Whatcha doing today?

[TheCG]

16 hours ago, dogmom4 said:

On a couple FB groups I’m on people were saying a number of stores in a bunch of different states were cash only today...I haven’t seen anything on the news about it though.

When we went through Lowe's, they said there was a nationwide thing affecting debit processing, but the same card could be processed as credit without an issue.

[TheCG]

Oh, and the AC?  Went out again on Thursday.  AC guy came out on Friday and put something called a kick-start on the compressor so it will hopefully survive the summer, but says we'll probably need a new compressor next summer.  Hoping we can save up enough to get a larger unit that can keep up when it's over 100F out.

 

I picked up two GermGuardian air purifiers on sale at Best Buy.  They definitely seem to be helping, but I definitely need more.  Hubby insists we need to get the vents cleaned.  I'm thinking it might help more if we managed to get rid of the dust bunnies...

Edited May 22, 2022 by TheCG

[snapshotmiki]

Yesterday was Church and housecleaning day-- you know, company is coming cleaning.
Walked dogs.

 

Today, I already walked.
Have laundry going 2 loads
Will prune bushes for fellow to mow.
Weed in garden.
Have an appt. at Social Security office today to get info on options. Next week will talk to VA and then insurance agent for my medicare--DH staying with VA medical. I need a rounded picture of our options before we decide.

[Jeepers]

Miki, I remember when I was getting ready to start Medicare. I was so confused and afraid I'd make the wrong choices. 

[snapshotmiki]

Me too!  And with the VA it is more confusing!

[kappydell]

FINALLY we got some rain.  All the critters have cabin fever, and the cat we have been asking "when are you going to have those babies" , true to form, waited for a storm to have them.  Wow, when her mommy hormones kicked in they did so big time.  She keeps trying to steal other little ones to put in with her own.  The babies are not complaining, but the moms don't like it one bit, LOL.

 

Yesterday, we were told it was going to storm any minute.  Nothing.  So we put a welded wire fencing trellis up the greenhouse wall, to the apex of the top, then straight down, makiung a two compartment greenhouse for the climbers to to their thing and still get inside to pick.  The extra roof support is nice, too.  We were channeling "homestead rescue" scrounging up parts from our various 'junque' piles of saved extra stuff from other projects.  We were so proud we did not have to spend one-red-cent!  Lots of sweat equity rhough!

 

Today we woke up  very stiff and sore from all that extra work, then had to swearch to find where the abovementioned mama had birthed her babies during the night.  She was safely esconced in the bathtub in a nice fleece lined tote.  The small dog we call mega mama (she is fixed but will mother any species, any time) is having a high old time checking on them every chance she gets.  She peeks in and wags her tail like crazy.  When they start running around she watches over them solicitously.  

 

Then it started raining.  on and off, ov er and over, from gully washer to sunshine.  I went to choir practice (learning the old latin hymns is fun, I can even translate many of the worlds so I know what we are singing.  Today our alto singer (its a teensy choir) said she would be gone for an upcoming service, so I learned the alto (I usually sing a fairly high soprano) much to the directors surprise, quickly.  I think they forgot I read music.  It sure sounded nice, one of my old favorite childhood hymns (yes I am THAT old that I learned latin, LOL).

 

On the way home I got sidesqiped by a college kid changing lanes.  He was apologetic, we made police report.  While we waited for police we chatted, and he was kind of upset that he had struck a disabled little old lady coming from choir practice.  I felt grandmotherly...not sure I liked it though.  Fortunately damage was minimal, cosmetic only.  But we had not even paid the first payment on the car!!   Nobody can say our days are boring.  Mostly kinda like this.... LOL..The running around part, but more frenetic than frightened.  

 

Edited May 24, 2022 by kappydell

[Becca_Anne]

Aww kappy so sorry about your car and hope that the insurance covers the damages so you can have your car nice again. 

Littlesister so sorry you are still in the construction mess. I can sympathize no one is coming back to finish the work here and my attic has boards all pulled up where they were running the lights upstairs but they didn't even finish making that right before they left. I just keep having my husband call in hopes they will just come back to finish! Even if they just wrapped up what they could and said it will be 2 months and we'll come back I'd be fine at this point but having holes in my wall and attic with nails pointing up isn't cool. Still no sign of the roof guy to make right on his repair, or the plumbers to install the other two sinks. I have no idea when my house will be reasonably put together, sigh

Still no tomato plants put in either I feel like this weekend will be the likely time but feel SO behind on my garden I've almost decided just to wait until the late summer for a fall garden.. Which reminds me I need to plant those sunflowers!

