Monday, December 30, 2024

Quiet days

 The days since Christmas have been quiet ones... grocery shopping, laundry, eating leftovers and so on.

Today things started going back to normal... some going back to work. The college students are still on break.. My teacher daughter is on winter break too!

My grand daughter... big pat on her back... got all A's again. She has had all A's since she transferred into UMKC from the two year college. We are so proud of her!! Two semesters till graduation!

later..

Guess it's been too quiet for my daughter and grand daughter... they dropped by separately. My daughter came with donuts after she went grocery shopping... just to chit chat and have coffee. My grand daughter stopped by after work at the DMV to lend her grandfather her guitar. She's enjoying the college break and only working part-time.

I need a new hair stylist... so I posted on the Blue Springs Facebook page..I have lots of replies to check into.



Thursday, December 26, 2024

Christmas Day

 


Christmas 2024... before everyone arrives and adds to the present pile !

I still miss the big real trees we used to have...  Many years we went out to the local tree farm to find the perfect tree. One year, when we were still living back east, we went to to find " THE TREE". There was snow on the ground and I was backpacking our youngest. I tripped in the snow and our daughter flew out of the backpack into a pile of snow... No harm done other than a cold face!

So this little manmade tree has some of the special ornaments and the angel Bob and I bought our first Christmas from Sibleys in Rochester,NY.

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Christmas

 It's been a wonderful  Christmas morning! Just wonderful...

Now everyone has gone to their homes and we have tidied  up the  dining room table, kitchen and so on and I am sitting at my computer..

I follow a blog where the author posted the verse from her this year's Hallmark card...

"Christmas keeps us believing in goodness,
 in kindness, in the wonderful dream of Peace.
May Christmas always have the power
 to remind us of the connection between us all
 and to renew our wish for a more peaceful world.
And this year, especially, may Christmas bring you joy." 
 
 
Had to copy it...
Merry Christmas all
 

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

creeping ever closer

 Tomorrow is the big day. I woke up thinking of all that I had to do before everyone arrives Christmas morning... not too much...

Everything is in the living room ... all wrapped... food stuffs in the kitchen.. but I do have to "unhide" the Christmas plates, wine glasses and serving dishes!

Found some e-gift cards from Bob on my computer this morning!

Put all the wrapping paper stuff away...

Christmas cards arrived from our son's friends even though he has been gone for 6plus years... 

Our daughter dropped by with presents for tomorrow... the pile is looking big!

All that's left is a dinner of leftovers tonight which will empty out the fridge. Breakfast tomorrow and put out things and drinks for everyone's arrival.

Saturday, December 21, 2024

another step closer to Christmas

I headed out a little earlier than usual expecting lots of people would be shopping... and they were! Went to Hy-Vee for meat from the meat area ... and a gift card.

Then it was Ace Hardware.. I swear it has the largest assortment of doggie toys and treats. So now Harper and Scout will have their own bag of presents. I also picked up a person item!

Then it was home for another "do nothing " day... Lots of Kindle reading. Luckily I found 4 new free/low cost kindle books on my computer... downloaded and ready for reading when I finish my current book!! 

Bob's "do nothing" day includes Kindle reading and X-Box.... I also wrapped things!!

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Togetherness


 Unusual sight... they don't usually sleep together. Usually a fight occurs when one tries to get up onto the same recliner!!

Even though it is a quiet day ( after the meeting last night) there is still laundry that needs to be done

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Getting ready for quilting craft group

 We have been getting ready for the quilting craft group meeting tonight... lots of Christmas cookies, Chex Mix, rum balls, dips, cheese  and so on waiting! I am looking forward to it!!

Bob vacuumed and "did" the bathroom... I baked a pecan pie!

Bob had an eye appointment this morning... lots of tests etc. It had been forever since his last eye check up and if his glasses nose piece  hadn't 'bit the dust' he probably would have put things off longer!!

Everything was done and a good time was had by all

Monday, December 16, 2024

shortbread cookies and package wrapping

My "tasks" today have been shortbread cookies and package wrapping... another step towards Christmas.

Yesterday Bob and I went through the box of lights. Luckily we wrapped each strand and put it away in a grocery store bag and then into the box. So we checked each strand...all ok.  Some to go around the front of the house and some on the deck railing out back. 

So while I was cookie baking Bob put up the lights. Do you think the squirrels will leave the deck lights alone this year? They ate through lots of the wiring last year..How come they don't get zapped??

The last two days have been well into the 50's... feels strange to have it so warm in December. Tomorrow the temps are supposed to drop...someone/something must have heard me.


Saturday, December 14, 2024

Another one of those days!!

Headed downtown KC for my haircut... raining but it wasn't cold enough to be a problem! Kansas City down by the Plaza has loads of construction going on  They are working hard to add the lines extending the streetcar.

Home meant Mexican Wedding Bells/Russian Teacake cookies. A batch is now put away.

Next is loading up our car with the "stuff" for our seniors.. the Phoenix Family Christmas adopt-a-program. We will leave them with our daughter and she will deliver them!!

We talked and talked and talked and finally managed to switch our adopt-a-senior stuff into our daughter's car... and went out to Moocho's for dinner. Moocho is a great Mexican/BBQ restaurant in Oak Grove!

When we left home at 5pm the fog was unbelievable... when we drove home  at 8 after Moocho's it was gone!!

Friday, December 13, 2024

Change in plans

 Bob and I went Christmas shopping instead of me baking cookies...Found something for the "hard to buy for" daughter so came home feeling very successful.

I have a podiatrist appointment this afternoon so will probably bake a batch of cookies after that! BTW the rumballs taste great!!

Before we went shopping Bob spent almost a half hour looking for his wallet. I swear he looked everywhere... even dumping the cat Jack to check whether it had fallen down alongside the seat in his recliner.  It finally showed up in his desk drawer where he had carefully placed it after paying for his Medicare Humana yearly fee  ( his advantage plan)... oh well...


Thursday, December 12, 2024

Start of Christmas baking??


 I started on my Christmas baking this morning... giant ginger cookies!! Christmas isn't Christmas without the taste of ginger....They are cooking and will go into the freezer.

Next is rumballs... when Bob finds the bag of confectionery sugar. It's either up on the highest shelf or downstairs in my basement pantry...   Bob found the confectionery sugar... in an Uncle Ben's metal tin up on the highest shelf.. No way could I reach it, but he could and did. Made the rumballs and Bob rolled them in more confectionery sugar!! Now they are sitting in the fridge...We nibbled as we worked and they taste good!!

Next... tomorrow.. Scottish shortbread cookies.. or maybe sugar cut out cookies.. or Mexican Wedding Bells ( Russian Tea cakes)

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Another busy day so far..

 Up as usual.. emptied the dishwasher and made a cup of Keurig coffee. After Bob fed the cats etc and I dressed  etc. we settled down to divide our senior giftings. One pile for M and one for A. Then wrapped some things and packed them into large Home Goods bags .... each bag etc has a printed name tag.

We had received a biography for each and a list of wants/needs to go by. I think we succeeded... including a gift card from Santa Claus.

Our daughter will take them downtown KC to Phoenix Family where a facility person will make sure each senior gets his/her stuff.  

Phoenix Family has similar set-ups for families.

Merry Christmas M and A!!


Well... received a text from our older daughter. Her dog, Harper, had gotten out of the fenced back yard. She caught her but has no idea how Harper got out and has to go to work until  9 ( dark outside). So Bob went off to see if he could find out!!

Good luck Bob!!  In exchange I am doing Christmas cards...

He found Harper had moved everything at the fence's back gate and went under. Who would think a dog could move a large tire with rim and several concrete blocks! Bob put things back , rearranged things and added more blocks. Yes, Harper is a big dog but she 's also to d*** smart!!

Monday, December 9, 2024

Whew... finally back home

We left home with a list of chores...PO for bears... Disabled Vets for donations...Wal-Mart for Senior gifting ... Target for more Senior gifting...Home Goods for gift bags.

The Post Office parking lot was full...no place to park. Gave up. Disabled Vets  was happy to get our bags/boxes.  Wal-Mart was fine. Our actual check-out person was friendly and quick... Target was equally good. The line in Home Goods stretched to the moon but I made it through and actually saw a friend at the same time!!

So the bears are in our mailbox waiting for the carrier...and everything we bought is piled up in the living room waiting to be divided. Still a thing or two to be bought but the end is in sight.

The UPS driver dropped off a box for Lili and Spencer... coming from Canada it was squashed ( inadequately packed) and in the midst of the Canadian postal strike. I bought it through etsy so not a great review.

I am exhausted!!

