Tired FromTrip

I didn't even think of going to exercise this morning. I didn't get to sleep until after 12:00 AM last night and I went back to bed and slept until 10:30 AM.

It was 67 degrees F. today. Some fierce storms are supposed to occur tonight while we sleep. They have caused tornadoes in stated West of us and hopefully there will be none in our storms.

Tonight is New Year's Eve. I'm not staying up to see it in. I'd rather sleep! I shredded 2-3 years of Medco material today. I cleaned it from a brown wicker square I have. I thought I would have to give it away but Dad decided to put the air cleaner in a different place and the wicker can go back against the wall where it has been all these years.

The Thrift shop up our road takes donations and I talked to the lady and told her I had some stuff I would give her. I need to put it in the back on my car so when I see her at the shop, I'll just have to stop and unload the stuff.

Trudy's birthday was yesterday and she was going coupon cashing. Forrest was on a winter camp with the Boy Scouts and Sadie and George were watching TV.

Temple Time

Today, I had an appointment with Dr Walker. The office was full when I went in and got fuller as time went by. Since I was going to the temple today, I didn't want to spend all morning in the Dr's office, so I rescheduled for next week.

I came home and got lunch for us and sat around and read the newspapers. I already have on the top I'm wearing and all I have to do to get ready to leave is to put my skirt and boots and coat on. I need to make a sandwich for after we leave the temple and that's all.

It's cold and windy and damp outside. It is supposed to rain today or tonight and really rain tomorrow night. Rain is okay but snow is not!

Whew!

I went into town to the bank and then back home. Frank wanted me to do the end of the year thing with the bill statements so I set the little card table up and began making piles. I got all the utility bills and the phone bills, etc. and etc. and stapled them together and made neat piles out of them. I hate to do this kind of work but I persevered until I had it all done. I don't remember what I did with the 2010 empty files I ended up with. Maybe tomorrow I can remember....

Trudy called to say she had dumpster dived some coupons. She is really into coupons. Mary Kate called and said Nate had gotten his birthday card and money. The roads were all clear when they came home from SC but she said Frankie had to go around the mountains because the roads in the Smokies were closed. He had to get to Knoxville via Atlanta! Well, at least they got home.

Snow In The Shadows

We still had ice on our steps this morning when I went out to buy some groceries. It was melted when I got back-Frank had put salt on it and it melted. You can still see snow on the North sides of things but the sun is out and the air is 44 degrees now at 3:30 PM. January and February will be our worst months, with March having two weeks of yuk and two weeks of Spring-like weather. If the weather behaves itself. Snow at Christmas was unusual. I think the paper said it had been 26-29 years since we had a white Christmas.

I made a big pot of taco soup and I think it'll be too salty for Frank to eat! The packages of taco and Ranch dressing gave it the sodium.  I guess I can freeze it.

Some Snow

There is some snow still around, but it's mainly gone. I didn't go to exercise today for I figured the Center wouldn't be open plus my car had a lot of snow on it and it would have been hard to get it off early in the morning. The temperature is up to 38 degrees at 2:00 PM and the wind isn't blowing so it's not that cold outside.

I washed a load of towels today but that's about all. I don't have much to do today. Frank's up but is working in his room.

I called Karen to say that I wouldn't be over today and she said she had to go to the Madison building to get all of the Primary supplies for we will began meeting at the Decatur Ward is January. We will be meeting at 1 PM again. I think that's why we're moving because meeting from 3-6 PM would put us driving home in the dark and some people can't drive at night. I think it's about the same distance in miles. Poor April-she'll have to get used to another big organ. We're getting a new organ with our new chapel but she can easily go practice on it when we get into our building again.

Sunday After Christmas

The snow was still on the ground and I thought I it was my turn to drive to Madison. I was afraid of black ice and the other Southern drivers. Church was canceled around 10:00 AM.

We feasted on duck, dressing and cranberry sauce again for lunch. I decided to us the Vitamix and make an apple cake. I guess I'm now initiated in the use of the machine and next will make a loaf of whole wheat bread. The apple cake turned out a bit too sweet. It had 1/2 cup of honey and 1 cup of raisins and it was a bit sweet even for the great sweet lover, me!  I'll use less honey next time I make it.

Mary Kate and Richard and family are in Duram, NC. They have about 6" of snow. Frankie and family are in SC with the same amount of snow. Hope everyone gets home safely.

I don't know if the Senior Center will be open tomorrow or not. I'll call before I go. The road may be clear but it just looks bad with all the snow still on the ground and on the cars.

Christmas Day

I got up at 8 AM and there was snow on the ground and it was falling quickly! A white Christmas after all. The paper had predicted it but you just don't believe until you see it! It was 36 degrees the entire time it was snowing so after it stopped snowing, it started melting off the trees.

The duck had thawed and I got it ready to bake by 8:30 AM. It was ready by 11:30 AM and boy, did it smell good! Frank had been sick this morning but was up and ready to eat when I got the duck out. It's all dark meat and really tastes good. We had duck, stuffing, corn, and cranberry sauce. I think this will be a tradition for Dad and me. We don't have any presents to unwrap but we can look forward to a good meal! We always get presents through out December and don't bother to wait to unwrap, or wrap, what we get. All in all, it has been a good day. Sandy S. called to wish us a Merry Christmas.

Day Before Christmas

I went to Walmart around 9:30 AM and it was just starting to get crazy with people. I just needed some Smart Balance and bananas and cabbage and cauliflower and a few other things. Came home and fixed the veggies. The weather was in the 40's and not too cold. It could snow tonight as a cold front is coming in.

When I went to get the mail, it was dark. Frank wanted me to take a light but it's usually light enough to not need one. But tonight, it was very dark. As I was rounding the corner of the road, I tripped and fell on the ground! I got a large raspberry on my right knee and a little bump on my right hand where I skid on the rocks. I'll be taking a light when I go out in the dark now. 

Play Day

I got to Trudy's house at 10 AM. They were just getting up. Trudy showed me all the things she had bought with her coupons and there was a load of food which she paid little for! This girl has got the coupon shopping down good! We hung around the house until 12:30 PM and then we went to town to shop. I wanted to stop at Sear's to get Dad a fancy screw driver he wanted  and then I wanted to look for a pair of black leather boots. Sear's had some but they wanted $69.00 for them and Trudy suggested we look at The Shoe Dept. I found a pair there for $40.00 plus we found some shoes that could be house shoes for $13.00 and I got a pair of those. Everything was on sale. Trudy got Forrest and George some tennis shoes and a pair of house shoes for herself. We got a cookie and a drink and sat at a table to eat and replenish our strength. Then we walked back through the Mall to exit Sear's to where the car was parked. We couldn't find the car! There were a lot more parked there than when we first parked and we couldn't remember where we were! Finally, Trudy found the car and we drove back to Hobby Lobby where she had parked her car. We sat about 30 minutes and talked. It was such a fun day and I got my boots!  Sadie called to say that Forrest had taken her to town to get a gift for a friend and he drove safely through all the traffic. He is a good driver.  The traffic was very heavy since it was two days before Christmas. I need to go to Walmart tomorrow to get a few groceries and I had better go early so I will miss the traffic on the day before Christmas! Frank got his present tonight and was very happy! We'll have nothing to open Christmas day! We will be eating duck and dressing and cranberry sauce and shall be well fed.

Huntsville Trip

We stopped off to see Dr Gantt's nurse first and then ate lunch at Wendy's. From there, we drove to Madison to see Dr Morgan. Then we drove to Athens and I stopped by Lou's but she had already dropped off a "form" at Dr Walker's office, which is closed on Wednesdays. I got my order I had placed from Lou's and then we went by the pharmacy and then on home.

Because it's the holidays, the garbage pick-up is a day earlier.  I called Bobby to let him know but he already knew and said if we got our garbage together, he would send the boys over to take it out to the road. They've already gotten it out to the road. I really appreciate this service.

Tomorrow, I'm going to Trudy's house for the day. I'm looking forward to it. If we go shopping, I hope to find a pair of boots. Trudy says the Sadie wants a pair too. Maybe we'll both be lucky!

Luc's

After Frank went back to bed, I went to town. I needed to drop a request off at Dr Walker's and then over to see Luc's to tell her I had dropped off my request. After that, I went by Kari's to get my hair cut. She did a good job. I thought about letting it grow longer but I can't stand hair on the back of my neck and I don't know how to fix longer hair that curls. So, I guess I can be happy with it cut short.

Kari is going to close her shop and is going to work at a place that's near the Sherwin-Williams paint store. I haven't gotten the name of the place down yet, but she will only work four days, I think.

Got home and Dad was up and feeling better so we had lunch. After lunch, we installed some speakers for the TV. I got to be a carpenter's helper. After he took some hardware off the wall near the TV, I now have no use for a plant stand that had a can of flowers on it to hide the hardware. I'll take it downstairs and put it some where.

I've enjoyed my Christmas decorations but will be glad to put them up. Gert hasn't been out of his cage since I put them up and I think he will come out after all the trees and Santa's are put up for another year. Tomorrow, we have two Dr appointments and will have to go by the pharmacy too. It will be a busy day.

No Exercise Day

Frank had a Dr appointment at 10:45 AM so I asked Jan to substitute for me in leading the exercise class. We were there almost an hour before we saw the Dr, but he is nice and gave us lots of time. It was Dr Thomas, the lung Dr. He prescribed an inhaler for Frank and a nebulizer. The pharmacy had us to fill out papers in order to get the nebulizer. Frank will have to figure out how to use it. The pharmacist was supposed to show him how to use it, but he was busy on the phone, and Frank didn't feel like waiting so we came on home.

When we came home, the mail had already come and we had some packages in it. I got my Vita Mix cookbook. I know how to make whole wheat bread so I won't have any excuse not to make some. I bought 9 packages of yeast so I am ready. Now to wait until the spirit moves me! Ha-ha! I also got a car seat cushion and an alarm clock from Carol Wright's Gifts.

It's going to warm up into the 50's tomorrow and rain. It wasn't too cold today. I had on a long sleeve white shirt and a red Christmas sweat shirt and some bell earrings. I was too cool!