[Annarchy]

DH woke up unable to put weight on his ankle. Pulled out the crutches from the shed.  He’s extremely irritated that he’s been trying to walk every day, and now can’t.  Sigh. 
 

Wednesday he goes for more heart tests, 4-6 hours….  
 

I’m trying to do everything around the house… I’m beat, to say the least…..

[euphrasyne]

Annarchy, I'm so sorry about your DH.   I'm going through something similar with the wrist.  I want to do things and some days it just says 'nope.'  Everyone keeps trying to help me but I'm more irritated that I can't do it myself than getting it done.  Finding workarounds for me to be moderately productive seems to help my mood.  Sometimes even switching to a task I can do that is unrelated helps.  I just don't want to feel old and useless.  Maybe your DH has similar thoughts?

[snapshotmiki]

Annarchy, I hope you get some good news at the doc appt.!

Littlesister and Becca Anne, that would drive me crazy having the house in disarray for a long period of time!

Kappy, I hope your car is fixed at no cost and quickly!

 

Already walked.
Today is wash all sheets, blankets and dog blankets day.
Work in the potato patch.
Go see VA rep about Social Security changes.
Clean and sweep in shed.

Jen and son arrive tomorrow!  Woohoo!

[Littlesister]

Yesterday the main bathroom countertop was put in and the sink but no plumbing yet. Painting is done except for some touch up painting when things are totally done. And of course, no one came today to do anything. He said that he is sending out a crew to finish up all the last-minute stuff and is now working on fireplace plans.  I have washed the kitchen window and got blinds back up. Except for the shoe molding which is holding me up from getting things back in closets as well as the sliding doors in hall closet which I can't put anything on any shelve as the shelves have to be moved for them to put doors back in on tracks. So, this is a big hold up. Got my bedroom widows washed and ready to get hardware up for the new blinds and curtains. Got the main bathroom window washed but not putting blinds up till they are done in there as I don't want the blinds messed up. They keep opening that window while they are working in there. Only thing left in that bathroom is plumbing and electrical. So, it is close to being done. Just have to drag them off one job to finish this job. 

Going to start getting my bedroom back together. They still have to put the new ceiling fan in though. But that shouldn't be a problem. 

Grandson has a sinus infection and just started his new job. He's going in as he can't call in sick on first day. But there is no fever, and it seems more like a head cold than anything else. But will see. He is doing his best to stay away from me as he said he doesn't want me to get it. So, he is staying in his room and only coming out to eat or to take a shower. Will be fumigating the house when he goes to work. Did that this morning but will do it again tonight. 

 

For those that are looking into Medicare. I can tell you what some friends of mine did. They went on the advantage plan, and it was bad. I have Medicare and a supplement insurance that pays the 20% that Medicare doesn't pay. It has worked great for me. I never paid a dime out of pocket for Dh's 4 hospital stays and 2 surgeries he had in 2020 nor in early 2021 before he passed.  My friends are now paying very high co-pays for one that is now in hospital and to a nursing home for therapy. I don't pay co-pays for doctor or specialist visits with advantage plans you do. Not saying there aren't some good things about it as one gets $200 a month for groceries but can only go to Kroger with the advantage plan. But she now will be paying thousands of dollars for her medical bills as she has been in hospital 5 or 6 times with pneumonia and her falling several times. She broke her back from a bad fall and never recovered. This is why the nursing home for therapy. The advantage plan will be kicking her out of therapy on Friday and she has only had less than one week of it.  I hope this helps all of you with making the discissions about Medicare. It is a hard choice. One of my friends went back to reg. Medicare and a supplement right after having advantage for a year. She had to wait till open season to change. Said it was the biggest mistake she ever made. 

Just make sure of all your options first before going on anything other than Reg. Medicare with a supplement insurance. Medicare is not perfect but much better than Advantage plans. 

 

Annarchy, I really hope and pray your DH is going to get much better. The ankle is just a small setback, but he will get there. 

 

Miki, you are so right about the construction taking so long. It is already driving me up a wall. We are past the 4-month time frame, and I am so ready for them to get out of my house. Still a lot of small things to do and also the fireplace which they are just now getting the plans together for. So, I am figuring on another month of this mess before I can get the whole house back together. I can now do some small things but that is about it. Still can't get pictures back up and patio door will be the last thing I can do at this time. They use that door coming in and out of to work and I won't put the drapes up until they are totally done and out of here. If I could just hold them here for everyday instead of the owner sending from one job to the other this job could have been finished in 2 months. 