Nap time...bears picked up...the show is closed. This was the last one of the year... do I start thinking about next year's shows?


Sunday, December 8, 2024

a so so day

 Another so so day. I did go out and took my grocery list to our little Wal-Mart. The parking lot was full but there were loads of checkout stands. 

I did not buy Hellman's mayo, butter or eggs...I still have some and the prices were too high. The fresh veggie prices were good.. so  we will be having them tonight , tomorrow etc.

Bob worked on our taxes and letters for our charitable donations using funds from our minimal distribution funds. That feels good and there are so many non-profit organizations that need help... especially this time of the year.

Tomorrow Bob and I start shopping for our Adopt-A-Seniors  - a Phoenix Family thing.

More bears leaving!! Hurrah!! They're ready to go!!


Saturday, December 7, 2024

Day #2 of bear show... plus other odds and ends

 Almost the first thing I did this morning was check to see whether any more bears had sold. The answer was no... but there is plenty of time left.

Boxes I sent Friday are already well on their way... the PO says they will arrive Monday!!

St. John LaLande ( our church here in Blue Springs) is having a Christmas bazaar this afternoon and tomorrow. This bazaar is where I first made and sold bears many many years ago. I number my bears and am reaching 7,000. Retirement?? Possibly!!

It looks like we will be having a few days of warmer weather. The report says 55 today!! Hurrah... may want to get down the lights and encourage Bob to put some up around the front door. I no longer nag him to get up on a ladder... so we won't be part of the lighting contest in our subdivision. 

Many pay to have their houses and yards super decorated..

Later... the bazaar was a little disappointing. Too many vendors and not enough crafters though we did find some pumpkin bread  and truffle bars made by the Altar Society. The truffle bars included a copy of the recipe which we will make !! They were very good... Bob just brought up a slice of the pumpkin bread which surprise surprise had raisins... also very good!!

Bob and I spent the evening watching "Holiday Inn" on Netflix... it had been a long time since the last time!!

 

 



Friday, December 6, 2024

Selling bears and shipping

 Here I sit at my computer watching the online bear show... watching to see if any have sold. Lots have!! Always a delight.

Then it's paperwork time... receipts, packing slips and so on. Finally it's off to the USPO web site where I can print labels and pay for the shipping... easy peasy. Then I leave the boxes on the front steps and the mail carrier picks them up... no waiting on lines ( especially this time of the year). I don't even have to leave home!!

The sale ends Monday evening... here's hoping there will be more boxes waiting for my carrier.


Thursday, December 5, 2024

Christmas shopping

 I hadn't really intended to go Christmas shopping today. First it is super cold today but I has a strange message from Target (CVS) about my Xerelto. So off I went. The pharmacist decided she could fill the prescription even though the computer didn't show any problems with it. So I had 20 minutes to kill.

Off I went ... first the food section... Progresso soup on sale. Great! Then off to the Christmas section where I impulsed on Christmas candy... small giftie things ... and hang tags.

Picked up my prescription and check out and decided to head to Home Goods. That little visit to the Christmas section in Target must have triggered the Christmas bug. I found all sorts of stuff from chocolate/marshmallow hot chocolate stirrers to a box of Peppermint  Bark ( Robb always bought that!) Things to put out when we have visitors. Other small similar things to add onto the bigger family presents.

The checkout line snaked around a huge area...lots of piled high carts... lots of checkout cashiers!! Nobody complaining!

Later: Our grandson's musical performance... Luckily UMKC does U-tube!  Fun picking him out !

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Cardiac stress test... Centerpoint Hospital

This morning was my cardiac stress test at Centerpoint Hosp. in Independence. St Mary's Hosp  here in Blue Springs no longer accepts Humana Insurance. So I had to switch...even so I had to pay $300 over what my insurance would pay.

Centerpoint is huge ! I had gotten the wrong directions so it was a long trek to the right registration desk! But after that everything went well...very friendly people.

Even longer trek back to our car ( Bob had switched it to the 'right' parking lot).

Not sure why but a nap was the order of the day when I got home! Though food first after having fasted for the test!

After my nap Lili and her grandfather had a long phone call about her Spring semester's cost and used cars she is looking into one to replace her husband's totaled one. I listened in and worked ,using the speaker thing on my phone,  on another bear.

Another nap... not sure why but have doubts about sleeping tonight.  Luckily there is "quilting" tonight which may help me be tired enough to sleep.

Monday, December 2, 2024

Last online show of 2024...

 Friday is the beginning of the last of this year's online shows ! Papa Mouse and Squeeks are my leads..


 Here is a link to the show which opens Friday at 10 am Central!

https://www.bright-star-promotions.com/OnlineShow/2024/TheBearBlitzShow2024.htm


I have been enjoying making bears and bear friends in a holiday look!!
 

How this works... 

If you click on the link above, you are taken to a page of participating bear artists. Then click on the lead bear ( or friend) and you will go to the participants page of items for sale. If you want to buy one... there is a PayPal button.

There are 39 artists participating from all over the world!!  Even when I  am not participating I find it interesting to see what is being made...

Sunday, December 1, 2024

After Thanksgiving....

Days have been quiet... lots of book reading...finishing up the leftovers...And then we woke up to snow yesterday!!

It snowed off and on all day. I think we have about 3 to 4 inches. There were loads of wrecks on I-70  and our grand daughter struggled on the streets in Independence.

I snuggled down with a knot-tied fleece blanket made by a friend...my Kindle in  hand watching the snow through the window! 

Bob has been dealing with "intestinal stress" so we probably won't leave home today...

later..

the temperature is above freezing and lots of the snow is gone!! Bob is feeling better and has been puttering around in the garage ( his wood working  workshop) doing who knows what.

Since we are staying home I have been online shopping... it has been fun and I have found some things!!

I have a cardiac procedure this Wed. ... a stress test. No caffeine the day before... nothing but pills the night before and the morning of the test. I am allergic to something that is part of the test so extra pills to prevent a reaction ... Fun.. Centerpoint Hosp. at 8.45am.


Friday, November 29, 2024

great Thanksgiving

It was a great Thanksgiving... everyone brought their  "assigned" food stuffs and the turkey came out of the oven a beautiful brown and was super tasty.

I did hear my daughters mention to each other that they missed their brother ( as did Bob and I ).

There was so much eating and talking that we all forgot to take pictures! Leftovers were divided up and clean up went well. Chex Mix went home with people too...now there's just enough left for us to nibble on. I can see another batch being made.

The house was so empty and quiet afterwards!!

Today Bob and I put things back where they belonged... Bob did some laundry.. I worked on a bear and I think Bob worked on a Christmas project...

Tomorrow we are headed out to our older daughter's. Her dog has figured out how to open the door to the basement ( while she is at work) and gets into things. Bob is going to figure out a way to stop that!! This is the dog that has been banned from the boarding kennel because she figured out how to open the door there too and went wandering!!

Looks like it will be cold.. maybe wet and a little snow... nothing like the 6 feet of lake affect snow predicted for Watertown, NY !


Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Fridge clean up

When I put the turkey in the fridge to thaw I suggested to Bob that I should put something underneath. Bob poo-poo'd the idea, Well I was right.... the turkey leaked liquid into the cheese and veggie drawers. So guess what?! We had to take everything out and clean!! Now the turkey is in a huge stainless bowl finishing its thawing and the fridge is clean!!

I have been emptying the freezer.. getting ready for Christmas cookie baking. I will store them in the empty freezer... I also store butter there... whenever it goes on sale! It was cheaper this week at Aldi ! 

We decided to "treat" ourselves to Subway sandwiches for dinner tonight... we haven't had one of those in a lo-o-ong time.... but the smell of them must have reminded Jack ( the gray striped cat) of Robb's love for them! Bob and I both gave him some of the meat  - ham and roast beef - which he snarfed down rapidly! Funny what people and cats remember!! Tigger was elsewhere sleeping and missed out!



Friday, November 22, 2024

Another holiday tradition

 I found the recipe for these when we first arrived in Missouri and were looking for something new in the library's cookbooks! Added to it all was the fact that the sherry in the recipe was my Mother-in-law's favorite. A reminder of  home ( central - Fingers Lakes-  NYS).

Moving to Missouri, just before Christmas, was  "culture shock"!  I told the kids that we were together as a family and everything would be ok !  The move was not a choice... it was work...

 


 

 




Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Basket class

Bob, our younger daughter and I took a basket class while we were in Albuquerque last week ... from one of the pueblo members. Carolyn finished hers but Bob and I didn't. The teacher gave us supplies to finish at home.

Bob didn't want to finish his.. but I did. I finished it last night. It's small ... but I am happy. All of us enjoyed the class!!



