Saturday, August 6, 2016

Saturday Morning and Rain

I am delighted we got some rain last night. We really needed it and it had been all around us but never on us...just a few sprinkles.

Missy, on the other hand, is not all that thrilled. She can't roam off the carport or she will get wet. So..so far, she is just lying on her little white mat and enjoying being out of the apartment.  I feel so sorry for this old cat. She used to have the run of the area outside over on Catalina where we used to live.  I can't do that here or she might get hurt again.

Today should be a quiet day and I am ready for one. I hope to vacuum the apartment after breakfast.  I will have to put Missy's bathmat from under her litter box back in the laundry. She missed the litter box  again last night and got urine on the mat.

In about an hour, I will pick up Bob for breakfast at Sirloin Stockade.  In the meantime, I had one cup of coffee and loaded my meds into the little black box I keep in my purse. I will take them after breakfast.

I slept well last night but got up before 5:00. As I was cleaning up Missy's litter box this morning and began to straighten up, something in the muscle of my back  strained and I had a sharp pain. I went ahead and gingerly made my bed and kept moving and it appears to have worked itself out. I hope.

My son, Keith, called me last night and we talked until he turned toward his home. He often loses the signal then. He is so good about calling. Scott is very busy with Jerod there this month so I don't hear from him as often at this time. 

More later....

I read all afternoon and finished the book Gay sent home with me. I also got the apartment vacuumed and went to Wal Mart and bought $75.00 worth of groceries. I was out of a lot of expensive stuff like cat litter and cat food and laundry detergent and bleach...not much food. I also had to buy a new hand mixer. We do bake cakes this next week.

Bob came over about 5:15 and we had some more of Karan's watermelon. It is good but there is a lot of it.  He stayed until 7:00 and then since there's really nothing on TV that either of us are interested in, he went home.  I took my bath and Missy and I went to bed about 9:00.

Friday, August 5, 2016

Friday and to Parsons for the Funeral

Today will be pretty hectic. After breakfast, when it gets light, I will take Missy out to the carport for awhile and do my watering. At 8:00, I think the florist, Green Acres, opens and I will go get some flowers for the funeral from the church. We will take them with us and take them to the funeral home before we go to lunch.

At 8:40, I will pick up Bob for exercise class. Afterward, we may go to Utopia for coffee and a cinnamon roll.  Then I will take Bob home and we will change our clothes and pick up the folder with the service and the flowers and leave for Parsons. When we get there, we will take the flowers to the funeral home and go eat lunch. We will go back to the funeral home at 1:00 and the funeral is at 2:00.

Following the funeral we will go to the cemetery for the last few remarks and a song. It should be very hot by then!

It will be quite a day.

More later...

Well, I was right  about one thing. It WAS quite a day! I picked up the flowers at 8:25 and took them to my apartment and then I picked up Bob for exercises.  After exercises, we went to Utopia for coffee and a cinnamon roll.  Then I took Bob home so he could change his clothes to dress clothes and I cam home to do the same.  Then we drove to Parsons and left the flowers at the funeral home and went to Ernesto's for lunch. Afterward, we went to the funeral home for the family/friends gathering at 1:00.

I don't believe I have ever done a more disorganized funeral. It's as though the funeral director did not know what he was doing.  I had offered him a copy of the order of service on Tuesday, when he called me. I thought he might put it in the bulletin. But he said I could bring it to the family/friends meeting at 1:00. I did that. He quickly made a couple of copies of it and gave them to the two folks who were going to sing. I had no idea when he was going to seat us or even where. He didn't introduce me to the singers so I hunted them up and introduced myself to them myself.

Finally after the first hour, he began to seat the family in preparation for the actual funeral at 2:00.  I have done dozens of funerals over the years but that one was the most unorganized. Bob read the obit after welcoming everyone and I said a prayer.  Then I gave my funeral sermon beginning with relevant scripture and then telling some of the amusing stories the family had shared with me on Tuesday when I met with them.  Finally I got into my message. It went fine. Then we drove to Thayer for the interment.  It was 98 degrees out there. It was a military service at first and I got Bob under some shade before he was overcome with heat.  After my poem and a prayer, we finally finished at 3:30 and drove home. We got home about 4:15 and I took Bob home. He was exhausted. He is used to a nap. He wanted to go with me though. He didn't think I should go by myself. I appreciated that.

He came over at 5:15 and we watched the news. At 7:00, he left. He was very tired. He had sat down in his recliner at home after I took him home and immediately had fallen asleep. It was a huge day.

I've taken my bath and now will watch TV with Missy until 9:00 when we will go to bed. 

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Thursday and Laundry

I slept well again last night.This morning after I got my bed stripped and the sheets in the washer, I fed myself and Missy and as soon as I finished the crossword puzzle and it got light, we went out on the carport. She is being good again this morning and lying on her white mat enjoying the outside. I watered the flowers and cleaned some spots off my crops. She remained good...so far. I never count on Missy behaving. Sometimes when  I get busy with this blog, she decides to sneak off.

