Littlesister

I still hear about shortages here as well. GS said they got in a double load of food to stock up on the shelves. Don't know if they are emptying the warehouses or if the stores are ordering more.  Still a lot of shortages and a couple of stores had the sorry for the delay we are unable to get this product in at this time. 

All so when I went to Kohl's the other day the place was packed with people. Two of the cashiers were talking and said something is going on to have all these people in there like that. I did notice they were buying up clothes and especially baby clothes. I saw 2 people that had carts overflowing with clothes. I haven't heard anything about a clothing shortage. So not sure what all that was about. 

When I go to pick up my RX tomorrow at Harris Teeter, I am going to walk around the store to see how the shelves look in there. 

Today I got one of the wood racks put together and moved it next to the other ones. Then started stacking wood. No help today as GS had a doctor appt. and then off to work. Don't think he's off again till Friday. And he is getting that other promotion to team leader which is about the same as being an assistant manager. He just got moved from part time to full time with a hefty raise and now he will get another one as soon as they move him up. They have already told him he was moving up the ladder. This next raise will be more than double than the last one and that last one wasn't bad. 

Got 3 loads of clothes washed also. So, a very productive day today. But I am going to pay for all the wood stacking. Starting to get a bit sore now. But hoping to finish up tomorrow pending weather. I didn't even put a dent in that wood pile and GS said he is not sure if the two racks will be enough. They are the triple ones that each hold a cord so it should work out. If not, I will make it work.  I only have about a cord and a half left to stack. The tree company I bought the wood from was not kidding when he said he was giving me extra as I have already stacked well over a cord. I think I will use them again when I am ready. All red oak and really nicely cut to fit my wood stove. They sell it by the size you need. 

Those are some huge peppers. Great find.  I haven't made any more of the unstuffed peppers yet. Canning is again on hold for these warm days as I need to get the rest of that wood stacked and the last wood holder put together. Canning will start again on the next cold spell. 

Much warmer today.  Didn't get racks put together yesterday. Weather was damp feeling and colder than I thought it would be. Thinking a wind chill factor in the 50+ weather yesterday. Today is in low 70's. Nice outside already. Got the cement blocks down for the racks. So will finish putting them together after my coffee break. Went straight outside early this morning and no coffee. Yeah, I needed some caffeine. Hoping to get all the wood stacked today, but not counting on it as GS is working this evening.  So, will only be me later this afternoon to finish stacking wood. 

Started early on bedroom going through a lot of stuff. GS is still asleep in his car but when he wakes up, he will be cleaning off the driveway and then helping me outside. He is off today so I am putting him to work on the heavy stuff. He is going to help me get those wood racks put together and then we will finish stacking wood if it doesn't get too cold. Weather right now is 43* and going up into the 50's starting at 1 pm and then dropping back down at 5 pm. So, we will have a small window to work in. About 4 hours if it don't rain or anything.

I have some chicken thighs to cook and thinking about cooking them in slow cooker. Not sure yet how I want to fix them for dinner yet. I also have some peanuts to cook up also. I fry those up like they did at the Bennett's Creek market. 

Break over and need to get back to the bedroom and go through a few more things while waiting for weather to warm up. 

Miki, you need to take a nap today. That was not enough sleep. 

Jeepers, let me know when you figure out why they have to roll the rugs up. They do that here as well as the longer ones they fold them over twice and leave 2 humps in there making it hard to flatten them. 

I left the house around 11:30 or so and returned the extra play pen they sent me. Then looked around through Kohl's. They never have much of anything anymore. But did find a couple of baby toys and a couple of outfits for the baby. They left there and went over to TJ Max. Yes, that store is dangerous. I can spend some money in there on the right day. Found a couple more baby outfits and some books and a couple more toys. Then looked around at other things. I found an aromatherapy essential oils and the diffuser to go with them. Been wanting one for a long time. Price wasn't bad at all. Bought a couple of pillows as mine are worn out. And now I can't find my pillows anymore. As they were the ones I could use for my neck. But hoping these will work. Picked up a few other things I needed and then left to head to Michael's. And of course, there was Ross right next to them. So, went in there and found some more baby toys and books and a couple more baby outfits. So got those. The outfits are for Easter as you can give a I think she will be 5 months old by Easter or near that. So, no basket of candy. The toys are for here when I am babysitting. I have books for her, and I can read to her and let her look at the pictures. Then I left Ross and went to Michael's I wanted to pick up some flowers that were on sale for DH's grave. Our anniversary is coming up on the 26th and I want to take flowers for the grave. We would have been married 41 years. Then I went to see how much the Tee shirts were. Jack pot $2.99 each. So, I got 9 of them. Like Jeepers, I can stain them up fast. These are all short sleave, so for warmer weather. But will pitch out some very old rough looking ones and these will replace them. 