The other person in our class... his wife was attending the convention... was from Minnesota but had been from Kansas City. Small world.

Our grand daughter called me this morning.. she is now a Notary Public.. She passed the test earlier but today she needed to be sworn in. Her boss at the DMV will get her the seal and book. Now she will be able  to notarize people getting licenses etc. instead of having to pass them onto another DMV employee.



Monday, November 18, 2024

Rain..and more rain

Weather reports say it will rain off and on all day... maybe up to two inches. Temperature currently is 63 degrees ...warm for November.

Bob and I have adopted two seniors through Phoenix Family... both women this year... and have received the wants/needs etc info plus a biography.  Now we have to go shopping!! Glad the lists include sizes and favorite colors!

Phoenix Family has many people... many families...many seniors that can be adopted for the Holidays !

My grand daughter and I were talking about recipes on the phone... she had found a bottle of Bacardi rum in the back cupboard.... probably leftover from a BYOB. I have a rumball recipe which  she will try. We also decided to have a cookie making event after Thanksgiving  just like when she was really young!!Now she cooks more adventurously than I do... I've invited my daughter/her Mother too! 

Had my annual (?) Medicare Wellness exam this afternoon... Went well. Everything is fine though my doctor does want a lab done and Xrays of my hands. Too many lumps..arthritis of some sort. Xrays tomorrow.

We stopped at Office Depot and Hobby Lobby on the way home and it was pouring !!

Sunday, November 17, 2024

First batch of Chex Mix

 I had a friend who gave me her recipe for home made Chex mix... I say had because her son and his family moved her down to Florida when dementia "hit". I miss her but the last time I saw her she didn't even know who I was... She loved my bears... was a great crocheter and crafts person!

But everyone in my family loves her Chex Mix and  we remember her when I buy all the ingredients and pull out the huge baking pans!

Today was the "DAY" ! I know another batch will made closer to Christmas!! Just to entice everyone, Bob took pictures all along!!

BTW... this is the start of our holiday season!!

Two pictures from Albuquerque ...feeding the rescue horses


Rita's Chex Mix.. one more not in the picture.


Now that the Chex Mix is cooled I have put into seal able plastic containers ....Bob has been munching!!


 

 


Friday, November 15, 2024

Albuquerque

 We are back home... it was an interesting time.We stayed in a resort that was on part of a 100,00 acre pueblo ! One of the trails took our younger daughter down to the Rio Grande River! The resort has a horse rescue facility and we walked to it and fed the horses with food available at the trading post.

At this time of the year everything was dry and brown... warm and very windy days and very cold and windy nights.... but Bob got a sunburn sitting outside reading on a sunny afternoon!!

Our older daughter missed her convention by being sick the whole time we were in Albuquerque. Luckily she bought the video and will be able to watch it! 

We drove into Albuquerque ( the resort was about 30 miles north) and went to the Pueblo Museum. It was fantastic and we learned alot.

Glad to get home ...pictures to follow


Saturday, November 9, 2024

Albuquerque ... here we come

 These past few days have been awful...

But we are getting ready to head out to Albuquerque on Sunday. Our elder daughter is attending a development convention and Bob, Carolyn and I are going along just for fun!!

None of us has been to New Mexico before and it looks very interesting. Things may be colder than Kansas City so we are figuring out how to take winter coats along.

We will be back late Thursday...so no posts till after that!

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

rain ? VOTE!!

 Woke up to more rain this morning. I thought "oh no!" ... standing in line to vote in the rain?? But by 10.35 the sun was out and so off we drove. Wondering what was ahead at our voting site.

Bob dropped me off at the door and went to park. There wasn't a line at all. It was busy inside.. probably not quite enough places to sit down with one's ballot but do-able!!

We were home in 20 minutes including a stop at the library to drop of a book!!

What a relief... especially after seeing the four hour long lines at the early "no excuse" voting site.. all week long!

Feet up... another cup of coffee soon?


Sunday, November 3, 2024

Lots of rain..

 Woke this morning to heavy rain. Bad enough that we had changed the clocks last night and thrown my sleep schedule off but rain!!?

We do need rain but I had planned to head out to Aldi 's... can't do with out milk and bread!! I decided to go anyway and it looked like lots  of people had the same idea! The parking lot was full... the carts were wet... the aisles were full of shoppers ! But people were friendly and happy and I got everything on my list.

It wasn't raining quite so hard when I left Aldi's  and I knew Bob could bring things into the house..more rain tonight  according to the weather person...


Friday, November 1, 2024

End of Halloween

Last night  ( Halloween) ended on a downer. Tigger the orange cat, got very confused with all the door bell ringing and trick or treaters. Not just confused but aggressive ... attacking my legs. Luckily I was wearing heavy jeans. But to top things... around midnight on my way to bed. He bit me ... quite nastily on the top of my foot. It bled a lot and Bob had to become my doctor. He washed off my foot with soap and water... and wiped up the rug... then drying my foot off he applied lots of iodine and bandages.

Keeping an eye on things.. if there's a problem tomorrow I'll call Urgent Care

later...foot still swollen and red... more iodine and new band aids Tigger back to calm this evening.

Monday, October 28, 2024

Window watching

 We have gotten really warm... currently 84 degrees. Wind advisory in effect. Tigger got really involved with the wind noise so Bob opened the window in our office so Tigger  could watch the leaves and branches and listen to the noise!


The early "no excuse" voting sites are still having 2-4 hour lines... We have driven by several times ... saw all the people and headed back home. We will take another look tomorrow... and take along my seated walker . I can't stand that long!! And some bottled water.

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Hamfest in Raytown

Bob and I sat all morning at a church in Raytown.  A local ham group was holding its hamfest... ham equipment both old and new, antennas and so on for sale. Bob had been sorting through at his stuff and we brought a table's worth of things he didn't want any more.

He has been a ham since 1958... while he was still in high school. His interest led him to become an electrical engineer!

I kept him company when he wasn't talking to other hams - both young and old! A girl, about 9, went home with a free crystal radio kit! A poor father or maybe a grandfather has a teaching opportunity!

Our table was just about empty  when we went home!! Cash in Bob's pocket!! Plus another decluttering !!

Friday, October 25, 2024

Trying again

 We tried again to vote today... this time we went around 2 hoping there would be less people on line. But no, there were more - my estimate. Bob says less. Who knows which of us is right  but too many to want to stand and wait.

As we were driving to the Fleming Town Hall to vote an emergency vehicle passed us.. lights on etc. I jokingly said that maybe someone on line had fainted. Bob said  he has thought the same thing. As we got close to the voting place... there was the emergency vehicle... than a fire truck showed up with its lights on too! Everybody was looking ( but not leaving their spot online) and as things were brought out of the ambulance.  BTW the temp was 81... hard to stand on line in that heat for a LONG time!

We drove further on and turned around. As we headed back home the fire chief's car pulled up next to the ambulance!

Think we may try another voting place next week...probably the Board of Elections place on Independence's Square.. Bob has suggested lunch at one of the restaurants whether or not we vote!!

Meant to post this  yesterday but we had a huge thunderstorm and turned off the computers!


Today my daughter and son-in-law had the day off so they came over to help bring down more stuff in the attic. Lots more empty boxes and things too heavy for Bob to manage on his own. Plus boxes of china from my deceased mother-in-law... things no one really wants but probably shouldn't go to the thrift store. Two floor fans went home with our helpers.. one still in the attic for next summer.

The attic is a lot emptier now...

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

no excuse voting

 Missouri's "no excuse" early voting started  yesterday ( or the day before lol). Bob and I decided to go to one of the sites this morning around 10 hoping to miss those who were before work voters. The line surrounded the site building... Bob says 100 , I say more. The fields surrounding the building contained LOADS of parked cars.

We decided to try again tomorrow...though Bob doesn't think tomorrow will be any better.

 

 



Tuesday, October 22, 2024

better...

Today has been better... We went to the gym and did machines, treadmill and laps! Then off  to the Disabled Vets Thrift Store (Red Racks) drop to leave the latest car load!

When we arrived home we discovered, much to our delight, that the trash guys had taken all our stuff! Including a huge box full of more disassembled boxes. More next week! This is part of our de-cluttering!

Our daughter's first graders had a great day... one of them had chosen to have a birthday celebration with her gifted classmates rather than her regular classroom. So there was pizza, gift bags and all sorts of stuff including the parents! Our daughter said she had never had a birthday celebration before... so  she enjoyed it as much as the first graders and the parents!

Bob and I both had a recliner nap after our gym time!!

