Football

Watched Mississippi State run all over Rice in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis today. I was rooting for MSU because it's an SEC team. There's more football on tonight but I don't know if I'll watch any of it or not.

I went to the bank and then on to Walmart. Frank lost his watch and he wanted another one. We looked at hundreds of watches on Amazon but he didn't see anything he liked. I bought 4 from Walmart and he didn't like any of them so I'll take them back tomorrow or Thursday. Tomorrow is New Years Day so I may stay home. Won't be staying up to see the new year come in. After 70 years, I've seen it and done it all. I did mark 3 months in the bill book for 2014.

A Little Trip to Sam's

Didn't go to exercise because Trudy spent the night. She had to leave by 8 AM for a PT appointment. She asked me to meet her at Sam's in H'ville at 11 AM. I left at 10:15 and just barely got there by 11:00. The traffic is still quite heavy and it takes time to get through Madison. We both did our shopping there. I got 3 rotisserie chickens. One to eat and two for the freezer. I'll take one over to Karen's January 9th. That's my birthday and I'll make a cake that we can share. Ken will be out of the country again and it will be hard with her broken leg to take care of everything. I can feed the cats and clean out their litter box. I don't know who will take care of the animals. I didn't feel like I could do it all by myself. I could help Karen do it, but she knew what all had to be done and did 1/2 of the work. Maybe the men at church will get together and all help out.

I called Heritage Propane and two men came out;. The firemen smelled a leak at the tank outside and they said it had a little leak and came inside and lit the pilot light for me. We have heat in the basement again.

I thought we would be singing hymns in choir but Summer Rae meant special arrangements of hymns. She gave the site to get the free music and I was able to get copies of the two hymns we will be singing. I'll need to practice on both of them. I've got to keep practicing so I can still be able to play. I got a little tired, mentally, from Thanksgiving to Christmas and wanted a break with just playing the hymns out of the hymnal but learning these two new pieces of music will be good for me.

Frank's getting a bit more forgetful.

A Little Excitement

I went to town to get my hair cut and was then to go by the pharmacy but I forgot and drove home. I had to drive back into town to get the Rx's and then home.

Our carbon monoxide detector has been going off for 3 days and I finally called someone about it. The Clements Fire Dept came out and smelled gas but there was no CO. They turned the gas off and I'll call Heritage Propane Monday for them to come out and find the leak. The batteries in the CO detector were weak and that's why it's been chirping. We just changed those batteries in September but they must have been old. I have to get a smoke detector for the basement. I got two from Walmart but couldn't get them to work. I'll go to Collins Supply next and get them to put it together, working and ready to hang on the wall.

I'm driving to church tomorrow. Karen has to teach the 3rd hour but she might have some pain from her broken leg and I don't want them to have to worry about me if they have to leave early.

Friday

We exercised at the church again. We'll have Monday, Wednesday is New Year's Day and I think or I don't know where we'll be Friday. The senior center may be open, if not we'll be at the church again.

I stopped by to see if Kari could cut my hair today but she couldn't. I'll go in Saturday at 9:30 AM. I'll stop by the pharmacy and get the Rx's too.

Just watched TV with Frank this afternoon. I get in the recliner and fall asleep and he gets up and goes in his room. What a life we live.

Karen had to have her leg operated on and have a pin put it to keep the bone in place. She was to go home today, too. I called Ann to tell her about it and she will take food in tomorrow. I'll call Joy and tell her and we all can sign up to take meals into Karen Sunday at church.

Broken Foot

Saw on fb that Karen had broken her foot. I called her and found that she had been helping Ken with some farm work and stepped in a hole and twisted her foot. I told her I would bring some food over to her today so went to Walmart for some groceries. I got a sliced ham, some potato salad, a bag of Spring greens, some grapes and some munchies. I don't cook except for the weird things we eat so I thought what I got would be good for a few meals. Ken is off work 'til January 5th so he can take care of her. I think she'll go in tomorrow and get it set.

I came home and sat with Frank and watched TV. Trudy did my washing and there's no more music to practice so I have extra time to spend.

We both are still coughing a lot but we must be getting better since we're not getting worse.

Christmas

Trudy and her family came for lunch. We had ham, sweet potatoes, veggies, cabbage and cauliflower and brownies for desert. We spent the afternoon with Trudy and George trying to fix the Roku without any success. They left at 4 PM.

Sadie crocheted me an infinity scarf. It's one long length of yarn that you loop around your neck a couple of times. The yarn I picked out looks good and will go with my black coat.

Dad didn't know it was Christmas. We didn't have any presents to open so it seemed like another day. He forgets what day it is.

Monday Again

The exercise class was held at the Central Church of Christ in Athens. Betty arranged for us to meet there. They have a nice large gym and about 20 people came. We just used the bands, no balls or weighs. It was fun. I came home after exercise.

I cooked a meatloaf using 2 lbs of ground chicken. We can eat it but I don't really like the taste. Maybe some catchup will help. Around 10:30 AM I realized I had a bone scan and Dr visit in H'ville at 2:20 PM. I had forgotten about it and would have missed it if it had been in the AM. I left at 1 PM and went on I-65 to avoid any Christmas traffic. Trudy was going to meet me there at 2 PM. When she got there, I was already getting the bone scan. We saw Dr Shergy afterwards and he was pleased with the results of the scan. He said I had gained 3% of bone and that I was doing well.

Going home, I decided to go on Hy 72 and boy, was that a mistake. It was bumper to bumper traffic all the way to Athens, almost. I'm not going to get out and go to town tomorrow, the day before Christmas. I don't need anything. Trudy's family is coming over for Christmas lunch and I have everything I need. I have a ham, sweet potatoes and frozen veggies and Trudy said she would bring a cake. I do need to get some drinks and I can run to Dollar General just a mile down the road for that.

It's time for a hair cut or just a trim. The dear person who cuts my hair cuts it the same way every time, no matter what I say, but she is a long time friend and the hair always grows back. When it gets a little long (the hair), it goes crazy with curls. It's too thin to use rollers and a curling iron, so I just let it dry by itself and deal with how it turns out. When it's shorter, the curls aren't hard to handle.

Family Christmas

I got up early and baked the apple pie I was taking to Bubba's. Trudy got up and gave Dad a pedicure and then got ready and we left for Faulkville and the White family Christmas party. We stopped by Walmart and Trudy got Uncle Bubba some Blue Bell ice cream. It takes about 1 hour to get to Faulkville and it's mostly I-65 all the way. Bill, Lynn and Will and Jim and Allie and Abigale and Jim's girl friend Rachel were there. Katie and Harrison came a little bit later. After we all ate, we opened gifts. I got a pair of knitted house shoes that Ruth put together from a kit. They are red with tassels and are very cozy plus a ticket to a concert we are going to in Huntsville in the Spring. Trudy got a loaf of homemade bread. She was an extra. We all had a good time. We left early because Trudy's back was hurting plus she had a 45 minute drive to get back to her house. It was good seeing family again.

It's been 63 degrees today-too warm for Dec 21st. A cold front is moving in and we could have tornadoes. The wind is blowing now.

Tomorrow is our church Christmas service. We have to be at church at 8:53 AM to run over some of our songs. I've been practicing the piano for this music for a while and will be glad when the program is over. In January, we will begin meeting at 9 AM instead of the 9:30 AM we are meeting now. I'll have to shift my internal clock to get used to getting ready earlier on Sunday mornings.

Friday

The shot I got at the Dr's yesterday helped my coughing but I still cough. It's bronchitis and I've heard that it's hard to get rid of. Don't ever remember having it before. Taking a Z-pack to help.

Met Trudy in Madison at Dr Alexander's office for the final visit after my hip replacement. All went well. I hope the left hip will last until I'm called home.

Trudy is spending the night here tonight and tomorrow morning we're going to go to Faulkville to my brother's house. His kids will be there and it will be kind of a little re-union or a Christmas get together. It takes about an hour to get there and we'll probably stay 2-3 hours and then come home.

I turned the gas heater in the basement down yesterday and tonight Trudy smelled gas downstairs. I smelled it too so I turned the gas up and there was a big gas ignition. I'll have to call the propane place Monday and see if somebody will come out and check it for us.

Doctor After All

Yesterday I called in for some strong cough medicine and was told to come in to see the Dr. We went this afternoon and got a shot and two Z-packs. It must be bronchitis. It feels strange to have such a violent cough and not feel bad otherwise. Anyway, we got some help for it.

The weather was in the 60's today. It's supposed to rain tomorrow and Saturday and it always warms up to rain. I thought Trudy was spending the night here tonight but I must have been mixed up. She and Sadie are going to GA to visit Mary Kate this week-end. I have a Dr appointment with the Dr who did my hip and Trudy wanted to be there. Saturday, my brother's family will be at his house and I asked Trudy if she wanted to go, too. She said she did and maybe she and Sadie will drive down in their car and visit and then leave and drive on to GA. As of right now, I don't really know what's going to happen. I'm getting a sliced ham, some rolls and an apple pie to take to by brother's since I'm bringing 2 extra people. I'll call Ruth tomorrow and tell her and see if she wants me to bring anything else.

The Christmas program is Sunday. I'm glad to get it over. We hadn't really gone over the pieces in the order they are in the program and we are doing one that we did last year (when I had my hip operation) with the organ, bells on the organ, the piano, the choir and congregation. We practiced it twice last Sunday and I couldn' hear the piano part for the organ and the bells. Don't guess any of my mistakes will be heard.

December is moving right along. I have to stop at Kohl's tomorrow either coming or going from/to H'ville. I have a 30% off coupon and I need to get Ruth a present. I thought I would get her a scarf. I'll get Bubba a Whitman's Sampler when  I go to Walmart for the food. They gave me a jewelry hanger for my jewelry last year and I didn't have anything for them. I gave the hanger to Sadie for she liked it.

Dr. Visit

Got up at 6:30 AM to have plenty of time to get ready to leave the house at 8AM for a Pain Clinic visit at 9 AM. We got going a little late, but it doesn't take an hour to drive to H'ville so we have a little wiggle room. We got the Rx and came back to Athens to the pharmacy. I think I was tired for I was dozing in the recliner when Frank ask if I was getting hungry. We had eaten all the fresh veggies and I had to open a can of peas. I need to make a run to Walmart for some fresh veggies. I have some frozen veggies we can have tonight.

