I just want to stay awake until the pizza gets here

And I'm finding it hard to do!  I only got a few short hours of sleep last night and then I kept doing and doing and doing today.  Wore myself out!

 

Cliff saved the day today.  I was having a bit of a problem deciding what I wanted for breakfast and he decided on bagels with strawberry cream cheese.  Hit. The.  Spot.

 

As I'm eating those, I decide to make some snack chips.  I had four soft pretzels that no one was eating and thought drying them with some seasoning might keep them from being wasted.  They turned out very good!  I mixed up the seasoning for chex mix to give them a flavor everyone would like.  Then I cut off the knots of the pretzels and put them in Cliff's lunchbox for a work snack tomorrow night.  The straight pieces were then sliced about a quarter of an inch thick, stirred good with the seasoning and baked at 250 degrees until they began to dry out.  And are they ever good!  Yummy!

 

My next chore was a day long chore.  I had purged the meat freezer and needed to do the same with the fruit and veggie freezer.  Just unloading it was a job!  Then we turned it off and set the fan in front of it to defrost it.  While it was defrosting, I cleaned the door shelves on both freezers.  Very little was tossed out.  I did find some fish that was way beyond a useful status and trashed that.  The rest was just sorted and readied to go back in.  Once it was defrosted and cleaned, I reorganized the things in it and loaded it up. 

 

And whoa boy did I get myself into a big job!  I had picked up some chubs of lunchmeats and cheese when I found them super cheap.  Froze them.  Well I thawed them back out enough to slice ALL THE SAME DAY!  So I also sliced up 10# of chip chop ham, 10# of honey baked ham, 10# of smoked turkey and 5# of Lorraine cheese.  Yes.  My arms hurt!  But it's done and now we have lunch meat on the top shelf of the meat freezer (yes I refreeze and it's always been fine) that will last a long time.  The chip chop was purchased for a dollar a pound, the others about 2 dollars and the cheese was 2 dollars a pound too.  That's a REAL savings in my book!

 

Lunch today was the bean soup I made yesterday and some sweet corn bread.  Jiffy mix.  The only way to fly.  I found a recipe fake for Jiffy corn bread mix but haven't tried it yet.  When I saw it I thought it was nuts.  Jiffy mix is so cheap.  But when I saw how cheap to make the fake I copied the recipe down for future reference.  After the two boxes I have are gone.

 

We went up to Cliff's mom's to take her meds to her and I surprised her with the cookies I made yesterday, some of the bean soup and some corn bread.  I was going to put it in the frig for her and she said she hadn't eaten and it sounded good to her.  That was good.  I know she'll eat now.

 

While there, I grabbed a couple big bags of clothes that she had and wasn't using that were my mom's.  I've got some projects to tackle and I need them.  What I don't use I'll be donating.  Soon.  We're trying to keep on purging and donating.

 

Once we were home, I readied three bags of things for donation.  Keep purging.  Keep purging.  And it never looks like anything is missing!!!

 

Next job was to put the dishes away.  That didn't take long at all.  And now I'm whooped!  So dinner shall be pizza!

 

I didn't get the filing finished or the mending done.  But they're on my list.  There's always tomorrow.  Right?

 

~~~~~

 

“When your mother asks,

"Do you want a piece of advice?"

it's a mere formality.

It doesn't matter if you answer yes or no.

You're going to get it anyway.”

~~Erma Bombeck

 

~~~~~

 

Hugs!!

 

~~Mama Sage

 

Still bloggin' along

I woke up this morning with so many aches.  I knew it would be a rainy day.  When the humidity kicks in, the fibro kicks my butt.

 

Adam's in town and he, Rusty and Cait wanted to go somewhere with friends to watch the Ohio State game, so we had Emmi here.  We also like watching so it was on here.  Emmi told methe people were dressed Indians.  I told her the red was like some of the Indians fans dress but it was football.  Ohio State.  She told me to turn on the Indians.  Girl likes her baseball.

 

We've been working on potty training her and she's just such a busy little girl she hasn't been real interested.  Today she decided to try to potty "so Uncle Corry will say Yay Emmi!"  She didn't go even though she sat there quite a while, but she tried.  He left a dollar for her and said when she poops in the potty she can have the dollar.  NOW she's excited!  Who knew a dollar bill would work better than a twenty dollar toy!

 

After Emmi and the kids left, I decided to go ahead and make the cookies I'd been planning on making.  I made oatmeal, using some "big raisins" from California that my mother-in-law sent away for and had frozen.  She gave me two bags when she went through her freezer and it was the first time I decided to use them.  They were fine, but a little sugary and dry from age, but still very useable.  When I put them into the batter, they broke up in little pieces and MAN it made those cookies good!  Raisins make cookies moist and good anyhow and when they're broken up like this they make them great!  Thjey tasted like yummy cookies you'd pay a good buck for.  I've got a bunch hidden away for a couple events coming up and still filled the cookie jar.

 

I didn't want to do a lot of moving around so the filing and mending are put off until tomorrow.  Instead, I decided to work on my book a while.  I sure wish I hadn't started out with it the way I did.  I don't want to chuck it and start over but I really made myself a mess.  I did "notes" for the book on more than one computer then put them together to refine and expand on.  What a disorganized mess!  Can't stand it!  It's going to be a chore until I get the basics or organization done.  I have really procrastinated about it and I can't do that any longer.  I need it done by December so I need to stick with it. 

 

I made bean soup today but we won't eat it until tomorrow.  It's always better if it sits a day or so to marry the flavors.  I'll make some cornbread to go with it tomorrow for our main meal.  I actually started it last night.  I put the ham bone in the crockpot of water to cook all night.  Today I strained the broth and got it ready to be considered soup.  I added an onion, a bunch of carrots, celery and the ham meat after I'd de-fatted the broth.  Then some pepper.  Bean soup needs pepper.  I wasn't sure what kind of beans I wanted to use and settled on Great Northern since I didn't have any Limas.  They're always my favorite.  My sister prefers Navy Beans.  Beans are beans and they're good for you so whatever I have is what I use.

 

It felt good to have the doors and windows open today.  It'll feel even better to have the window open all night.  It's going to be so nice out!  For the next week at least I'm hoping not to use the air or the heater.  It's time to give the budget a break. 

 

Well, my friends, I'm going to go back to that book for a while before I turn in so I'm going to sign off here.  Hope to see you tomorrow.  And remember...

 

We need to find the courage to say NO

to the things and people that are not serving us

if we want to rediscover ourselves

and live our lives with authenticity.

~~Barbara De Angelis

 

Hugs,

~~Mama Sage

Well my friends, it's like this

I'm pooped.  I had Emmi here long hours today and I'm flat out pooped.  I don't think I'll be blogging about anything earth shattering.  Well unless you count the very loud and very long fireworks that were downtown today.  Not sure what they were for, but it was 11 or so when they started and they drug on quite a while.  Wish the leaves were down so I could have enjoyed them.  Soon...