Monday, October 21, 2024

so far... not a great day

 Woke up this morning and got going on my usual tasks -- empty the dishwasher and settle down to have a cup of coffee and read the paper ... a paper one thrown to the end of the driveway!  Ever since covid , we text each other  and do a check in. The first text ( from my younger daughter) said my grandson-in-law had an accident on the highway on his way to work. He's fine... the car is totaled. Another text from the same daughter said her husband's work had received a bomb threat and it had closed down. His work subcontracts for the federal gov't..

so... made coffee.... and relaxed for a bit.. read the paper

Then off to Aldi's... nothing bad there thank goodness...

Put everything away and organized things for dinner when our daughter called to talk about the accident and what our grand daughter and her husband needed to do.... not too long later and our grand daughter herself called to talk to Grandpa about what she and her husband needed to do.

Friday, October 18, 2024

How did we get to all this...?

Well.. we are both "collectors". Bob collects antique radios, ham radio stuff, trains,slide rules, and so on. I collect antique bears and stuff for "The Glass Dragon"'s bears - accessories, fabric and sewing machines - dolls..

On top of all this, is stuff my kids left behind and stuff that came back when my son died. And then one adds stuff from both parents and grandparents. It seemed like every visit my sister-in-law made included a car trunk full of stuff from her Mother and Father's estate and Bob could never say no.

We seem to be the depository of stuff.  When the kids left we had a large mostly empty house... but stuff came wandering back...

I've started a new "pile" of stuff to go to the thrift store!

Thursday, October 17, 2024

De-cluttering... hooray

 Bob and I spent time after my quilting group discussing the future route we should be taking... Our house has loads of stairs plus the entry stairs. Time will come when this really becomes a problem. One of my quilting friends.. a widow in her 90's is already coping with this problem... her telling of a new facility near home got Bob and I thinking

What do we want next? I don't think we know and discussions show that our wants/wishes/needs aren't always the same.

One hindrance is how we manage to leave this house...40 plus years of stuff!

So we decided to make some small inroads today ... and we did. We started up in the attic. We now have a car trunk of stuff ready to go. Loads of cardboard boxes that held computers, monitors, woodworking machines etc. Some boxes we took apart for the next garbage pickup... maybe we can find a cardboard recycling place for the rest..

Plus plans were made for another trip up to the attic. The attic has pull down stairs and we will need a "younger" person for some stuff  Bob can't manage.  We were much younger and more agile when we put things there...lol !  Our younger daughter has agreed to give us a hand... hooray!

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Busy today

 I am hosting my "quilting" group this evening and so went off to the grocery store for drinks and dessert. The couple in front of me in the only checkout lane had an enormous cart full of everything under the sun!! The bagger kept piling on bag after bag into their cart...I swear the pile topped more than a foot over the cart!  Boy am I glad I don't have to put all that away!!

Off to the cardiologist for a check up this afternoon.... 

Everything fine.. quilting was fun....

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Adopt-a-senior

 Hard to imagine except for the cooler weather but non-profits are beginning to set up their "adopt" programs for the holidays.

Bob and I have been adopting seniors for quite a few years... one of each sex.. and have signed up again.

Thank you Phoenix Family for running this.... Bob and I have helped our daughter shop for families that have signed up. I am always amazed at how organized this is... print outs of each family member, ages, sizes , wants and wishes for the kids. We go out late at night to shop so the stores aren't busy and fill cart after cart.... carefully organizing the bags after check out so the right family gets the right things. Then there is a big "wrap party"!!

Our senior adoptees also come with "wants and needs" sheets, sizes etc. We shop and wrap and deliver to Phoenix Family offices for delivery to the seniors. Last year one of our seniors wanted "learn to read" books...



cold...

 Woke up cold this morning... needed an additional quilt!! And it hasn't gotten warm today either! There are frost warnings for tomorrow morning.

I am baking a quiche for dinner tonight... we will enjoy having the oven on!!  It has sharp cheddar, Parmesan cheese, chopped ham, onions and red peppers .

We went to the gym this morning... I am managing to increase my laps ( a bit) and  the number of  leg strengthening machine reps. Means I am exhausted when we get  home... especially since we hit the grocery store afterwards. Thanks to Silver Sneakers... the gym membership is free!!

 The quiche turned out well... I swear Bob ate almost half of a 9 inch pie pan of quiche!! There is enough for a cold leftover dinner...

Forgot to publish last night

 


Saturday, October 12, 2024

today??

 When I noticed today's date ... October 12th... I immediately thought Columbus Day !  But no.. President Biden has declared this year's Columbus Day is Monday Oct. 14th...  Oh well... no mail and other federal things.

Actually I am sort of surprised that there still is a Columbus Day... there has been lots of talk about others arriving to the Western Hemisphere earlier..

It's going to be a much warmer day... 90 degrees as a high. Bob has switched the a/c/ furnace to heat but haven't needed it. 

Later... it did get hot and I turned on a little fan to get the air moving...helped.

Friday, October 11, 2024

little of this and that

We ( the family here in KC) watched and worried about family down in Florida. It looked like our brother-in-law in N Ft. Myers and our niece and her family in Jacksonville were right in Milton's path. No news is good news so we are assuming everything is ok.

Bob has been doing watering duty out at our daughter's house. The dogs are glad to see him and they all sit out on the deck waiting for the time to pass.

I have been puttering around..today's task was to "oil" our front door.. I'd love to paint it some bright eye catching color but Bob won't hear of it. But it had gotten that weathered look and "oil" made it look so much better.

Our two daughters are having a get together tomorrow. They are both so busy that getting together doesn't happen too often. So it's dinner out at the local Chinese buffet and then sitting out on L's deck cocktails in hand... and lots of talk. Happy for the two of them!!

 

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

quiet day ...errands etc today

Yesterday was a quiet one... everyone rested (!). Bob did go and turn on sprinkler for the allotted 20 plus minutes.

This morning was a gym day... both of us did our thing. Then we came home and changed clothes and will head out on our errands. Pills for me... cat stuff for the cats...return library books. 

 Luckily most of the road work is done and leaving home yesterday was ok

Turning on the sprinklers and giving the dogs some time outside is scheduled for later on.

Forgot to mention that I ended up answering a pollster's questions on the phone last night...The questions were pretty much Missouri ones and abortion ones and a few were Trump but not Biden or Harris. After she was done, she "God Blessed" me.  ??

We don't tend to answer pollsters but ...

Sunday, October 6, 2024

totally whipped

We spent the afternoon redoing our elder daughter's grassless front  lawn.. prepped the dirt... reseeded...peat moss and covered things with a "blanket" made especially for lawn work.  Would have been easier if  the lawn was flat!!

Bob will be going daily to water... Fingers crossed that the grass will grow!

All of us are totally whipped...I didn't feel like cooking or going out for dinner so I made a batch of tunafish for sandwiches . We enjoyed  it and so did the cats. Tuna juice ( the liquid in the can) is the cat's meow!!

Tomorrow is the " stay at home" day while they start on the new road asphalt.

Friday, October 4, 2024

Gorgeous outside

 The weather is wonderful... currently 80 F! Doors open... windows open !

After a trip to Aldi's and Price Chopper I am set to make Debby's stuffed green pepper soup :

 (https://lifesfunnylikethat.blogspot.com/ ) I am considering adding some fresh mushrooms too!

My granddaughter chatted on her hands-free phone on her way home from work. She is a treat and full of all sorts of  "topics" . When she gets home she will spend the afternoon on homework so that she and her husband can go to the Renaissance Festival tomorrow ... over in Kansas, but not to far. They will meet up with friends, enjoy the jousting and share a turkey drumstick ( always big enough for two!). Luckily someone brought in free tickets to work!

The soup was great... added the mushrooms and a dollop of sour cream. Nice to have something new to try!


 




Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Hello October...

 Today starts October... but the weather report says things will be getting warmer on Thursday but today's high 60's is great.. Up and down just like the rest of the past weeks!!

My grandson also had a reaction to the covid test.. managed to make it to two of his required classes but had to email the teachers for the rest...Everyone else didn't have a problem!

I tried a new recipe tonight... good  but not great. The one part that made it worth the try was a batch of polenta. I had never made it before and finding coarse ground cornmeal meant several stores! I ended up with medium ground cornmeal but it worked.

Since I have more cornmeal maybe I will try putting the just cooked polenta in a pan, letting it firm up overnight so it can be sliced and fried. I think I have seen Lydia  on PBS do that.

Tomorrow means a trip downtown KC... haircut time!!


Recuperating??

 Feeling better... the arm still has a large bump, hot to the touch and hurts.. but other symptoms are on the downward turn.