Lazy Saturday

We spent the day installing some electronic equipment into the TV cabinet. We had to run the cables and then Frank had to figure out what cable went too what. We finally got it all done. Then we gave the birds a spray. Gert, who has not been out of his cage since I put up the Christmas decorations up, came out for a spray and then zipped back into his cage. I may put the Christmas decorations up early to see if that's what's bothering him. The other two birds had no problem getting baths. I bet the mail has come by now! It's 4:40 PM and it should be there. And the mail was there.

Slacker

Didn't go to exercise class today-slept in. It was about 37 degrees when we went out this afternoon.

Dad got some paper about the house in FL and we had to go to the bank too get some papers notarized. We went to Compass Bank and a nice lady helped us. The bank wasn't busy at the time and we got right in to do our business.

We came home and had our snacks and Dad worked on cleaning the bird cages. I ordered a food storage cook book from Amazon. There were a lot of good reviews and I thought it would be good to have to incorporate what we have in our every day meals. It may or may not happen. We eat pretty scrawny now and we're set in our ways. Who knows? (only the Shadow knows...)   

No Thawing Out

The weather warmed up during the night and the cars had no ice on them, if fact, it was 50 degrees this morning. We got to the hospital alright and Frank had his lung test. I believe the Dr will find nothing wrong with his lungs. Maybe we can go to an allergist next.

We came home and I did some cooking and after lunch I began gathering the trash. We had a lot of trash in the basement from our cleaning out and I had three large black bags full of heavy stuff. I hope the boys bring their Grandfather's truck over to take the garbage to the road. I still have some more cleaning and organizing to do down by the washing machine. The extra bedroom needs some organizing too

We folded and stapled some papers for Gert's cage. We have a new receiver to put under the TV but we took a break and will probably do it after supper.

Cold Day

I went to the Senior Center for exercise and the Center wasn't open! It was open, but it was closed. No chairs had been set up for us and there were only two other ladies besides me there. It guess the weather was a deciding factor. We were going to get sleet and freezing rain sometime today. I went to the PO and mailed two packages and then went to Walmart for a few groceries. It hasn't gotten over 33 degrees today and when I went out to get the mail at 3:30 PM, both cars were iced over and the mail box had a sheet of ice on it and icicles hanging off of it.

We have to be at the hospital tomorrow at 10 AM and we will probably have to thaw the car out. Frank is getting a lung test. His chest X-ray was fine. After this test, we will see the Dr again and see if Frank's lungs are alright. I think we should have gone to an allergist to see what he is allergic to but maybe we'll do it next. Maybe the children will believe he really has a problem is a Dr says so.

David B. is here fixing something on the new heat pump. His helper didn't do a professional job and Frank was disturbed about it. David's been here all day. He's a nice young man and he has a nice family. He married Amy Broadhurst and they have two young boys.

Heat Pump Day

We had a new heat pump installed today. Our old one was getting undependable and we wanted a good one to take us into the cold weather ahead. It was putting out 127 degree heat at one point today! It just took 1/2 a day to get it done.

After the heat pump was done, Frank and I were in the basement and I had discovered what looked like orange oil in my washing machine. What had happened was an old jug of Amway carpet cleaner had busted and dripped down into the washing machine. Frank got to cleaning the mess up and he took down all of the stuff that was on the shelves over the washer and dusted with a wet cloth. Some of the stuff had been up there 25 years or so. One box has some kitchen things that I can donate to the Salvation Army and the rest is old washing machine soap that has a scent. I don't know if it is any good or not. I guess I can donate it too.

Ann and I are going out tonight to visit Sis Hansen. I looked for her house today and have a vague idea where it is. I hope we don't get lost too badly.

Exercise and More

It was so cold that we only had 6 people at exercise today. It wasn't up to freezing when I went out to the mail box today and it was cold this morning. After exercise, I dropped the two packages off at the PO and then went to Karen's for study. The Pearl of Great Price discussions go so fast that I miss out on a lot of things, but it is there to read.

I came home, had lunch, and did some laundry. I was afraid I had too many clothes for one load so I washed two smaller ones. I had a red sweat shirt is one pile and I hoped it wouldn' fade on the other clothes. It didn't.

I packaged up the art supplies I was going to give Luke at Thanksgiving, and then he didn't come. I'll mail them Wednesday. I also wrote a letter to Frankie and sent three Christmas cards or got them ready to mail tomorrow. Kayla's birthday is the 18th so I got a card and wrote in it. Now I'm waiting for Dad to write in it and get a check for it so it can be mailed.

Snow?

A Canadian cold front has moved through here and we had snow showers today! On the way to church, the snow was blowing on the road. After church, I noticed a little snow had collected on the roof of the building. The snow came mainly off and on so none collected. It was cold enough for it to stick if it had been heavy snow. Looking forward to Spring!

Our Home Teachers came over tonight and we had a good visit. We both got blessings.

Tomorrow, I lead the exercise class and then go for scripture study. Before that, I'll have to stop by the PO and mail the Christmas presents to Frankie and Mary Kate. I'll give Trudy's the day we get together, Dec. 24th, I think.

Tuesday, Mr. Boston is coming over to install a new heat pump for us. He'll be through the same day. I just asked Frank if the house would get cold, but he said we could turn up the gas stove downstairs and the bird's heaters would still be working. I was concerned about them.

Party

The baby shower was fun. There were a lot of people there, most of whom I didn't know. It was held at Susan's house with Mary Lou and Sis Thunderburg all helping. They were already opening presents when we got there. We stopped opening presents and had lunch and then went back into the basement to unwrap some more. Susan's house is really nice. The basement had carpet and real furniture in it! No slouch this house. It had started to rain when we got out but it wasn't bad. I think a cold front is moving in tonight and it will probably rain all night. It was 50 degrees today and will probably be in the 30's tomorrow.

Frank had a bad morning but felt better this afternoon.

Exercise & VT

I expected Jan to be at exercise class but she wasn't. She had called Betty C. and asked her to do it. She did a good job. Many of the usual people weren't there. Afterwards, I went by the PO and got some large and medium flat rate boxes. I meant to mail the two boxes I had for the children, but I went off without them. After I got home, I left to go VT to the Decker's. Ann had brought some Christmas things she had made for them and I gave them to them. It was a very nice visit. Karen had her daughter and daughter-in-law with her and I enjoyed their presence and then when I left, I left alone. It felt weird.

I went grocery shopping after lunch. Walmart didn't have any insoles that Dad wanted so I went to CVS but they didn't have any either. I then went to Big Lots for the yearly supply of batteries. I bought over $50.00 worth of different sizes of batteries!

Tomorrow is the luncheon-baby shower for Sis Herwig. I got a  baby book for the baby. It's a boy and I got a Disney baby book. Hope no one  else gets her a baby book!

Safe Trip

It seems like as the older I get, the less confident I am of my driving. Or it may be that I'm afraid of hurting my "new" car. It is so nice that I would cry if I got a dent in it or worse. Driving the same car for 19 years kinda makes you that way.

We had a nice trip to the temple. It was good to get back since we only went once last month. I'll ride down with the Decker's the fourth Thursday of this month. They are temple workers and I ride on down with them and do two sessions.

Jan called and said she was able to do the exercise class today. Barbara was sick and couldn't do it. I'm glad she's better. She said she would be able to lead Friday. I will enjoy going and just exercising instead of leading.

Vet Visit

Got the birds to the vet okay. They are all in good health and just got wings and nails and Rikki got her bill trimmed. I always get a hug from Dr Jan and that's always good. We had a safe journey down and back.

Got a pot of beans on the stove right now and can't go to bed until they're done. They'll be done before I'm ready to go to sleep. Going to the temple tomorrow and will get up at 5:30 AM to shower and wash my hair. It's too late tonight and the birds were stressed with their trip and I don't want to have any commotion going on at 7 PM.

Exercise Went Well

There weren't many people at exercise today but it went well. I had my notes. There was lots of outside interference going on, with other people and workers wandering around. I wasn't nervous though and I even had the wrong side of the music on. I used up the time without the chicken dance. Frank wanted me to to come home and be here if the Home Health people came. They didn't come and I used the time to read the Bill O'Riley book that Frank bought me and I tidied up my room a bit and dusted parts of it.

Frank had an appointment with the lung Dr today. We were there two hours. He got an X-ray and some blood drawn and has an appointment to go by the hospital and blow into a lung machine to test his breathing or something. The Dr asked about the birds. Frank could be allergic to the birds. I hope not, for our house would be very lonely without the birds.

It was cold today but without the wind blowing it wasn't too bad. Tomorrow, I take the birds to the Vet for trims. Their nails are a bit long and we have been keeping their wings clipped but Rikki needs to have her bill trimmed so it won't be too long.

Fast and Testimony Day

We have a new chorister in Primary, Joy...can't think of her last name. She's a mature lady, probably not as old as me, but not a young chick. Our other chorister is 30 and is about to have her 5th baby. Joy had to do singing time today at the spur of the moment and she did well. She's been a Primary chorister before, years ago.

In January, we will be meeting at 2:30 PM 'til 5:30 PM! I guess they rotate the wards that meet in that building. It will be really strange at that time, but the second or third week-end is Stake Conference and we believe we will be back into our Athens building at the end of January. Then we will be meeting at 9:30 AM like usual.

Bro Garbett called Dad tonight and asked him if he would help with some computer work they are doing and he said he would. It's good to be needed. (Joy's last name if Hansen!)(slow but sure...).

I called Jan to check on how she was doing with her ear problems and she said she was some better. She had gotten a blessing and felt it had helped. That's why she wasn't at exercise last week. I lead tomorrow and Dad has an appointment with the lung Dr at 1:30 PM.

Saturday of Leisure

I was going out to the P.O. but Dad figured out how much the postage was and we put stamps on the two big letters I was sending the girls and I mailed them at the road.

I cooked tacos for lunch but I didn't have any salsa or tomatoes. The off-season tomatoes taste so nasty that I didn't want to get any. I had the cheese and the sour cream and the taco mix. The shells were crunchy. Dad stood up to eat his, for to try to eat them lying down would have been a disaster!

Later on, I went through the bills for the year and got the old envelopes out and put the folders back in the container. Soon we'll have to go through and separate the bank statements and organize them. I hate paper work!

We had Omaha steak burgers for supper. They are nice to have once in a while. A bit greasy to eat every day. We have them for a treat now and then.

It has been in the 60's all day. I think it's going to turn cold tonight. We are so spoiled with the nice weather. It gets nasty in January and February and half of March and then Spring comes! Yeah!