 

I do want to remind you of a danger in your home.  I was getting ready to clean the bathroom last night, late of course, and opened up the cabinet of cleaners.  Someone had put a spray top on the bottle of The Works.  I thought, oh.  Good idea!  I'll use less because it will cover more.  Well let me just say WRONG!  I sprayed it and it absolutely took my breath away.  I couldn't breathe in OR out.  I ran to the window and stuck my head out and could breathe.  Held my breath, ran over and turned on the shower.  Back to the window.  Breathed a few then held my breath again.  I did this until I had washed the shower clear of the cleaner concoction.  Oh it was scary!  I don't know who did that or why, but it went down the drain and then into the trash with the container.  I closed up the bathroom, window open, fan on, water running and went into my room.  My chest hurt.  I turned on my oxygen and pulled the tube off my c-pap and put it into my mouth and started breathing it in and out, in and out and finally after a little while, the pain went away and I felt better.  I left the bathroom fan on all night but did end up shutting the window and turning off the water after a while.  I wanted NO trace of whatever it was in this house. 

 

All day today, I've been sneezing like crazy.  Just can't seem to stop.  I generally do this when I'm severely dried out.  Today I'm not though.  I'm wondering if there isn't something that my body is trying to expel.  Whatever I sure hope I wake up tomorrow without this sneezing fit nonsense. 

 

When we visited my cousin, she showed me how she makes all her own cleaners and such.  I'd kind of had a bug to do some of it again (did when the kids were little) and that gave me some inspiration.  Now this!  As soon as cleaners in this house are gone, they're gone!  NO more.  Back to simplicity!!

 

Our youngest flew in this evening.  He's here for the Browns home opener.  I'm itchin to go but don't know if we could even do it.  Just something about football...

 

And today passed and we didn't get in the pool.  Now it's going down into the 60's so I think our swim days are over.  Sad.  I wish I could still walk in the pool.  That did me so much good.  I'll have to keep on losing and look for another low impact exercise.  Has to be until I get that new knee and who knows how long it will be before that happens.

 

Toaster struedel was our breakfast this morning.  I know.  Not the best for us, but it was good!  And Emmi enjoyed squeezing the icing on them and decorating for us. 

 

We did our weekly produce and milk run.  Didn't find any killer deals, but did bring home chicken nuggets for Emmi's lunches.  She had those and applesauce today.  And then a yogurt.  And then raisins.  And then a banana.  lol  She saw things and wanted them.  Acted like she was starved!  What a cutie. 

 

We were closing up the porch things because the rains were getting close and Emmi decided to bring in her little bike.  "Because Uncle Adam will want to see me ride it."  Okay.  That's fine. 

 

Her latest thing to do is to fill bags.  Any bag.  My grocery bags, the newspaper bags, little cloth bags.  Any she finds.  And then she twists and twists and twists them tight.  Don't ask me why.  It keeps her busy.  And when you can keep a two year old busy in a non-destructive way...that's a good thing!

 

I've started working on elves.  Our kids all have them now so any I do this year will probably be for sale.  I just don't know how much time I'll have.  I also wanted to do some lacy treetop angels.  Don't know if I'll be able to.  And the gifts on my list.  And and and....  When I was younger, I'd have accomplished it all.  Now?  Hey.  Anything I get done is success!

 

Dinner tonight was oven roasted (far too long) veggies and sausage in buns with mushroom and onions sauteed in sherry for a topper.  Turned out okay but not the best. 

 

And this is it.  Can't do any more.  Like I said, I'm whipped and need to go rest. 

 

Hugs to all,

~~Mama Sage

 

Morning has broken

And the first songbird was Emerson!  She was a little shocked when she bounded around the corner to head upstairs and found me in the middle of the livingroom.  lol  Beat her to it!  She didn't get to charge up the stairs and bust through the bedroom door to wake Mimi.  heeheehee

Breakfast for us today was cinnamon raisin toast.  We were about out of milk and I wanted if for bedtime.  But that didn't work.  I mentioned it and Cliff misunderstood and he and Emmi finished the last of it.  Oh well.  I'll drink double the water tonight instead.

We stayed home today and played.  It was time.  Two days in the car was too much. 

Lunchtime was grilled cheese.  Emmi argued with me and told me it had to be cooked in the microwave.  When I put it on the griddle, she asked me if we were cooking it in a pan instead.  I said, "yes, Emmi, we are."  She said, "oh okay." and the argument over how to cook it was done.

I think we played with every single toy today.  We played pick up several times!  Problem was I got nothing else accomplished.  But that's fine.  My time with any of the kids or grandkids trumps housework and other activities all the time!

Friends and prayer warriors: Please pray for a classmate of mine, Bob, who is going through treatment for cancer. We all know what a horrible monster cancer can be. They feel they did get the tumor removed in time that it will not be life threatening, but he will still need all our support to get through the six weeks of chemo he has in store. Thanks so much for your care and prayers. You guys rock!

I had little CJ here tonight.  That li'l dumplin' was walking all over the room by the time he went home.  Such a doll baby. 

I'm so flippin tired.  I had leftovers of this and that for supper.  And I'm about to head to bed.  Just can't do a real blog tonight.  I still need to clean the bathroom.  Adam flies in tomorrow and I'd like something in the house to be clean.  :-)

Hugs, my friends,

~~Mama Sage

Good morning, Sunshine!!

Up and ready to start the day.  Thanks, Emmi! 

I love how she comes flying up the stairs and through the bedroom door for me when she gets here.  Many times if I hear her coming, I'll play possum so she can "wake me."  If I've already gone downstairs, she seems so disappointed! 

When we went downstairs together, she wanted cereal.  I got us each a bowl of cereal and we sat down to eat it.  Blueberry.  We both love our blueberries.

When we were done eating, we talked a lot about the Rapunzel set Emmi needs to earn by pottying in the potty.  I'm still trying to get her "in the mood."  She's just such a busy little girl, she doesn't have any interest right now.  I guess when she's ready, she'll go.  We really thought the potty charts at home and here would work since she picked out her own prize to work for.  Nope.  She just doesn't care right now.  One day she'll surprise us.  It'll happen.

Cliff brought in a tote of clothes for me to go through that Missy had brought over.  Melanie is about a size behind Emmi so we pass around the pass downs.  It's great having them so close in age.  They can share all kinds of things.

When I was done with that, we were off to the bank and then to meet Missy.  She needed us to watch Melanie a little while.  Having both girls is so entertaining!  We picked us all up some lunch and then headed off with them in tow to pick up some things Rusty needed us to transport home in the van.  Once we had them loaded, we headed to the R store. 

I'm not doing a lot of shopping really.  Just what I really need mostly.  I was able to pick up pancake mix (the kids ran me out that last week of summer), some marked down tomato sauce (always need that), chow mein noodles for nutty, noodly clusters, a big ol chunk of ham for slicing thin for lunches for Cliff (probably share that with the kids too---10# for $10), couple boxes of cereal, and some Pepperidge Farm heavy breads.  Good and grainy.  Love those.