We went out to dinner with our elder daughter yesterday... Moocho in Oak Grove. Bet they thought we were never going to leave...Lots of talking. Then we went back to her house to drop off some political signs ( I wonder whether they will be stolen...Oak Grove is pretty red!) And more talking out on the deck . Scout and Harper were delighted to see us and to have us sit outside while they enjoyed the company and playing.

Today it was back to our routine at the gym! Bob is doing the laundry! He carries the basket down to the machines (?) in the basement , sorts stuff etc. I help with the fresh bedding and folding when he brings the baskets back upstairs. 

I do appreciate it... I cannot manage the baskets etc anymore.

Got involved streaming a New Zealand show... forgot to publish


Friday, September 27, 2024

Covid vaccination

Today has been the pits... My arm and shoulder hurt...lots of mucus.. I also have a low temp...The trip to the gym was really short...

Hope tomorrow will be better

Thursday, September 26, 2024

covid booster shots

Bob has scheduled booster shots from CVS today. Teacher daughter's school has mentioned the increase in covid cases and older daughter has been ill all week after working on a race event for Phoenix Family....so we decided we'd better got ours.

Teacher daughter and her family will get their shots on Sunday!!

The temps are back up to mid to high 70's....currently not fall like!

Easy peasy at CVS...we have our shots"...we'll see how it goes. We went to Walmart ( the small neighborhood one) and picked up a few things like wonderful green grapes, bananas ,  cookies from the bakery,  and OJ but they didn't have RedMills polenta which was our real reason for going even though the website said they did!!  Really friendly check out cashier!!

By evening I didn't feel great. My arm hurts... I have a low temp and feel punky. I took a Tylenol with my evening pills and may take Ambien to help me sleep.... and we'll see how things go tomorrow morning. We are supposed to go to the gym... pick up a book the library has on hold for Bob...hit the grocery store for the polenta and finally pick up something from the hardware store...


Wednesday, September 25, 2024

cooler and busy

 We woke up to another cooler day.. but.I don't think it was cool enough for the furnace to turn!

We headed out to Independence  around 11.30 to pick up some political signs and since  it was around lunch time Bob said we could go to Ophelia's on the Independence square afterwards.

Lunch was great... sandwiches and a wonderful house salad... all kids of little treats ( pimentos, pickled cauliflower, Kalamata olives, pickled onions) and great "greens". The sandwich was big enough for a doggie bag!

Then  we stopped at Clinton's .. an ice cream store still on the "square where Truman worked as a young man. We had 2 scoops of a wonderful butter pecan ice cream in a cup with two spoons so we could enjoy things driving home!! Great timing ... it started to rain just as we left Clinton's and headed to the car!!

Drove the "back way" home ... no I 70 !

This evening we watched Dominic's first college( UMKC) concert on UTube... My daughter and her husband ( the proud parents) drove downtown KC to watch.

 

Forgot to post this yesterday after Dom's concert!!


Monday, September 23, 2024

Wow!! Cooler!!

 After a wet off and on weekend, I woke to a much cooler Monday. I've been using just a sheet when sleeping but needed to pull up the comforter sometime during the night.

We went off to the gym this morning with the temp at 57 F... by mid-afternoon it went up to 61F. I am not sure things will stay this cool. Tree leaves are still green.

Our visit to the gym went well... each trip has meant an increase in the track laps number. Not huge increases but better!

We are going to Albuquerque in November . Our non-profit daughter has a development conference so Bob , teacher daughter and I will go with her on a short vacation... like San Diego and San Antonio. This time we will rent a car and we able to really act like tourists.

Sunday, September 22, 2024

no blood but more pee

We haven't found any more blood drops but the pee situation seems to be growing worse... yuck. More rug cleaning is heading our way.

Yesterday was a wet and thundery (?) day. The storm got close enough for us to turn off the computers and the printer.

 The cats were sleeping together on one of the recliners and the booms set them running.

Lots of Blue Springs areas lost power... and the Fall Fun Fest parade did not have the bands preforming and even the whole festival closed down for part of the day. Bet the Farmers' market did too!

But we need the rain... and will enjoy the cooler temps today.

 


Friday, September 20, 2024

Found why blood? Maybe

 Bob found a scabbed cut on Jack's ear. I can see the pattern of blood made by Jack shaking his head. Don't know the origin of the cut but it is scabbed over and there has been no new blood spots...

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Normalcy

 Things seem to have settled back into normal. No surprises on the floor and the cats are eating...though Jack is sleeping a lot.



Wednesday, September 18, 2024

blood spots on the kitchen floor

 One of my first tasks in the morning is emptying the dishwasher. But when I entered the kitchen there were red spots all over the floor... some were tiny ... some were the size of a nickel. They were dry.

I have no idea of their origin. Not mine... not Bob's.... and neither cat seems to be injured...but Jack, the striped older one, did not eat his breakfast and slept all morning.

So I emptied the dishwasher and Bob cleaned up the spots. We will keep an eye on the cats.  BTW, nothing in any of the four litter boxes or anywhere else.

later... Jack is more his usual self. Bob carried him out to the kitchen and fed him and he is purring. Still no signs of anything on either cat.  Jack is going on 19 -20. This episode could just be the beginning of Jack's decline.


Monday, September 16, 2024

Silver Sneakers

The other day Bob went into one of our local gyms and was told that people with Silver Sneakers can join as many gyms as they want... for free. Not sure how that works but Bob was told to bring in our Silver Sneakers cards with their numbers and we could join.... so that's what we did.

Today we went for our first visit...went well. We went before lunch and found just about all the others were as old as we are!! Went well... did some laps and some of the machines!


Yesterday our daughter made a batch of "glorified gingerbread"... Ina Parker is her great-grandmother.. this is a family comfort food... and it was a way to use up milk that went sour in the "olden days". Now we make the milk sour... lol.

Saturday, September 14, 2024

More school threats

 There have been more school threats around Blue Springs.. high schools, middle schools... arrests and one deemed non-credible. Since these are minors making the threat, there haven't been any updates.

I have listened to my teacher/ daughter talk about how she can keep her students safe... all very scary. Scary for her... but even scarier for little elementary kids ...( and scary for her Mother!)

Bob was downstairs playing on his XBox when Jack ( the gray striped cat) peed on the rug right in front of him. I will go crazy if both cats start peeing outside of the litter boxes... Bob cleans the litter boxes regularly...

This is later... he is cleaning the rug with the rug cleaner and special pet cleaner stuff.


Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Rug cleaning

Bob took the rug cleaner and the special "pet" cleanser and went after the areas Tigger  had left wet spots. Of course he vacuumed first.. the rug cleaner works better then. Things look better... and smell better. The smaller scatter rugs were washed..

Here's hoping Tigger uses one of the four litter boxes now.  I have my doubts but here's hoping anyway.

A local Blue Springs high school student has been arrested for making threats on "chit chat'. A school shooting in Omaha killed one!

Sunday, September 8, 2024

Tigger's newest accident

Tigger... the orange cat... has been peeing on scatter rugs all over the house. The vet ( and he has been twice to the tune of over $300) has no idea what is going on. All his tests are normal.

Well, today was the newest accident... I went to use my toilet and found a pile of poop on the linoleum floor! Not a good surprise. This is where my shower rug is usually... but after the last pee accident, I had not put it back after washing etc.

Tigger is 12... so not really old.

So what now??  A good surprise... our grandson Dominic came over with a card and some fancy cupcakes for Grandparents' Day!! 

And got to hear about how college is going... his classes... his room mate and so on!  He's changed a bit.. so glad to hear his enthusiasm!!


PS.. the Kansas City Star is saying this will be a good year for autumn leaves. We may try to find a good area!!

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

exciting times

 We had an "exciting" weekend....we were invited to my elder daughter's for dinner and visiting on Sunday. Just after we arrived the dogs ( Scout and Harper) came charging into the house , Harper was carrying something in her mouth with a gray tail. Luckily she dropped it. It was a half eaten young squirrel. All that was left was the tail, hind quarters and the "guts"... yuck. I got it into the trash much to the dogs' dismay. They then spent quite a bit of time trying to find another.

Dinner was great and not too hot!

Monday we were invited again for dinner. While sitting out on the deck the dogs discovered that another squirrel was in the tree just off of the deck. They tried to climb the tree... pulled down the lowest branches and low and behold the squirrel fell... landing dazed on the ground.

The dogs went ape... our daughter got them by the collars... and Bob got the squirrel into a bucket. It was sort of alive and tossed it into the woods behind the back fence.

The dogs spent the rest of the evening watching the tree hoping for another until some sort of noise came from behind the fence... and their attention moved there. If they could have climbed over the 8 foot fence they would have.