 

Becca Anne, I know how you feel about the hold ups as well. I also have a friend that is going through this mess as she had a pipe to burst behind a wall and woke up to ankle deep water in kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, hall and living room. She had a mess. This happened 2 months ago, and they are still working on the apt.

[Ambergris]

I was cleaning out a cupboard at work and found a small stash of junk silver--most of a roll of Mercury dimes.  I guess I shouldn't say that in an open forum, but bear in mind it's no longer there.

Remember Mercury dimes?  Back when coins had personality?

[Midnightmom]

6 minutes ago, Ambergris said:

I was cleaning out a cupboard at work and found a small stash of junk silver--most of a roll of Mercury dimes.  I guess I shouldn't say that in an open forum, but bear in mind it's no longer there.

Remember Mercury dimes?  Back when coins had personality?

 

In spite of the "national coin shortage," I STILL save coins! Haven't seen any silver in a very long time, but part of MY savings plan is to seperate out the eagle quarters from the state ones everytime I get a roll from the bank (for laundry) or change from a store and put them up. One day, if I ever have to use them for a purchase, I will be "found out" but this is not that day!  

[Jeepers]

Oooh, good find Ambergris! 

 

I save most of my coins too. Usually when they weigh down the bottom of my purse. I have a jug for each denomination. They are really adding up. Back in the 80's my D-ex's, uncle's son found his stash of old coins. He fed a whole lot of those Standing Liberty Quarters into the Pacman/Donkey Kong machines. After that he moved his collection over to our house. Fortunately (for everyone involved) my son didn't find them.

[snapshotmiki]

This morning I walked.

Washed rugs.

Swept house.

Set up DH's meds for the next month.

And took Ebay photos.

Will be leaving in about half an hour to get Jen and Dom.

Woohoo!

[Jeepers]

Have a wonderful visit with your family Miki.  

[snapshotmiki]

Will walk first.
Then Tractor Supply, Dollar General, Walgreens (for Jen), local grocery and a Walmart stop.
This afternoon will slice carrots for dog treats.
A friend mowed a field across from me and left a patch of blackberries for me to pick. Enlisting grandson's help!

[Littlesister]

Miki, enjoy your company and the blackberries. 

 

Neighbor called needing help a bit ago. Her GS threw a rock or something against the house and it bounced and hit the truck door driver side. Broke out the whole window. We were trying to get plastic up on it as it is supposed to rain again. Couldn't get it on where wind wouldn't pull some of it up. So have a tarp on it also. It will be 3 months before she can get a window replacement. Another Neighbor came over and suggested plexiglass to fit the shape of window so she could see through it to drive. She is not a happy camper at the moment. 

 

Grandson thinks I am going to be fixing dinner in middle of night when he gets home from work to eat. Not happening. I will fix something for dinner at my normal time and he can heat up the leftovers when he gets home from work. We will be sitting down and working on a schedule on Friday as he has Fridays and Sat. off each week. In the meantime, he won't starve. He has his microwave dinners also. We will get it all worked out, as he just started this job and not sure how to figure his time out yet. He goes to bed around 3:30 in morning and sleeps until noon. Then gets up and does things around house and though right now he still isn't eating good due to the sinus infection. He will get there. It is all new to him and just needs to work on a schedule that works for both of us.

 

Garden is doing great and now the second rabbit is back. So, 2 rabbits being chased out of garden now. Going to solve that issue tomorrow if it's not raining all day.  It has been raining past 3 days and more rain coming. I also need to get out and do some weeding and this rain is not helping that. Carrots, some of the squash, potatoes and onions are coming up and the tomatoes are starting to bloom. Rabbits are now eating on few flowers that I have around the front porch. Though the rain is helping the garden grow and the weeds with it. GS will help me with the weeding if he feels better Saturday. Friday I am taking him to Walmart to find some shoestrings for his boots and to get his glasses repaired. They broke. So, some running around to do Friday after he wakes up and hopefully eats breakfast. Antibiotics should be setting in by then and he should start feeling better soon. 

The blueberry bushes have taken off now that they are out of pots and in the ground. I think next year we will have a good crop of blueberries. Will have to pull out my net that I use to keep birds out of them. Will get GS to help me hook it up to top of shed and bringing it down to ground over the plants. Then I can just roll it up in the fall after all the blueberries are done till next year when they produce again. Need to get chicken wire for the bigger garden also. Decided not to plant there this year as I have the black plastic over it now to kill the grass. We plowed it up, but it was a lot of grass that grew back as we haven't used that area in 3 or 4 years. I will take plastic off next spring and get it set up and ready for planting along with chicken wire to keep the rabbits out. They are wild rabbits and now they don't run as fast when I shoo them out of garden. They are getting braver everyday. GS is looking at rabbit stew. Shame on him.