From there, we dropped of the things at Rusty's house that we'd picked up for him.  And set off the alarm!  Oh boy.  He called and asked if we were there and told us to expect the police.  The security company had called them.  It's good to know they react so quickly.  And...he warned us NOT to be in the house or they would be meeting us guns drawn.  Okie dokie!  Not a problem.  Outside.  Okay.  They would want to see our identification and the key that we have. 

Then off to drop off bags of purged items to charity.  That was just a very quick stop.  From there we stopped by our house to pick up a fax that had come in and let the dog out.  She was so happy to see us!

The girls were taking turns napping.  When one woke up the other fell asleep.  It was getting close to time for us to meet Missy and drop off Melanie so we headed that way.  Until she got done, we sat outside with the girls.  We let them loose in the van (back seats were down so it was roomy and fun for them) and they had a ball.  Soon they got quiet.  I peeked around to see what they were doing.  They were leaned against the back door and had their legs covered with Emmi's blankie.  They had one of the toy horses too.  "Whatcha doin girlies?"  They answered in unison, "Sharing."  I love my grandchildren.

We found gas a little cheaper where we were than it was at home so we took advantage and got gas.  Sheetz gives you 3 cents off when you use their card which is an added bonus.

Our last stop was to take Emmi back home.  Did my heart good when she stuck her head out the door and hollered, "I love you!!!" at the van.  Awe.  I love you too, Miss Em.

~~~~~

Truth be told, there's nothing better than being a grandparent.

All our elders know this

and it is evidenced by that twinkle in their eyes.

Of course, they know more than they let on—

life's secrets have come to them through time, experience,

and patience.

~~author unknown

~~~~~

When we got back home, I did some online work for Corry.  He came by when I was about done and needed to send a fax.  Once that was done, I put away the groceries and got out all the chubs of meats and cheeses I had collected (frozen) that I plan to slice up this weekend for lunches.  I hate getting out a piece of equipment like that for just a little bit.  Give me a ton to do and I'll feel it's totally worth while. 

Settled down to eat my supper of leftover stir fry then cleaned up my email.  I always have a pile of spam to sort through.  I could add the addresses of some of them to my address book, but I'd rather not clutter it with those things. 

I did a little bit of putting things away.  No matter how much I try to keep up with things, there are always piles somewhere needing to be dealt with. 

And now I'm upstairs.  I gave the dog a bath and am waiting for her to dry a little before heading into the bedroom.  Oh I'm tired enough to start relaxing.  It's been a long day.  But this dog is W E T !  And I don't want her drying on the bed.  lol  Oh the smell of a wet dog --- clean OR dirty.  Ewww

You're caught up with my day now.  I hope I didn't bore you so much I scare you away.  :-)

Love and hugs,

~~Mama Sage

Everyone just blows it once in a while

And today it was me.  But today was an unusual day.  Most of it seemed to be in the car.  And that is enough to drive anyone 'round the twist!

 

The day started out pretty normal I suppose.  But even though I had rested all night, I hadn't gotten good sleep.  When I took Kennedy home yesterday, we listed to music.  And all night long, the songs were going round and round my head.  Every single time I woke up, turned over, or whatever, one of them was a-sing-songin' through my brain.  Ahhhhhh!!  lol

 

Breakfast was the last of the breakfast tacos.  Just one, pretty small and only cheese on top.

 

Missy came by so we could take her to her doctor's appointment today.  She needed a driver.  The girls get so excited to see each other.  I love it.  These two will be tight friends all their life.  Before we left, they chose a movie for in the van.  Tinkerbell.  Or STINKERbell as Emmi says. 

 

It's a good movie.  I like it.  The first time through, it was cute.  The second time a little less cute.  And by the THIRD time...it was downright annoying!  But it was today's favorite.  Generally Tangled gets that distinction.  Emmi is a huge Tangled fan.  So much so, she starts quoting even the non-important dialog. 

 

Missy's appointment went a bit longer than expected.  Actually quite a bit.  By the time she was done we were all pretty hungry.  Five Guys.  Hadn't been there in a long time.  I like it because I can get the burger and toss the bun and still have a lot to eat.  If you do it right, it's like a salad and meat!  All the veggies, the burger and no bun or condiments.  Winner every time.  But I did blow it.  I had WAY more than my ten fries!  That's fine.  I would deal.  I hadn't done too bad for the day.

 

But then I really blew it.  I drank pop!  How could I resist?  I was actually tempted to just stand there doing tastings!  What an awesome machine they have. 

 

I guess you'll have to turn on your side to see this.  I've done it three times.  Redownloaded it.  Cropped and resaved it.  The thing still wants to lay down! 

 

142 flavors!  So many it's NUTS!  I settled on two and liked them both very much.  Orange coke and grape fanta.  Yes.  ORANGE coke.  I actually liked that one a lot!  They also had lots of "zero" flavors, lots of "light" varieties, fruited waters, If you can imagine it, it was probably on that machine. 

 

Tonight was the monthly get together for people in Cliff's class.  We started out at the Tavern at Twin Lakes. Formerly not nearly as fancy and known as Twin Lakes Tavern.  The number of Audi and BMW was way less back then!  There were problems with getting seated so we decided to go to their standby place, Diggers.  Not nearly so pricey and way more laid back.  I got mesquite bbq chicken rolled quesadillas.  Um.  They were chicken taquitos!  lol  But they were good, inexpensive and hit the spot.  We weren't that hungry.  I'd have gotten a salad like Cliff did, but it was pretty much a chore chewing the "salad" I'd gotten with my burger at Five Guys.  We didn't want to spend much because we'd already eaten the burger earlier. 

 

It is great to have friends when one is young,

but indeed it is still more so when you are getting old. When we are young,

friends are like everything else a matter of course.
In the old days

we know what it means to have them.
~~Edvard Grieg

 

And now I'm bushed.  And we have both girls and maybe CJ a while tomorrow too.  I need to take my meds and relax.  And hopefully NO songs will run through my head tonight!

 

Tomorrow I hope to continue my one step at a time projects.  1. super cleaning rooms, 2. purging ... ANYTHING!  3. finishing up the files.  I seem to be gaining energy as I drop pounds.  That's a good thing.  Maybe one day the house WILL be in order!  Now that would be a miracle, wouldn't it?

 

I'll be back tomorrow.  Let's hope it's a little more interesting!  lol

 

Love and hugs,

~~Mama Sage

 

 

Please, Lord, not that!

Please tell me it's not.  When it first started, I thought maybe I got bit by a spider.  But it's not a spider bite.  Or any other bug bite.  I'm 99% sure it's not.  And now, it's bigger and itchier and redder.  And there's another little red place.  Please don't let that spread out too.  Please, God, don't let it be shingles! 