By that time, it was about 5 o'clock so headed to hardies for dinner. Then came home. I really made a day of it, and it felt good just to get out of the house for the day. Haven't gotten out like that in over 3 years. My DD said she is missing our shopping trips together. I have to agree. I don't shop like I used to now that either DD or DH isn't going with me. I have been used to having someone going shopping with me for years. My GD works during the week, and it has been too cold to take the baby out in the cold weather. 

I'm not crazy about sauerkraut but I do love cabbage and corned beef. Wonder if you could can that together. 

Yes, it was me that said I didn't like the Italian seasoning in the unstuffed peppers. It was ok but was not as crazy about it. The second batch I did I didn't use any seasoning. Figured I could add that as I was heating it up. To me it tastes a bit like Spanish rice. I added the rice to the jar that didn't seal for dinner. It was good though. Next batch I will try the basil and Parsley. 

Midnightmom, those cans of food look really good. 

We are never alone in our struggles Jeepers. God is with us through it all. We never walk alone no matter what happens. 

You mean I can't lock my GS in basement. Rats, He puked on the driveway claiming it was because of some bad movie he watched. Did he wash it off the driveway. Nope left for me to do. Just wait he will be given a bucket tomorrow and will clean it up himself. He's a big boy. I think at 22 years old he can handle cleaning up behind himself.  He's supposed to be going into Coast Guard. But with recruits coming from all over the US, My GD's DH said they are holding out till better weather. Some people can't get to New Jersey for boot camp yet. So hopefully in February they will call him baring the weather again. He won't go into Navy. He said he's not having a He/She watching his back.  Guess he might have a point there. 

Ambergris, I swear if it wasn't for bad luck, you would have no luck at all. Seriously, I hope that bee sting hasn't given you any issues. And hope you are not allergic to them. Do you have an epi pen? You might want to try to get one for just in case. 

Hope the Birthday party went well. 

Right now, I am waiting for it to warm up a bit more. Kohl's is where we take returns for Amazon. I ordered a pack and play pen for GGD as I will be doing some babysitting and they sent me two of them. How they did that I don't know as I checked my order and I only ordered one. So, heading to Kohl's in an hour or two. It's up to 35* now. So, while in Harborview area, I will go to TJ Max and Michaels. Not sure where else yet. Need to pick up some Birthday cards as well. Yep, just sitting here right now and 3 fire trucks flying past on Bennett's Pasture Rd. They have stopped so must be a fire somewhere nearby. 

Temps are now up to 38* so will get off of here and head out. Not going to be that warm today anyway. So, want to get the pack and play pen to kohl's and hit a couple of other stores and then home.

Euphrosyne we must have been typing at the same time. 

I don't have any family left other than DD and her DH and then all the grandkids and now one great grandchild. So, no sisters or brothers. Older sister pasted away in 1099. Parents are both gone and lost the last of my aunts in 2020. I do still have some cousins up in Lynchburg but not many of them left either. So, it is just me now living here. With one GD living in Newport News. Yes, I do have my GS still halfway living here and he helps me a little, but he mostly sleeps in his car and then gets up just in time to go to work. On his days off he sleeps in car until 2 and then comes in house to eat and then sits on couch playing games on his phone. That boy needs a life and his own place to live. Coast Guard please hurry up and call him in to boot camp and get him off my hands. I think the Coast Guard is waiting it out for the next batch of recrutes due to weather. 

Jeepers, you are making me rethink the fact that I want a basement. But look on the bright side. I can bury my GS and his mess in it. Give him a bed to sleep in. No need for a dresser, he uses the floor for that. And then I can go up the steps and lock the door on him. 