Surprise!

I got up at 6:30 AM to shower and wash my hair before exercise class. I got there and was enjoying walking and talking to the ladies when the time to start approached. It was Jan's time to lead but she didn't come so I led the group. I had taken my notes out of the car so I could re-do them and get the exercises organized so I had to lead without any notes! The class members helped me when I forgot what to do next. When we got to the stick and ball, I knew what to do. It was fun even though I didn't have my notes!

On my way home, I stopped by the Dollar General store to take back the things I bought yesterday. They all smelled of the perfume the entire store smells like and Frank couldn't handle it. They can't give cash back for an item bought without a receipt and I had one item like that. I found an Alabama mug for $5.00 that I got. It holds a can of cola and is pretty neat. I got cash back on the items I had a receipt for.

I came home and started cooking a pot of beans, a cabbage and a cauliflower. Then I found a wheat grinder in the Emergency Essentials catalog that I liked and was a decent price. Frank told me to look on-line for wheat grinders and I found the same one on Amazon for the same price! I ordered it. The majority of our food is whole wheat and that's a lot of grinding for a Vita Mix.

Changed My Mind

I went into town to buy some groceries. I walked around Walmart and bought a sweater and two pull overs that the neck might be too low. I'll have to wash them and see if they shrink up any. I was very happy buying at Walmart! 

I bought gas for the car then went next door to Dollar General to look at the Christmas trees. I bought a small one for $5.00 and a string of 100 lights. Well, when I got home and put the tree together, 100 lights would have swamped the tree! So I went back to the Dollar store and ended up with less lights and a few other things. When I got home, I found the tree and the box on the front porch. The perfume from the store was too strong for Frank and he had to put the tree and box outside. That meant the other things I had just bought had to go back too. Boo Hoo! I just glad the other little tree I found could be used or I wouldn't have a tree at all. Frank did find a pretty fiber optic tree on line but they were all sold out! Next October we will have to order a Christmas tree on-line.

Day of Rest and Other Things

After having a busy day Monday and Tuesday, I decided not to go to exercise class today and went back to bed instead. I've swept the floors and fixed lunch. We were going to pay bills, but we didn't have all the payments. Some will come in the mail today, no doubt. The birds need a shower and we will do that after a while.

I think I've decided not to buy another Christmas tree. The one I have is very small but it doesn't take up much room. I ordered the kids Christmas games and they should come in by next week.

Dad had me get some Dominos and a checker game so he could play with Nate and Sophia but they didn't get to come over.

Dental Appointment, Appointment

I had a dental appointment at 9:20 AM and I got there a bit early and got right in. Kumi was my hygienic and she asked if I had medicated. I didn't-I had forgotten! I had to go back home and take my antibiotic and then go back to the dentist at 12:00 PM. I bet I don't forget to medicate the next appointment! I have to take an antibiotic because of my knee replacements.

I was in H'ville, so I stopped by JC Penny's and looked for a black pair of slacks. I tried on a size 12 and a 14 to make sure which size was right. The 12 didn't need any alterations in the length so I got them. There was a red sweater with a kind of cowl neck and it was marked down from $30.00 to $l1.99 and I got it too. There were lots of sales but I wasn't in the mood to shop so I stopped at McDonald's for a hamburger and diet Coke and came home. It rained on me almost all the way home.

Dad was doing the birds when I came home and I cut some newspapers for  the cage bottoms for him. While I was home on my one hour lay-over today,  we put the bills in the bill book getting them ready to pay.

Forgot Things

I got up at 7 AM and did the usual routine and left the house at 8 AM to go to the Senior Center. On the way, I realized I had forgotten my scripture bag I usually take with me on Mondays. After the exercises, I had to go to the bank and then I had to get some gasoline in the car. I got out to Karen's almost on time.

We studied the pre-mortal existence and it was very interesting. The BYU professors talk about different topics and it's hard to study for that kind of discussion. I had read the lesson material and had read the Institute manual so I was sort if prepared. It was good anyway.

I came home and Dad wanted me to wash his electric blanket so I did. I decided to take down my Autumnal decorations I had enjoyed and put up some Christmas decorations. I had found the box that had my Santa collection in it, but the fiber optic tree I had used for years was not in it's box! I had to think hard but then I remembered that it died last year and I must have thrown it away. I found a smaller tree in a sack in Trudy's old bedroom closet that was already decorated and had lights and all, so I put it up. The tree with the Santa Clauses around it will probably be all the decorating I do. There is no room for anything else. My decorations are so sad but I'm not inspired to get anything else since no one can come over to the house.

Usual Saturday

Got up about 7 AM and ate breakfast. Cooked Dad some oatmeal but I had my usual cold cereal and banana. Then I had some clothes to wash. The smells from Trudy's house were on the clothes I wore plus it was time to wash clothes. I watched a football game and then folded the clothes. Dad is working at the computer now. I just finished an Easy Does It DVD and feel good from the stretching.

Football is still on and I may watch some more. It was good getting away from the house for a day but it was hard to return when I was bringing "smells" with me. Nuff said.

Thanksgiving Day

I arrived at Trudy's at 10:30 AM. Mary Kate and Richard and kids were already there, having arrived the night before. I brought two casseroles and some blankets and my pillow, which I forgot and left there today!

Mary Kate had her dressing made and Trudy made her homemade cranberry sauce and we made some yams and marshmallows. The bird was cooked overnight and was ready. Trudy also made some pumpkin cookies with chocolate chips. The meal was very good. We just sat around afterwards and communed with each other. Sadie, M.K., Sophia and I did walk down the road and around for some exercise. We went to bed at 10:00 PM. 

We went shopping Black Friday at 9:00 AM. We went to Toys R Us and the crowds were great and the line to check out was very long, so we went next door to Books A Million and Mary Kate got a couple of games for the kids. Next we went to Penny's. I wanted a new purse. The store was full of people but there were great deals on purses! I got two of them, in fact! I bought some socks and a flash light for Frank and that's all I bought.

I hung around a while after we got back to Trudy's. She had gone coupon shopping and had gotten some great deals, but then it was time for me to go home. The Auburn-Alabama game was on and I listened to it on the radio and Dad had the game on when I came in. Auburn won by 1 point! They will probably be the SEC champions. We had left over turkey trimmings for supper.  It was good being with family.

Almost Done

I went to the bank and made a deposit. Dad wants me to start using my card instead of pulling out money from my purse, so the grocery money will be put into my account and I'll keep a running tally of how much I spend. Then I drove to H'ville too pick up Dad's Rx's at the Pain Center. Next, I stopped by Sam's to get a few things. I didn't buy anything I shouldn't have bought.

After Sam's, I drove to Athens and stopped by the pharmacy to pick up the meds and then stopped by Dollar General for some Ritz crackers that I needed for a recipe I was making. Then, I came home.

I wasn't tired so I cooked the broccoli and rice and cheese casserole. We can heat it tomorrow at Trudy's. I'll make the peas and asparagus casserole either before I leave home or over at Trudy's. I'll try to leave here by 9-10 o'clock in the morning. 

Shopping Again

Last night my plans were to get up early and go to Walmart and finish shopping for the meals I'm going to cook for Thanksgiving. The warm bed kept calling my name and I went back to bed to watch the BYU channel and then to listen to Neil Boortz on the radio. I finally got up and got dressed but it was too close to lunch for me to go out. I left after I feed Dad.

Walmart was crawling with people plus they had put stuff in the middle of the isles and there was less room for carts and people. I just had to get a few items so I wasn't there long. I had already gone to Lowe's and exchanged the flawed toilet seats for two different ones. One would think there wouldn't be such a large variety of toilet seats, but there are!

I will be going over to Trudy's to spend the night Thanksgiving day. That will be lots of fun! I'm not looking too forward to going shopping on Black Friday since the town will be full of people, but I'll be with family and that will be fun.

Interesting Day

It was my time to lead the exercises today. The center workers were busy setting up tables so the seniors could eat in the gym or the place where we exercise and there was some confusion going on when we were exercising. I went by my notes but didn't have some exercises written down and forgot them! We ended 5 minutes or so early.

I left the Senior Center and went to Trudy's credit union of make a deposit for her. Then I went to Karen's. I got home at 12:00 PM and I started a pot of beans. They were done by 3:30-4:00 PM. We had them for supper.

Tomorrow, I have to go buy some groceries for Thanksgiving. I'll be going over to spend the night at Trudy's Thanksgiving day and we all will go shopping on Black Friday. Trudy mentioned getting up at 4:00 AM! Is there anything in the world that I want bad enough to get up that early for???

Frankie and his family won't be coming down for Thanksgiving. We'll miss them but we sure will have fun together!

Sunday

Things at church went well. I sure could tell that I hadn't practiced the piano in a week. Must do better next week. I sit 20-35 minutes at the keyboard at a time and today my back was complaining. We got two Christmas songs picked out. The kids will be singing in Sacrament meeting in December.

Thanksgiving is this week and tomorrow I'll have to figure out what my cooking schedule will be. The main casserole I'm doing is to sit in the refrigerator 8 hours and then cooked. Maybe I'll try to find another recipe for it. I found a broccoli and rice recipe that I want to make and I hope the broccoli is still good. It's been in the freezer for a while. I may have to go back into town tomorrow for I need to get some things for Mary Kate's family.

It's been in the 60's today and I hope it will be nice so the children can go out and play at Thanksgiving. There's going to be a lot of people at Trudy's house then. I need to take a chair just in case they need more seating.

Work Day Again

I haven't taken the toilet seats back yet. Maybe I'll wait until Monday when I'm in town anyway. After seeing how dirty the toilet in the upstairs bathroom was, I went downstairs to check on the bathroom there. The toilet seat really needs changing but I cleaned around the toilet and got it clean so we can replace the seat. I'm rarely down there, so I don't notice how clean or dirty things are in that bathroom. When the kids are going to be here, I usually go down and clean and freshen things up. It really can't look good because so much stuff is stored down there. I have towels and linens that are sitting on the three blue water barrels and that doesn't look good. I need help in getting that place organized.

I'm washing three loads of clothes and sheets today. I got up late and then didn't want to go into town.