 

I remember when my father-in-law had them and how horribly miserable he was.  And no one could be around him for a long time.  And Missy had them too.  Internal.  And it was horrid.  I just don't need this right now.  But nothing is cutting it.  Nothing.  If it doesn't ease up in the next day or so, I'll have to call the doctor I suppose.  Oh man.

 

~~~~~

 

And on a lighter note.  Today was the last day to sleep in for a while.  And I couldn't.  I was awakened with a headache.  And I was itching.  And it hurts.  Nothing I tried helped.  So I just got up.  Sort of.  Cliff had come home and laid down a while and I didn't want to disturb him so I tried hard to stay as still as possible.  It's times like this I love having a smart phone.  I could read my mail, play a couple games, check in on facebook, read a book...  And I did.  :-)  All of the above. 

 

~~~~~

 

By the time I got downstairs, I was starved.  I was so glad to have leftovers of the breakfast tacos from the other day.  It sure tasted good!!  The egg and sausage mixture, a little cheese, a little salsa, a little sour cream.  Mmmm

 

~~~~~

 

Greeting cards.  Next time you're at the stores that have inexpensive cards, turn them over and check something.  I noticed something the other day I want to pass on.  The little copyright sign followed by AGC.  That's the American Greetings Card Company.  Yep.  Same people that sell $5 and $6 cards sell the inexpensive ones.  Hmmm.  And I think they're very nice. 

 

~~~~~

 

I got all the Tricare paperwork into a big notebook now.  Four dividers.  Two for Cliff and two for me.  One marked EOB (explanation of benefits) and one marked referrals.  We ended up getting socked with some charges we shouldn't have.  And at the same time, we discovered that the doctors that were supposed to be asking for referrals and getting referrals extended weren't always doing it.  Guess what!  That means WE owe what's called "point of service" fees.  Or another way of putting it, the bill is now ours!  Superb.  Just what we needed to hear!

 

One outfit in particular seems to be playing games.  They were to ask for the extension on the referral and held off until three days AFTER they charged the bill!  That means they don't just get what the insurance company agreement is, they get the full amount billed.  FROM US!  And we all know how absolutely unreasonable that can be!

 

We'll continue making calls and challenging it and see what happens.  Right now, it doesn't look good.

 

~~~~~

 

I got a bug up my butt to make cookies today.  I got out my recipe from a dear friend of ours in Oklahoma.  Shirley's Chocolate Chip Cookies rock.  And it makes a ton!  I'd post the recipe, but I'm on the wrong computer.  Not on this one.  Remind me tomorrow and I'll post it then.  I hid over 5 dozen, people ate probably two dozen and there are still about three dozen in the cookie jar.  I'm thinking I'll probably do it again and instead of chocolate chips, add pecans.  And a double recipe of oatmeal raisin sounds good too.  I'll hide them away and have them for something special later.  They all store well.

 

While the cookies were baking and Cliff was watching baseball, I stayed in the kitchen and busied myself.  I decided to make our lunch.  Something made me think of pierogies.  I carmelized some onions, added in some sliced Polish sausage I'd picked up at the meat market the other day, and boiled the pierogies.  Once they were cooked, I stirred them into the sausage and onions.  Kennedy came down to see what was up and was so excited!  Funny.  The cookies didn't excite her but the pierogies did! 

 

~~~~~

 

I continued the file a while thing today.  That shredding bag, the second one, is nearly as full as the first!  I think we all keep too much junk in the files.  I just wish I could get to the files in the attic.  I have them buried behind piles and piles of craft things.  One day it will happen.  And once the diningroom files are purged, I have files up here needing handled.  My problem with all this cleaning files is that our shredder broke.  I wonder if they're going to do a community shred anywhere close any time soon.

 

~~~~~

 

Kennedy's last day of holiday break ended up being fun.  Aunt Missy and Melanie came by and they all went to the mall.  She picked out a bunch of cute stuff for her hair and got some new nail polish.  I love how she did her nails. 

 

 

Those are little fishies if you can't tell.  I don't have good nails.  I've always envied people who can doll up their hands.  I used to try but it always turned out looking like blucky blobs.

 

~~~~~

 

After Missy brought Kennedy back home, she packed up all her things to go back to North Olmsted.  Not before I fixed one of her hair do-dads.  Just took a little dribble of Sobo glue to put the feather back on the flower.  Cliff had already gone to bed, so I ended up taking her myself.  What a trip!!  Ran into blinding rain on the way up and then again on the way home.  I do love rain but I don't like driving in it.  I'm always afraid I'll hydroplane.  The one time I remember vividly doing that, I was doing a left exit off the highway and nearly went over the edge and down on traffic below.  Scared me to death. 

 

~~~~~

 

When I got back, I did the dishes.  Well what wasn't done.  I'd done most of it while I cooked.  My gramma taught me that.  To save time on kitchen clean up, clean as you go.  There's on excuse for a messy kitchen.

 

~~~~~

 

There was nothing on TV this evening and I had a headache.  I packed Cliff's lunch, dusted and did little pick up jobs until it was time to wake Cliff up.  Then I took my purse and empty water bottles and brought them upstairs. 

 

Into the shower.  Maybe the shower would help my chest.  Nope.  Still itches like mad.  I don't know what else to try!

 

~~~~~

 

My bad girl eats today weren't too bad.  Some of the tapioca and some fresh strawberries and then pretzels and cheese.  I washed those down with milk.  The nutritionist told me that drinking 2 cups of milk a day was very important in weight loss.  Something about the results of a new study.  Whatever.  Milk and ovaltine always hits the spot with me. 

 

~~~~~

 

And I'm itching bad and my back has this creepy crawlie feeling.  Think I'm going to get off here and head into bed to try and relax.

 

~~~~~

 

We need to find the courage to say NO

to the things and people that are not serving us

if we want to rediscover ourselves

and live our lives with authenticity.

~~Barbara De Angelis

~~~~~

 

Love and hugs,

~~Mama Sage

 

 

The day is over??

I've still got ants in my pants!  I still feel like there's so much to get done!  OH NO!

The morning started out with me having to fill up my meds container.  You know you're old when you do two weeks worth of medication in those daily dose containers.  I also have two weeks backups of just the meds and none of the supplements.  I try to keep a month's worth done up "just in case."  Just in case what?  I'm not sure.  I know that if we would get called somewhere and have to leave quickly and stay a few days, I've got it!  I also carry an older C-Pap with me in the van at all times.  I was a girl scout.  I'm prepared.  What else can I say?  lol

Kennedy started breakfast this morning.  She made up some scrambled eggs with peppers.  Smelled so good.  There wasn't enough left for all of us, so I cooked up some sausage and onions with it, added a few more eggs and we had tacos.  With cheese and salsa for good measure.  Should have added sour cream too but I didn't think about it.

After I picked up from breakfast, I started getting things ready for our stir fry supper.  We had a lot going on and I wanted to be able to walk in the door and start cooking when we got home from our running.