[Becca_Anne]

Hope you can keep the rabbits out of your garden Littlesister! Has your GS tried a neti pot for his sinuses? I have had great relief with using that to flush out my sinuses and haven't had a sinus infection since I started doing that. I have so many allergies it swells up the nasal passages making it easy to get infections. Between using Flonase and Zyrtek and the neti pot it seems to help so much. I hope your GS feels better soon.

 

Miki enjoy your blackberrries 

 

Jeepers having separate coin containers is genius! I have to say now that you said that my brain is asking why it wasn't obvious to do that but I never thought to LOL.

 

Annarchy hope your DH's ankle starts mending up soon! Euphrasyne I hope your wrist feels better too.

 

Super happy that tomorrow the plumbers are coming to install the two remaining vanities. I am also taking off tomorrow and will have a 4 day weekend.Going to really make the most of it. Going shopping for dishwasher and upright freezer hoping some appliances will be on sale for the holiday weekend. I was just going to order them but it will be Sept if I go that route so going to look for floor models that are available right away. No plumbing or cabinets yet for the dishwasher but I am getting it now anyways we can hire the plumber to install it when the cabinets are in and they come to put in the water lines for that. DH is also going to test out our new mower tomorrow. Going to look for tomato plants tomorrow too and my sweet potato slips got shipped and should be here soon. So things are starting to happen

[snapshotmiki]

Ended up adding to my list yesterday.
Baked cabbage rolls that I had frozen.
Cooked cabbage with sausage.
Pressure canned 11 quarts of squash medley. All from the garden except onions.

 

Today, already walked.
Next will walk dogs.
Spray for weeds in back yard.
Make "Cauliflower potato salad" and baked beans for Saturday.
And pick the blackberries we didn't get to yesterday.

You all have a good weekend!

[Littlesister]

Went outside this morning to find that one of the raised bed boxes collapsed. So, trying to save the butterbean plants. Got those situated in a temp. place and then we started having thunderstorms. Now it looks like the sun is trying to come out. Will rebuild the box this weekend as GS is off today and Sat. He goes back to work at 6 pm on Sun. Right now, he is still asleep, and I don't want to wake him as with that sinus infection he needs the rest. He got home after 3 am this morning and didn't get to bed till about 5 am. He is loving his new job and now has full health insurance with dental and eye care. I am so happy for him finding this job. I really think it is going to work out for him. He is not a morning person and loves working nights.  Will get him to help me rebuild the box tomorrow morning if it is not raining again. 

Becca-Anne, I have 2 of those Neti pots and didn't even think about that. Will get one out for him to use. That just might help him. Though he is not as stuffed up as he was. I think the antibiotics are starting to kick in. Glad that your construction has started back up. Seems mine has taken another vacation or something. No work all week other than the countertop and sink in main bathroom. Painters did come Sunday of all days. And then nothing. So, hoping it starts again on Monday. He did talk about the fireplace plans. 

 

Annarchy, hoping and praying your DH's ankle is doing much better. 

 

Euphrasyne, I do hope and pray your wrist is getting better each day and you are getting more use from it as it gets stronger again. 

 

I can't do a whole lot around house right now with the sleeping arrangements for GS. He is sleeping on couch in living room for now till I can get the 2 bedrooms set back up. One for him and my bedroom. Working on my bedroom now as I got the windows washed and blinds put up the other day. Need to move the bed and start taking the ceiling fan apart and getting the dust off of it. That fan is going to be replaced but still don't want the dust flying when they remove it. Then will get the floor cleaned up good as that has been tracked up from the construction workers. I cleaned it once and here they come again. So gave up on that room. Need to get that room done now though so I can get my boxes of clothes and other things out of the other bedroom and clean it up for GS. 

Still waiting on my dressers to come. I am on Haynes furniture like a duck on a June bug. They have sold my furniture out from under me 4 times now. So now it will be another 3 weeks I think they said. It's only been over a year since I ordered them. So, they know if they sell out from under me again, I will be down there getting a refund. Never had this problem with them in the past, but this is the worst yet. Never again will I order from them. 

[Jeepers]

I ran some errands today. I'm on the look out for some more Food Saver bags to replace the ones I used. The only thing I can find are the rolls. I don't like to use those because they waste so much bag sealing up the open bottom end. That's something else I'm getting tired of...stores saying they have something in stock on their website and when you get there they don't have it. It happened again today. Two different Kohl's said they had the bags but didn't. Similar thing with ham at Meijers a month ago. 

