church because the relatives will sometimes descend on a family and no one thinks about the people in the family who really need to eat. A casserole, bread, salad and hot dogs and buns for the kids. You can't forget the kids. Hubby and I fondly remember a lady we lost from our congregation a few years ago, she was convinced the meal wasn't done until there was a plate of weiners on the table. 

Okay. I'll admit. I must have mashed potatoes on the table. With real butter on top. Hubby must have gravy. 

A while back I asked my son to please cook some chicken and he asked, "Who died?" Really, I just wanted some chicken and dumplings. 

I strain my chicken broth, After I finish boiling and removing the bones and skin I strain my chicken broth through a wire strainer before adding it back to the chicken meat. I then let it cool and spend a few hours in the fridge so I can remove the fat from the top.

Well, darn it, now I'm hungry! 

One Last Thing

Sis 2 and I were quickly running out of gas. We both have health issues and emptying a house that had been used sometimes as storage was a task we weren't up to.

My oldest son made 2 trips to help and we made great progress on those days, but we were quickly running out of time. The date of her flight home was quickly approaching and the real estate agent was starting the listing on Tuesday so when Thursday rolled around and we could see we needed help Sis called her daughter. So we would have help from her and meantime Son called to see if we were in need of help. 

With those 2 working on the house, we were pretty much not needed. The house was done, we were ready to come to my house and Sis would have a couple days to rest before her flight. 

Son loaded his car and our car and we began our journey north. 

The journey was smooth until we were on Highway 65 coming through Springfield, MO and the right front tire blew out. Sis was afraid she had blown up another car but I quickly assured her it was just a tire. 

I called Roadside Assistance yet again. The operator kept telling me I was on I-55. I would tell him no, I am on Highway 65, at the Sunshine Street exit, in Springfield, MO.

"I-55, what mile marker?"

I got out of the car and looked at the mile marker to tell him the number.

"Okay, I will call our provider in that area. I will place you on hold for just a minute."

He was soon back. "Where would you like to be towed to?" 

"Sam's Club". I mean, from the corner of Highway 65 and Sunshine in Springfield MO, I can almost throw a rock and hit it.

Operator came back a few minutes later and told me I was at I-55 and Valley Vista. Their service provider told him there was no Sam's club in the area.

"Okay, can they tow us to a Wal-Mart?" I was seriously wondering where this guy thought we were. 

A few minutes later, "I'm sorry ma'am, the nearest Wal-Mart is 30 miles away". 

HA!! Now I knew he had no idea where we were. 

"Okay, I am NOT on I-55, I don't know where you think I am! What town do you have me in?"

"New Madrid, MO, ma'am."

Okay, I am In SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI. I am on HIGHWAY 65 and SUNSHINE and I can see the SIGN FOR SAM"S CLUB!" 

He was silent for about ten seconds then he placed me on hold for about 30 seconds. When he came back, he gave me the name and number for our tow operator.

I sent hubby a text. The battery was running low on my phone and I didn't want to do any conversations. 

My text: "We have blown out a tire in Springfield. Tow truck coming. We will go to Sam's and get a new tire."

Hubby's answer: "Hate it when that happens. U might pick up some tater salad, sandwich thins, cream and whatever."

Sis and I were rolling laughing. What husband hears his wife had a blow-out and sends a grocery list?? 

We were still laughing when the tow truck arrived, this one had an added bonus - running boards! Yaayy! We both climbed into the truck with no problem this time. 

He took us around the corner to Sam's and we went inside. 

Honey Ruth was wrapped in a blanket and since for lunch we had both downed a quart of sweet tea, we both headed for the ladies' room. Adjoining stalls and we handed the Honey Ruth under the stall walls as we finished. 

Then back across the store to check on the Lincoln. The Tire manager told us we had set a record. It was the first time they had seen a car with tires 4 different sizes. Sis told them to match the size of the other front tire. 

I walked back through the store and bought groceries, as usual, Sam's had us back on the road in short order and the last 35 miles home were uneventful. 

I was SO very happy to see Hubby and my kitty cats. 

My goal had been to help Sis 2 get her house on the market so she could make the much needed move to Arizona.                          

Mud and Hot Water

We were tired, I needed to restock my daily medications so we went home. Well, we went to my house. I was also missing my Hubby and The Clowder. 

As we traveled north we saw more and more snow with about 6 inches on the ground when we arrived at home. Wet, heavy snow that had the hedges bent over. Hubby had filled the bird feeder because we feed the birds when the ground is covered. The assortment of birds had the full attention of Honey Ruth, Sis 2's chihuahua. She just couldn't get enough looking at the birds. 

We spent a couple days resting, HR watching the birds and I was petting kitties. 

Okay - not always petting, a few claws were trimmed and Hector was less-than-enthusiastic about his bath. Sis heard him protesting while I had him in the bathtub, but considering he's a 22 pound cat, if he had really wanted out he would have had the upper paw. 

I enjoyed the hot water at home. The condo had only had intermittent hot water and sometimes only a small amount of warm water. This week I insisted we do something about it because after all, I had in mind that if Sis 1 were to come in here about midnight one night and found she had no hot water she would not be happy. Well, at least I know I wouldn't be. 

Thursday morning we ate breakfast and Sis 2 and I loaded the car for a trip back to Arkansas to continue the process of moving. Mind you, we had packed lightly this time around, but I was loaded up with medications and off we went, Sis still driving my '86 Lincoln. We got almost to the end of the driveway and were stuck. The melting snow had made a mud bog out of the area between our carport and the highway. She rocked back and forth then we saw the Empire District Electric meter reader pull into the driveway next door and he hopped out of his truck and pushed us out of the mud hole. Wow.... WHERE do you find service like that anymore? 

So we journeyed on back to the condo and today a plumber came, checked the water heater, tried draining to get the calcium/lime deposits out of it but it was too stopped up so a new water heater was installed. Life will be better with hot water. 

Aren't we spoiled?