Soon as we got organized and had visited with Corry a little bit, we headed out to pick up Missy.  She wanted to go with us to my mother-in-law's.  She had leftover ice cream cake from Mike's birthday and some brownies to share with Gramma Sage.

After picking her and Melanie up we started towards Streetsboro.  We had to drop off some party things a friend of mine was borrowing for her daughter's baby shower.  We live about 30 minutes apart but she's close to Cliff's mom, so since we were out that way, I dropped them off.  LOVE her home, by the way.  Gorgeous oak interior.  Love, love, love it. 

Mom Sage really enjoyed her "treat" even though hers was a small piece.  We all know if we don't treat her now and again, she'll just make her own sugary goodies.  And sure enough, when Missy went into the kitchen to divide up what she'd brought, she found a pan of brownies Mom had made on the counter.  What I found was a little more...shocking?  lol  To her, it was perfect.  To me?  Disgusting!  She wanted to make really good pie crust and she had out a block of lard!  ewwwww!  Whatever she wants to do is fine though.  She's 90.  She should be allowed to live her life the way she wants.  

While we were there, I used the scanner on my phone, cam scan, to copy an article about our nephew.  His girlfriend saved his life, quite literally, recently.  They were eating at a restaurant, he had wings, and he started choking.  He used the choking sign and his girlfriend recognized he was in trouble.  She jumped to action, grabbed him and did the Heimlich maneuver on him.  Thank goodness her mom had taught her how.  And thank goodness she hadn't been a typical teen and she'd actually listened!!  He was 90 pounds bigger than her and she did just fine!  They still had to transport him to the hospital, but in the end, he's alive and well thanks to her.

Our trip home included a stop at the local Walgreen's, then dropping Missy and the baby off at home.  We were hungry but were good and didn't stop for any food.  I had that stir fry waiting to be made.  Lots of fresh veggies and marinated chicken.

~~~~~

TODAY'S STIR FRY

    chicken, drizzled a fresh squeezed lime over it

    zucchini

    yellow squash

    yellow and red sweet peppers

    bell pepper

    carrots

    mushrooms

    celery

    broccoli

I did one veggie addition at a time.  The pan had a dose of olive oil in the bottom and about halfway through, I put a couple slugs of soy sauce in.  We had teriyaki noodles from a package I got at Aldi's.  It was actually very good.  The sodium content wasn't good, but not too bad.  And the taste?  Fantastic!  If I could find a really good sauce recipe, or make one up, I'd do my own though with broken spaghetti for the noodles.

~~~~~

I was needing to clean up the kitchen, but wanted a little break.  I decided to get the table area ready to do my mending tomorrow.  I hope tomorrow.  I started out getting down on the floor and making some changes.  I had a big basket that had old music albums in it.  I took them out and moved them and also moved the music recorders and song books.  Those actually should go down the basement to my wreck of a rec room, but later.  Not today.  The basket then became my new home for the kids' puzzles.  Then I went through all the mending projects to see just what I have to do.  I moved my sewing machine into place.  I'll need to get my other sewing box out probably but for now, it's good. 

Once I had that done, I figured since I was on the floor, I'd start some of the "real" filing.  I started at the back of the double file drawer and did the left side up through "M."  That's enough.  I'm under no time restraint and every step toward the goal is great. 

Next came the kitchen clean-up.  Empty the clean dishes, load the dirty, clean what doesn't go in the dishwasher, clean the counter...  Normal drill. 

I went into the freezer and got out meats out for tomorrow.  One will actually be for a meal on Tuesday or Wednesday.  It's one of my multi-day make its. 

 When I walked through the livingroom, I remembered my one fall decoration that's stored in the house and not in totes in the garage.  My partylite candle holder with the magnetic seasonal sides.  I put it on the table/dresser and added the fall leaf sides to it.  I guess I should change the candle from rose to something more fall-ish.  But not today.  Today, I like rose. 

Did I mention I did get the coupons all purged, sorted and filed last night?  I thought I'd have new ones to file today, but for some reason there were no coupon flyers in today's paper.  Odd.

Remind me to put the little bow on the monkey's tail of Emmi's birth sampler.  I have all three for the littlest ones done now except for that bow.  Now I need to start gathering info for the other's I want to get done for Christmas.

I've been busy in between things working on a trip we intend to take in a couple months.  Another free stay.  This time in Pigeon Forge.  I love it there and think fall will be totally wonderful to be in the Smokies.  I can't wait!  I'm spending time now looking for free, big savings, etc.  My goal is to make it a very cheap trip.

 

I needed have something sweet so I made up some tapioca and some cherry jello.  Not the best stuff for you I guess, but not bad.  I could have used soy milk, but I did use skim.  One time I did use soy and it was fine. 

~~~~~

HEY FRIENDS!  I found another fun website!  A crafty site.  craftgawker  Check it out.  A little slower to move than pinterest but it had lots of ideas I hadn't seen anywhere.

~~~~~

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity;

an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

- Winston Churchill

~~~~~

Ta-ta for now....

Hugs,

~~Mama Sage

Day four hear me roar!

That would be a roar of victory.  What is it?  Thirty days makes a habit?  I'm already four days in so I'm smelling that rose wreath at the end of my thirty day victory!

The morning started out the usual way.  Got up, took my meds, organized for my day.  Got cleaned up and dressed.  And then downstairs for breakfast.  Nothing fancy most days and today was no exception.  I've been avoiding this cereal we got because I know it has way too much sugar, but today, I ate it anyway.  Blueberry toastie things.  Like cinnamon toast crunch only blueberry.

While piddling in the kitchen, I did a little frig and freezer food shifting.  I wanted to take a look at what I might want to be using up this week.  I took out some sausage, bulk, to make tacos tomorrow or Monday.  Depends on when it thaws.  Took out some marinated chicken to cook up and have on salad for lunch tomorrow.  Then I made sure things were on the right shelves.   

I had to go downstairs and bring up some party equipment that a friend wants to borrow so I figured I might as well start the laundry.  There's never a bad time to do laundry.  I ended up finishing it with all the trips up and down.  I couldn't bring everything up at once.  The doctor warned me not to do heavy lifting.  Not taking any chances. 

I also did a little freezer "shopping" while I was down there.  I had been debating on what I wanted to eat for supper and opening the meat freezer settled it.  A meatloaf.  I had one already mixed up and frozen.  All I had to do was put it in to bake.  Also brought up broccoli for broccoli and cheese sauce.  I thought about a potato too and I thought about heating up the leftover roasted cabbage.  In the end, the meat and broccoli proved to be enough for the meal.  That roasted cabbage is so good though it definitely is shouting for me to eat it. 

~~~~~

Roasted cabbage

2 heads of cabbage cut into wedges

Lay on baking baking sheet.