I'm dreading the first of the year. We've been watching Glen Beck on TV and he has dire predictions. Inflating is coming and the price of food and gas has already gone up. I believe Congress will extend the Bush tax cuts for the middle class but when Obama's health care bill goes into effect, Medicare will be cut millions of dollars. I don't know what us old folks are going to do. The future isn't very secure. But then, we only have today to worry about. Things will work out.

Yeah, It's Friday!

I substituted for Jan at exercise today. I'm getting to where I don't need my notes as much and I forgot some exercises. Today, the tape wasn't rewound and I didn't hear the familiar music. The music guides me to what exercises to do next and I was nervous with the wrong music. I will lead again Monday. I rewound the tape so it should be on the right side. I think I'll redo my notes and see if that will help.

I had to go to the Post Office to get some stamps and by the bank and then on to Walmart for groceries and then to Lowe's for two toilet seats. I got home and Frank enlisted my help in taking the toilet seat off and putting the new one on. The problem was that the new one wouldn't fit for some reason. Everything is standard in toilets, but this new one wouldn't screw on. So, I had to go back to Lowe's and return the two seats I had just bought hours ago and get two new ones to replace what I had gotten. The replacement seats were much cheaper and they were defective, so now they have to go back! Maybe I'll stop by Walmart to see what they have in the way of toilet seats.

Lazy Day

Thursdays are usually lazy days. I sleep in, shower and get dressed. Did a load of laundry that I need to put in the dryer now and just sat around.

Frank cut his face shaving this morning and it's been bleeding ever since. The Dr's office said to go to the emergency room but that would be an ordeal. Frank thought of some powder that we use to stop the blood if we trim the bird's nails and nick them too close and he got it and I put some on the wound. It seems to have worked for the spot isn't bleeding through the band aid like before. I'll have to watch to see if he grows any pin feathers! Ha-ha-ha!

After exercise class tomorrow, I'll take by shoes by the shoe shop and get them to put some insoles in for me. The shoes are a bit too big and I hope this will cure that problem.

I sent two magazines to two of my friends and had a note in both but I put the address labels on the wrong packages! My brother called to see if I meant to send "Kathy"s" magazine to them, and Kathy called today to see if I meant to send "Ruth's" magazine to her! Sometimes I wonder where my mind goes when it goes on vacation.

Getting Close

Thanksgiving is next week and I haven't started planning for it yet. I have a new recipe for peas, asparagus and mushroom casserole and I need to make as list of ingredients for it. I need to make some veggie recipes so I will have something to eat besides sweets. I don't want to gain weight by eating all the sweets that will be there. I'll look in Mary Lou's  cook book for veggie recipes. Since I don't season any of my veggies, they would be bland for everyone else. I can go grocery shopping Tuesday and get things and pick up some cereal and milk for Mary Kate's kids. I'll have to cook the recipes Wednesday.  Mary Kate said they would be here Nov. 24th and maybe I can have everything cooked by the time they arrive.

There were a lot of people at exercise today. It's good that so many come out. I needed to take my clogs to the cobbler to get some inner soles put in and I was headed that way when I remembered they were closed on Wednesdays! I came home and cooked a cabbage and a cauliflower and had an early lunch.

Crown Day

We were at the dentist at 7:30 AM and Frank got his new crowns put on. It didn't take long and we were home by 9: 30 AM. We did stop at Hardee's and got a sausage biscuit and a steak biscuit. It was good and salty and greasy! Frank lay down to wait for the caffeine pill to wake him up and I decided to lie down too, and I didn't get up until 2:00 PM! That's what I get for getting up at 5:45 AM!

It started raining as we left this morning and I took my umbrella. It wasn't raining in H'ville when we got there and I said, "Do I need to take the umbrella in?" I didn't and it was raining hard when we came out! The rain had let up when we got home but it has rained off and on all today.

Usual Monday

We couldn't get the music to work at exercise so we had to do without. I have the tape that we have to turn over in the car and I'll bring it Wednesday. It's better when we have music to listen to. The music doesn't drive the exercises, it just fills in.

I had dropped off Dad's Rx's at the pharmacy before exercise so I could just pick them up and then go by the P.O. and mail two copies of the temple edition of the Ensign to Ruth and Kathy. I hope they feel the spirit of the magazines. Then I went to Karen's for scripture study.

It had started to rain but wasn't raining hard when I got home. I had gotten a dozen eggs from Karen's chickens so we had eggs for lunch. They were very tasty!

Talked with Trudy and Mary Kate today and everyone is looking forward to Thanksgiving. Rachel's grandmother is coming with them so that will be one more person to add to the mix. Mary Kate and kids will spend the first night with us and then the rest of the time with Trudy. It will be a great time being with all the kids.

Program Over!

The Primary program was today. We spent the entire Primary time running through the program and then went into Sacrament meeting and after the Sacrament, we performed the program. I had practiced the music and so I was confident and the children really sang out for their parents. Everyone was pleased with the outcome. Now, we need to work on Christmas music!

I teach the exercise class tomorrow and I have to take some Rx's by the pharmacy and mail some stuff at the P.O. and then go to Karen's for scripture study. The program on the Pearl of Great Price is one hour long so I'll be getting home about noon. Then Tuesday, Frank has a dentist appointment at 7:30 AM and we'll be going too H'ville.

The gang is coming for Thanksgiving to Trudy's house. Mary Kate is staying over here and Frankie's family and Richard is staying at Trudy's. I think Sear's if going to be open Thanksgiving day so they are getting an early start to Black Friday! I might have to go out with the gang, dun know....

Poison Time

When Frank and I were out in the front yard the other day, I noticed four fire ant hills! The little devils have been working in silence. Since I don't get out in the yard much anymore, they have taken advantage of the situation. I had poisoned a small hill out by the road, but the poison didn't work or they didn't get into it. I think I sprinkled poison on five mounds today. If that doesn't do it for the ants, we  may have to buy some other type of poison or get Cooks Pest Control to do it for us.

We think Nanny's house has sold. Things are still in the works. It would be good to have that behind us.

Been watching a little football on TV. Tennessee just beat Ole Miss badly. Auburn and Georgia are next. Don't know if I'll watch it or not. Auburn is undefeated so far. It would be good to see Georgia beat them-ha-ha-ha!

The Primary program is tomorrow. It will be good to play some other kind of music than the program music. The music leaders have really concentrated on learning the program music to the exclusion of the rest of the music in the book.

Big Pile of Groceries

When I went to exercise class today, I had plans to go to Sam's and load up on groceries. One thing stopped me...I forgot both lists of things I wanted to buy. So I came home and got the one for Walmart and went there. I went up and down a lot of isles, which I don't normally do, so I got stuff I don't usually get! Plus, when I have enough money, I get two of items, so I had lots to two's in the basket. In fact, I barely made it out of the store with my basket, for it was overflowing! I had to go get a large, Coke Icee, stop by the Salvation Army and stop by Merle Norman and stop for some gasoline and then I came home! Frank helped my unload the car and put things up.

The weather is beautiful. It's cool enough for a light coat in the morning-8:00 AM- and warm enough by 9:30 to take if off. In fact, I took off my blue jean jacket at exercise class and left it there. I had to go back to the center and get it when I went into town. We've still using the air conditioner but did light the gas stove in the basement. We got some more propane and now we're set for whatever comes our way.

Work Day

I slept in since I didn't have any where to go today. I had laundry to do and I needed to cook some brownies to take to the Adams for burning our burn pile for us. Brownies have 1/2 c water and 2/3 c oil in them, plus 2 eggs, for gooey brownies and 3 eggs for cake- like brownies. I prefer cake- like brownies myself but since these weren't for me, I made them gooey. 

I washed three loads of clothes and hand washed one of my favorite skirts. I practiced the Primary music for the program that is Sunday. I know the music, but I want to practice it each day so I won't make any mistakes.  We'll practice the program in Primary Sunday and then preform it in the next 30 minutes or so. It will be over and done with before we know it.

Talked with Trudy and she is still planning on home schooling the children. They want it. Things at school have gotten really bad and they want out of that atmosphere.

I may go to Sam's to shop tomorrow after exercise class. We're on our last case of corn and Frank likes to eat corn a lot. 

Trip

It's 3:00 PM and we just got back from the temple. The traffic wasn't bad either way. I'm glad it wasn't driving at night for I don't like to go that fast at night!

Frank has been home piddling around. He's bathing the birds now. I guess I'll have to spray Gertie after he gets through with Rikki. They all need a shower a week for optimum health.

Don't have much on the calendar the rest of this week so don't know what I'll be doing. The burn pile is gone now. There's a few whips of smoke coming from where the big stumps of wood were but it's all gone. I'll have to make the Adams' some brownies and take to them for thanks.

Visiting Teaching

Ann and I went VT today. We could only see one sister today, but we had a good visit. I was to get the lesson from the Conference issue of the Ensign but I was impressed to talk about things we were thankful for instead. We left at 12:00 PM and were back by 2:00 PM. Ann mentioned that there might be changes to the VT routes and I'm afraid we will be split up. The thought is if you have two strong sisters together and they go out each month, you split them up and put them with a weaker sister to help encourage her to be a good VT. It rarely works out and sisters end up going along to do their VT. There's change in everything and sometimes I don't like it!

When I came home, the burn pile was almost burned! Bobby had said he would burn it for us and he did. I went out to say hello and talked with Brenda for a while. There are some big stumps of wood that are still burning and I hope it will be okay during the night. Next year, I'll try to keep up with the pile and will burn it while it is small.

We'll be going to the temple tomorrow at 7:00 AM. The weather is going to be good. This will be the only time we go this month since Thanksgiving occurs in the last week of this month.

New Post for Monday

I usually post around 7 PM. It's after supper and the birds a in bed and the house is quiet. Some days I post earlier when I have nothing going on.

Exercise class went well and then in scripture study we finished the Doctrine and Covenants and next week will go on to the Pearl of Great Price. I got home around 11:15 AM.

Trudy has decided to home school Forrest and Sadie. Forrest asked for it. It will be good to get them out of the government school system and into a good education.

Mary Kate called tonight and we had a nice chat. We have a new rule at our house-we receive no phone calls between 5-7 PM. That's when we are having supper and play with the birds and then have scripture reading and phone calls interrupt this flow.

Thought It Was Sunday

This morning I had to ask Frank what day it was for I didn't know if it was Saturday or Sunday!