After lunch, I dozed in the chair again. I got up and ate a few M&M's to get some energy and then chased dust bunnies around sweeping the floors.

When I became 70, I was going to write an essay on my feelings at being 70. I put it off and now realize, I'm almost 71! I think the first thing I thought about on becoming 70 was that people start dying off in their 70's. Then, I remember my father turning 70 and I thought how old that was then. It's not that old now...My mom died at 69 because she smoked all her life and then got cancer and died. Dad lived 'til he was 87. He turned 87 in the hospital. He had climbed up on his roof, at 86,  to get the leaves off and he slipped on some wet leaves and fell off the house. He broke his hip, but the Dr's said it had healed. When they took him off the life support, he died the next day. I don't know about any of my other ancestors,  how long they lived. 70 is old. I still have the energy to shop til I drop, trouble is, I don't drop. I get energized at the thought of shopping. I might be slowing down a bit. Since my hip replacement, I have no desire to work in the yard. We pay to have the yard mowed and the older boys and their leader are coming out to do the pruning on the crape myrtles as a service project.  I sometimes wish I colored my hair like a lot of ladies my age do, but Frank likes it grey and I really don't want to fool with coloring it every 6 weeks. I guess that's my essay on becoming 70. This way the girls will have it in my blog book.

I still have my bone rattling cough. It's been going on almost 2 weeks. I haven't felt bad and that's the only symptom I have so going to the Dr would be useless. Going to the Dr may be a luxury in the future with ObamaCare being the law of the land now. I somehow hope it will pass up Medicare people. I believe our drug costs will go up. No sense worrying about it now. 

Monday, Monday

Had a good time at exercise. Went by Hardee's and got a Coke and then went to find Central Church of Christ. That's where we'll be exercising during the two weeks the senior center will be closed. Betty's got permission for us to use the church. I'll have to be sure and go the three or four times we'll exercise there.

Frank has been more confused today. He had forgotten what he wanted too remember. I think he's feeling lost inside and it comes out that way.

Don't know if Dr Walker will be a Dr anymore since Obamacare is messing up things so much. I'll need to call the office and see. Every day on the news, we're told that many have had their insurances canceled and that Obamacare's premiums are higher and that the deductibles are higher and so no one can afford the new health insurance. Maybe we'll be safe with Medicare but I believe our drug cost will be higher.

Failed Computer

I couldn't get the computer to bring up Bing last night when I was going to post. Sometimes it doesn't want to send the email.

The neighborhood breakfast at Diane's house was very nice. Her house was all decorated and we ate off of Christmas plates. We were asked to bring a Christmas ornament and we played the dirty Santa game. I ended up with a large mug. I didn't feel like playing the switching game and took what I had picked out.

I read the Sunday School lesson and the Relief Society lesson and practiced the RS opening and closing songs and the choir music. We are singing, "Joy to the World" tomorrow. I've had it a long time and have been really practicing on it. I'm ready to play it and be done with it. There is this complicated Silent Night piece that we haven't practiced on. The choir did it last year but I was out because of my hip surgery. Shelley thinks we are going to sing it so I would like to run through it sometime soon.

We had the propane tank filled up and it cost almost $800.00. This is the first year that Frank hasn't done it and I didn't know how much to get. I imagine it will last all winter. It hasn't been real cold yet but it's nice to have the gas heater in the basement to take the chill off down there. That leaves the main account low. I don't know how many automatic things are taken out of that account. I have spent a lot of money for food from my account and we still have a little over tow more weeks to go before the first of the month. I love the first of the month! Yeah, get to pay bills and have the vault filled up.

Exercise

Went to exercise and gave Janet a cactus with other succulents with it. She liked it. Being a master gardener, she likes plants and I always know what she likes. It was fun and I'm using the 4 lb weights. 5 lbs are a bit too much since I'm not working out at home.

I have a terrible cough. It's soul racking. Mary Kate coughed so hard she bruised her rib cage. I'm not that bad and haven't really felt bad except for the cough. Frank is about to get over his cough.

Trudy had a PT appointment at 8 AM and left here at 7 AM. It's so nice with her coming over here once a week.

I didn't do anything all day except practice the piano 30 minutes. I dozed in the recliner but that just made my cough worse.

Lovely Lunch

Trudy and I went to the Silver Sneaker's lunch at 11:30 AM and afterward went to H'ville to shop at Sam's. My refrigerator was so empty that I was prompted to wipe it out! We forgot to get the filters for the furnace so stopped at Walmart in Athens to get them. The good ones were pricy but I got four plus a skein of yarn so Sadie can crochet an infinity scarf for me. She's doing one for Mary Kate and I hope she doesn't get crocheted out before she does one for me.

My ipad has been skipping forward when we have been reading the scriptures at night and Trudy said she could fix it. I'm so used to the ipad that it would be hard to go back to reading out of a book. I don't really know how to use the ipad except to read the scriptures and maybe I need to learn more about it. I love my desk top computer and when I want to see face book, I like to sit down in front of it for the messages.

Frank and I have bad coughs. Not been sick except for the coughing. Drinking expectorant like water.
Nothing on the calendar for the rest of the week but next week we have 3 Dr appointments. I'll see the surgeon who replaced my hip. January 10th is the anniversary of the second operation, but December 13th is the anniversary of the 1st operation. My femur broke and I had to have the second operation to fix it. All has been well and I can walk all day, especially if I'm shopping. I love to shop 'til I drop. The trouble is I don't ever drop!

Fill In

Went to exercise this morning to find out that Janet had gotten snowed in at D.C. and couldn't be there. Carolyn asked me to lead the exercises and I did. Everyone helped for I couldn't remember what all Janet does. We didn't have any music. There were 16 people there and many had left after they found out Janet wasn't there. We had a good time and exercised for 40 minutes.

My CD player died last night and I called the company and they said they needed a sales receipt. I was slothful and didn't save any of the materials other than the owners book. Looks like I'm left with and CD player that's only 3 months old and it won't work. Trudy is coming over later on this afternoon to spend the night and go to the Silver Sneaker's Christmas get together at a barbeque place on the way to Madison. After that, we'll go to H'ville to Sam's and see if I can find a small CD player to replace the old one. This time I will save all of the papers and put them in the file cabinet in Frank's closet. That's what we do with all the warranties we get but this time I just slipped up and didn't do it.

Both Frank and I have the crud. We're coughing and taking expectorant and hoping not to get really sick. Mary Kate had a terrible cough when she was here for Thanksgiving but she wasn't contagious. I don't know where this stuff came from.

Christmas Party

Didn't do much at home today. I had two sliced hams in the crock pot ready to take to church for the Christmas party that started at 5:30 PM. I got there early so I could take the food. The room was really decorated prettily but the lights were a bit dim to see what the food was. The food was good and I got in line early and had mine eaten by the time the rest of the table got back with their food. I sat with Nancy and a friend of hers from Ardmore. I thought I had to play for the Primary but Sis Everrest was there and she is the Primary pianist now. I'm tired of being taken out of Relief Society to play the piano in Primary. There are other sisters who can play the piano and I need to be in RS to play the hymns there. Enough complaining. I left after I found that I wasn't needed and came home. I probably wouldn't have gone except I had food to bring. Next year, I can bring food and then come back home to be with Frank.

Ring Day

I didn't go to exercise today but slept in. I did go to town and picked up my ring at the jewelers. It looks prettier with the new prongs on it. Trudy's jeweler messed it up bad when he took the center diamond out. I had to stop by the court house and take the deed in to see if there were any exemptions. We already had the homestead exemption.

On the way home, I stopped by Goody's and got a pair of New Balance shoes. They are running shoes and are two shades of light grey with white soles and bright pink laces. I had a $10.00 gift card Goody's had sent me and I used it.

It was raining lightly while I was in town. When I got back home, Frank and I tried to put some air in my tires but put too much on one and drained some air out of the other, so I drove into town to Pep Boys and they put the correct amount of air in all of the tires. They were very nice about it and were a life saver for me. Frank is getting where he can't do the things is used to do. I'm having to rely on outside help to get things done. We'll call Bro Decker tomorrow to see if he will come over and fix Frank's TV. I was on the phone to Direct TV two nights ago trying to get it fixed and finally did, but then last night, the TV wouldn't turn on. We need a warm body helping instead of talking to someone on the phone.

To Town

I got ready to go to town early so I wouldn't have any crowds at Walmart. Had to get some milk. We drink 3 gallons of milk a week and we were almost out. I got the 2 hams for the Christmas party at church Saturday night. When I was unloading the car, I didn't see the hams and later when I thought about it, I realized I hadn't unloaded them.  I checked my receipt and saw that I had purchased the hams and I thought I might have left them at the store. I called Walmart and expressed my concerns. Afterwards, I thought to look in the car again and found them behind some papers. I called Walmart and told them I had found the hams. Saturday morning, I'll put the sliced hams in the crock pot and take them to church warm. I personally don't care for ham but on the list I saw another person was bringing a ham and decided that's what I would bring too. Others were cooking turkeys.

Tomorrow, I'll go to exercise and then to pick up my ring at the jewelers and I have to go by the court house. I got a letter from our lawyer today saying to take the deed by the courthouse and see if we have any exemptions. I don't know what he is talking about but I will take his letter and the paper with me and show the clerks and see what's going on.

I mailed two packages at the PO today. There was a line and wait time. There were only two clerks waiting on people. Mary Kate had forgotten her jacket and a gluten-free book I had bought her. The package wasn't full enough so I put 1/2 a large package of coco-pebbles in on top of the contents to fill up the package. She'll have a sweet surprise when she opens it. I sent Frankie and family a furniture mover that had been sitting around here for months. They needed it when they moved into their new house but I didn't know where it was then. I hope it has some instructions with it so they'll know what it's for. I had thought to mail the packages tomorrow when I'm in town but it's supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow and I decided it was prudent to go into town again and mail the packages when it wasn't raining, so I did. 

Wednesday

I went to exercise today and then to the bank. I went to Lowe's and bought a cactus plant to give to Janet. Tomorrow I'll need to go to Walmart to get milk and a ham for the Ward Christmas party this Saturday.  I guess I'll be playing the piano for the Primary children to sing. I'm not the pianist anymore but they come to me when their pianist is not there. I'll have to direct them to Sis Cone or Sis Schwendiman to play for them.

