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!
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
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.
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.
Friday, March 1, 2013
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?
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?
Friday, February 22, 2013
Unstuffing
Sis and I are struggling through this, aching knees (hers), ankles (mine), backs (both of us) and other assorted things slow us down but we keep going. Well, we go for 2 or 3 days then take a "rest" day. Over the course of time we have learned we won't get ahead by pushing harder, we will just end up in worse shape than when we started.
The appearance of "Winter Storm Q" didn't help us any, and while I certainly understand naming winter storms, I wonder why they are using letters instead of names. But oh well. This morning Sis and I wandered out to the car and were a bit surprised to find Abe wearing a coat of ice. A rather thick coat of ice. I thought longingly of the can of de-icer and the ice scrapers in the now iced-over trunk.But oh well, little good that does me now. I went to the drivers side, cracked enough ice to get to the keyless entry pad and unlocked the door. We turned the defroster on "High" and I surveyed the inside of the car for something I could press into service as an ice scraper. I finally decided to use the trash container and it worked pretty good.
We finally got to the house and got a few things done when we realized neither of us were moving too well so we knocked off early, went to the grocery store and came home.
The cable box suddenly decided to stop responding to the remote and since the box had no buttons on it (why not?) I checked out the remote batteries. They were fine so Sis unplugged the box, waited a couple minutes then re-plugged. The reset worked so now we are back in operation. She has now learned to access the "guide" and she's proud of her new found technical expertise.
The appearance of "Winter Storm Q" didn't help us any, and while I certainly understand naming winter storms, I wonder why they are using letters instead of names. But oh well. This morning Sis and I wandered out to the car and were a bit surprised to find Abe wearing a coat of ice. A rather thick coat of ice. I thought longingly of the can of de-icer and the ice scrapers in the now iced-over trunk.But oh well, little good that does me now. I went to the drivers side, cracked enough ice to get to the keyless entry pad and unlocked the door. We turned the defroster on "High" and I surveyed the inside of the car for something I could press into service as an ice scraper. I finally decided to use the trash container and it worked pretty good.
We finally got to the house and got a few things done when we realized neither of us were moving too well so we knocked off early, went to the grocery store and came home.
The cable box suddenly decided to stop responding to the remote and since the box had no buttons on it (why not?) I checked out the remote batteries. They were fine so Sis unplugged the box, waited a couple minutes then re-plugged. The reset worked so now we are back in operation. She has now learned to access the "guide" and she's proud of her new found technical expertise.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
OH! The... WORK!
As a child we moved several times. It seems like every time we moved Mom would already be planning how the next move was going to go. I remember a box of hand crocheted lace moving with us several times. They were crocheted by my great grandmother and as Mom grew older she took up crocheting too. She would somehow manage to crochet doilies with thread, I have several of them and I'm pretty sure my sisters were equally blessed by Mom's handiwork.
I have no idea what ever happened to the box of crocheted lace, somewhere along the line it was either thrown away, given away or lost. But then again, when Mom died my stepdad told us not to come back to the house again so maybe one of his children ended up with it.
But at the moment we are trying to move Sis 2. She has had her house for around 25 years. In those 25 years she has been back and forth many times while working elsewhere, once she lived in another town for 12 years, bought another house then moved back and there are still several (at least 3,546) boxes with contents that haven't seen the light of day for a couple of decades.
This whole situation is not helped any by the fact Sis 2 and I are both arthritic and no longer the spring chicks we once were.
Just why Sis 2 decided she had to do this move in the middle of the winter is beyond me. It took 4 months of hot, dry Arizona weather to get her knees to the point where she could walk comfortably and that was all quickly erased by the cold wet mid-winter climate here.
So the process is slow but each day we make noticeable progress.
25 years is a lot of time to accumulate "stuff". Getting this house "unstuffed" is the job before us now.
Anybody need stuff??
I have no idea what ever happened to the box of crocheted lace, somewhere along the line it was either thrown away, given away or lost. But then again, when Mom died my stepdad told us not to come back to the house again so maybe one of his children ended up with it.
But at the moment we are trying to move Sis 2. She has had her house for around 25 years. In those 25 years she has been back and forth many times while working elsewhere, once she lived in another town for 12 years, bought another house then moved back and there are still several (at least 3,546) boxes with contents that haven't seen the light of day for a couple of decades.
This whole situation is not helped any by the fact Sis 2 and I are both arthritic and no longer the spring chicks we once were.
Just why Sis 2 decided she had to do this move in the middle of the winter is beyond me. It took 4 months of hot, dry Arizona weather to get her knees to the point where she could walk comfortably and that was all quickly erased by the cold wet mid-winter climate here.
So the process is slow but each day we make noticeable progress.
25 years is a lot of time to accumulate "stuff". Getting this house "unstuffed" is the job before us now.
Anybody need stuff??
Friday, February 15, 2013
Good Thing
Sis and I both had memberships to auto clubs. We used her AAA when her Toyota blew up and today we used my AARP travel club when the Lincoln wouldn't start.
Really, Sis and I are not bad luck in cars. When the mechanic came out and jump started it we drove straight to the Wal-Mart Automotive Center where they came out, tested the battery and saw the battery terminals needed to be replaced. $14.97 put things to rights and they even checked the tires - a chore I had intended to do today but they saved me the trouble.
Sis took the car problems to heart and decided we are going to move faster to get the house on the market faster than planned. She had forgotten just how much these Arkansas winters affected her arthritis, particularly her knees.
Hopefully, our project will be finished by the end of this week or soon after and we can return to my home in Missouri then she can return to Arizona to resume her retirement.