But on the other hand, a root cellar would fit my needs better than a basement. But if the housing market doesn't turn around soon for my liking, I might not be moving. Early spring after I get garden stuff done, I am going to my DD's house to look around at some of the areas for houses.  When they moved back in 2020, my SIL's company put them up in an apartment temporary. They hunted for houses for a year before they found one. DD said most of the houses were run down and in really bad shape. But they found this one, but they did not want a second floor. Well, they ended up with a second floor, but the master bedroom and bath are on first floor. It was not the type of house that they wanted for their older age. They are still fixing up that house, but it is mostly just painting now and that is almost done. The downstairs half bath was a gut job but the only room that was in bad shape. I think they are fixing it up in hopes to sale for more money from it and then move to a one floor house if they can find it.  I don't know what I will find but will be looking around at different areas. 

Mother, both you and Momo stay safe. Best to be snowed in than to get out there and take a fall. Don't need to do that again. Sooner or later this mess will melt and be out of here. Hopefully sooner.

I haven't been to Big Lots in a long time. Might have to make that trip to see what they have. Sometimes you can get some really good bargans.

I will see if I can find them again. I came across them by accident and was wondering if they would work on my front and back porch and part way down sidewalk. It has been a while since I have seen them. But I think once you put them down, you don't have to take them up again.

One of the main reasons I want my next house to have a root cellar or basement is so I can store my canned foods in there instead of having to use a small bedroom. That bedroom is better than nothing and I am thankful I have that. But it would be cooler in a root cellar, and I could do more with having one of those. Storing potatoes, onions and other root veggies in there would be a plus. And I could have a better place for chickens as well. 

Momo, both you and Mother have special issues that will prevent you from doing a lot of things. And I know it is not only hard but challenging as well. 

Momo, if you can salt that ramp or buy those rug type things that you could put down to keep the ramp from freezing it would help. But don't know how well that mats work. I have seen them but never used them. But might be worth checking into. 

I think part of the reason I want to move to the country is because if you could see how this area has grown and the infrastructure not growing much with it, just makes me want to get away from it all. But also because of what is going on in this world today, being in the country would give both me and my DD more space to do things garden wise, chickens, rabbits and stuff to help us get through all of this mess. I am getting a bit tired of having to make Dr. appts. and just going to stores and such by way of how the traffic will be. People going to and from work and right now school as well. And Lord knows when we will be bottled neck again. Just one wreck on the James River bridge or the Monitor Merrimac and traffic is directed toward one or the other making it impossible to get anywhere. That bottled neck situation we had one time took me over 2 hours to get home. No turning around to find another route. I was stuck and only 20 minutes from home. 

Becca Anne, I hope they can get him moved soon. I know it will be a load off of your shoulders. 

I gave the kitchen a deep cleaning earlier instead of working on stuff in my bedroom. But that is about to get started again.  I just don't like a dirty kitchen or bathrooms. My bathroom got a deep clean yesterday and finished it when I got back from GD's house. Looked at the Main bath that GS uses and walked out. I won't go there. But his next day off will be cleaning up the bathroom. I will still have too deep clean in there, but the worst of his mess will be out of there. Just taken a break right now. Needed something to drink. My GD got me started on those Bubbly drinks and there are a couple of other brands. They are fruit-based flavors. No sugar and no salt. All natural. So, have been drinking those. I try to get them when they have a good sale on them. I like them because they are nothing but water with fruit flavor in them. 

Almost forgot that Food Lion had some fresh fruit on sale. So, went to Food Lion to pick some up. Blueberries, grapes and cherries.  I looked around and found some canned ham that I had never seen in the store before. I was very familiar with the brand, so I bought one. It's the Danish Crown fully cooked ham and ready to eat. Sodium was low for ham 580mg. It is a product of Denmark. and is a 4lb. can. It has a best by date of 10/26/28. So will last a bit longer than that. Will put it in my longer-term foods for a while. 

If and when I move to NC and wanting to be in the country. Those will be things I will need to think about. I see you issue about being too far out to get the help needed. But on the other hand, with how this world is shaping up, I feel the need to get as far away from a town as possible. But at 73 it can be a bit of an issue. I would have my DD and SIL to help me by moving to NC. But they also work full time jobs, and my DD is a rehabber on top of that. So, help would be limited as I would not want to burden them. Though my DD is coming here in the spring so we can go to the craft fairs and then I am going to her house to go to the big Bazaar with her. That one is huge. I think she said something like 2 miles long. We will never cover all that in one day. I do know my next house will have requirements that this one does not have. Either a finished basement and or a root cellar. I would love to have both but finding one these days with a root cellar would more than likely be a fixer upper old farm house.