I got Bobby and Brenda to sign our living wills today and then I made copies of them. One goes to Dr Walker and Trudy and Mary Kate will get a copy. Now, when the Dr's office asks if we have a living will, I'll get to see what they say when we answer, "yes"!

It was over 70 degrees today. It was nice to go without a coat, but there is an Arctic blast that is coming our way in a day or two. Also some rain. At exercise today, word was that the Christmas parade would probably be rained out.

Relaxing Day

Trudy had to leave early this morning. Sadie called and said she needed to go to the Dr because her throat was sore. She had a temple trip tonight but since she was running a little fever and had the sore throat, she wasn't able to go. Trudy washed all the towels and my clothes so I didn't have anything to do today. I cleaned in the kitchen this morning and cooked supper this afternoon. I wrote 4 Christmas cards and took them out to the mail box at 4 PM. The mail hadn't come yet so they will go out today.

Will go to exercise class tomorrow morning and then to the bank. Goody's sent a $10.00 cash card as a Christmas card and I may stop by there. I don't need any more clothes but I could use another pair of shoes. I have two pair that I switch back and forth with. One pair my toes touch the tops of the shoes and make my toes sore. Both pair of shoes are New Balance.

Expensive Ring

Went to exercise today. We will be having a Christmas get together next week at a barbeque place and I invited Trudy to go. I know a few names of the ladies but there are so many that I don't know especially since I sit on the front row in class.

I took the ring that Trudy gave me to Hobbs Jewelers to see about a loose stone. It has three stones across the ring and the middle stone had been taken out and replaced with a CZ, in fact all three stones are CZ's but the setting is gold and is pretty. It only had one prong holding the stone in place and will cost me $240.00 to get fixed. That's a lot but I want the ring and I want the stones to be secure.

Trudy came over at 11:30 AM to help get Dad's bed ready for the new mattress I bought. They took the other new one away with them. I think he likes the new one. I told him if he didn't like the new one that I would give him my bed and I would take the new one but I love my bed and would hate to have to give it up.

We turned the TV off tonight and all three of us sat around and talked and shared some pictures Trudy had on her ipad. It's been a nice evening. Mary Kate called to see how everyone was. Her dogs were excited to be home from being boarded. They are such members of the family. Trudy has two dogs and I love to see them when I go visit her. Dogs rule...then birds.

Friday and Saturday

Friday started at 6 AM when everyone got up. We had to meet Sadie at Kohl's in Madison at 8 AM. We left home but had to go back to get Mary Kate's phone. We met Sadie and all shopped. Mary Kate bought me a nice, light coat. It is stylish and I feel good in it. The sleeves were a little too long but MK said she could fix them. I wore it out of the store. We went to Dick's and dropped Richard and the kids off and we went to Micheal's and then to Hobby Lobby. Sadie had to go to work at 10 AM so she left us. We stopped at Book's A Million in Madison and I got Nate and Sophia a book a piece. Mary Kate bought some books for presents.

Saturday started early too, but at 7 AM. Mary Kate had to prepare her stuffing and she had to chop up the celery and onions and mushrooms, etc. We had cooked the turkey from a frozen state all night long at about 275 degrees. It was done and was good. We had the small smoked turkey too. They went to Trudy's earlier than I did. I wanted to eat lunch with Frank so I left at 12:30 PM. Rachel and the kids were already there. Frankie hadn't come because he was all stressed out. He called me tonight and apologized about not coming but I understand. He has had a lot of stress at work and can't deal with it. He said they would come down when they could.

The feast at Trudy's was good and we certainly had enough food and then some. Mary Kate had prepared some games for the children but I left after 2 hours in order to get  home before dark. We watched the Auburn-Alabama football game and I listened to it on my way home and finished watching it with Frank. Alabama didn't play as well as they could and Auburn beat them by a touch down in the last seconds of the game. Richard was glad since he's a Auburn man. Both teams will be in a bowl game so there's more college football to watch.

Family

Mary Kate and family came in around 9:30 last night. We went to bed at 11:00 PM. Got up this morning and made pancakes. Trudy and her family come for lunch. They brought the barbeque and it had to cook a while longer so we had it for supper. We all had a fun time talking and the kid played on their devices. Sadie wants to go shopping early tomorrow morning and we are meeting her at 8 AM at Kohl's in Madison. There will be crowds but it will be fun being all together and shopping too. I really have nothing to shop for because I have a closet full of clothes I've bought this season. I have to buy a new purse to keep up the tradition of Granny getting a new purse on Black Friday.

Frankie called and said his family would be here Friday at 4 PM, after we got back from shopping.  We all will be at Trudy's house Saturday and will watch the Iron Bowl there. We are going to have enough food for an army and have 14-15 people to serve.

I gave the kids their Christmas money today (Frankie will get his tomorrow). I'm glad it getting close to the 1sst of the month for my check book is getting low. I used my account to pay the Christmas money for I don't know how much money there is in the main account. I could find out, but I knew I had it. So many things are automatically taken out of the main account that I'm afraid the balance will fall too low.

We'll go to bed early tonight so we can get up at 6 AM tomorrow. We'll be getting in with all the crowds of people but that's what Sadie wants to do. She has to work tomorrow from 10-2 PM.

Cold, Wet Day

I had to go into town again today. I went to the pharmacy, Tenn Valley Wholesale, Walmart and Mattress King. At Mattress King, I got another mattress for the one we bought before. To return it, it would have cost $150.00 and the swap out fee was $100.00. If Frank doesn't like this mattress, he can have mine and I'll take the new one.

At Walmart I got two rotisserie chickens for when Mary Kate and her family get here. I have a frozen peach cobbler I will cook along with two kind of brownies. I got two cauliflowers for fresh veggies and I already have some fresh broccoli. I have some sour cream for a veggie dip.

I made a list of things to do the next two days. Tomorrow, I need to stop by the shoe shop to pick up a pair of shoes they were stretching and then stop by the barbeque place to pick up the smoked turkey. I also have to cook the brownies and cobbler tomorrow. Thursday morning, I need to clean out a space for the upright freezer Trudy and George are giving us. Mary Kate can help me with that. Trudy and her family will be over around lunch time. She's cooking a pork roast in the crock pot for our supper Thursday night. Mary Kate and family are coming in late Wednesday night. MK'll be cooking Thursday.

Frankie and his family will be in town Friday at noon. We'll be Black Friday shopping. Trudy said he will come over here first. Maybe he'll check into a motel before he does, and I'll see him when we get back from shopping.

Saturday is the Al-Auburn game and our Thanksgiving feast at Trudy's. Frank will be by himself Saturday. I'll try not to stay very long so I can get back home to be with him.  Mary Kate and family will leave Sunday morning from Trudy's to go home. Frankie just called and said that they were looking forward to coming and would probably be over here around 1-2 PM Friday. We can call him when we are getting ready to go home after shopping.

Cold Day

I guess our fall is over. A big storm is coming our way for the next two days. When Trudy and I  were caring the groceries in it was sleeting a little. She spent the night last night and we planned the menu's for Thanksgiving then we went out to Walmart and bought the groceries. It was $207.00 for two dinners. I have to pick the smoked turkey up Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 PM. That will be for the Saturday dinner but I guess Frank can have some before then since he won't be going to the Saturday dinner. Frankie and his family will be here Friday. I guess they will stay in a motel since nobody has room for them at their house. But there's room for the Thanksgiving feast Saturday at Trudy's house.

Mary Kate is making her dressing-some with gluten and some without. We'll have sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole and fresh veggies and dip, ham, turkey, George's pumpkin pie and I have an apple pie and a peach cobbler I'll cook sometime so we should have plenty of food. Plus drinks. It will be a lot of fun for the whole family.

Frank's still coughing but he seems better since he got the Z pack. Dr Sharp got my letter today and said he wants me to stay on Ativan, a small dose. It's good because I like to sleep and I don't sleep without it.

I practiced Joy to the World and have been practicing it for several weeks now. The hard part is the runs with 6ths. I've practiced it over and over and still make mistakes. I have another two weeks before the choir sings it and I hope I can get it down. Sis Toone asked me to play a piece for the Primary children to sing at the Christmas party at church. I can do it if it's only the part I practiced. I seem to be the go to person when it comes to piano playing. I guess that's what I've wanted, to be recognized as a musician but it's seem to come all at once. Things will calm down once the holidays are over. 

Primary Baptism

Susie Newell asked me to play at a Primary baptism today. She and Matthew and another lady came and got me. I was flattered that they did. I could have driven myself but it was nice to be transported with style and company. The service was nice. I didn't even use my piano glasses. I will tomorrow when the choir sings. I've been practicing on the piece all week and I hope I can play it well. The choir part is sort of dissonant and I hope it doesn't sound like they are out of tune. I've got to read my Sunday School and Relief Society lessons tonight. I meant to read them earlier in the week and just review them Saturday night but that didn't come to pass this week. I'll keep trying.

Trudy will be over Sunday evening sometime. Her back was hurting too much to come Friday night.

Frank tried to put a new ballast is the fluorescent light fixture today but he couldn't steady his hand enough to get the screw in. We called Bro Hansen and he came over and did it. Frank said he could wire it and Martin left. He couldn't so we called Martin back and he came back and tried. Come to find out that the ballast was for a one light fixture and we have a two light fixture. The man at Tennessee Valley Wholesale sold me the wrong ballast but I had gotten two and the other one was for a two light fixture so Martin could wire it and the light worked. Now we don't sit in darkness... 

A blast of Polar air is on it's way for tomorrow. I have my boots out and will wear them. I have a new sweater that's open in the front that I haven't worn since I got it and I think I will wear that with a black skirt. Will need to wear another coat in order to stay warm. My coat has a stand up collar and it makes my earrings fall off if I'm not careful. The little backs that go on the earrings are too small for my fingers and I don't use them.

Trip To The Apple Store

I didn't go to exercise today. I cooked lunch and then drove to H'ville to the Apple store where I met Sadie and Trudy. Trudy knew what needed to be done to Frank's laptop and ipod. We worked with a tech for about 45 minutes and he told Trudy how to fix the machines. Sadie went to a store and Trudy and I went to the Ulta made-up store. I needed to get some more mineral veil that was tinted. I was going to order it by phone but the Ulta store was right there so I got it today.

It rained all the way to H'ville but stopped while we were there. There was lots of Friday traffic on the way home. Frank had called the Dr for a Z pac to help him get over a chest infection and I picked it up on the way. I hope everyone is well for Thanksgiving.