I needed to go grocery shopping today and I had Kari's jewelry party to go to but Frank wanted me to stay home and help him. I waited to shop until I left the party and used the AM time to cut some bird papers.

Kari's party was just a gathering of people she had invited to order some jewelry (if they wanted to). I found a turquoise ring I liked and ordered it. The turquoise is faux but it still very stunning looking. I like bling!

I went to Walmart after the party and just bought some veggies and a chord to fit something like ear phones to his Ipad. It fit and I was glad! Sometimes I have to take things back and I don't like to do that.

We watched the 2nd half of the Alabama vs LSU football game. We lost by 3 points! It's hard to be the grand champions the next year. Everyone is looking to bump you off the football field. That's the second game we've lost. Auburn is doing good this year. They haven't lost a game yet. I'm happy that they are having a good season but we must not let them beat us!

Subsitiuted

I subbed for Jan today at the exercise class. They are moving to a new apartment across the street and she was busy moving. The class is like a club. Almost all the same people come every time and it's good to see them.

I came home after exercise. We lit the gas stove in the basement this afternoon. We had too vacuum it out and turn on the gas from outside. We got it lit successfully. That should take the chill off the house on these cold mornings. The cold-29 degrees-in the morning should zap my flowers. Then I should clean their dead bodies up but I will leave them there so they will seed next years flowers. I quit gardening after I had breast cancer for I couldn't use my right arm for anything like digging and hoeing, but these impatiens come up every year like the angels planted them and I'm glad!

Not Tall Shots!

No, the shot I got today had nothing to do with making me taller. I've already accomplished that by wearing the clog shoes! Dad's appointment lasted longer than mine for I just saw the Dr and then the nurse came in and gave me the shot. I'll get another one in 6 months. It's called Prolia and should help my bones grow stronger.

Frank got started on his course of Forteo. He'll take it for 24 months like I did. They are self injected shots. The needle is very small and it doesn't hurt a bit. His bones are brittle from taking prednesone for so many years.

We had eaten at 11 AM so we didn't stop for lunch in H'ville. We came home and snacked at 3 PM.


The weather is getting colder and day after tomorrow it's supposed to get down to 29 degrees in the morning! There go all of the green tomatoes that are still on the vine and I bet my flowers will be zapped too! It's too bad for the flowers are still blooming and looking good.

Wet Fall Day

I went to exercise class today. Not many people came out. After I got home, it started raining. It was a blustery fall day. It was a good day to curl up with a book and close the world out. I didn't do that. We had bills to pay and I had some paper work to do.

I got my exercise by going to the mail box four times. I had three letters to mail and after I got back into the house, I found another one that needed to go out. too. The fourth time was out to get the mail.

Tomorrow we go to Drs Phillips and Shergy. Frank has an appointment with Dr Phillips and I see Dr Shergy for a shot for my osteoporosis. The Forteo shots I've been taking for 24 months did make my body grow more bone and the shots I'm getting twice a year are supposed to grow bone also. 

Off to Vote

We got up at the usual time and decided to go vote at 10:00 AM. We vote at the Round Island Baptist church which is on Brownsferry Rd. When we got there the room was full and we had to wait a few minutes for a spot to clear out. I messed up my ballot and so did Frank so we had to get another. I had read the amendments and had written a card with a "yes" or "no" by the number of the amendments. It didn't take us long to vote and then we came home. We passed by Ann R.'s house. She is my VT partner. She doesn't live far from me at all.

Came home and cooked a cabbage and a cauliflower for lunch. Dad had his usual plate of beans and corn.

We hope this election will give the Republicans a majority in the House and gain some seats in the Senate. Hopefully it will slow what Obama is doing to our country. He is trying to turn us into a socialist society and if he isn't stopped, he will ruin our country.

Monday All Day

I taught the class today and remembered more of the exercises. I'll soon be able to not use my notes. It doesn't really matter as long as we exercise. There are a lot of nice people that come to the center.

I went to Karen's for scripture study and afterwards went back into town to pick up the picture of the temple that I had framed. It turned out well. Dad wasn't in the mood to help arrange the pictures on the wall so we'll do it tomorrow.

The mail brought me my shoes from Land's End and I like them. They are black leather clogs. I may need to have the shoe shop put something in the right shoe because it is a bit sloppy and loose.

I got my printed blog in. I haven't read it yet. I really didn't know what I was doing so I didn't get all of the blog printed that I wanted. Mary Kate or Trudy can show me how. Thanksgiving isn't that far away and everyone will be at Trudy's house for fun and frolic!

I did the wash I should have done Saturday and had a good day.

Saturday Is A Special Day...

I haven't done anything special today. I did run into town to see if Hyatt and Sims was open. They have framed a picture of the B'ham temple for me. They weren't open and the East side of the square was closed off and a big tent was up. I guess the Story Telling event was still going on. Then I went to Walmart and bought some groceries. It was full of people buying Halloween costumes! Saturday is not a good day to go to Wally World!

I have some laundry to do but I think I will wait until Monday to do it. Not in the mood to do laundry today. I wrote some things on Face book and and now I'm going to see what we will be having for supper. I thawed two steak burgers that we will have and some veggies to go along with that will do.

Peaceful Day

It was a good night to do temple work. I had a peaceful feeling all the way home and still have it today.

I thought I would go to class today but when the clock woke me up at 7 AM, I didn't feel like getting up, so I went back to bed and slept 'til 10:00! It's almost 2 PM now and I'm still in my pj's. Don't have much inclination to do anything except to loll around. I may get back in bed, how knows...

Frank dickered with some TV cable last night while I was gone. He says he's hurting today. He's done too much.

I put a bag of Halloween candy on the trash barrel for the neighbor boys who take our trash out. Frank said Brenda called and said we didn't have to buy them candy to take our trash out! The boys had ball games so Bobby to the trash out and got the candy.

I found a way to publish my blog and did. I got 2 copies of it. It's in black & white for I don't have many pictures, and it only cost $12.98 or so a copy. I thought that was a very good deal. I also bought a pair of shoes, clogs, from Land's End. If they don't fit, I'll take them back to Sear's. Good deal. 

Thurday

The last Thursday in the month is the Decker's night to work in the temple and I ride along with them. I usually sleep in on Thursdays for I don't have any place that I have to be. I get up late, shower, fix lunch and try to stay busy until 3:30 PM when Karen comes to pick me up. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to drive to Gardendale to the temple. We get there at 5:00 PM. They have a prayer meeting to go to and I just sit and read the scriptures until the 6:00 session begins. We usually get home at 11:30 PM or there after.

I need too go to exercise Friday for I missed Wednesday because of a Dr appointment. It's hard since I've been out late the night before, but I need to do it. I just have to decide Thursday night that I'm going so I'll set the alarm and get up and go.

I bought a grey toy rat at the pharmacy that you put in water and it grows four times the size it is. I put it in a big bowl yesterday, but it didn' grow much, but this morning it was bigger! It's fun to watch it grow. After it grows, you can take it out of the water and it will shrink back to it's original size. I'll have to put it with my Halloween decorations so I can watch it grow next year too!

Dr's Visit

We were in H'ville for Frank's Dr visit. It was the Pain Clinic. They have to see him every other month. It was to be every month but he got them to every other month because it hurts him to travel. On the odd month, I just go there and pick up his Rx.

I had a Land's End package I needed to return to Sear's so we stopped there. I had ordered a skirt that was above the knee, so I ordered the regular size instead of the petite size. It came just below the knee which is still too short for me. It was funny. Being so short but the skirt was still too short for me! (Did that make sense?) Anyway, the amount was taken off my card, all except the H&S which was $8.95! So many mail order places are giving free shipping that I was surprised it was so much.

We went by the pharmacy and then came home. I did the two Yoga chair exercises DVD's I had gotten in the mail yesterday. I feel very relaxed after all the heavy breathing! It's not too much physical exercise and I think my other chair exercises, stretching and strength, are better. I'll give these yoga exercises a chance.

While at the pharmacy waiting, I found this toy rat that when you put it into water, it would grow four times its original size. It was only $1.00 and I got it. I put it into a bowl of water and so far, it hasn't grown a bit. It may take a day or two. The large, black Halloween rat, with its red mouth and white fangs and large snarl, is on the front porch, on duty. I bought three small, round, tiny pumpkins to go alongside him, but used only two, so I have the other pumpkin sitting on the small table next to the couch.

The kids and I used to have a lot of fun at Halloween! We would make up our own costumes. We'd get old clothes out of Dad's closet and I always had two or three wigs and I would wear one that was all frizzled up and scary looking and we would put my old make-up on and away we would go! It was a time to act natural and we loved it!

Monday and Tuesday

Monday, I taught the class and things went well. We had a smaller group but everyone was in good spirits. After that, I tried calling the Cost Cutters hair salon to see if Shelley would be there so I could get my hair cut, but the call wouldn't go through. I decided I would go on and take a chance that she would be there. Got there and found out that she and her husband had moved to North Carolina! I let the girl that was there cut my hair. I get it over my ears, long on top with long bangs and short in back. It is short, alright, but it will grow!

Today Ann Rudy and I went Visiting Teaching. We could only see Karen since Pat has so many Dr appointments and right now she's suffering because her oldest son was in a bad motorcycle accident. I sent her a card and Ann will be calling her. We had one other sister but she moved and we can't find her. Plus, her husband wasn't friendly to the church and didn't want her to go.

When I saw Ann, she said we were under a tornado watch. Frank and I turned on the TV and watched where the bad weather was going. I've been watching it all afternoon. The first storm blew pasts us but another one in the Shoals is coming our way. Oh, the joys of tornadoes!  The wind has blown half of the Fall leaves off the trees. I will rake the leaves out of the gutter near the road this year so the water can travel down where it is supposed to go.

Not So Slow After All

We got busy in the afternoon! Frank was determined to get the dust bunnies that had been living behind his desk for years. He had to add extensions onto the vacuum nozzle to reach behind the desk. I heard a struggle in his room and as I rushed in to see, a monster dust bunny had Frank by the forearm and was wrestling him to the ground! I snatched the vacuum cleaner arm from him and first beat the dust bunny off of him and then sucked the rascal into the vacuum cleaner! It was a close call, but with the two of us working together, we were able to shine the light on and clean up the rest of the bunnies.