Mix ½ c. olive oil, ½ c. lemon juice, 2 T worcestershire sauce, sea salt, black pepper.  Drizzle over wedges.  Sprinkle bacon bits (only real) over wedges.  Cover pan with foil tightly and bake at 425 for about 45 min.  If aren’t soft enough at that point, cook longer. 

~~~~~

I inventoried two medium bags and a small bag for charity.  We'll drop it off somewhere one day this week.

Also did the bills.  I think I need a bigger calendar.  I bought school time calendars for babysitting and for bills and now that it's a brand new year, it calls for brand new calendars.  Well they aren't cheap!  But I am!!  So I went to the dollar store and got a pocket calendar.  It should serve the purpose I guess, but I really think I'd be happier with a regular calendar. 

We are being bothered with medical bills that aren't being paid so I had to find out what the heck is going on.  People.  KEEP YOUR MEDICAL E.O.B.'s forever!!!  This is the second time I remember having to dig and dig and prove something was paid, should have been paid, has already been billed for, etc.  Last time it had been 8 years!!!  If I hadn't had the required paperwork, we'd have owed that bill!!

In the evening, we had strawberry shortcake.  Yummy.  After rewarding myself with it, I started the dreaded filing.  I dug up what paperwork we need to fight our current battle and separated all the shredding.  Our shredder is broken so that's a job for another day.  Tomorrow's list says "filing."  Okay.  Maybe. 

I discovered I had three files with pictures from my childhood.  I got on the computer and reorganized the whole group of them.  It's going to make one of my projects, my secret projects, run a little more smoothly. 

Packed lunch, did the dishes, and finished up the samplers for the three youngest.  The it was coupon time.  Purged the old and filed the new. 

I'm whipped.  I've already made my way upstairs for the night.  First thing I did was put away the laundry.  Then it was time to sit and blog with my milk and my water. 

I'm planning another full day tomorrow.  We'll have to see how it goes.  For now, it's night night time. 

~~~~~

A friend is a hand that is always holding yours,

no matter how close or far apart you may be. 

A friend is someone who is always there

and will always, always care. 

A friend is a feeling of forever in the heart.

~~~~~

Hugs, my friends...

~~Mama Sage

Well happy day!

And good morning to me!  What an uncalled for awakening.  I had JUST fallen asleep and my phone rang.  Now I don't mind if it's someone who needs me for something but this one was just ridiculous!  My caller ID said "SUMMA registration."  I looked at the clock and it said it was 5:30am!  My mind raced.  Who in the?  What the?  Was someone?  Before I could react and get enough saliva in my mouth to talk (it was a bad night for dryness), it hit voice mail.  I shook my head a bit, raised up on my good elbow and called my voice mail.  "Hi.  I hate to wake you, but we need coverage on your floor from blah blah to blah blah and just wanted to know if you want to pick up a few hours.  Can you call me back at blah blah blah?"  NOOOOOOO!  BECAUSE YOU DIALED THE WRONG NUMBER!!!  Not happy.  And I bet they were still short staffed today!

I tried to go back to sleep and just ended up dozing mostly.  Never did fall totally asleep.  I knew we were having at least one of the little girls here today and I always want to be chipper when they're here.  Two year olds can really keep you busy!

I got up, got dressed and headed downstairs, let the dog out and got a little something to eat.  Can't take some of the morning meds without food.  I guess that's a good thing because it makes me eat breakfast even when I don't want to.  When Cliff and Missy both got here with the girls, they wanted to play outside.  I went out and sat on the picnic table with Missy while they jumped on the little trampoline and swang on the swings. 

Soon Cait came to pick up Emmi.  Cliff went on up to sleep a while and Missy and I headed out for some groceries.  We started out at the meat market Missy shops at, Pressler's.  I walked in and was totally sucked in with the wonderful smell of fresh homemade Polish sausage.  They sold me.  Left with a big bag of it along with some fresh ground beef. 

We had planned to go to Hartville for produce but were short on time.  Instead we stopped at the Aldi store on the way home.  Their produce was actually very good.  It's one of he newer, cleaner stores.  I picked up Romaine 3 heads for 1.99, big peppers for 2/$1, mushrooms, sweet peppers, strawberries, grape tomatoes...can't think what else right now.  Enough to get by. 

I had planned on getting in the pool today, but it was a tad cold.  Yep even with the temperature today at 92, the pool was chilly.  I was pretty disappointed.  I had so been looking forward to it.  I'm thinking about braving it tomorrow anyhow unless we get hit with storms from Isaac. 

When Cliff got up and we got Emmi back again, we headed up to North Olmsted to pick up Kennedy.  The trip was good, but the whole way up, I was antsy.  You know when you get a bug you want something and it just won't get away?  I wanted ice cream.  I rarely crave anything sweet but it just wouldn't quit!  lol  So after we got her in the car, I very quickly said we HAD TO stop at the ice cream store at the end of her street.  Mmmm good!  A hot fudge Sunday more than hit the spot.

When we got home, I made Tortellini.  Three cheese.  I made a sort of sauce with diced tomatoes, onion, pepper, mushrooms and spices.  A little Italian seasoning, fennel and pepper.  It was very good.  And not bad for me either.  Made me feel better about eating that ice cream to eat something semi-healthy!

Emmi wanted to watch her "princess movie" so we put Tangled in the DVR.  She loves that thing.  I guess all or most kids have their favorite movie.  My kids wore out Willy Wonka and Kennedy wore out Tom and Jerry.  She knew it by heart!  Now Emmi is doing the same with Tangled.  Hey.  At least it's a good movie!

I also headed downstairs to grab things a friend thought she might want for her daughter's baby shower and took pictures.  We'll be taking them to her on Sunday.  I'm so glad I have so many serving things to share.  When I got them, the cost was justified and seeing them used over and over just makes it even better. 

I've finished Melanie and Emmi's birth samplers (Christmas gifts) and am nearly done with CJ's.  Just wish I could find more patterns.  I'd like to make sure everyone in the family had one for Christmas but I don't want them all the same.  They shouldn't cost more than two or three, maybe four dollars.  If you see any anywhere, let me know!

I got to foolin' around on my computer a bit tonight, my laptop, and realized one of my files had duplicate pictures.  Now if I was the average person, that wouldn't be much of a problem.  But...I'm Mama Sage.  And Mama Sage likes her camera.  I like pictures, old and new.  THIS was a problem for me.  Storage.  I have to organize!  Caution:  big job ahead!

The weekend is here.  I supposedly have time to accomplish things.  I need to work on computer files, regular files, do laundry, and fill a few bags for charity.  We shall see.  Cross your fingers for me.

~~~~~

“You never know what's around the corner.

It could be everything.

Or it could be nothing.

You keep putting one foot in front of the other,

and then one day you look back and you've climbed a mountain.”