Trudy is coming over to spend the night. I have a baptism to play the piano for tomorrow so I'll have to leave before 1 PM. Sis Knewell is going to come pick me up for it.

H'ville Again

This trip was to the pain clinic. We have to go monthly to get Frank's Rx. I tried to get some satisfaction from the SAS shoe store for my shoes being too small, but the man said they didn't take already worn shoes. He was very busy and we just left. They just lost two customers. I took the shoes to the cobbler and had then stretched lengthwise and may, just maybe, I can wear them again.

After lunch, I went shopping for some food. We didn't need much. Frank wanted some hand soap and some cellophane tape and I got some more cans of beans and tomatoes for my goulash I always make. I bought two pies for Thanksgiving. I'll need some food for the family when they are here and when they come over here Thanksgiving day. Trudy says she'll take care of the food, but there's a lot of people to feed and I want to have enough.

The weather is colder but I just wore a long sleeved shirt and my vest. The leaves are almost gone from the trees. Winter is looking down on us. They had several tornadoes up north and a lot of damage was done. This is not the usual tornado season but anytime the weather changes and a cold front comes into warm air, tornadoes can form.  

Just Blogged

I just blogged about the day's activities and a lot more and this window came down and said did I want to log back on a site. I said no, but it wouldn't let me publish my blog so I said yes, and the blog I had just written disappeared. I hope it was published and not sent to outer space.

Football

Trudy left when I did when I went to help feed the animals. Friday afternoon we went to Staples and got a hanging folder box and hanging file folders to put our important papers in. Trudy got them in folders and now we have just got to refine the folders. We should be able to find the information without much trouble.  It had rained during the night and the ground was wet where the animals were. The chicken pen was muddy and slippery but I did okay. The chickens were hungry. Karen got 5 eggs.

I came home and studied the outline of the lesson I'll be teaching in Relief Society tomorrow. It's about loving God more than the world. Hopefully, I've studied enough and the sisters will help out with my questions.

Haven't practiced the piano yet. Football is on all afternoon. Auburn is playing now and Ala will play at 6:45 this evening. We'll watch the AL game but I had to have a break after watching Vandy play. If I sit in the recliner, I want to take a nap. It's so easy to nod off in that chair.

Lost Yesterday's Blog

Instead of hitting the Publish on the blog page, I hit the close and lost what I had written.

Today I stayed up and studied my lesson for Sunday. I got two pages outlined and tomorrow will study what I've outlined and read the lesson again.

I went to Karen's to feed the animals. In a week, Ken will be home and it will be his job again. He really has too many animals to take care of, especially since his job requires him to be out of the country a lot, plus he's having trouble with his hip that he hurt when he was in a motorcycle wreck. I guess he's attached to the animals like we are to our birds.

Frank has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The doctor gave me some medicine to help with his memory and an antidepressant to help with depression. He said he was better than the last time that he saw him. I read The 36 Hour Day which is about Alzheimer's and it was depressing. Time will tell. I found a couple of support groups I may go to.

Dr Sharp

Trudy came yesterday and spent the night with us. She got up and after breakfast she cooked three meals for us. I'll need to freeze some of it because we won't be able to eat it all. It was a big help to us. I had a Dr's appointment and had to leave at 10:15 AM and Trudy stayed and left later. She also had a Dr's appointment.

Dr Sharp told me to get up and read when I couldn't fall asleep and not to take more medicine. I'm used to going to sleep when I want to and staying up will be different. I don't have a book I'm interested in right now. I have the Kindle paperwhite to learn how to operate and maybe that's what I can do if I can't sleep.

I stopped by Walmart on the way home to get some cottage cheese, milk and allergy pills that were in a bottle and not in the bubble wrap. I refuse to spend my time trying to peel the wrapper off of the pills. It's a pain so I got the same medicine in a bottle.

My last stop was to the pharmacy. I had called in one prescription and had two others to fill. They didn't have one Rx and I had to wait for them to get it from another pharmacy. I spent about 20 minutes waiting for it. I'll be able to help Karen with the animals tomorrow. I also need to practice the choir piece that we're doing in two weeks. I'll have to leave out some notes to get it up to speed in such a short time.

Breakfast

Got to Cracker Barrel at 8:00 AM and Sandra and the new neighbors, Susan and Michael, were already there. There was 6 adults and 2 children. The Adams and the Sweeny's weren't there. I found an order that didn't cost much and I got water. It was all under $5.00. I could have spent more but didn't want to. Came home afterwards. Forgot to go by the pharmacy even though I had written myself a note to do so last night. I'll pick it up Monday. I have a Dr's appointment in Huntsville at 11:20 AM.

We've watched football all afternoon. Texas A&M vs Mississippi State. A&M won. Now we're waiting for the AL & LSU game at 7 PM. I don't know if I can sit through another 2 more hours of football, but I must.

Friday

Didn't go to exercise. Gloria called me and asked if I would like to teach a lesson in Relief Society the 17th. I am glad to do it. I read the lesson for the first time this morning. Afterwards, I got dressed and went grocery shopping.

I practiced the piano this afternoon. Tomorrow is the neighborhood breakfast at 8 AM. Last month, I forgot it but will go tomorrow. I have some washing to do and practicing to do and Trudy is coming over to spend the day with us. Frank hasn't found his wallet yet. Perhaps Trudy can help us look for it. I believe it's in the house some where.

Thrusday

I went into town to go to the PO and mail Mariam's birthday present and I took my blue leopard spotted pants with me since I planned to go to Goody's. I have only one shirt that can go with those pants, I wanted to find another shirt. Ii found one and then I looked for another shirt for I had a 20% off card and I didn't know if I had bought enough for it to qualify. I got 20% off of both shirts.

I have worn all of my jeans and can say that I'm glad I got them. One pair, the dark blue, has a low waist and I feel more comfortable with a belt on. I don't like a way-below-the-waist pair of pants.

I practiced the piano for over an hour. I have a new piece that requires a lot of practice to learn it and I have a feeling that Summer-Rae will want us to sing it soon. Plus the Christmas music and some of it is hard. Summer-Rae is playing for the Community Chorus and has a lot of music to learn. I need to find out when they will be singing and go hear them.

Frank couldn't find his wallet and decided it must be in the garbage. He went out to the road and went through each sack but didn't find it. It's his dementia catching up with him. I told him it wasn't in the garbage but he couldn't be satisfied until he went through each sack.

Bad Day

I had my alarm clock set for 6:20 AM so I could get up with enough time to shower and do my hair and still have plenty of time to get to exercise on time. But early this morning, around 2 AM Frank fell in the bathroom. I couldn't get him up so I called 911 and since we didn't need an ambulance, the paramedics were sent out. They picked Frank up and got him back in bed. I got up early and got my shower and heard some moaning in Frank's room. He had wet the bed and was trying to get his wet clothes off. I helped him with that and he went into the bathroom but wet the floor there. He was standing leaning over the sink and I couldn't get him to come to bed and had to call Martin to come over and get him into bed. He was sitting on the side of the bed and wet again so after I got him in dry clothes, I took him to his bed in the living room. He slept there until lunch. After eating lunch, he stayed on the living room bed. I don't know what happened to him today. I missed exercise and helping Karen with the animals. I spent the afternoon washing bed sheets, mattress covers and clothes. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day.

What Day Is It?

I thought it was Monday and missed a Dr appointment. It wasn't on the calendar. I had it down for next week. I'll have to pay for the missed appointment.

Working with Karen really wears me out. We brought the horses from down the road back up and by not having to walk up and down the road might help the tiredness. I came home and after lunch and Frank's shower, I just sat in the recliner and snoozed between telephone calls.

I missed Mariam's birthday. It's right after Josh's birthday and I missed his too. Karen gave me some doll clothes and I'm sending them to Mariam. They are worth lots more than $15.00 which she would have gotten if I sent money. A present is better anyway. I'll mail the package after exercise Wednesday.

Friday-Saturday-Sunday-Monday

Fed the animals and waited for Mary Kate and Sophia and Nate to arrive. They got here around 8 PM Friday.

Saturday, we all went shopping. We wet to H'ville to GNC to see if we could get some protein powder to help Frank to stop loosing weight. He weighed 145 lbs the last time we weighed and that's down from the 153 he weighed that last time we went to the Dr. We got some drinks from GNC because they had little carbohydrates and the powders had too much. From there we went to Khol's in Madison. WE dropped the kids off at Books a Million while we shopped. I got three pair of jeans and bought Mary Kate a purse and I got a new purse. The jeans were a bit tight in the waist and I've been afraid to try them on at home for fear that I got them too small. Mary Kate took them up for me and I'm wearing a pair now and they aren't too tight. I have two other pair I'll have to try on and see.

Saturday evening, Nate showed us how he could play the xylophone (bells) and the drum. He's moving right along and I wish I could see him when he performs in school. That will never happen but I was very happy to have him play for us. Sophia said she would sing for us the next time she came which will be in three weeks, at Thanksgiving. They will come over here Thanksgiving day and we'll have something to eat and then we'll have the Thanksgiving feast at Trudy's on Saturday. Trudy's going to get a table from the church and chairs and everyone will be able to sit together and have a meal together. It will be nice.

Sunday, I rode to church with Karen for Mary Kate and kids were going over to Trudy's after Sacrament to pick up a head board for a bed. I got home from church at 2 PM. Choir practice lasted longer than usual. They were all packed and ready to leave for home. It was sad since they hadn't had all that long a visit, but they will be back in 3 weeks and Richard will be with them. We'll go shopping Black Friday but not early enough to fight the crowds.

Halloween

There won't be many trick-or-treaters tonight for there's storm brewing. Mary Kate and the kids can eat the candy korn I bought as a treat.

Went over too Karen's and helped feed the animals. Because of the storm, we walked down the hill and fetched the two horses that were staked out. They have food and water but they graze on the green grass. We brought them up and put them in a pen that Ken made for them. The chickens laid about 8 eggs and I got to bring them home. I was down to 4 eggs and needed to buy more. The time we spend on the animals is about an hour and 15 minutes. I usually get home by 11:30 AM.

I'll need to go to the grocery store and buy a few things for Mary Kate and family. I have a frozen, cooked chicken in the freezer and I think I'll make some Taco soup. I have a package of taco's and I'll need to get some tomatoes and lettuce and taco sauce, and maybe use ground beef instead of ground chicken. Frank likes the flossers I use and I'll get him a package.