Next, the big vacuum came out and he vacuumed the living room, kitchen and under the  living room bed and behind the couch. Not only can we eat off the floor now, we can walk barefooted and not get our feet dirty.  We can sleep soundly tonight and not worry about the shedding dust bunnies polluting our lungs.

Slow Saturday

Slept in. Washing is done. Cooking is done. Basic cleaning is done. Frank wants me to help him run some wire down a hole in the floor, into the basement and back up through another hole in the living room floor. It has something to do with the TV's.

I thought about getting a hair cut today but didn't get up early enough to swing it so I'll wait 'til Monday.
 Frank has to call Apple to see about his old ipod that he was giving me. It won't hold a charge and the battery goes dead overnight. We'll vacuum today and maybe I'll clean the floors after that. MAYBE.

Everyday Friday

We had a good crowd at exercise today. I forgot several exercises but we got through on time. The cassette player wouldn't work but the young man who works at the center came to the rescue and got it working for us.

Afterwards, I went to the bank and then to Walmart for groceries. After lunch I rested a bit and then got up and started the laundry. Then came back up to the kitchen and prepared a cabbage and cauliflower for cooking. I put some dried beans on to soak overnight so I can cook them tomorrow. Tomorrow will be the first time all week that I can sleep in or go back to bed. I usually wake up at 7 AM but I like to go back to bed and sleep another hour when I can. I need to start working on the Doctrines of the Church Institute book I ordered, and read the last two sections in the Doctrine and Covenants. I need to start studying the scriptures instead of just reading them.

Early Day in Huntsville

We got to Dr. Knight's office at 6:50 AM. Frank has to be the first one there so he can lie down as soon as he gets there. I sat in the corner of the room and watched the action. The two hours flew by! Frank got 3 crown preps and we were out by 9:00 AM.

Then we went to a Walmart store in Madison so Frank could stand on a Dr.Scholes foot machine and see what orthotic he needed. We got that and then had to hurry on the the Apple store in Bridge Street. We got there in time for him to get the ipods checked.

We did get a sausage biscuit from McDonald's. Greasy but good!

I took a nap when we got home.

Night Trip

I went to the Stake center at 7PM to get the second interview for my temple recommend. I had the interview with President John Mitchell. He asked if I knew Frank Layton and I said he was my son. Pres. Mitchell said he used to be Frankie's Bishop when he lived in Jackson, TN and that he had had lots of good talks and interviews with him, and to tell him he had asked about him.

We have to be in H'ville tomorrow at 7 AM for Frank to get started on his dental work. What am I going to do for two hours? I'll probably just sit in the room where Frank is being worked on and watch what is going on, or there is a consignment store nearby and I could go browse there. 

Trip to Florence

I met Trudy this morning at the Interstate to give her a printer her Dad gave her and she needed for her Relief Society lesson to make copies. I met her at 8:30 AM and then drove back into town to the Senior Center for the exercise class. I probably missed 15 minutes of the class but got to do the rest. I told Jan the reason I was late. She did the class Monday for me and did the class today for Barbara and I will do the class Friday. Then I went home and waited for time to go over to Karen's for the trip to Florence.

We went to the Jo-Ann store. It was the first time I had been to a Jo-Ann store. It had more material than crafts and couldn't hold a candle to Hobby Lobby or Michael's. I guess it depends on what you are looking for. H'ville is going to get a Jo-Ann store soon.

Next, we stopped by Sam's. Karen wanted to get some laminating sheets and I wanted to get some more nutritional bars and I also found a padded folding chair that I got to do my exercises in. The other chairs in the house weren't comfortable to do the exercising in. It's just one more object to bring into the house, but if I will do the exercises, it will be worth it. I've ordered two more exercise videos and will need to be exercising! What is it that I need to order next? Self-control! Ha-ha-ha!

Scripture Day

We didn't have our usual scripture study Monday because Mary Kate was still here, so we had it today. We just have two more lessons on the Doctrine & Covenants and then we will study the Pearl of Great Price. The lessons will be an hour instead of 30 minutes.

Tomorrow, I'll meet Trudy at 8:30 AM at the Race Track filling station to give her a printer her dad is giving her. Her printer died and she needs one so she can print off a lesson she is teaching in Relief Society. I'll miss exercise class. I ordered two DVD's from Amazon. They are chair exercises that have yoga in them. Mary Kate teaches some yoga exercises in Silver Sneakers. I hope they are good. I'm getting quite a collection of exercise DVD's.

Also, tomorrow, Karen and I are going to Florence to the Joann store. H'ville is getting one but it's not opened yet. I hope to get a blender pen. I gave mine to Trudy thinking I had another one, but I don't. You use a blender pen when you use the water color pens.

Events

Sunday was a good day. The speakers were good and I got the first part of my temple recommend done. Now, Wednesday night at 7 PM, I need to be at the Stake center to get the second interview.

Mary Kate and the children spent Saturday night at Trudy's and came back here after I got home from church about 6:00 PM. The kids played with their games and we just sat around and talked.

Monday morning, we went to Hyatt & Sims in Athens to see how much it would cost to get the picture of the temple framed. I was pleasantly surprised that it would only cost $38.00! I'm not having it matted and the glass will be the non-glare glass. The girl said she liked pictures like the temple just framed and not have any matting. It was a 11X17 picture and the matting would have made it a larger picture and I didn't want a larger one.  The picture of Christ that I ordered must have slipped through the cracks for I never got it. It was an 11X16 and that was a bit large for where I wanted to put it. I'll re-order and ask Frank which picture of Christ he likes.

After we got the picture taken care of, we went to H'ville to return a pair of shoes I got Saturday. Mary Kate got a pair she saw Saturday but didn't get then, and Sophia got a pair of shoes and some socks.

One day, Mary Kate carried the food boxes downstairs for us. She and I opened the cases that weren't marked as to content and wrote down what was in the cases. She is a strong girl! Nate helped us too.
They left for home at 2 PM. It was a nice, fun visit. It's great getting to know Sophia and Nate as they are growing up

Visit Friday

Trudy didn't have her yard sale today but Mary Kate, Sophia and Nate arrived around 10:30 this morning. Since this is Saturday, I don't remember what we did, now I remember, we went to Kids Mart. Mart Kate got a pair of jeans for Nate and I got a red jacket and a beige pull over. They both stink so I'll have to wash them before I wear them.

Today, Saturday, we left for H'ville at 10:00 AM. We stopped at Kohl's in Madison for Mary Kate to take back something and we looked around the store but didn't find any bargains. We then headed for H'ville. We stopped at Trees 'N Trends. I wasn't very impressed with that store. We then went to Hobby Lobby and looked at frames for a picture of the temple I have. Couldn't find a frame, so will have one made for it. I bought an Autumn piece for the living room that was only $6.00 and it goes nicely with the other Autumn pieces I have out. Then we went to Shoe Carnival, and I found a pair of Sunday shoes. When I got home, I discovered that they were tight on my left foot, but I'm keeping them and, if necessary, I will take them to the cobbler and have that shoe stretched. They are slip-ons with a small heal. Next we headed for Target. I got a camisole and Nate got another pair of jeans. It's a tradition that we go to H'ville and shop each time they visit. It's fun and gives us something to do most of Saturday. I treated everyone to McDonald's for lunch and we even got dessert! The kids liked that.

After supper, Mary Kate and the kids went to spend the night with Trudy. They will be back over here around 4:00 PM when I get back from church.

Wednesday Trip

We left at 7:00 AM to drive to Gardendale to the temple. It was a nice uneventful drive. Both sessions were full and it was good that we had our names of the list. It was a good visit. We ate our lunches on the patio beside the temple and admired all of the flowers and bushes. The drive home was nice. It rained last night but we had no showers today.

Got home a little after 3 PM and rested a bit then got up and fixed supper. We watched the news where the 33 miners in Chile were trapped under ground for a long time and they had drilled a hole down to them and were pulling them to the surface in a metal capsule. It was a miracle that they were alive and that they could be rescued. Many prayers were said in behalf of the miners.

I have to get up early tomorrow and go to work cleaning the house. Ann and Bob Russell are coming by for a visit and I want to bake some brownies too. There'll be some left over for Mary Kate and the kids when they come Friday (in Dad doesn't eat them all!) Haven't talked to Trudy yet to see if the yard sale is on for Friday. I hope it is.

Shopping Day On Tuesday

Usually, I go shopping on Monday after class but they haven't been having Dad's bread so I waited until today to go. There was plenty of bread, but there was no 15 Grain bread. They did have some grapefruit juice and I got all 5 cans of pink grapefruit juice. Dad has to drink grapefruit juice everyday when he takes his pills so I try to have plenty of juice on hand. I had to go to Public's to get the bread and I got all the 15 Grain bread that they had! Dad eats a lot of bread.

Came home and started a new batch of beans and cooked a cabbage for me. Mary Kate called and said every one was excited about their visit this week-end. We're excited about it too. She said Trudy might not have her yard sale after all. Bless her heart! She took all of my yard sale stuff with her and that is in her house, plus, George is remodeling the pantry and all the food is sitting out on her kitchen counters. She is probably feeling a bit overwhelmed. I hope she has it for I'm looking forward to going over there and helping.

No Class Today

Today was Columbus Day and it was a holiday for the Senior Center so I slept in this morning. I did go over to Karen's for scripture study. Got home at 11:30 AM and I was so hungry that I fixed a meal and gobbled it down in no time, then I was still hungry so I ate some rice and then ate a chocolate bar! Don't know why I was starved except I didn't have my 10:00 snack.

I don't really know why I was looking at the bottom shelf in the bookcase behind the computer, but I pulled a paper out and a bunch of stuff fell on the floor. In the pile, I found several pages of a family scrap book I had made. I knew the pages were missing, I just didn't know where they were. I put them back in the protective sleeves they were supposed to be in and then I looked for the rest of the scrap book and couldn't find it! It's in a three ring binder and it's pretty large but I have no idea where it is. It should be in my room somewhere, but where. I don't even remember what the binder looked like. Wo, is me. The pictures I did find are really precious. It's of when Frank and I met and when the kid were little. Some time the binder will turn up, but when?