Really, Sis and I are not bad luck in cars. When the mechanic came out and jump started it we drove straight to the Wal-Mart Automotive Center where they came out, tested the battery and saw the battery terminals needed to be replaced. $14.97 put things to rights and they even checked the tires - a chore I had intended to do today but they saved me the trouble.
Sis took the car problems to heart and decided we are going to move faster to get the house on the market faster than planned. She had forgotten just how much these Arkansas winters affected her arthritis, particularly her knees.
Hopefully, our project will be finished by the end of this week or soon after and we can return to my home in Missouri then she can return to Arizona to resume her retirement.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Escape From El Reno
Don't get me wrong, the people in El Reno were very nice, the manager at the motel was very nice and had no problem allowing us a late check-out since Niece had a 4-hour drive to come get us.
By the time we had eaten a good dinner, got back to our room and called Niece the beds were mighty comfy and we were glad to have them.
The next morning we got up, had some coffee in the room then went downstairs for breakfast. We liked the fact that the housekeeping staff were having coffee and discussing the day ahead in the breakfast area. I know some people would look down on such things and for heaven's sake when I have worked in housekeeping for the chain motels I have never been allowed to even go get a cup of coffee in the customer area.
We finished our breakfast and went upstairs to get things rounded up to go to Joplin.
It happened to be Niece's birthday and as I looked on her FaceBook page she said she was on her way to El Reno, OK to "Rescue Thelma, Louise, and the Taco Bell mascot".
Well! It wasn't like we started out in a Mustang.
Niece called when she got to town because her GPS took her to someplace other than the motel. I told her I would go down and find someone to help her and call her back. On my way down the maintenance man was trying to load a queen size box springs on the elevator. He saw me coming, pulled the box springs out and stood aside. I told him to come on, there was plenty of room, I helped him load the box springs and helped him pull it out when we got to the ground floor.
Niece arrived shortly in her red car and we got a luggage cart to take upstairs and get her Momma. And the Taco Bell mascot.
Its a good thing we didn't have more stuff. But then, considering Sis 2 had not cleaned out her car since 2002, maybe the amount of stuff wasn't that bad, but we filled Niece's car up.
By the time we got back to Joplin Niece's face was hurting from laughing so much and none of us had a bit of change because Oklahoma toll booths had eaten it all.
Sis took Niece's family out to dinner to celebrate her birthday and it was so great to have the family around the table talking and laughing.
I feel sorry for people who don't have family that can all gather for a dinner, we all need to be thankful for people, by blood or by heart, we all need family.
We spent the night at Niece's house, I loved it when I woke up during the night and her tortise shell kitty, Butter, was stretched out asleep on top of me. I missed my kitties.
The next day Hubby came to Joplin and picked us up to take us to our home north of Springfield.
Sis settled into a recliner and slept 12 or 13 hours. I did wake her up for brownies and ice cream but I figured she would forgive me for that.
The next morning we left my house, still on track to get Sis 2's house on the market.
Sis was now driving my 1986 Lincoln Town Car. I had always called my car "Abe". Sis renamed it - "Tug Boat Annie". Aww... Who cares? The big car brought us to our original goal.
By the time we had eaten a good dinner, got back to our room and called Niece the beds were mighty comfy and we were glad to have them.
The next morning we got up, had some coffee in the room then went downstairs for breakfast. We liked the fact that the housekeeping staff were having coffee and discussing the day ahead in the breakfast area. I know some people would look down on such things and for heaven's sake when I have worked in housekeeping for the chain motels I have never been allowed to even go get a cup of coffee in the customer area.
We finished our breakfast and went upstairs to get things rounded up to go to Joplin.
It happened to be Niece's birthday and as I looked on her FaceBook page she said she was on her way to El Reno, OK to "Rescue Thelma, Louise, and the Taco Bell mascot".
Well! It wasn't like we started out in a Mustang.
Niece called when she got to town because her GPS took her to someplace other than the motel. I told her I would go down and find someone to help her and call her back. On my way down the maintenance man was trying to load a queen size box springs on the elevator. He saw me coming, pulled the box springs out and stood aside. I told him to come on, there was plenty of room, I helped him load the box springs and helped him pull it out when we got to the ground floor.
Niece arrived shortly in her red car and we got a luggage cart to take upstairs and get her Momma. And the Taco Bell mascot.
Its a good thing we didn't have more stuff. But then, considering Sis 2 had not cleaned out her car since 2002, maybe the amount of stuff wasn't that bad, but we filled Niece's car up.
By the time we got back to Joplin Niece's face was hurting from laughing so much and none of us had a bit of change because Oklahoma toll booths had eaten it all.
Sis took Niece's family out to dinner to celebrate her birthday and it was so great to have the family around the table talking and laughing.
I feel sorry for people who don't have family that can all gather for a dinner, we all need to be thankful for people, by blood or by heart, we all need family.
We spent the night at Niece's house, I loved it when I woke up during the night and her tortise shell kitty, Butter, was stretched out asleep on top of me. I missed my kitties.
The next day Hubby came to Joplin and picked us up to take us to our home north of Springfield.
Sis settled into a recliner and slept 12 or 13 hours. I did wake her up for brownies and ice cream but I figured she would forgive me for that.
The next morning we left my house, still on track to get Sis 2's house on the market.
Sis was now driving my 1986 Lincoln Town Car. I had always called my car "Abe". Sis renamed it - "Tug Boat Annie". Aww... Who cares? The big car brought us to our original goal.
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