 

I also went to Target and Meijers and the shelves are starting to look empty again. Forgot to take the phone for some pictures. Target store was starting to look a little scruffy. Not as well kept up as normal. They had quite a bit more formula but it was all Enfamil. There were a couple of words in Spanish on the label. They have a sign on their door saying sorry for the inconvenience but due to the power shortage, the lights are lowered and the air conditioner is not running at full capacity. I didn't notice but it's only 70 degrees today.

 

Meijers baby formula looked only a little bit better than before. There were about 40 small cans of Enfamil on the shelf. There was a sign saying WIC people do not have a store limit on formula. Every one else had a limit of four. Same sign at Target and also on the peanut butter shelf. The only pasta at Meijers was their brand of macaroni. 

 

I drove to the ATM and couldn't get any cash. They are taking that machine out in 2 weeks so don't know if that had anything to do with it or not. I wouldn't think so. That's quite a ways off. I went to the banks ATM and they had some money. Gas is $4.37. I thought it might be higher because of the holiday. 

 

Something else I've noticed lately are mouse/rat traps. I see them at the entrance and exit in the corners of the stores. They are the kind that would hide a rodent inside if they caught one. Not the clap traps (don't know what they are called. I saw it in Wal-Mart and in Target. I'll look at other stores if I think if it. I guess its good they have traps set but I just don't want to think about them while I'm shopping. Especially for food. Come on people, hide those things. They might have always been there but here lately they caught my eye and I wasn't even looking for them. And the Wal-Mart's up here haven't had the wipes to clean off your cart for about a month now. I don't like that.     

 

I'm starting to see anger issues cropping up...

mostly with me. I got into it with a woman, about my age, at Meijers today. She blatantly cut in line ahead of me in the self check out corral. Just walked right past me. I went off on her. I didn't use my 'indoor' voice either. Unfortunately, for her, we ended up right beside each other at the check out registers. Things were said...repeatedly. The words Entitled Karen might have been said a few times. And had she learned nothing about manners in pre-school? My parting blow was to ask her what her big hurry was? Did she have to poop or did she have a hot date lined up? She kept her head down and said nothing. Probably for the best because I was wound up. I had an audience. Snickers were heard. Sigh. Not one of my finer moments but I'm not sorry. Bet she won't do that to anyone else again. Some lessons are learned the hard loud way. BTW, I'm mouthy. Could be my downfall or a warning that I'm cray-cray. I'm usually very nice. Honestly. Today...not so much.

[Becca_Anne]

Success! Both vanities are in and they look so nice  Worth the wait. And then DH and I went shopping for appliances and I ordered a freezer and dishwasher that will get delivered on Tuesday. Won't be able to use the Dishwasher but I can admire it until then lol and at least it won't be on backorder until September! I also picked up outdoor porch primer and paint to get the two repaired unpainted steps done as soon as it dries out enough. It's been cool and raining off and on so much lately that I want to wait until we have a hot dry week or so before doing them so the paint sticks. Also joined with the summer special the local rec center so we can go swimming and walking indoors when it's hot. 3 months for the price of two so we'll check it out and see how we like it. Being more active will be good for all of us. Tomorrow I'm going antiquing with a friend and I feel like I'm starting to settle in here.

 

Miki do you have that cauliflower potato salad recipe to share? Sounds healthy and I'm trying to do better 

Littlesister you are beyond patient about that furniture it's just not right that they haven't gotten that resolved for you. I hope this time it comes through

Jeepers we all have times we act in a way we wish we hadn't. It can be stressful shopping these days. 

[Jeepers]

Glad things are coming along so nicely with your new house Becca_Anne. Smart to go ahead and get the dishwasher and have it ready. It's hard to tell when things will be available. 

 

I've calmed down since my 'shopping trip' today. I listened to loud music, sang my heart out and danced my shoes off the rest of the day. A good time was had by one. I need a vacation. I'm going to Indy the first week in June. 

[snapshotmiki]

http://www.thekitchenismyplayground.com/2015/08/cauliflower-mock-potato-salad-recipe.html

 

This is what I use, @Becca_Anne.  I really only use it for cooking the cauliflower and the rest is a guide.  I just make  my own potato salad recipe.  It has always turned out great!

 

Getting ready to go walk now.

Take jars of squash out to shed.

Go to Dollar General with daughter.

Make baked beans.

Grill hamburgers, deer sausage, hot dogs and pork steaks.  Wish me luck!  This is the first time I am lighting the new grill.