Thursday, my old college roommate and her husband are stopping by for a visit. They are on their way to a class reunion in Enterprise, AL. I hadn't seen either of them in 50 years! We've corresponded but that's all. They both were my friends from the Westley Foundation in Tuscaloosa, AL. That is the Methodist arm of the church at the University. They are Ann and Bob Russsell. I'll bake some brownies and I already have some Sundrop and diet Coke on hand

Fall Day

Ah! What a beautiful fall day we are having. The sun in shining and the breeze is blowing and the butterflies are buzzing around the butterfly bushes-it's just a great day! Plus, it's a Saturday.

I'm cooking some brown rice to go with the beans. It's good without beans, but it makes beans a complete protein. I think we'll have a steak burger for supper. We go without meat most of the time but it's good when we have it.

I have nothing to do. The wash is done, the dishes are done and Frank is going to vacuum the floors later. I hate when this happens. I guess I could watch some football on TV. Of course, it's only 2:45 PM and I guess I can find something to do before night time. I did make two thank you cards this morning.

Buy Presents

I substituted for Jan today at exercise. She has been sick all week. It went well. I came home after class and waited on Trudy and the kids to come over. She forgot to put her clothes in the dryer and didn't get here until after lunch. They took all of the books we were donating to the library and also took my stuff for the yard sale. They also got the mattress and the topper. I surely appreciate the fact that they tool all of those things. I'll go over to her house early to help set the yard sale up.

We went to Kids Mart to look for clothes for Frankie's kids, but I was totally confused at all of the mess and decided to go to Walmart to buy some clothes instead. Forrest did find a speaker for his car and his Dad said he could buy it. He was a happy camper. At Walmart, I found a shirt for Josh and a shirt and leggings for Mariam, plus a toy for Mariam.

After Walmart, we stopped at Taco Bell and got some lunch for the gang. Then we came home and finished loading up the van and they left. It was a fun day.

Flu Shot Day

Today was a good day for Frank so we went to Athens pharmacy to get our flu shots. There was no line, which was good and we got the shots.

We collected the trash and went downstairs and weeded out some boxes. We got rid of the huge box my foam mattress came in and a few smaller boxes.

Trudy and the kids are coming over tomorrow to pick up the mattress and some old books that Frank wants to get rid of, but he doesn't want too throw them away. The H'ville library will take the books and sell them. I also want her to go with me to kids world to help me pick out some clothes for Frankie's children. I have to buy two birthday presents for Josh and Mariam and I wanted to see if I could find some clothes for the other two children. It will be a fun day!

Disappearing Post

I wrote a post for Tuesday but it disappeared! We had gotten up early, 4:50 AM to be able to be at the dentist at 7 AM. Dad had an appointment for the first time in years. He really cleans his teeth well at home and they didn't find much junk in his mouth. He needs a few crowns, and the next appointment will be two  hours and he'll have 3 crown preps. I don't know what I'll do during that time. I was in the room when he got his teeth cleaned and it was nice to see what all goes on when you get your teeth cleaned! Dr. Knight's son, Dr. Drew, saw Frank. We like him. We got to see Dr. Knight too. He recognized Frank and gave him a hug. Everyone is so nice in that office. It's worth driving the extra miles to go to the dentist there.
after we got back into Athens, we stopped at Hardies and got a sausage biscuit. YUM, was it good!

I got some washing and ironing done when we got back home.

Today, I went to exercise and by the pharmacy and to the bank and to Walmart again. They didn't have any cabbage or cauliflower Monday when I went. Today they had the cabbage but no cauliflower. I got two bunches of broccoli instead, plus a few other items.

I went to Lowe's to get a cleaning system for our laminate floors. I was using vinegar and water, which was fine, but the applicator was from something else and it was too short so I was stooped over when I mopped and I was tired of doing it that way. We have some large boxes coming soon and I still have my yard sale stuff sitting around so I probably won't do the floors until everything is moved out of the upstairs.

Trudy's yard sale will probably be Oct 15th. Mary Kate and the children are coming up that day. If she leaves in the morning, she could just come over to Trudy's and could meet us over there. That would be fun.

I've been concentrating of Josh's birthday which is the 22nd, I believe and have almost forgotten Mariam's birthday is November 1st. I'll have to find out what sizes they wear so I can buy them some clothes plus a toy. I've sent an e-mail to Frankie about Josh's size and now I'll have to send another to get Mariam's size.

No Title Again

Sometimes I just can't think of a title for the blog.

I led the exercises today and everything went well. I went on to the bank and to Walmart for groceries. I only had a few items on my list, but I bought milk and beans and Crisco extra to add to the food storage. I learned that Crisco will last a long time, unopened, I presume, and though I don't use it now, it will come in handy if we ever have to live on our storage.

I don't know what I'll be doing the rest of the day. I need to do some wash so I may do that.

Second Day Conference

Conference was good again today. I surely was tired of sitting but I got over it. I really felt the Spirit during President Monson's last remarks. All the talks will come out in November's copy of the Ensign and we'll get to read them.

I've ordered some things from the store.lds.org. It's so neat to place an order online and pay for it and have it sent to you!  I've found a new hobby-ordering stuff online! I got a DVD for Bill and Lynn that talks about eternal families and I ordered 3 copies of the Ensign about temples I will send out. Yep! I've found a new hobby.

Conference Day

The first session of conference began at 11:00 AM and went to 1:00 PM. Afterwards, I got dressed and walked down the road for some exercise. Otherwise, this is going to be a very quiet day.

Dad is trying to fix my internet radio. It plays sometimes and other times it won't. I like to listen to it when I go to sleep at night. It gets the LDS stations and the music is hymn related music. It's nice when it's working.

Ritchie Layton is in the hospital in FL with heart problems. There seems to be a mass on a valve of his heart. This may be his time to go for he has to have dialysis too and with a heart operation on top of everything else it seems risky.

The weather is beautiful with the sun shinning and a nice breeze blowing. Nice fall weather. It should be getting better since it's October now! Just seems like yesterday when the temperatures were in the 100's. 

Several Days

Thursday, I went to the temple. Got home at 11:40 PM. Got to sleep after 12:00 so didn't go to exercise today.

We paid the bills this morning and gave the birds a shower. Then, at 1:30 PM, I met Ruth and we went to the Fiddler's convention. I bought a turquoise ring for $16.00 and a dish towel that you can button to the stove door, but there wasn't anything else I could live without! I did buy a bag of Kettle Korn to bring home to Frank. After we had walked around and seen all the vendors, Ruth bought a bag of Kettle Korn and we each had a diet Coke and we sat down and rested. At 4:00 PM, the Ranger In The Sky started playing. They were good, but a little bit of that music goes a long way with me. We left at 4:30 PM and came home. All in all it was a pretty good day.

I had bought some Avon jewelry from Ruth's son's girl friend and Ruth brought it to me. I got two pair of small earrings and a ring to match. The ring was to be a size 8 but it was smaller so now I have my first pinkie ring!

To Huntsville

It was time to pick up Dad's Rx in H'ville. I asked Karen if she wanted to go with me and she said,"yes", so we left at 10:00 AM. After we picked up the Rx we went to Costco to get some things that Dad wanted. Karen got a hot/cold laminating machine for $20.00 and then we went to Hobby Lobby and she found some laminating pouches and got a pattern for a dollar. The regular price is $15.98!

After we got home, I took a nap. I got my exercise for today! I wish I could get myself to walk on the road to get some exercise. It's cooler now and it would be pleasant. I have ideas for exercise but I lay down until the ideas disappear! Ha-ha-ha. No, I'm really thinking about it. I need to do my stretching exercises also. I need an energy pill to take to get me motivated.

Conference Day

Women's Conference was very good. We got to the Stake Center at 3:00 PM and then the meeting started. The main speaker was funny and good. Next we had two classes to go to and we had picked out the same two classes to attend and didn't have to split up.

The first class was about Being Fit. Two nice young men, one a physical therapist and the other a chiropractor talked to us about exercise and things to do to keep fit. We got hand- outs and a piece of latex material to stretch with.

The second class was about facing adversity and having faith. It was pretty good. I got to see Pat and Becky at that class. After that class, we had dinner. It was a salad, a baked potato and smoked chicken, which was good. A piece of sweet potato pie finished the dinner off.

The broadcast from Salt Lake came next. The Relief Society General Presidency spoke and President Monson spoke to us on charity.  Charity being the pure love of Christ and the Relief Society's motto is Charity Never Faileth. He is such a dear person and good speaker.

It was a good event and I'm glad I went. It's good to get together with other like minded women of all ages. General Conference is next week-end, I think, or the next!

Just Today

I went to buy groceries while Frank slept this morning. I didn't go to exercise. I was tired. And after walking around a big store that has it's own zip code, I was tired again. After I got home and put things up, I rested the rest of the afternoon. Frank had a pretty good afternoon considering it was Rx day.

Karen called this afternoon to see if I was going to the Women's Conference and I said I hadn't planned on it, but she was going and wanted company so I'll be going too. The classes start at 3 PM and dinner is at 5:45 PM and the broadcast is at 7 Pm. I don't know how long it will last so we may be able to be home by 9-9:30. It should be an uplifting day.

Yard Sale Day

I got up this morning to go to the yard sale, but didn't feel right about it. Then, since I was dresses, I decided to go to Sam's or Walmart. I still didn't feel right about that, so I read my scriptures and stayed home. I did walk up to see the yard sale and tell Nancy I wouldn't be coming and I bought a brown wig for a dollar and then came home.

I fixed lunch and Frank and I fixed papers for Gert's cage. I was getting a little antsy so I came into my room and did Stronger Seniors, the stretching part. I would feel better if I would exercise but I won't do it just to be exercising. Now, it's okay if I'm shopping!

Trudy called to say that Sadie had stayed home from school with a headache. She has an appointment with the Dr tomorrow to see about it. Hopefully it won't be the bad kind. She couldn't come help me with the yard sale so I decided to save it and carry it up to her house when she has a yard sale.

Collection Day

I've been collecting junk for the yard sale. I just have three boxes and some magazines. It'll be fun once I get there and get set up and get to meeting people. That's always fun. I still need to go downstairs and check on the blankets.

I went to exercise today. Monday we found out a couple was going to get married! We have another two that are going together. You're never too old for love, I guess.

Otherwise this day has been a bummer. I have nothing to do-that I want to do-that is!

Next Day

After lunch, I ran some errands in town and then came back home. Nancy, my neighbor, called to say they were having a yard sale Thurs-Sat. I've been wanting to collect things to de-clutter and this will be a good time to do it. I called Trudy to see if she would help me and she said she would get back to me. I need to go through the linens downstairs and get rid of some comforters and some blankets. I already have two small boxes of nick nacks. I really need help with this. I would like to do it.