Didn't make it to Church this morning. Shoulder blade was killing me.  I forgot to take a muscle relaxer last night. So here I am in pain today. This is the left shoulder blade. My heart doctor checked it out and said it was muscular. He pressed on the very spot that hurt the most. So, he said muscle relaxers and Advil or Aleve. I was already taking the Aleve but not muscle relaxers. I am so tired of having to take meds and now having to add a muscle relaxer.  But at least it wasn't my regular meds I forgot to take. 

Once the pain eases off, I will get a few more things done in bedroom, but not going to lift any heavy boxes. That might how I strained the shoulder blade. My other shoulder and knee have been doing much better the past 3 or 4 days. Don't like to take muscle relaxers during the day as they make me sleepy, and I don't get anything done. But right now, it is very tempting to take one. It's hurting that bad. 

I think I still have an old Army blanket packed up somewhere. Not sure if I still have it or not. Will have to check that out. But thinking I gave it to one of the grandchildren for some reason. Might have been the GD in Washington. But there is an old second-hand military store in Newport News. Might add that to my list of stores I go to on that same road. I usually take a day and run all up and down that road to the different stores there. 

I am Gen B. Baby Boomer 50.   I do have apps for Michael's and JoAnn fabrics. But that is about it. I rarely do fast food being diabetic.  GS and DD both live for apps. So does my GD's. Right now, I am so close to everything I just go to them. For one it gets me out of the house for a while and gives me something to do. Or at least that is the way I look at it. I do order from Amazon and Temu when I need things to have delivered. But never groceries other than a few things on Amazon.  I am in walking distance to my bank and Food Lion and even a gas station.  Everything else is anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes by car. We are now loaded with car washes, fast food galore, grocery stores, restaurants, hair cuttery, one hardware store, doctors' offices. 2 hospitals. With one being built now.  Good Will within walking distance. I think we have just about everything you can think of, and it is still growing out here. 

Funny how cars do that. They just have a mind of their own and say nope not today I'm going to this store.

My GS is not allowed to vape or smoke in my house. He had one pipe that leaked everywhere, and I made him keep it in garage on newspaper. He goes through those pipes like crazy. Had one blow up on him. And yes, they are expensive. 

Jeepers, Aldi's is not hard to do with the carts. Just drop your quarter in and it unlocks the cart from the next cart. unhook it and take your cart. When you are done just hook the cart to the other cart and it gives your quarter back. Though sometimes I will just give my cart to someone getting ready to go into the store. People do that for me as well. 

My GS is the same way.  He switches from cigarettes to vaping. Right now, he is on vaping again. You don't want to be around him when he can't get his nicotine.  I won't let him smoke in house. He has to take his butt outside to smoke. He knows that is what his father has to do as his mother won't let him smoke in house either. So, I have never had a problem with that.

Got most of the bathroom cleaned before leaving for GD's house. Baby was fussy when I got there. But quieted down.  I will be doing a lot of babysitting in the next few weeks as her DH is now on a 3 week leave and takes care of the baby while she works. So, when he goes back to work, I will be keeping the baby for her and alternating with her DH's mother. 

I went ahead and ordered a play pen to keep here at the house. Been meaning to buy one and kept putting it off. So now that is done and will be here on Sunday. 

Now I am just tired and ready for a nap but need to finish the bathroom.

My GD just bought a small chest freezer, and they went to the commissary and bought meat to fill it up. Said it was cheaper than any of the stores. 

When I go to Kroger, I have to be very careful as if you don't stick to the sales, you are in deep trouble at the registers. Guess that is why I don't go there often. I usually go to Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Lidi's and Aldi's for grocery shopping. But right now, I am not doing much shopping. Will be picking up some things at Harris Teeter when they call me to pick up RX. Then I will wait till Thursday to go for the senior discount and use my $10.00 coupon. 

18.3 miles. Not walking in this cold weather. So also down a bit.