~~Tom Hiddleston

 

~~~~~

Hugs,

~~Mama Sage

Too pooped to pen

Last night wasn't a good one for sleeping.  I had the headache from hell all day long on and off and by night time it was HUGE.  I tried Aleve.  I tried my pain meds.  Finally, after about 6 hours of waiting for one of them to work, something struck me.  There used to be a guy at work when Cliff worked at Chrysler that they called Doc.  He had these ways of dealing with pain that were off the norm.  I remembered something about squeezing your hand between your thumb and finger being a headache cure.  Within a minute after doing it, the pain was gone.  Amazing.  Still not bad today either!

 

~~~~~

 

While I wasn't able to sleep last night, I turned on a movie I'd DVR'd not long ago.  I think the name of it was Notes From the Heart Healer.  Great show.  I probably recorded it because it had Jeanie Francis in it.  Whatever the reason, I enjoyed watching it last night.

 

~~~~~

 

My friends rock.  You made me feel so good being welcomed back.  Thank you.  I'm here to stay.  My plan is to first off get back in the habit of writing each night.  Once I'm successful at that, I will then start looking at ways to promote my blog.

 

~~~~~

 

Food should have been good tonight but the ribs were stupid.  Weird pieces.  They tasted good after being crocked all day but not much meat on them at all.  I was more like rib scraps.  With them, I made fresh green beans and a tossed salad. 

~~~~~

 

Please pray for my friend Jennifer whose mother is having major health issues.  Liver and heart.  She also had to put her dog down today and it couldn't have been easy.

 

~~~~~

 

I need to report on my dental visit today.  It is an ulcer where injection was and unhealed tissue on bottom that is sore.  He put me on augmenten now.  I'm pretty much able to eat real food now but limited chewing.

 

~~~~~

 

I'm so whipped.  Two hours of sleep last night didn't do it.  I'm a wreck...  And I'm falling asleep writing.  Guess I'll be working harder to make this a habit another day.

 

~~~~~

 

Night all!

 

~~Mama Sage 

Summer's over

Now what?   

The kids are all heading back to school and Mimi's house will slow down from the constant activity of summer.  I'm gonna miss it.  Having all the grandkids in and out and all the neighborhood kids around has been great.  I will miss all the noise when it's gone.

 

When our kids were growing up, we had a very full house.  Always.  Five kids means at least double that daily.  The activity buzz was pretty varied but the one thing that was constant was board games.  Even with Atari days and Nintendo days, board games remained a staple.  We had a shelving unit in the hallway in San Antonio and it was filled to the brim and overflowing with every sort of board game you can imagine.  I guess it actually started in Altus when Kris was little.  The kids would come choose a game or two and sit on the front porch playing all day long.

 

I didn't get the kids who filled my home and yard into doing this sort of thing this summer, but we did keep them busy.  I guess the fact that it took more than half the summer for me to even FIND the basement where the games are now stored had a little something to do with it.  Our collection has grown tremendously.  We now have several cupboards filled with games.  And some some of the cupboards have puzzles.  And we could always drag up the old VHS movies and treat the kids to real movies because the remainder of those white cupboards down there have movies in them.  We did a little of the movies this summer and it went over very good.

 

I think I'll work on movie times and craft times for winter.  And we don't have to give up the idea of board games and puzzles.  I do have some other things I need to accomplish this winter, but I won't let it take over all my time.  I still want time to spend with the kids.  And of course I'll still be babysitting.  I love being surrounded by all the younguns. 

 

~~~~~

 

This summer was also filled with getting ready for this past weekend.  I was on a hunt to find as many classmates as I could for our 40th class reunion.  I was determined to get them all but in the end, we still had 45 out of 315 that we just couldn't connect with.  I have hopes that they too will be found by our 60th birthday bash in 2014 and have and opportunity to attend. 

 

Of our 315 classmates, we've already lost 31.  10%.  That's a very sobering statistic.  And when we saw who some of the kids who had passed were, it was really a big wakeup call.  Life is precious.  Another whoa moment for me was that we also have some who are in nursing homes and/or are very ill.  You know, in my heart and mind, I'd not 58.  I'm young and able.  I can move and do and enjoy.  But the mirror tells a different story.  The mirror reminds me that my locks are greying and that youthful look is fading. 

 

This time of my life is the time to reconnect with old friends.  Old friends aren't necessarily those we thought they would be.  They may not be the people you actually spent the majority of your time with many moons ago when you got your driver's license.  They may not be who you hung out with or who you dated or who knew you so well (you thought) back then.  Old friends are the people that through the years remember who you are and care about you now.  At least the old friends who matter most.  I'm not saying your best friends you had then aren't old friends who matter now.  They matter.  Just in a different way.  They were there helping mold who you were and who you'd become.  But the friends who will sustain you in the autumn of your life are the old friends you have reconnected with and who are in your life now. We need to remember all our old friends from every path we've been on in our walk of life.

 

~~~~~

 

Friendship is the only cement

that will ever hold the world together.

 

~~~~~

 

This year my family wasn't totally filled with family.  I know.  I had lots of you out there tell me how it should be, but...we had done Kennedy's birthday bash on the Friday before it since that seemed the best day and it was grand.  Nearly everyone came and I think we all had a blast.  She chose Mexican for her foods and we had chocolate pie and ice cream cake.  All her faves.  So when my birthday rolled around the next day, I decided we'd do something I had been wanting to do all summer. 

 

It didn't work out that everyone I had hoped would participate was able to, so we added in the neighborhood kids and had a great time.  We made patio stones.  Yep.  And even though we didn't have the right kind of cement/concrete to put in them, they turned out fine.  I do however have to get out there with some kind of a strong glue and glue back the stones that didn't stay put.  I think the kids all enjoyed themselves.  Rusty and Caitlin came by with cake and flowers and balloons and we enjoyed it!  There was plenty had anyone else happened by but they didn't so we just ate it and didn't pay attention to how big the pieces were.  :-)  

 

~~~~~

 

Some of you follow me on facebook and already know what a mess things have been for me healthwise.  I'm a little worn out tonight and don't feel I can really go into a lot, but know that 1. I'm not giving up on weight loss by any means, 2. I don't have the $$$ to handle all my mouth so one day this blogger could be a toothless wonder, and 3. degenerative arthritis sucks and it's showing up all over the place.  Now it's in my left shoulder which is also nearly bone on bone.  Not yet, but it's getting there.  The doctor told me to continue to do the stretching and exercise with it I am and we'll just go one step at a time.

 

She also did give me a cortisone injection in that knee again.  The gel just doesn't seem to work long at all any more.  They re-xrayed it and the situation is worse and now we also add bone spurs to the list of knee woes.  I'm looking at surgery, soon, but need to handle anything that could be infection in my mouth first.  They don't want infection from my mouth to put me in a dangerous position.  Neither do I.  So...one day at a time.  