Exercise and Animals

Janice wore a wig and a dress and sunglasses for a Halloween costume today. She said she dressed like June Cleaver as in Leave it to Beaver, and 1950's sitcom. A couple of people had on Halloween shirts. I didn't remember but I could have worn my black Halloween wig. Maybe next year.

Feeding the animals didn't take long. We had to walk down the hill to feed to two horses that are staked out there. Going down wasn't bad, it was the coming up that got me.

Martin came over with some paint chips to see what color we wanted the shelves he's fixing for us. We were down in the basement trying to see what was wrong with the hot water heater. He looked at it too and pushed a red button and it clicked and the water started getting hot again. It's good too know that nothing's wrong with the hot water heater now. Tomorrow we'll go to Collin's Supply and get some screws and some grease of some kind and some hardware for the new shelves.

Trudy called and said she is in major pain with her back. She wanted me to order her two canes like Frank has. She'll get an MRI soon and see her surgeon and maybe she can get this back pain taken care of. Mary Kate and the children will be coming for the week-end.

What About Monday?

Trudy met be at the lawyer's office. We saw Landy Raley, the lawyer that Shelley recommended. We liked him. He's setting up a power of attorney for us and the other things I can't remember. I filled out a living will and have to get Frank to fill one out also. I'll see if Brenda and Bobby will be the wittiness for us. Then I'll have to get  copies to Dr Walker's office. Don't remember what we did the rest of the day. I went to exercise Monday. Afterwards, Janet showed those of us who wanted to see them some pictures of her vacation out West. We saw the lawyer at 2 PM.

Today, Tuesday, Trudy and I went over to Karen's to help her feed her animals. Really, they are her husband's animals but he is out of the country right now and it falls on her to feed, water and clean up after them. Trudy just looked at the animals and then lay down in the backseat of her car and rested. Her back is really hurting her. I helped her the first time Ken went to Quad but the second time, I was recovering from hip surgery and couldn't help. He was gone 4 or more months that time. Hopefully, he'll only be gone a month this time. I'll go over every day at 10 AM and we will feed and water the chickens, goats, geese, donkeys and horses. They are the very small horses. The ATV stopped working on the way back up from feeding and watering the two horses that are staked out down the road so now we'll have to carry feed and water in a small wagon. Going down hill won't be so bad. Coming up the hill pulling the wagon had me sweating today. It'll be good exercise for me.

Saturday Is A Special Day

I went back to bed and slept until 11 AM. Frank likes to wake me up when he's up for some reason. All that mattress moving yesterday made me tired.

I vacuumed the floors with the electric broom. I've hesitated using it for it does such a good job that cleaning out the filter is a chore. But I got it to use and I've got to use it anyway. It really sucks up the dirt and powdery stuff that gets on the floors. I need to mop the floors too, but that can wait.

I cut Frank's hair and showered and got ready to go to the adult session of Stake Conference tonight. The Decker's and Hansen's and going out to dinner afterwards, so I have to drive. I'll miss the AL-TN football game but that's okay. The meeting is more important. I'll be gone about 3 1/2 hours. I haven't driven to Stake Conference in a long time. Usually get a ride.

Best Friend

My best friend from high school, Diane, emailed me a couple of days ago. It was so nice hearing from her. She had read my blogs and knew about Frank's condition and told me about her brother taking care of her mother who had similar problems that Frank has. It was so good hearing from her. It's been over 50 years since we were in high school. That makes me officially OLD!

Thursday-Friday

Went to the temple with the Decker's and Brenda C. It's always a spiritual uplift going and this time was no difference. We had some strange things going on with the car coming back. The head lights blinked on and off several times and Ken didn't know why, but we made it home okay.

Friday, I didn't go to exercise for it was 12:30-45 AM when I got to bed. I should have gotten up to go but I didn't. Today at 2 PM I went over to Karen's and she helped me take up three pair of Frank's pants. I don't think I took them up enough but maybe it helped some. She made me a piano pillow out of some industrial foam that Ken gets from work. She even made me one for the car and delivered it to me tonight. The foam is hard and supportive and doesn't get crushed down.

Frank did not like his new mattress! It's foam and it hurt his back. We couldn't get the old mattress up the stairs from the basement so we wrestled the new mattress off the box springs and put it in the hall, then we moved the mattress that's on the computer bed over onto the new box springs and then put the new mattress on the computer bed box springs. Whew! That was a lot of work. I noticed a light out in my room and Frank couldn't get the shade back on without a taller ladder so I got one from the basement and hauled it upstairs and into my room. He got the light fixed and then I hauled it back into the basement. I plan to sleep late tomorrow...

Good Day

Had a good exercise today. After lunch, we went to Mattress King to get a bed for Frank. He told me last night he wanted to get one today. After laying on a couple, he decided that he liked his old one and we left. His dementia is getting the best of him. I can't reason with him. He doesn't realize that he told me he wanted to get a bed today. I guess I need to go to the store alone and buy the one that's the firmest and have it delivered and not bother him with having to make a decision. The young man who waited on us probably wonders what he did wrong for us to come and go without buying a bed. We have 45 days to sleep on it and if not satisfied they will give us our money back.
This dementia thing is getting harder and harder as time goes on.

AM Dr Visit

We had a visit to the pain clinic this morning at 9 AM.  I didn't allow enough time for Frank to get dressed and we were 15 minutes late but we didn't have to wait long. We told the nurse, Joann, that Frank needed the pain meds every 6 hours. We had cut down to two every 12 hours, but the hurt came back. According to State law, we have to go to the pain clinic every month to get the Rx. We used to be able to skip a month and still have a prescription, but not now. Frank seems to travel better now so maybe it won't be much of a problem.

I went grocery shopping after lunch. We were out of milk and fruit. We like to eat a supper of cottage cheese and fruit and that's what we had tonight. It's really good for Frank's blood sugar. It's always low after eating a cottage cheese meal.

The pants that Frank wore today would fall off of him without the suspenders. I have to get with Karen to see how to take them up. Ken is going out of town again and I will help her feed their animals. I couldn't do it last time for my leg, hip, was still healing. I'm sure it's still healing now but I can walk on uneven ground and think I'll be able to help.

Mary Kate will be coming up Nov 1st for the week-end. She wants a bed that Trudy has stored in her garage. It used to be my bed when I lived at home with my parents. We gave it to Trudy after we got the queen sized mattress for the bed in the basement. For some reason, Trudy didn't use it. It's good, heavy furniture and will last forever if anyone wanted to keep it that long.

Honda Dealership

I  took the car in to get the cruise control fixed today. Trudy was going to meet me there but she came down with a cold. I was prepared to stay all day, but they were through in 45 minutes. I had a nice trip back going the speed limit.

Frank's arm didn't bleed today when I changed dressings so I think it is starting to heal. We need some more 1st aid supplies. Non-stick gauze pads and gauze to wrap around the wound. We have plenty of band-aids but not much for big wounds.

We have a pain clinic visit tomorrow morning and Frank wants to stop by Mattress King and get a mattress. Trudy wants the old mattress so I'll get the Mattress King men to slide the mattress downstairs when they bring the new set.

Bubba and Ruth were to come tomorrow at 10:00 AM to get the cabinet but Trudy reminded me of the pain clinic visit so I called and they will come Wednesday afternoon at 2 PM.

Busy

Today I went to Collins supply  and then to Railroad Bazaar to get a 6' guitar and amp cord. There was a midget waiting on me. I thought he was cute but didn't think I should say anything to him. I'm glad he  has a job there. Then I went to the cemetery office and tried to buy two lots in the Rose Lawn cemetery but I had to go and pick them out. I met one of the workers there and picked out two lots in the newer section near the road. There were lots of flag poles flying the US flag and I liked that. I went back to the cemetery office and bought the lots and paid for the opening and closing of the graves too.

I got home and found out that Collins had given me the wrong sized brackets. I had an appointment at Spry's funeral home at 3 PM to pre-pay for one funeral. After that, I returned the brackets to Collins and asked them to order me some 6" brackets. Bro Hansen is making shelving for a book shelf that Frank wants put back on the wall in his room. We will probably have to change out the hardware to get brackets to fit the shelves.

We read 3 Sections in the Doctrine and Covenants tonight and it was nice.

Trudy and Sadie had spent the night last night but had to leave early this morning. Trudy had a PT appointment and Sadie had to go in to work.

What a Blast

I left the house at 8 AM to take the car by the Honda dealership to get the cruise control fixed. Trudy met me and we drove all over H'ville. We went to Sear's to take back my Land's End purchase, and to Walmart for some Velcro tie wraps for Frank, and to Dick's sporting goods store for some tubing for Frank, and to two thrift stores where Trudy got some clothes and the 2nd one I got two blouses. We ate lunch at Chic-fil-e and saw Sadie working. We went back at 2 PM when she got off work and visited while she ate lunch. We had a great time roaming around.

The Honda place had to order the part and had the car all day. The guy who checked us out said they had about 200 cars a day and that they had about 25 mechanics working there. Trudy's Honda CR-V drives good. She took it by one of George's friend who looked at it and told what things were wrong with it. I hope it will live up to the Honda name and will be a good car for them.

Usual Monday Stuff

Janet is gone on vacation and Cynthia was subbing for exercise. She doesn't give us much time to rest like Janet does. We really get a real work-out.

I went to the pharmacy and then to Spry's funeral home for some information. The man I saw told me to go to Rose Lawn cemetery to purchase a lot. They are $600.00 for two and that's what we paid for the two in Thatch-Mann. I hope they will trade the two lots in Thatch-Mann for two in Rose Lawn. For a paid-in-full funeral at Spry's, it will cost $5,173.00 for  one. Opening and closing the grave is $400.00 so for $1,000.00 we could have the two plots and the opening and closing of the grave paid for. I think we'll just pay for the graves now and worry about the grave digging later.

After lunch, we did Frank's exercises. I put on the 2 1/2 lb weights too and did what Frank was doing. I got a double dose of exercise today. I did eat a few M&M's after lunch. Maybe I worked them off.