Dad's been cleaning in his room, too. He needs a shovel but won't do it! He's in love with his clutter...

Josh's birthday is next month and I bought him a wooden air plane that he can put together and paint and put stickers on. I want to get him a shirt also.

Same Ole Monday

Exercise went well today. I had a few butterflies before I left home. It may be connected with the anxiety I feel on Sundays. I'll look "anxiety" up on Web MD and see if that's what I have.

The weather has still been hot, 97 degrees but it does get into the 60's at night. But who goes out at night? The mosquitoes are quite large and blood thirsty so I don't venture out in the yard after sun down.

Went to Karen's for scripture study. I stay about 1 1/2 hours. We have a good time talking about the lesson and other things. Brent's wife, Christy, is leaving to go to her brother's house in Indiana so she can do her internship at his work. They haven't been married a year yet and I guess this is their first separation. It will soon pass.

Richard called this afternoon thanking me for his birthday present. He said he and his friends spent the week-end in Atlanta. He and Nate were on their way to choir practice and Mary Kate would pick up Sophia at her choir practice and then come get Nate at Richard's choir practice.

Excellent

Stake Conference this week-end was excellent. Saturday night adult session was very spiritual and instructive. I wish I had a recording of the talk so I could listen to it over and over to it to glean out every bit of instruction that was there. My note taking is the pits but Trudy takes good notes and she said she would share. The Stake Center was packed to the gills. We managed to get good seats but it was a bit hot and people were shoulder to shoulder. Little short me could see Elder Bednar through some heads, so I was happy.

We left at 8:30 AM to pick up Christy and get to the Stake Center by 9:30 and we didn't have trouble with parking and we picked seats that Trudy and George and the children were on! It was a very nice treat for me to be with them.

After I got home and ate lunch, I took a 2 hour nap. I guess I'll watch TV until 10:00 tonight!

Nice Day #2

The quilt show was interesting. There were 100's of quilts and the quilt makers were all over the place. There was one very large quilt that had been hand quilted that was beautiful. It had already won a prize in 2010 somewhere. There was another large one that had been hand quilted that was very impressive. It wasn't as beautiful as the first quilt but it was very nice. The hours that went into each quilt was enormous.

After the quilt show, we went to Walmart to pick up a few things, and then we came home.

Tomorrow is the adult meeting with Elder Bednar. We are to bring our scriptures and mine combined and in the carrying case weighs 7 pounds.

VT

Went Visiting Teaching today. The lesson was for September but I felt like I had given it before and figured I had, so I didn't really study it very well. It seemed like Karen and I had discussed it before going to the temple or some time. I'll have to remember if we do that again.

Came home and took a small nap. I think my allergies may be bothering me for I haven't felt as well as I should for two days.

We have to be at Dr. Morgan's office at 8:00 AM tomorrow. After that, I'' go get Karen and we'll go to Athens State to see the quilt show. Brent has to work so she has no car.

Today

I didn't sleep well last night and only got to sleep about 2-3:00 AM. I got up to go to exercise at 7 AM but was tired and didn't want to go through the effort to put on make-up, etc. so I went back to bed. I went to town to the pharmacy and to The Shoe Dept. to look for some leather or imitation leather boots with flat heels but they didn't have any that I liked. The clerk said they would be getting in some more later, so I went home. I felt a little under the weather all day. I'll be sure to get to bed early tonight. Frank has been feeling bad for several weeks.

Friday, Frank has an appointment with Dr. Morgan at 8 AM. After we get home, I'm going to call Karen and tell her to come over so we can go to the college to look at a quilt show. Karen quilts and I like to admire quilts so it should be a fun outing.

Town

I had to go to the P.O. to mail 3 packages for Frank. I meant to stop by the pharmacy but forgot but went to Walmart instead. I saw Roy and Vivian, old friends and the Bishop. I wanted a new purse and I wanted it NOW. I walked around that big store and finally found someone who knew where the purses were. They didn't have as large selection like they used to, but I found one on sale for $12.00. It's basically light brown with some darker squigglys on it. It will suit my needs. I was going to wait until I was at Kohl's and get a really nice one but then I realized I bought purses frequently and there was no use in sinking double the money in a purse I might get tired of by Christmas.

Last night Sophrona brought by a home-made apple pie she made with the apples we gave her. It was made with whole wheat and sweetened with apple juice (I think). It was very yummy and Frank will eat the rest of it tonight! That was so sweet of her. I think by then, she had put the pears up and made apple pie filling. It would be nice to be 30 years old again! Plus she's pregnant with her 5th child! A Saint, for sure!

I go to exercise tomorrow and then I'll stop by the pharmacy to finish my errands.

Done For Today

I led the exercises today. There were a few empty chairs but I used up the 45 minutes. I went to Karen's after that.

Ann called and we are going VT Thursday. I got the message off of lds.org. and printed the Proclamation to the family off to give to our two sisters. I'll finish writing in this blog and check my mail and be done for today.

It was surprisingly cool this morning and several ladies had long sleeves on. I'll have to look downstairs to see if I have any long sleeved shirts.

It's Saturday Again

The weeks seem to fly by and it's Saturday again. I washed 3 loads of clothes and some sheets. I had a bunch of towels to do but they can always wait, and wait, and wait.

Dad's had a bad day on one of his good days but he's been moving and doing things all day. I saw the big vacuum out but decided I didn't want to do it and he did it himself. I practiced the piano today as I was washing the clothes. Yes, I'm very talented in doing two things at once....

Frankie called and said Luke had found the check he thought he had lost and we told him we had gotten the picture I bought from Luke. Dad had it up over his chair the next day. It's a picture of a white bird flying up with the sunset and waters edge in the back ground. It looks very nice.

Soft Day

My back still hurt this morning so I took an Arthotec. I felt weird all day and after lunch I lay down and took a nap. I'm going to continue to take the arthritis medicine because I don't want to hurt that bad.

A painting my grandson Luke made and I bought arrived today. I don't know what medium it's in. It's not oil or acrylic or watercolor, but its colors are great. It's a picture of a bird that is flying off into the sunset. The sunset reminds me of the sunsets we would see in Key West.

What Is Pain?

Pain is something that gets in your way...that makes you uncomfortable....that keeps your thoughts off of what you want them to be on. I decided to get off Arthrotec since my knees have been replaced and I didn't have that pain to deal with. When it was all out of my system, other small and great pains appeared! It seems that as you get older, little pains come and go and come and stay. I may go back on Arthrotec so I won't be bothered by these other pains. Life is so much better without physical pain (mental pain, too).

I have nothing much else to say.

To Gardendale We Did Go

Brent got a job in H'ville unloading cargo planes, so he dropped his mom off at my house and went to work. Stacey had the day off and Karen hoped she and Christy would do something together today.With Brent gone most days, Christy will have a hard time. She's not yet 20 yrs old and married and at the home of her husband's family.

The trip was uneventful. The temple was full. A large group of missionaries had come and there was a large group of sisters there too. It's good to see it so full. We made appointments for the second Wednesday in October.

Vintage Car Fixed

While I went grocery shopping, Frank and our neighbor Harold, fixed the vintage Accord. A piece of material fell down from the underneath of the front end of the car and was dragging the ground. Frank said Harold did most of the work. We surely appreciate the help we get doing things.

The new Walmart store feels so much larger than the old one. It's because they've moved everything around and now I have to walk the entire length of the store to find things. I had to ask where the rope and tie wraps were today.

I bought Frank a pair of jeans today. He want's light weight, already broken in jeans. I know! I'll go to a thrift store and buy him a pair of all ready broken in jeans and maybe he'll be happy. He just wanted jeans because he was going to be working on the car. I want him to try on the pair I got him to see if I got the right size.

Pear-Apple Day

A lot of the pears went bad on the tree for they weren't picked, but there were still some good ones on the tree. I couldn't get anyone to come pick them until Sophrona heard about them. She and Dean and the kids came this afternoon and found quite a bit that were still good. They picked them all and then I told them about the apple trees and they picked all of them too! I'm so glad that someone can use the fruit that we don't use. The weather was delightful but the mosquitoes had a feast on us!

It was Labor Day but we didn't do any celebrating. I did go to Karen's house for our scripture study this morning.

This Stake Conference we are having a General Authority, Elder Bednar, and the attendance at the Stake center was going to be limited. Bro Decker was asked to translate, from English to Spanish, so I get to ride with them and go to the stake center and see Elder Bednar speak! There'll be a Saturday night session for all adults and then the Sunday morning session. The Stake center isn't large enough for all the people in the Stake to attend, so only a few from each ward can attend. I had planned to see the Sunday Conference at the Madison Ward Building, until Bro. Decker got asked to translate. It's probably been 30 years since we've had a General Authority come.

Day Before Sunday

We don't usually do much on Saturday except for chores. I did go for a hair cut. My stylist had left Kari's place and had gone to Cost Cutters in Madison. It's on County Line Rd. and I think it's in Madison. It's about 20 miles from my house. I debated about whether to go to Kari's or to where Shelly works and Shelly won. She knows how I like my hair done and that makes a big difference. The Cost Cutter's salon is nice. It isn't a Walmart store like it is in town. Shelly said she had done 17 cuts that day. A lot more than when she was at Kari's place. That's why she left. She wasn't getting that much business.

We finished reading St. Luke in the New Testament tonight. I'm looking forward to St. John. I haven't read it in a while and I'm getting a good feeling reading the New Testament again. Frank isn't feeling well. He did do a lot of cleaning in his room today, but it still looks pretty bad in there! If he felt better, he could get ahead of the clutter. He doesn't really want me to help in his room, but I did take 3 pillows out and put them downstairs yesterday.

The temperature has been in the 80's and it's been so delightful after such a hot summer.

Helping

A neighbor called and asked if it would be okay for a package to be delivered to our house. It needed to be signed for and he wouldn't be home. We said we would be happy to do it. It was a long cylinder package and contained three fishing rods. While we were on the porch talking with him, Bubba, Ruth and Greg drove up. They had come to pick up the swing set and the small wooden swing. Greg had a nice trailer they loaded everything onto and drove away with it all.

I did the wash and not much else today, but I had a good day.