Dinner great again... fingers crossed the squirrels are smart enough to leave that tree and move to someone else's tree!!

Thursday, August 29, 2024

dreams and pollen alert

 I had one of those dreams where you cannot stop its "direction"... Even after a bathroom break, the dream started up again at the same spot. It wasn't a bad dream... Bob and I took a bus downtown from Blue Springs to "the city"... not Kansas City. After a day of sight seeing we wanted to go home. But couldn't find the bus stop.. totally lost... Even the taxi stand  guy told me they didn't go to Blue Springs. In the last  part , Bob and I got separated. I decided that was enough and got up!!

We have had two pollen alerts! Everyone's noses are running and sinuses are plugged but it is not going to be super hot

Carolyn's kids had outdoor recess today... hot as it was. She sunburns so had found a shady spot she can stand in and supervise the kids. Today when it was time to go in, she found she was surrounded by kids wanting to be in that shady spot!!

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Little bit cooler

 As my daughter drives home from teaching I get to hear the things that happened that day. She calls me on her car phone,,, all hands free.

 Hickman Mills School district is having some sort of printer problem .. district -wise .. so she can't print out all the papers she needs... This has been going on for days...botheration! She may use our printer for some stuff if they don't get it fixed by next week.

Her school building had it a/c fail...luckily her classroom tends to be cool. But it has been hot enough for outdoor recess to be cancelled.

The kids got to watch an actual live interview with Dolly Parton... the kids knew about the free books etc. but weren't aware of her music. So after the interview Carolyn played  "Jolene" and "9 to 5"  which they ( 1st graders) loved. BTW she was actually in KC today!!

I also hear about some of the kids... One kid when being told how to behave told her he didn't have to  do what she said... then he said he was the smartest kid in the class ( gifted class). She told him he wasn't ( true)... Boy was he shocked.!! Guess he'd been told many times he was the smartest!!

By the time she gets home,,, she is "de-stressed"

 


Monday, August 26, 2024

another hot one

 It's been hot again! So we spent the day house cleaning. Not much fun but it needed it and we didn't need to go out anyway!

Even going to the mailbox  was too much!

Lili stopped on her way home from work...DMV license bureau  For the first time someone was unpleasant to her. ... more than unpleasant nasty. He was not happy that he didn't have a receipt from Jackson County saying he paid his personal property tax. Without it she couldn't do what he wanted...that's the rules.  he said he didn't have a printer and so he couldn't print out the receipt... wasn't happy when she suggested he go to the library and print it out!

Funnily enough she wanted to print something  from one of her text books on our printer!! She's really happy with her classes this semester!! Great news!!

Tomorrow is not going to be much better... YUCK!

Sunday, August 25, 2024

more branches ... and 100 degrees

 Our teacher daughter texted us last night that branches had come down at her house... one on the roof, from the oak beside her deck. The other from the red bud which has been loosing branches at each storm. The red bud may have to come down... not sure about the other. So Bob will go yo her house and check things out...

Then to Laurel's for the postponed dinner...

well.. this afternoon turned out to be really different than we expected. When we arrived at our daughter's we found her internet etc. was totally out. And she had lots of work that she was planning on completing on the computer.. especially important was a grant application due tomorrow.

Surprisingly the Infinity person showed up at the front door with all his test equipment. Before he could start we had to take the dogs outside! Our temps had reached 100 degrees so no one, dogs included , were happy outside.

The  Infinity guy checked all the inside stuff and then has to go outside  over the fence to see the junction boxes. A neighbor came out, a little upset about a stranger back there, but it turns out his internet was out too! His Infinity guy shows up too. Not the neighbor's internet.... but down the line.

Our daughter was told... maybe Tuesday it would be repaired... Not good news!

In the meantime the dogs, the dog handlers ( me and my daughter and Bob) were very uncomfortable. I was sweating like mad... way past the "glow" stage.

Back inside when the Infinity guys left... lots of liquids for all of us. And then home for us. Felt awful.

Two hours later Laurel's internet was back on... not sure for how long so she's back to work on the grant application

Saturday, August 24, 2024

thunder rumblings

 I woke this morning to the sounds of thunder... just rumblings... but a forecast for more and rain. Today there are quite a few farmers' markets and road side stands hoping to open. Hope they have some sort of "roofs"!!

We are supposed to have dinner out on our daughter's deck this evening. Fingers crossed, it will be nice enough!! If not... maybe she'll postpone things to tomorrow.....well that's what happened. The weather forecast for tomorrow is ok so we'll do it then.

So instead I decided to get things ready for my quilting/craft group on Wednesday. I "unloaded" the dining room table where I had been making gingerbread boy ornaments, fabric boxes  and a bear.  The bear is for a November online bear show. The boxes are for this group's Christmas exchange.They will be filled with Christmas candy. The gingerbread boy ornaments are for Bob's ham radio fest. I thought maybe they would be something of interest for wives that had been dragged along! 

Since we didn't go anywhere... today became laundry day. All washed, folded and put away. Bob does most of it!!

 



 


Thursday, August 22, 2024

All Gone??

I went grocery shopping this morning. Our Price Chopper was having a special one-day sale event and there some things I wanted plus things I needed. Didn't think it was anything special... picked out my stuff and then started seeing people loading up on all sorts of things... like a grocery cart filled with nothing but paper towels. I had my one... but not a cart full!

My daughter did her shopping after school... hitting all of the stores and ending up at Price Chopper. Again she saw someone with a cart load of paper towels. The shelf was then empty.... and just about everything on the sale was gone!! Even the boxes and boxes of honey crisp  apples I had seen the produce people putting in bins! Guess the $.69/lb was really good. Glad I got mine!!

Maybe that will convince Price Chopper that people really want lower prices and willing to pay for them.

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Stump

 Bob decided yesterday to get to work on an old tree stump in our backyard. The tree was taken down years ago but the stump machine  could get through our two gates so it was just left. It was one of those trees that has super prickly balls. Over the years we have cut down the volunteer growth. But I think Bob had just had enough. Turns out the stump is now pretty rotten and he was about get quite a lot dug up and into the "green" bin. Hooray!

I watched a U-Tube where someone made a little fabric box. Wrote down all his directions and made a paper pattern. The pattern looked  like it would make a box bigger than I wanted... so figured out some smaller dimensions... plus I didn't have scrap fabric big enough but did have enough for a smaller version. One is done...


 

 I found some larger scraps so will try a bigger one next... ... made it, but I am not sure which size I prefer.. Time to ponder I guess.

I need to send a package so Bob and I went on the USPS "click and chip" site . A newer version showed up and we decided to sign up for it. I use "Click and Ship" to mail my bears and friends... sold from the online bear shows. The newer version seems to work ok. After paying for the postage, I printed out the label. The box is too big to fit in our mailbox so I will leave a note in it for our mailperson and she will come to the front steps to pick it up!! Nice isn't she??

So a "do nothing day" turned out to be busier than I expected

Sunday, August 18, 2024

Sunday

Early yesterday morning we headed to out Bates City to its antique mall. Bates City is about  8 miles East of Blue Springs... just off I-70.  They were having an outdoor flea market. It turned to to be very small... we did a look around and did the same inside at the mall. Did find something... on sale! Success!!

We joined our elder daughter and her two dogs for dinner on her deck last night! Lots of talking... catching up and Bob grilled hot dogs  (on brat rolls) which we served with salad . Good!  The dogs were enticed by the smell but we were careful not to give them any hot dog.  Harper has a tender stomach and gets sick with too much fat and it's not fair to give one a piece and not the other!!

Wal-Mart is Laurel's delivery food thingy... this week two of her ordered items were not available and Wal-Mart made substitutions.... much bigger than she wanted /needed so we went home with them!! 

Today was supposed to be cooler and I guess you might say 83 degrees is cooler than 90's . So I am working on some hand sewn Christmas items ... and reading.

Then my grand daughter Lili called... long chit chat. She talks about everything and anything and her husband in the background chimes in ! Just about when I thought she was done... it was Grandpa's turn and she talked about different things with him!!

Tomorrow Bob is off to the garage overhead door replacement place with Laurel. She wants to replace her garage door. She has been looking online with Home Depot but wants a comparison with a local place.... surprisingly Blue Springs has two!

Friday, August 16, 2024

Back to school

Here's what Phoenix Family posted on Facebook about its "back to school" event..

 A young African-American boy smiling and proudly showing off his new backpack

At Phoenix Family, our Back-to-School events are a cherished tradition and a true community celebration. Every year, our generous donors, volunteers, and community partners come together to fill backpacks and host the Back-to-school events. Together, we ensure that every child, regardless of their family's financial situation, has a new backpack filled with school supplies to start the year off right. It’s a celebration of community and a way to help families who need a little extra support.