I'll meet Trudy tomorrow when I take the car to the Honda place in H'ville. The cruse control doesn't work and the intermediate on the windshield wipers doesn't work. They sound like small problems but I bet it will cost an arm and a leg, plus while they have the car back there, they will find other problems that need fixing. Trudy and I plan to go shopping. I need to go to Dick's and get some red tubing with handles and we need to stop by Sear's and take back a Land's End tote I ordered that was too big. I need to go to Walmart and get some acid brushes for Frank. He's found some dirt at the bottom of the toothbrush holder and he wants to get it out. I just ignore dirt that's hard to get at. What I don't see doesn't hurt me. 

Saturday

Trudy left early this morning. Sadie was having a party at her house tonight and she wanted her Mom there with her. She was having a few friends over and they were going to watch a movie.

Trudy and George went looking for cars today and found a 2001 Honda CR-V with about 135,000 miles on it. They got it for $4200.00 and have some money left over to fix the cracked windshield and a few other minor repairs. She drove over here this afternoon to show it to us. It's extremely clean on the inside. It has a rough ride compared to our Accord but that's to be expected. They are very happy to have enough cars for everyone. They have 4 cars. Sadie needs one to drive to Seminary and to work. Forrest is paying for his and needs it for work. George drives his truck and now Trudy has the Honda.

Friday, we went to the Limestone Memorial Gardens to look at cemetery lots. For two, it was about $4,000.00. The VA would pay for Frank's bronze marker. I liked the idea about being buried in the veterans area but today Frank wants to look else where. Monday, I'll go by Spry's Funeral Home and check on prearrangement and get a list of cemeteries. We had two plots in the Thatch-Mann cemetery for $600.00 but decided not to be buried there. We could give the lots to the cemetery to go for poor people who wouldn't have a place to be buried otherwise. Or we could advertize in the paper. 

Nothing

I've done nothing all day. I guess I've done a few things but nothing to write about. I washed my sheets and some towels and the washing machine didn't get all of the water out of the things on spin cycle so I had to dry them over. I practiced the piano. The Christmas song is giving me troubles. I think I'm just trying to go too fast too soon. Trudy called and said Sadie was going out with the Sister missionaries tonight so she wouldn't be coming over today but would come over tomorrow and spend the night.

Tomorrow morning we are going to the cemetery to look at lots. I'll go to exercise and then come home and get Frank and we'll go. We have an appointment for 10 AM. Trudy will come in the afternoon. I don't like days when I don't have anything to do.

My Land's End tote came in today but it is way too large so I'll take it back to Sear's. I have some material to cover a new pillow that Karen is going to help me with. Ken can get some foam from work and we can make a pillow with that. I use the pillow while seated at the piano and the one I have is too long.

Sister Everet is going to be gone Sunday and has asked me to fill in for her in Primary. I hate to miss Sunday School and Relief Society but I need to help out in Primary too.

New Equiptment

After exercise, I went by the bank and then to Walmart to wait for Hibbit's Sports to open at 10 AM. They didn't have what I wanted and suggested I try Academy Sports and I drove to Madison. They had an 8 lb exercise ball and I got two 4 lb hand weights. Frank was using 3 lb weights and I thought he could do with 4 lb. We have two 5 lb weights but that might be too much for right now. We did the exercises after lunch. I do some with him and it will help me get stronger. On the way home, I stopped by the car wash and got the car cleaned. I love how they clean the inside windows. It cost $12.00 which is not a bad price. The other, newer car wash is $5.00 for the basic wash and you get to use the vacuum cleaners free, but for an extra $7.00, I get the insides cleaned too. I like that.

Janet gave me a pink light bulb for breast cancer awareness. I don't know what I'll do with it but I appreciated it.

The pork roast I re-cooked got done but is a bit tough for me. Frank didn't complain, but he usually doesn't. I might try to grind the rest up in my mini food processor. Then I could at least chew it. I think I'm going to give up on pork, period.

I bought another 5 drawer plastic container for my jewelry. My entire dresser top is mostly filled with these plastic drawer containers. I can't stop buying earrings and necklaces and I need a place to put them. I'm giving my elegant jewelry box to Trudy. She'll be over after her PT tomorrow.

I'm getting a hair cut tomorrow afternoon.

Dad doesn't want to be buried in Hazel Green so  I called Limestone Memorial Gardens and asked the price of two burial plots. They were $2,295.00 with the vaults already in the ground. The vaults cost $290.00 a piece. We can pay 10% down and take up to 60 months to pay. It will be in the Veterans section. I like that better than Hazel Green. It's a nice cemetery and close to Athens. Trudy didn't want us buried in the black cemetery we had bought plots in. The two plots cost $600.00 so it was a bargain but with civil unrest, being buried there might present problems. The cemetery in Hazel Green is close to Trudy and is pretty but the Athens Ward will be burying us and it will be good to be close to home.

Tuesday

Slow morning. Cooked a prepared meatloaf for lunch and it was pretty good. Cooked a port roast for supper and I cooked it 25 minutes per pound and it was 2 pounds but it still was half raw so I cooked it another 45 minutes. Watch it be over cooked now. I don't have good luck with pork.

I got the sewing machine out and sewed the tops of Dad's socks where he had cut them to make them not so tight on his ankles. I hope it helps because my zigzag stitch was a bit loose.

Tomorrow I have exercise and have to go to the bank. Frank's walking some without the rollator. The exercises are helping him. We'll try to do them 3 times this week.

Monday

Silver Sneakers was fun. Janet had given everyone a paper last Friday when I was gone. I got a copy of it today. She thanked me by name for introducing her to the class and "allowing me to continue teaching it". I was so glad to find out that she would take over for me when I had my surgery and I wanted her to continue after I came back. She has done a wonderful job of making the senior exercise program as good as it is now.

I stopped by the pharmacy but the Rx couldn't be filled until next Monday. I had to go by the bank and change an account and get some printed copies of the bank statements, for the lawyer we'll see next week. I had to also stop by the court houses to get a tax assessment and a deed to the house, but I think they gave me a deed to the land instead. I'll find out when Trudy and I see the lawyer. I went to Staples to get some large and long rubber bands and then to Walmart for grocery shopping.

I arranged the legal papers when I got home and added to what I had. I think I'm ready to see the lawyer now.

I bought another 3 drawer plastic container to use as a jewelry case and emptied the jewelry box-on-legs (it's a French name that I can't spell) and now it is ready to give to Trudy. We're thinking of bringing the desk that is in her room up and put it in my room. It would just collect "stuff" but it might be a good idea.

General Conference

I was so tired after all my activity Friday that I slept through some of the talks and wasn't very attentive to the others. My mind hasn't been receptive so I guess it was tired too. I took a shower this morning and have worn my Muumuu all day. Didn't even put on make-up but did wear a new pair of hoop earrings! Love the earrings.

Got a letter from the lawyer Trudy and I are going to see next week. It will cost $250.00 an hour. Connie Glass is her name and she is an Elder Care lawyer. It's mainly about estate planning but we don't have much of an estate to plan. Trudy will be the executor of the will and I will need to get a durable power of attorney but I don't know what else there needs to be done. I have to find copies of bank statements and the banks don't send out statements anymore so I guess I'll have to go by the banks and get a statement on paper. I'll need the deed to our car and I got a deed to our house Friday. Frank and I will have to get into the fining cabinet and try to find things.

We have an account at Compass bank that the Social Security goes into that the bank says is a savings account and I have been writing checks on it. I'll have to go to the bank Monday and have them change it to a regular checking account. I pay the tithing out of it and anything that I think should come out of it. So much comes out of the main account at Regions automatically that I don't always know how much money is in the account and I use the Compass account to fall back on.

Golorous Day

Trudy was here when Ruth called and said she was almost to Athens and I left to meet her. We met at the Walmart parking lot and got into her van and went to the court house. I needed to get a copy of the deed to our house but it wasn't at the old court house on the square but was at the building on Clinton St. We just walked there. The Probate Court office was on the 2nd floor and I told the secretary what I wanted and for $5.00 I got it. We walked back to the square and ate at the Casa Blanca. It was nice food but it was too much food. After eating, we went to the Center for Lifetime Learning on the square and met John who is an author and brought Ruth the book he had written. We had a nice visit with him and his wife and then we went back to the van and went looking for a parking space for the Fiddler's Convention. We walked around and around and bought some things and got some Kettle Corn and a drink and found a seat for the musical show. The band was better than last year and the show was 45 minutes long. We both bought a 4 CD package of the band for $20.00 and then left. I was a bit worried about leaving Frank for that long a time but Trudy was still here when I got home. The man who put the TV on the wall mount came at 12:30 PM. I thought maybe Trudy had gone home but her family had gone on a Ward temple trip and nobody would be home for her. She decided to spend the night again tonight and go home early in the morning. She has people coming over for breakfast tomorrow morning so she will be up by 6 AM.

We had fun tonight swapping clothes.  She found a gray-black jacket she liked in the closet downstairs and she wanted to borrow it, but I told her she could have it. Then she was looking the the jewelry I bought at the Fiddler's Convention and I opened the big jewelry case and found lots of pieces of jewelry to give her. I would like to empty the big case out and give it to her but I'll have to buy some more containers to put what in the case that I want to keep. It'll take time to do it. We had fun swapping clothes and jewlery.

Thursday

I washed some of the new clothes I got and hung them up. Frank had a follow up eye appointment this afternoon at 2 PM. All went well there. He used his two canes to walk instead of the rollator which was nice for me. I didn't have to put the rollator in and out of the trunk.

Ruth will be up tomorrow around 11 AM. Trudy is here to spend the night and will go with me to meet Ruth and have lunch with us. After lunch, she will come back here and wait with Frank for the men from Sam's to put his TV on the wall mount. Ruth and I will go to the Fiddler's Convention. It's a tradition that we go together each year and it's fun. We always get a big bag of Kettle Corn but this year I think I'll just get a small bag to eat while I'm there. If I bring any home, Frank will want to eat it and it has sugar in it. His blood sugar has been pretty good lately even when I forgot to put the metformin in his meds. The bottle was out of it's place and I didn't notice it until most of the week was gone.

Bubba has a geology reunion in Tuscaloosa this week-end so he won't be with us at the Fiddler's Convention. He doesn't really enjoy walking around looking at the crafts like Ruth and I do so he'll have more fun where he'll be.

Paperwhite

My new Kindle came in today. It's somewhat smaller than my 2nd Kindle. The 1st Kindle went bad on me and that's why I have a 2nd one. Now, I'm on my 3rd Kindle. It's the paperwhite and it's a touch screen. I've got to study the instructions in order to learn how to operate it. I wish it came with written-on-paper instructions, but it's all in the Kindle. I have a challenge in learning how to operate it. To connect to the WY-fy, it needed a password for the Layton Family and I didn't know it. I called Trudy and she saved the day for she knew it. I then got into the Kindle. Now for the studying.