Today. will try to get some housework done.  I will be gone a lot tomorrow. Bob and I will go on to exercise class, probably skip the cinnamon roll and coffee and come back to change our clothes for the funeral. I need to figure out what to wear tomorrow. I notice I have lost five pounds again.

We will have chicken tenders and fried potatoes today with a veggie and coleslaw. I still have watermelon that Karan gave me for dessert.

We will eat lunch over at Parsons tomorrow. Sunday we plan to go over to "Just Us" and Monday  I have invited Marilyn and Karan here for lunch again. We will have meatloaf and boiled potatoes and a veggie. Bob will bring another coleslaw and Karan will bring dessert. As usual, on Tuesday, I will go to Independence for my hair appointment and we will take cakes to the First Christian Church again on the 9th and we will eat at Big Cheese.

I will worry about next Wednesday later....it will probably be another casserole dish unless I find some pork cutlets or something else interesting at Country Mart.

More later...

I brought Missy in at 8:00. She had been out two hours and it was beginning to get hot. We are sitting here in the den. I got my bed remade after washing and drying my sheets. Now I am just killing some time. It's only 9:00. I may go up to Country Mart and see what kind of meat they have for next week. I really need hamburger patties but I always get those at Peck's in Dewey and I haven't been down there since the before the first of the month when I took Karan with me.

So more later...

I mostly just stayed in out of the heat today and read the book Gay sent home with me. Bob said his car gauge said it was 102. I did get the kitchen and bathroom cleaned but didn't do any vacuuming. I will vacuum on Saturday afternoon. I did find some pork tenders at Country Mart and we will have them sometime next week....maybe Tuesday.  

Bob came over at 5:00 and I fixed some popcorn while we watched the news. He left at 6:00 and I took my bath and Missy and I sat in the recliner until 9:00 when we went to bed. It was kind of a dull day. But I needed a dull day. Tomorrow will be very busy.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Wednesday and Exercises Again and Bunco

Today, I hope, will be a day for me. I slept well last night. One reason was that I had been up since 1:00 or so the night before. I finally got my checkbook balanced. That was a huge relief. Then I got myself ready for the day and fed myself and Missy. After awhile, I will go to exercise class and then come home and fix lunch.  Then at 1:00, I will go to Bunco at the senior center.

After that, I will come home and relax.

Missy is being good this morning...lying here on the carport on her little mat. I hope it lasts. I am tired of chasing her around to keep her from roaming.  I have watered my plants and the tomato plant. I got a few more of those cherry tomatoes off it and put them in the frig.

We will have tuna patties and boiled potatoes with a veggie this noon at lunch. Bob has salad in my frig. I hope it stayed fresh.  I have some pudding and cookies for dessert. I did get the peanut butter cookies baked Monday afternoon. Bob and I ate a couple of them last night with a small bowl of ice cream.  I noticed when I weighed last night that I have lost a few pounds. My life has been pretty hectic lately. That may have something to do with it.

Bob will go with me to Parsons and the funeral on Friday. He agreed to read the obit.  We will go on to exercise class as usual on Friday morning and perhaps even go to Utopia for a cinnamon roll and coffee. Then after that, at 10:30 or so, we will go over to Parsons and have lunch before the service.  The family meets friends and other family members at the funeral home at 1:00 and I am supposed to be there for that. The actual funeral is at 2:00. 

We should be finished with that and go on to the cemetery then. I will have a few scriptures to share there and a poem. I'm glad they have a couple of people who will sing at the service and one at the cemetery.  Then we will come back home.

More later....

Lunch was fine and then after that, I went to Bunco and Bob came over while I was gone and did a small load of laundry.  He stayed until 6:00 or so and then went home.  I worked on the funeral sermon and got it finished...thank goodness.

At 9:00, after my bath, Missy and I went to bed. 


Tuesday, August 2, 2016

A Trip to Independence on Hair Day

This is the day I get my hair done. I am looking forward to it because I really need a haircut.

I had a terrible night of sleep. I am having trouble balancing my checkbook this month. For some reason I am way off. I have used Quicken for years but I have gone back over everything with a calculator as well as the bank statement, but so far, it just doesn't balance. I got up at 1:00 this morning and worked on it the rest of the night. I guess I won't know what the problem is until everything clears the bank. Just to be sure I have enough money in there, I transferred some more from my savings last night. I sure don't want any overages.

I will pick up Bob about 8:20 for our trip to Independence. He will go visit his sister, Betty while I get my hair done. Afterward we will eat at Great China.   

I went ahead and ate my breakfast and fed Missy early. 

I brought Missy out on the carport at 6:00.  We will try to stay out until 7:00 when she needs to go in so I can go vote. That little cat that looks a lot like her was out this morning and I had to run him off.  He really stresses her out.

Maybe I can get a nap later. So, more later....

The day got a lot more complicated as it wore on. After my hair appointment and our lunch, my daughter texted me that I would need to do the funeral for the member that died in Joplin. It's to be held in Parsons, 30 miles away on Friday at 1:00.   I had intended to go to the funeral of a classmates who died locally this afternoon but instead I just went in and signed the book. The funeral directer at Parsons called me on the way home from Independence and wanted some information about my title.  The daughter Camilla, also called and wanted me to come to Parsons this afternoon and meet with the family at the nursing home where her mother is living.  So, I drove to Parsons.