This year, across 12 housing communities, more than 1,140 kids will start the school year with the tools they need to succeed and feel confident alongside their peers.

So happy that Bob and I  ( and our development director daughter) are part of this every year!!

Thursday, August 15, 2024

cooler weather gone..

The cooler weather has disappeared... It went up to 91 this afternoon! The Weatherbug has been showing rain daily and though we have gotten some sprinkles I do not call that rain!

My daughter and her family moved Dominic into his dorm room today. UMKC had the drop off well organized... appointments, closed street and so on. So he is in! Everything was unpacked...my daughter made the bed ( really...). My son-in-law hung the pictures...and so. His room mate didn't show... maybe tomorrow? The two suite mates did ... btw, they are female. The bathroom separates the two areas.

Picked up Dominic's books at the bookstore and ordered the ones they didn't have.

So that's that. My daughter says the house is empty... good she and her husband have to go back to work tomorrow!

My day was grocery shopping, making a blueberry crostata. some crafty stuff and reading . Not exactly busy was I?

BTW... my job as far as the move goes was to be available on the phone for anything my daughter wanted to talk about...


Wednesday, August 14, 2024

haircut and lunch

 Bob drove me to my haircut appointment today ( down in the KC Plaza area)... The trip went trough lots of road construction...resurfacing of 47th Street to the building of the KC "trolley" extension.... But we made it on time!

Mark and I had a great time talking while he snipped away at my hair. I left a big pile of hair!! He was adopted from the Philippians at 10.... flew into Chicago with a bunch of kids and a social worker... didn't speak English and  hadn't met his parents to be! I won't tell anymore of his story but he is an immigrant success... loves his parents and siblings... and they love him!!

We decided to have lunch at Ophelia's on the Square in Independence. The square is back to normal.. all the Christmas decorations Hallmark put up for its filming of  a Christmas film are gone.

Our server said it was a hectic time and while Hallmark didn't film in the restaurant lots of workers ate there. She made loads of money ( tips).

Lunch was great... new lunch menu ... enough leftovers for dinner tonight!!

Dominic moves into his dorm tomorrow...

Sunday, August 11, 2024

still cooler...

 Yesterday was another cooler day... I could get to think maybe the summer heat is over. But I don't want to jinx things!! LOL

We had dinner yesterday with our older daughter and her two dogs... out on the deck. Bob grilled steak for her and she made baby potatoes in her air fryer and zucchini slices fried in butter and garlic... great dinner. Scout and Harper ( the dogs) were so excited by the smell of grilled steaks that we had to give them some tiny table scraps!!

Our daughter's part of Phoenix Family Housing's back to school back pack and school supplies is done. The backpacks etc have been sent to the various PFH sites and will be given to the kids... just in time school starts shortly.

Our teacher daughter is back at school already... kids show up  shortly ( teachers first). She is in a new classroom so will be organizing things tomorrow. Our grandson Dominic is going to help.

Thunder has started... rain soon? More rain tomorrow according to the weather maps.

Friday, August 9, 2024

Cooler ... hurrah

Yesterday was cooler and today is even cooler. Doors and windows open!!  2pm - 71 degrees

Tigger is even more interested in getting outside so we have to watch him!!  

My early morning trip ( 8 am) to the grocery store was a little bit different. I was just about the only female there. Single senior males were all over. Rushing around like mad... blocking the aisles... filling their carts. Definitely a different vibe!

Stopped at the veggie stand on the way home... purchased lots of wonderful tomatoes!!

It's now 9.52 and 62 degrees!! Love the cooler temps!!

Thursday, August 8, 2024

wrong ballot

 Tried to talk my grand daughter into telling the Jackson County election board about her ballot snafu... but wasn't successful. This was her first primary with lots of stuff and she felt a little edgy... but luckily she realized the error and was brave enough to get it fixed.

My older daughter's Phoenix Family Housing is having its backpack and supplies extravaganza today. It has been hard work getting things ready for the over 1200 registered kids. I think she will be ready to collapse tonight!!

Younger daughter's school year starts tomorrow for teachers...

Our grandson will be moving into his dorm room next Thursday.. Our grand daughter has been scoping out deals on Amazon for her books..

Looks like summer is coming to an end... remember when it lasted through Labor Day weekend??

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Voting

 Bob and I headed out early to vote... not that we thought that the polling place would be busy but to go during the cooler part of the morning. There were voters.. workers and one person handing out cards.

Chit chatted with the worker overseeing the ballot counting machine... she's not sure she wants to do it in November. I'm sure I wouldn't want to! I worked one presidential election and it was a madhouse. I'm sure this November will too!

We told all the workers "thank you" for their work!

Our younger daughter stopped by ... we had an errand. Stopped at LaMar's donuts on the way home... donuts and apple fritters... yum.
She and Bob talked politics afterwards!! Luckily we think the same way.

 Our grandson votes for the first time. He is excited. He and his parents will vote when his Dad gets home from work!

LATER

When my grand daughter went to vote she was given the wrong party ballot... she was confused because all the names were unfamiliar until one !  The poll worker was not happy when she took the ballot back and asked for the right party one!! The wrong one was shredded and she was given the right one!!


We have to tell the poll worker which party ballot we want.. Lili did , but was still given the wrong one!!

Sunday, August 4, 2024

Primary Day...Tuesday

 Tuesday is Primary Day here in Missouri. We have done our best to choose which candidates we want.... and changes to the constitution.Luckily the whole family is on the same track.

I don't know how families cope when they aren't... or even friends.

We are currently at 96 degrees.... drinking lots of liquids... fans and a/c...not doing much. Even the cats are taking it more easy than usual BUT Tigger is back to peeing on the scatter rugs in the bathrooms . Bob is going to call the vet (again) tomorrow. Another $100 and no real answer I expect.

at 10 pm its 78 and getting cooler ....Hooray !


Saturday, August 3, 2024

Feeling lousy

Days and days of hot and muggy weather has left me feeling lousy. Did manage a trip to the grocery store -Neighborhood Walmart - this morning so we should be ok!

Bob dropped me off so I could get groceries and he headed off to the library to pick up books he had on hold. Finished my list, checked out and waited for my ride home.... waited and waited. Turns out Bob went to our Price Chopper to pick me up... even wandered around looking for me. Then he had an epiphany moment and remembered I would be waiting at Walmart!! Somewhat apologetic ...

Wonderful lunch... toasted Pepperidge Farm bread with ripe veggie stand tomatoes, deli sliced turkey and Hellman's mayo... open face so I could have another if I wanted .  Summertime ripe tomatoes are a delight!!


Monday, July 29, 2024

heat advisory

 We have a heat advisory till Thursday evening.. yuck.  The Blue Springs senior building has  posted it will be a place to stay cool starting at 8 am. Our branches of the Mid-Continent Library are also available. There are probably more posted that I haven't seen.

I am joining my younger daughter and her daughter ( my grand daughter) to go back to school shopping Lili has a new job at the DMV and needs more business casual things than at her job in the kitchen at Houlihan's... So off we go.

Our "trip" started with a mess... my daughter's car oil pressure light started flashing on her way to my house. When she and my husband checked the oil there was practically none. Her car is a KIA Soul and it had three thousand miles to go before the next oil change...but Kia Soul's have a problem with disappearing oil and that means an engine replacement. Still under warranty..

Bob put in a quart of oil ..but still not a lot showed up on the dipstick.

So.. my daughter put her husband to work on calling the dealer and we left in my car with instructions to buy 4 qts of oil on our way back from shopping.

So the four of us ( grandson came too) shopped for work slacks.. and back to college stuff... and oil.

Bob put the oil in when we returned. The KIA dealer wants to see the car on Friday where the dealer will top up the oil and seal it. My daughter it to drive it 1,000 miles and return... who knows whether it will make it 1,000 miles.

So the day had its good things and bad


Saturday, July 27, 2024

Still hot and muggy

 Sitting at my computer with thunder sounding off in the distance. It is supposed to rain today and tomorrow... with thunder and lightening.

We are not doing much of anything... same ole same ole. Reading... Bob gaming... some making of bears etc.

I found a nice cantaloupe at the grocery store ... left it out for a bit and the whole kitchen smelled of the melon. Popped it into the fridge and we will be having it for dinner. YUM ! Fingers crossed it will be as good as it smelled.  ...It was!!!