Trip

After exercise, I went by Jody's Optical and bought Ruth a bracelet and then I stopped by Hardee's and got a Coke and headed for H'ville. I took back two items to Sears and stopped by Kohl's in Madison to take back a skirt. I shopped around and found a blouse that matches my green skirt and a few other pull-overs. I got a necklace and earrings. It not the one I've envisioned in my mind and maybe I'll be able to find it at the Fiddler's Convention Friday. I did hear that we might have rain for the week-end and I hope it won't ruin the festivities.

Mon-Tuesday

I woke up late Monday morning and didn't go to exercise. I went to H'ville to Sear's for some reason, oh, to take back some orders from Land's End. I then had to shop in the Ladies dept. and got two skirts, a green one and a Navy one. Tomorrow, Wednesday, after exercise, I'll go back to Sear's to take back a pair of pants I got for Frank and a shirt that I didn't try on and it wasn't big enough. I have a skirt to take back to Kohl's since I got a Navy one from Sear's. I think I have enough clothes now and hope the urge to buy goes away for a while.

Today, Tuesday, I practiced the piano and Janet came for Frank's exercise. He's not going to do the bike anymore and will do step-ups on the stairs instead. Tomorrow, I'll go to exercise and then to H'ville to take the things back to Sear's and Khol's.

Friday, I think Bubba and Ruth will come up for lunch and then we'll go to the Fiddler's Convention. We love to walk around and see all the vendors and what they have for sale. I especially like the jewelry. I have an idea for a necklace that I want and maybe I'll find it there.

Friday, Sam's is coming over to put up Frank's TV on the wall mount. They probably think they have to install the wall mount but all they have to do is put it on the mount that's already on the wall and plug it in. I'll be gone during this time.

Saturday

Got up late. Helped Frank do his exercises and it took about an hour. Then I practiced the piano an hour and came upstairs. The Relief Society is having a dinner tonight and watching the RS Conference after supper. Karen asked me to go with her. It will be enjoyable. Will have to wear Sunday clothes.. I've got enough new clothes to last all winter, but that was what I was aiming for.

Frank is doing better. He started down the hall without his rollator today. I had to remind him to get it. It shouldn't be long 'til he can walk with out any help.

Trip With Trudy

Trudy came over and spent the night with us so I could go to the temple. The trip was great. Brenda C. went with us so it was me, Brenda and Ken and Karen.

This morning Frank and I and Trudy went to Athens pharmacy to pick up Frank's diabetic shoes. Frank and Trudy were going to get a flu shot but they didn't have them in yet. Wednesday, I got one at the senior center. We usually get them at Athens pharmacy but this year I found them giving them away at the senior center. I just had to show my Medicare card.

After lunch, Trudy and I drove separate cars to Khol's for me to take back the blouse I bought that was too large. I found a navy blue skirt and got Trudy a shirt she liked. I think I now have enough skirts for the winter. I look forward to going to bed early tonight.

Wednesday night

I was fine while I was lying in bed for an hour watching TV. Then my right leg began to be restless. I couldn't lie still and had to keep moving that leg. I don't know what is wrong with it. I call it restless leg. Frank rubbed the leg but that didn't help any. I took 1/2 more Halcion and an Ativan plus an Ultram to kill the pain or restlessness but nothing so far has helped. It's 12 AM now and I'm still up. I took my sleep meds at 9 PM but they didn't work. This stinks.

I want to go to Khol's to take back a shirt that is too big and get another one in it's place. I have to take back a CD player to Walmart. The one I bought from Amazon came in today. It's small and just fit the place I cleaned off for it. It took 8 c batteries. I will use it to play my CD's on Saturday nights when football is on the radio and I need music to go to sleep with.

I'll try once more to get in bed and relax. Hopefully, I will be successful in going to sleep now.

Sam's

After exercise and picking up Frank's permission slip, I left town and went to H'ville to Sam's Club to get a receipt for the new TV. I didn't know what I had done with the original receipt and we need a receipt number in order to have it installed. After I left Sam's, I went to Khol's to take back a shirt and a pair of earrings Mary Kate had bought me. They gave me a store credit and I turned around and bought two pair of earrings with it. Then, I went looking through the clothes.

I found a black and white patterned jacket and a gray skirt and a coat-top that goes with the skirt and a few other things. I have one pull over that I didn't try on and will have to take back and get another size. Mostly, I'm an XL in some things and a L in others. My love for medium Cokes from Hardee's will boost me up to am XLL if I don't watch out. They only cost $1.09 and you get a lot and they are soooo good. Of course, I like the sugar and the caffeine, which gives me a boost mentally and physically.

I get to go to the Temple tomorrow night. Trudy is coming over at 2:30 PM and will stay with Frank. We'll leave around 3:15 PM and get home at midnight. It'll be good to go again. Trudy has two names for me to take with me. Aunts Stella and Billy somehow got left out when I did the work for Dad's family. It would be nice to feel their presence tomorrow night. I'll probably get a smack in the head for getting their work done so late.

Bank

We went to the bank, Compass, and made a transaction, and then stopped by Dr Walker's office to see if he had the permission slip ready. He didn't then, but called later to say it was ready.

Janet came out and worked with Frank. I think the hour of exercises wore him out, but it's helping him.

Frank wants Sam's to come out and put his new TV on the wall mount. We called but they needed the receipt number and I had lost the receipt. The lady said Sam's would issue another one, so tomorrow, I will go to H'ville to Sam's to get one. The TV is sitting on the dresser right now and he wants it mounted on the wall again like the last one . I wanted to stop by Kohl's in Madison to take back two things that Mary Kate bought for me. A nice pull over top that was too big and a pair of earrings that were too heavy. So I'll stop by Kohl's on the way back from H'ville. I've ordered a skirt that the earrings would look good with but they are a bit heavy. Perhaps I will be able to find some that aren't as heavy.

Usual Monday Things

Had a good Silver Sneakers work-out. Went by Allstate to confirm a payment every 6 months and then stopped by Dr Walker's office to drop off a note asking for permission for Frank to work out with Janet. Then to Walmart to buy groceries.

I bought a CD player, came home and set it up. Then got on Amazon and bought a smaller one, so I had to box up the one from Walmart and will take it back. I don't know why I don't think of Amazon the first time I want to buy something. If it's Prime, I'll get it in two days. I also got a charging chord for my Kindle paperwhite. Watch it come with one. I get too eager to spend my money.

Frank gave me some money and I have to go to the bank tomorrow and have it transferred from his account into mine. I also have to practice the new music I just got on Sunday and Janet comes to exercise with Frank. I should keep busy tomorrow.

Just the Two of Us

Trudy and Sadie left around 7 AM. Sadie had to work today. She  doesn't like the fast food work but isn't ready to quit yet. She and I went shopping at Khol's yesterday and I paid for her clothes. I was tired this morning so went back to bed and didn't get up until 11:00 AM. I cooked some more food for today and tomorrow and Monday. Can't remember what I did the rest of the day, Oh, I practiced the piano. The choir sings tomorrow. There's a new piece for Christmas that I need to practice on. It's a big production with organ, bells, piano and choir. They did it last year but I had my hip operation then so I missed it.

I ordered a sweater and skirt from Land's End today and a pair of pants from Goody's. I need to stop buying clothes but it is so much fun.

Friday?

I last posted Monday. I guess I get on Facebook and forget to blog.

Trudy and Sadie came over last night and spent the night and day with us. They decided to stay one more night . I took Sadie to Madison to Khol's to buy some exercise clothing. I bought two pull overs to match two skirts I have.

When we left to go shopping, Trudy and Dad were trying to install the new TV we got for his room. When we got back, they had it installed and working. Now Dad can watch TV in his room instead of having to read all the time.

This morning early, I noticed that the boys hadn't taken the garbage out for us, so I changed clothes and went out to take it out to the road. While I was walking down the ramp, I saw Bobby walking over. He was coming to get the garbage. He said he had to remind the boys and I guess he realized they hadn't gotten it, so he came over to do it. It's really kind of him to do it even though his grandsons should do it. Brenda volunteered them to help us with the garbage a couple of years ago and it surely helps us out. It's not too bad when I have to do it because of the large pink garbage can I got. It will hold two weeks of garbage but does get a little heavy to roll with that much stuff in it.

I haven't practiced the piano all week. I'll try to make up for it tomorrow. Trudy and Sadie will leave tomorrow morning. She washed clothes for me today, so I can practice tomorrow without having anything else to do.

Monday Activites

Had a good exercise. Stopped by the pharmacy and drove through town to see if the shoe shop was open and it wasn't. Stopped by Jody's Optical to pick up Frank's glasses. They cost $165.00 for just the lenses! The progressive lenses are expensive but that's all I'll use, they are so good. But Frank won't be wearing his glasses enough to have spent that much money on them. Then on to Walmart to buy groceries. I checked on TV prices and got a new blind for the kitchen window.

Trudy called and said that she and Sadie will be over Thursday night and then on Friday, Sadie will go shopping at Kohl's for some exercise clothes. She is exercising with Trudy's friend, Mela. It will be fun having them both here.

Lance came to cut the grass and trim the bushes. The yard looks nice now and the butterfly bushes aren't up against the ramp, and the Holly bushes aren't so large and out of control. Next time, I'll show him how far I want them cut back. I really wanted them cut way back maybe to three feet tall, but they look better now than they did.

Activities for Saurday

Trudy had spent the night Friday night. We decided to clean off Dad's computer bed and took about an hour to do it. We threw away three white garbage bags full of papers and what-nots. I changed the sheet and the bed looks like a regular bed now instead of being piled high with "stuff". I don't know if he'll ever get back on the computer or not, but now, at least, he can get on the bed.

The power went off for a second last week and it took away the sound on Frank's TV. A Direct TV technician came out today and looked at it but he couldn't get the sound to come on. I guess it's broken and we will have to get a new TV for his room.