I had a good visit with the family and got some personal information and family anecdotes for the funeral sermon. I like to start with talking about the deceased. I have the sermon roughed out except for that material. I will work on that Thursday morning when I have nothing else going on.

I got home about 5:30 and Bob was there watching the news. He had fed Missy her evening treats. He stayed until 7:00 and then I watched the documentary on PBS about Hitler and the 1935 Olympics. I also watched that other documentary called "The Boys in the Boat".  It was very good. Then at 9:00, I went to bed.




Monday, August 1, 2016

Another Busy Monday

I slept well last night. I was utterly exhausted. It was a huge day.

I had to wash the bath mat that Missy's litter box sets on this morning. She missed it and wet on it. That happens about twice a week now. As long as it's just the bathmat, I can wash that but I hope she doesn't get so she just can't make it to the litter box. That old bathmat is washable.

I don't know whether I'll go to exercise class this morning or not. I had enough exercise this past weekend to last me awhile. I'll play it by ear. It's almost time for Missy and me to go out on the carport this morning and I definitely need to water the plants and the tomato plant. I can't remember whether I did that yesterday or not but we got no rain yesterday so I sure need to get it done this morning.

Scott's deposit came in this morning and I need to pay my rent today. Whew! I also need to go to the market before lunchtime. I want to get some ham pieces for a casserole dish. I also want to get some chopped broccoli. Maybe Bob will bring a salad. I have some of the apple brown betty for dessert.

I don't know whether I want to go to exercise class or not. I'd like to change my bed but I think I will wait until tomorrow to do that. I washed my towels with that bath mat and the underwear in my basket too.

Missy is determined to roam again this morning.I have moved around on the patio so she can do that. As long as she stays in sight, I may as well let her come around here. Otherwise it's just a fight.

I have begun to have some hummingbirds again now. For some reason they disappeared for almost a month. I got the feeders out again and fill them last week and I have seen several since then.

More later....

It looks like they have the pool plumbed and poured!



I can hardly wait to see it. I might even get real brave and take my swim suit in September when we go there.

More later...

Sunday, July 31, 2016

A Very Busy Sunday

I woke up at 3:30 again this morning and stayed in bed until 4:00. Then I got up and got around for the day. After I dressed and fed Missy, I made up my coffeecake for the Church School class. Marilyn called yesterday afternoon while we were driving back from Chanute and asked what time our church school took up. I told her 10:00 and church serves began at 11:00. She is coming. I told her to come early at 9:30 and have coffee cake and coffee before the class took up. Then I asked her to go over to Cherryvale with us for lunch. She said she would. Both Bob and I are driving today. He is to work at the Airport Museum this afternoon and will not be going to "Just Us" with us.

After lunch I will take those who go to "Just Us" back to the church to pick up their cars. I will come home and do my newsletters. Then I will bake my apple brown betty for the Living the Questions group this evening.  At 6:40 I will go pick up Gary. Bob will stay here to greet the members of the group and set up chairs. After the meeting, I will take Gary home and come home and get ready for bed. It will be a very busy day.

Whew! I'm tired already.   I will get the coffeecake out of the oven. Maybe by then it will be light More later...enough to take Missy outside.

I took Missy out for awhile at 6:00  but she was determined to roam so I finally just made her come in at 8:00. She's more trouble then she's worth today. I get tired of chasing her around.  I'll go back outside to water but I'm not taking her out again. I have an hour to get that done.

I noticed in the obits this morning that I have lost another classmate. I put out an e-mail to the classmates about it.

I got to Church School later then usual. I cut the coffee cake and Bob had made coffee so everyone seemed happy about that. The class went well. Marilyn was running a little late too.

The worship service was good.  Leslie did well.

After church I helped one of our guests load the groceries into her car. We also paid her electric bill. her husband is out of work. He was laid off and is looking for something else now.

When I got to my car I couldn't find my keys. I searched everywhere and even went back through the groceries we had loaded in her trunk. Finally I asked Karan to drive to Cherryvale and I just left my car in the parking lot. She would come back after lunch so Marilyn and Phyllis  and I could pick up our cars but she was going to have to bring me back to the church after  I got my second set of keys. What a mess!

Following lunch, I went through my purse once again and Voila! There were the keys! I was so happy!    Everyone else was too.  They were buried in the bottom of my purse. And I carry a small purse. Amazing!

Anyhow, Karan didn't have to take me back to church. I have worked all afternoon on the newsletters and the apple brown betty. Then I made a quick trip to Braum's to get the vanilla ice cream to put on the apple brown betty.

Bob will be here in thirty minutes to watch the news. Unfortunately, there's a golf tournament going on until 6:00.  Then there's 60 Minutes....probably mostly a rerun. At 6:40, I will go to get Gary.

After the class breaks up it will be 9:00 and I'll take Gary home and take my bath and go to bed.