 

~~~~~

 

And now a word about America's Got Talent.  When we were in Branson recently, we wanted to see shows.  We looked into all the possibilities and there are PAGES to look through.  It's a city of shows.  One that caught our eye was Todd Oliver and Friends.  Yes.  The same Todd Oliver with the same friend (s) that's on America's Got Talent.  It's HIS SHOW!  Now I personally think that anyone who has their own show or stars in a show or is a co-star on a show is a professional and should not be able to compete on AGT.  When the show started, it excited me because it was a show of NON-professionals, people trying to get out there and be discovered.  I'm sorry, but if there is a huge marque or a building with your name and advertisement somewhere in this grand country of ours, YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL and shouldn't even be put through past the first stage of competition.  Okay.  Nuff said.  I'm done.

 

~~~~~

 

I've been working on getting back into the swing of blogging.  I have to get back into doing things like adding pictures and quotes and recipes, the daily grind, etc.  I'll just promise to get better.  I do want to share some of the things that I think have kept me on the weight loss trail.  It's a trail.  It's well worn, there are sometimes trees to dodge, sometimes it has ruts and sometimes there are puddles to jump.  I just try to stay on the seat of the jeep I'm in and not fall out.

 

The first thing I try to do now that I never did before is eat something when I get up.  I'm still working on making it mostly protein and veggies.  Cheerios just are so good sometimes.  :-)

 

Second, I don't drink pop often if at all.  Pretty much not at all.  I drink mainly water.  I have added milk too because the nutritionist said it's a must.

 

Third, I try to eat to satisfy not finish it all.  When it's something I really, really like or something I've been craving or if I'm just dadblasted hungry because time has slipped away, that is really a hard thing to do.

 

I'm working on slowing down.  It's not hard to do now and I'm hoping a habit forms.  With not much chewing power any more, eating slow is a must. 

 

Another thing that I need to work on is not drinking WITH meals, but drinking water only between meals.  I remember in one seminar I went to they stressed that drinking with your meal, you are washing things down and don't get that filled feeling.  Need to work on that.

 

~~~~~

 

And so we're back on this journey together.  If I can't do the bariatric surgery any time soon, I need to keep working to lose all by myself.  I can do this.  I had a boss one time that told me I was a strong young lady who can do anything I set my mind to.  I'm not so young any more, but that strong lady is lurking somewhere in the fat folds.  lol

 

More tomorrow.  I will MAKE myself write. 

 

~~Mama Sage

What a weekend it was!

I hope all of you enjoyed your 4th of July weekend as much as we did around here.  It was full of traditions and fun.  And of course when you do things with the Sage family, there's generally a crowd.  That makes it even more fun!

 

We started the day with the Stow Parade.  Our family has gathered in the same spot for years and years.  I thought it was probably for about 20 years, but go to thinking and it's been even longer.  And going to the parade has been a tradition for me since before we were even married I think.  We would go with my parents, big parade fans.  We'd take our lawn chairs and sit and watch many friends participating back then.  Times have changed.  Entrants have changed, but we always look forward to watching it. 

 

This year we had 19 with us.  Lots of kids and grandkids.  It's always a blast to watch the little ones.  The oldest kids walked across to Target and got a big box of sidewalk chalk.  Giant box.  All the kids took pieces and wrote on the street after the traffic was stopped.  They made a target and said "candy here please" and they drew pictures of candy.  Little Madison wrote all sorts of things.  None we could pronounce, but it was her special message using all her letters.  :-)

 

We had literally dozens of muffins for our breakfast.  Kennedy was a busy baker all evening on the 3rd.  She made blueberry, strawberry, chocolate chip and lemon poppyseed muffins.  We took blue raspberry and regular fruit punch and orange juice.  No coffee.  I don't have a good thermos.  And besides.  It was H O T !!  We had a big cooler of water with us too.  Always a must in the hot, hot temps.

 

When the parade started it was good to see that so many people really do still stand for the passing of the Red White and Blue.  I'm glad we've passed that tradition down to the younger generations.  All up and down the street people stood in reverence and respect to the flag and to the soldiers.  There seemed to be even more military units this year than usual.  Maybe not.  I don't know.

 

I missed clowns.  There were a few, but I'm such a clown lovin' gal, I miss having lots and lots of clowns.  And I miss the horses.  What happened to the Sheriff's mounted patrol?  And remember a-waaay back when we used to have all the local high school bands participating?  I miss that a lot.  But the parade was a solid two hours long in the intense heat.  So many characters in costume this year.  I'm amazed they didn't end up with several fainting!

 

After the parade was over, we made our way through the traffic and back to our house.  I had most of the food handled.  Just needed to grill the burgers and dogs.  I made the cole slaw the night before and sliced the tomatoes and lettuce and onions for the sandwiches.  I made three boxes of brownies (got them cheap enough to make the box cheaper than homemade) and Kennedy also had done plain cupcakes to use for shortcake.  I made two apples pies too.  We had bought the potato salad so I didn't need to make that. 

 

In the morning before we left for the parade, I put the beans and fixin's in to crock in one crockpot and the mac and cheese in the other.  They were done when we go home.  I cute up the watermelon when we got back and set all the food out while Kris got the grill going. 

 

Cliff opened the pool and then headed up to rest.  He'd worked the night before and had gotten no sleep.  If we were going to fireworks, he needed sleep.  The girls were first in the pool.  I wanted to go in but decided if I was going to fireworks I needed to keep the knee from getting bad.  Climbing in and out isn't always good.

 

We all ate, swam, played and chilled and the guys who are baseball people watched the Indians play.  I think all had a good time. 

 

We decided to head to Newton Falls for fireworks, our traditional place.  We went and picked up Missy and Melanie and headed down.  Our favorite parking place was available so we parked by Missy and then she and Melanie went on down to the carnival area with Kennedy and Casey.  Rusty, Cait and Emmi were already down there, Corry and his crew were on the way.  He'd stopped to meet a friend and his family who were joining us. 

 

When it was just about time for the festivities to begin, the sky started rockin'.  I was oh so glad to see Missy come walking up to the van to say they were ready to head out.  It looked really bad.  And it was.  Some of the others got hit with a hailstorm on their way home.  We left just a few minutes before and I guess we must have dodged a bullet.

 

I can say for certain that we all went to bed tired but happy last night.  It was a very fun family day.  I love when we get together. 

 

Today I spent my time cleaning and putting away things from yesterday.  Not until after I uploaded pictures from yesterday to my facebook.  I only did a couple at home at the picnic and none at the fireworks.  There are plenty of the parade though.  Have a look.  I'd put them on here but I'm using a desktop instead of my laptop and haven't put the pictures on this machine.

 

When I was done putting the pictures on (which took hours since it only lets me put five at a time) and cleaning and clearing the house and putting the patio cushions back on the furniture, I did the bills.  Then I started some mending.  Now, this mama is one tired mama who needs to hit the hay.  Think I'll start another Christmas book.  Finished one the other night.  I'm a little past half in my bathroom read (a Barbara Bush book) and about halfway in the one I'm reading via Kindle on my phone.  Yep.  I do have three books I'm reading at a time.  At least.  And no.  It's not confusing.  :-)

 

Time to say nighty night.  See you next time.

~~Mama Sage