Today I was released from being the Primary pianist (after about 4-5 years) and called to be the pianist in Relief Society. Pat and Mike are back in our Ward and I sat with her in RS. Shelley taught the lesson and it was good. In Sunday School, we are studying the Doctrine and Covenants and I brought my triple with me so I had my scriptures, but I want to know if there are any study materials that I can get so I can be prepared when I go in there. Karen said to use my kindle for the scriptures, or the iPad, but I don't have the knowledge to use them. I can handle the books of scripture but now the electronic wonders.

Our Home Teachers came over this afternoon. Ann called and we will go VT this week. We can get two sisters then.

Trudy

We went to Athens Pharmacy to pick up Frank's diabetic shoes. They look like the same shoes he's been wearing for years. He will be wearing them in the house to see if they fit, if not we can take them back. Hopefully, they will fit.

Trudy came over after lunch. We had an eye appointment at 2 PM. Frank went to my optometrist at Jody's Optical. He's eyes had changed some, plus his optic nerve was large and that may mean glaucoma so we have to go back in 3 weeks for more tests. The pressure in his eyes is okay but he has other risk factors that call for the other tests.

At 4 PM,  Trudy and I went out to find Trudy a new pair of shoes. She found a pair at The Shoe Factory and then we went to Goody's. Trudy found a pair of jeans and two shirts she likes. I got two blouses and a pull- over. I didn't try them on until I got home and now they will have to go back. I need an x-large in the pull- over and the other two blouses will just go back. I did see a lot of fall clothes that I liked and may go back Tuesday, the old people's sale day, and look some more. I like Goody's clothes.

Water Pic

The water pic I bought Frank from Walmart leaked so I drove to Madison to Target. Frank had called Water Pic and they said check Target and Bed, Bath, and Beyond. The target in Madison didn't have one with a basin so I got a  hand held version. I drove on into H'ville to the Target store. I had forgotten that the Bed, Bath and Beyond had moved to Bridge St. The H'ville Target store had the Water Pic with the basin so I got it. I was too tired to stop back by the Madison Target and take back the one I got there. Those stores are BIG and I had done a lot of walking. I'll either use it or take it back later.

Didn't sleep well last night. I'm trying to get off ativan and I wake up at 3 AM and can't get back to sleep. I was going to read but my eyes wouldn't cooperate so I took a whole ativan and all the sharp, pointy things in my brain went away and I rested. Don't know if I went back to sleep or not but I got up feeling rested. The body just doesn't want to let go of the drugs it's been used to for so long. If this keeps up, I'll call Dr Sharp about it and see what he recommends.

I ordered a new pair of shoes from Stage Stores. I don't know if they are cross trainers or not. Mary Kate said cross trainers were the sturdy kind to get. I ordered a size 8 and knew they would be wide enough. They are blue with a turquoise tongue and bright pink laces and white soles. They have gel on the insides and are comfortable. I have to loosen the laces on the left shoe because my left foot is 1/2 size wider than my right, plus I have a bunion on my left foot and if the laces are too tight, I have pain in that foot. Looking at both feet, the right shoe is laced up nicely with a long bow tie but the left shoe has wide laces and a tiny bow tie. I'm glad to have feet no matter how strange they are.

PT

Frank was released from PT today. The PT filled out the release forms. No telling how much the total cost will be. I think it's been 8 weeks running. The ladies have been really nice.

Exercise was nice today. Janet brought in some jewelry she had she didn't want anymore and let us have some. I got a green, turquoise-like earrings and necklace. We have a large, 20 or more people, group that comes. The Silver Sneakers program has really helped attendance.

Janet is going to come over at 2 PM on Tuesdays to work out with Frank. Hopefully, he can get stronger.

Glasses

I went to exercise Monday and then bought groceries and I forgot to pick up my glasses at Jody's Optical. I had had my eyes checked to make sure my prescription was correct and then I wanted to have some reading glasses made so I could see the print in the Ensign better.

Tuesday, I went into town and picked them up. I haven't tried them yet but will tonight.

I was checking books on Amazon and saw an advertizement for a Kindle Paperwhite. I read about it and decided I wanted one. It's an upgrade to the Kindle I have now and it has a lot of features that I liked so I ordered one. The case and screen savers will come tomorrow but the Kindle won't come until October, I believe.

Saturday

Got up at 6:30 AM for no reason at all. Frank got up early, too so after breakfast and Fox News, we went back to bed.

Frank missed PT Friday because we were out with the birds, so she came today at 1:30 PM. He only has two visit next week and he'll be dismissed from the PT. I need to email Janet and let her know when PT is going to be over so she can plan to come and work with Frank with weights.

After supper, we played three games of checkers. I lost the first game but won the next two. It's blind luck as far as I'm concerned, but it was fun. I can't sit any longer on the little white table than 3 games.

I washed two loads today and practiced the piano. Made some barley soup that we had for supper and will have for lunch tomorrow. I was getting tired of the bean, tomato and ground chicken meal that I have been fixing lately. Look forward to church tomorrow.

Bird Vet

Frank went with me to carry the birds to the bird vet in Hartselle. It was a fun trip. Frank hadn't seen Dr Jan in 13 years. He had gotten too sick to drive with me when I had to take the birds down. Everyone was healthy. That's good since I haven't been spraying them regularly. Gert was the only one to get his wings clipped. The others hadn't grown their wing feathers out.

We forgot to get the garbage out last night. Good thing we have the large garbage can so it will hold two weeks of garbage. I need to get the brownies out of the freezer and give them to Shane. He usually takes our garbage out for us and I try to make him brownies to say, "Thank you".

I'm tired tonight. I don't have anything to do tomorrow except laundry and practicing the piano. I think I'll cook some barley soup. I'm sort of tired of what we've been eating and need to fix something else. 

?

I thought I had written more times that it shows I have. Maybe not.

I got my eyes checked today. The prescription hadn't changed much. I won't need new glasses but I am getting some new reading glasses put into an old frame I already had. It's costing about $65.00 with the old frame. No sense getting new frames just to wear to read at home.

Trudy came over and is spending the night with us tonight. She'll leave at 7:30 AM. I'll leave for exercise a little after 8 AM. I can pick up my glasses tomorrow  while I'm in town.

We're still waiting to see if we go to war in Syria. A lot of people are against it but if Congress gives the President permission to go to war, then he will and before it's over we'll have boots on the ground fighting in Syria's civil war. It's a mess.

8:00 AM

Didn't wake up 'til 8 AM today. I will have to set my alarm tonight for that was too late to get up. I didn't have any where to go. Just didn't like getting up that late.

I had written some things that were politically incorrect and had to delete them. We have to rely on the government too much as it is.

We got the grass cut today. Lance said he was a day early but was trying to get it cut so there wouldn't be so much dead grass piled up on top of the cut grass. I noticed a dead limb on the grass in the lower orchard I need to go out and drag to the burn pile. I think next year I'll have the Crape Myrtles pruned for they aren't blooming  well this year. I need to check on the apples and see who they are. George and Sadie may want them if there are a lot.

Staples

I had a $10.50 coupon from Staples and I got a new letter opener and 3 ball point pens and was owed $.31! Trudy had given us a pen and I liked it and she told me it came from Staples. I thought the pens would be $6.00 or more and no telling what the letter opener would cost, but I walked out of the store being owed $.31! I went on to Walmart for some milk and then came home.

Frankie came around 6 PM for his reunion. He stayed for 30 minutes. He looked up the place where the reunion was being held. It was at Yesterdays. That's not too far from here. He thought he'd be home around 10 PM and will call if he stays out later. He'll leave after I go to church in the morning.

My left toe is getting really red. I may have an ingrown toenail. It doesn't hurt yet and I'm putting off soaking it and digging around in it to cure it. Maybe tomorrow...

Monday is Labor Day. We have no plans. It'll be just like another day for us. Sounds exciting, doesn't it?

New Brace

I cleaned out the bathroom closet a while back and threw away two hand splints I had used for when I had carpal tunnel in both hands. Today, I bought a new hand brace for the carpal tunnel has come back in my left hand. I bet it would get better if I would loose 5 lbs but I can't do that so I'll just wear a brace. If it interferes with my piano playing, then I'll have to have something done about it, but for now, I'll just put up with it.

Went to town to get the brace and made an appointment to get my eyes checked. I want new reading glasses and thought the prescription might have changed so I'll get my eyes checked. I stopped by Collin's Supply and bought a multimeter so Frank can check our batteries. I need to get some 9V batteries and since I'll be in town tomorrow, I'll get them then.

Sadie got a job at a Chick-Falay today. I don't know how to spell it yet...She is going to drive Trudy over here tomorrow for a visit. It'll be en experience for her and she will be able to buy things with her pay check.

Frankie will be coming in Saturday afternoon. Rachel's dad and step-mother are coming for a visit so she won't be coming.

Slow Day

I got up too late to go to exercise so slept in. Got up and showered and got dressed. Practiced the new music I got Sunday. It's not too hard but I still have to get the notes down and learn the pieces. They are hymn renditions and are pretty.

I put the batteries back into the carbon monoxide detector and it didn't "beep" so I put it back on the wall. Now to get some more batteries so I can see if I can get the smoke detector to work. I got a new smoke detector but I don't know how to make it work. Why do they make things like that so complicated? All one should have to do is put the battery in and hang it on the wall.

Trudy is coming over tomorrow. Sadie will drive her. She's having a slow time healing from her back operation. I have to vacuum and dust downstairs tomorrow or Friday so it will be fresh for when Frankie and Rachel come.

H'ville

We went to the pain clinic today. Frank's down to 2 pills a day on his Rx and the nurse gave us the regular prescription which aught to be enough to last 8 weeks with what I have left over. So far, he's done good with just 2 pills a day. He doesn't seem to have as much pain as he once was. We stopped at Burger King in Athens and got Whoppers for lunch.

I thought the grass looked long for it only being Tuesday and while we were watching TV, I heard someone cutting their lawn. I got up to see if it was the next door neighbor and found it was Lance cutting our grass! I was thinking we would get it cut the week-end but it had been 6 days since it was last cut. No wonder the grass looked long. It was time for it to be cut.

Exercise

The senior center was re-doing the gym floors so we had exercise in the small room. It was fun. I went to Walmart for some groceries afterwards. Came home and cooked lunch. We had some kale greens and they are so good. I don't cook them with any seasoning and they still are excellent.

I got some new music Sunday and I practiced on it while the clothes were washing. Now, I have to go down and get them out of the dryer.

Frank's doing well. He's been reading the Westerns I got him. He reads better now and he seems to be holding his own. The Lord is making my burdens light.