Thursday, July 25, 2024

Retail Bins

 My daughter, grandson and I went to the new "Retail Bins" store here in Blue Springs... it sells overstocked and returned items on a sliding price. The price starts out at $12/ item and by the end of the week the price is $2/item. We went on the cheapest day ! Still loads of stuff and people filled grocery store carts !! We found a few things and my daughter said that if we had small children there was loads to keep them busy in the summertime!! We will go again on  a more pricey day! BTW.. think this may be a franchise. There seem to be others.

We are still hot and the a/c runs most of the time so other than trips to the grocery store, doctor appointments etc we are sticking close to our recliners... me reading, Bob on Xbox or reading. I have also worked on bears, animals and accessories for the upcoming fall and winter online bear shows.

Older daughter and her non-profit are working hard getting donations for the annual backpack event - back packs and school supplies for school kids in the Phoenix Family  housing sites.I saw on Facebook that there were over 1300 kids signed up!! I see there are many programs doing similar things... don't remember there being any when my kids were in school.

 


Sunday, July 21, 2024

Not much

 Not much going on here... went to the grocery store and found Price Chopper had filled its front windows with notices of it's sales items. Posting like that has not happened in LOADS of years. Is PC feeling the pinch of lower sales due to higher prices??

Bob the "bananaholic" had some bananas turning brown and decided to take advantage of that and baked banana bread!! It was/is good!!

We both did very little the rest of the day... though I did make a quiche for dinner. PC had diced ham on sale and  I already had the rest of the ingredients ... It turned out well.. cold quiche leftovers in the future.


Saturday, July 20, 2024

What's going on... oops...

 The day started with a drop in of daughter and grandson. My daughter had forgotten her sunglasses here the other day.  My grandson wanted to show off his new prescription sunglasses and take home the first sheets I had ordered for his dorm. PURPLE.. he loved the color. Next ones coming will be eggplant!

They headed out with my grandson driving... he needs lots of practice before he can take the driving test. We all agree with Missouri's requirements!!

Bob is still organizing stuff to take to the hamfest tomorrow... make a little money and  Bob can declutter !

I have a bag with projects I can work on while sitting at the sales table!!

It won't be a long day... the hamfest starts at 8 am and ends at 1 pm. It is being held about an hour away ( Warrensburg).

We've never been to a hamfest where he didn't come home with something... we'll see what happens tomorrow. ( didn't buy anything)

LATER.. the second set of sheets have arrived ! BTW his dorm has a whole room of washers and dryers...free to use!  I remember lugging laundry bags to an off campus laundromat and having to pay!!

Forget to post this last night...

We did got to the hamfest getting up at 6.15 in order to get there and set up at 8! Bob sold enough for us to leave at noon and did get to chat with other hams and some others from where he retired from ( way back when!)

We took a different way home... through back roads with hills and curves! By the time we arrived home it had begun to sprinkle so we left the boxes etc. in the car. Bob will unload later.

He was given a flyer for another hamfest this October. Closer to home this time - Raytown. He has time to sort through things and decide what to sell then!!

 

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

HOT HOT HOT...

This week has been hot as I am sure everyone knows. We decided to invite our elder daughter to go to her local Chinese restaurant for the buffet last night.

Nice chance to get caught up with her... in air conditioning and no cooking for either of us! Bob inadvertently ate a frog leg.... yuck as far as I am concerned. But he said it was ok but very little meat!

Afterwards we went to #1 daughter's house and visited with the grand dogs out on the deck. Even the dogs don't want to spend much time outside!!

Our daughter has been decluttering so we loaded our car with her "donations" which we will drop off at one of the thrift places.  Easier for us then for her to figure out hours etc.

Decluttering must be catching... daughter #2 and her family have arranged for one of those large metal dumpsters... Now they just have to get things into it!!

 next day.. it was too hot to get our "tasks" done yesterday... but managed today. Picked up the special cat food at the vet's... then off to the Disabled Vet drop off place ... then to the newly open veggie stand and then the gas station! 

The man running the veggie stand has been here for years! Picked up gorgeous tomatoes and a HUGE cantaloupe Bob helped me cut up the melon into meal sized portions and into zip lock bag!

Summertime dinner ..BLTs with Videlia onions on toast, cantaloupe and iced tea...all wonderful!

BTW Tigger (orange one) loves bacon.... he "attacked" a piece I crumbled up onto a plate next to me!

Saturday, July 13, 2024

Out to the Bingham Waggoner show

 I talked Bob into going to the Bingham Waggoner show this morning. This craft and antique show has been going on for 35 years and is a fundraiser  for this wonderful, open to the public, house in Independence. The show is held on the house's grounds with lots of trees... music playing and lots and lots of vendors!! More this year than others. 

Way back when I had a booth too!

I enjoyed the ramble around but wasn't really tempted by anything... guess we are still in de-clutter mode.It was hot and humid ...I was glad to get back into our car and its air conditioning.

Our grandson and his family are spending the day at freshman orientation... Our daughter said she would send pictures of the dorm rooms. Dominic loves purple so last night I ordered sheets for him.. XLong twin sets in purple and eggplant! Wayfair was having sales!

No pictures... it wasn't allowed. Dominic had a good chance to see the dorm.. a double room, and the rec room, cafeteria and so on. He was delighted to find the dorm has practice rooms even ones with pianos. He won't have to walk over to the music building ! UMKC is really hilly so Dom will be climbing lots of stairs.

 


Thursday, July 11, 2024

shopping..new store??

 I caught an article in both the on-line and paper version of the KC Star newspaper. Evidently a bin store has opened in Blue Springs... full of returned Amazon and other store items! Prices start at $12.00 for all items and decrease over the week. The store is closed Thursday and Friday so they can restock... I may have to grab my daughter and grand daughter and give it a look see when the prices are LOW.

It's called Retail Bins

It was back to work on bear accessories...

I don't really feel like cooking today so made a batch of tuna fish... so the menu is tuna sandwiches, fruited jello, cantaloupe and tomato soup.

Oddly enough neither cat came running when I opened the can of tuna fish...usually they do as soon as the can opener opens the lid. They adore "tuna juice" - the water the tuna is packed in- and first one done with his share of the juice gets to lick out the can.

Tigger finally showed up... got his share... Jack showed up later and got his share!!

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Keeping busy

We've been keeping busy... Bob has been doing yard work and I have been making all sorts of Christmas themes accessories for the fall/winter bear shows... stockings, Santa hats and so on! May dig out my polymer resin supplies and make some candy canes and Christmas cookies too.

Our daughter dropped by to borrow the weed whacker  and brought our grandson along to unload "stuff" to go into our our green trash bin. We have to pay extra for it's pickup . Our daughters don't have this service so we put their stuff into ours!!

Tonight we went to a political candidate forum... The two candidates were interesting and will be in the primary election next month. They are not running in my district... but after listening to them I wish they were!! 

The "event" was held in Grain Valley's new Mid-Continent Library... gorgeous!!

"Dinner" was thrown together after we got home... sliced turkey, cheese, Vidalia onions and home grown tomatoes on bakery bread and Hellman's mayo... pretty darn good!!


Saturday, July 6, 2024

not much going on

Hot weather... or raining stormy weather hasn't encouraged much blogging! 

We didn't go out to watch the fireworks around this area and the subdivision didn't do much on it's own until the fourth. Unusual... usually people start doing their own fireworks days ahead of time.

But the fourth got really noisy and I could see fireworks through our windows. Nicely.. people stopped around midnight!

Tigger.. the orange cat.. really did not like the booms and went an hid. Not happy the next day either!

Both daughters had to medicate their dogs... all three get really anxious over the noise.

The 3rd was our younger daughter's birthday.. everyone came over for cake and ice cream! She was my 20 minute baby and hand her off to a very surprised Father. The doctor had been telling me not to push while he madly scrubbed his hands...!  Not easy to forget all that even if it was 49 years ago!!  Later it seemed like all of Rochester, NY was celebrating I could hear fireworks all night!!

BTW... the thunderstorms left lots of flooding... roads covered with water and up to 6 inches of rain. We didn't get that much and we are in a high area.  I read that the Missouri River is also flooding from northern Missouri into Minn. I'm sure some of that will make it down here!!

Monday, July 1, 2024

Different day

 When I headed out to pick up the newspaper I opened the door to a much cooler temperature and rain. Just a little ... but later this morning it started pouring! Swimming pools and rain gullies in the back yard.

Then flooding alerts started showing up on the phone! Our grand daughter is at work down in Lee's Summit ( about 15? miles south of Blue Springs) and started hearing about roads under water on her route home. She'll have to find an alternative route.

Later... looking out the windows it looks like the water has soaked into the ground... must have been dry to have soaked in this quickly. Here's hoping the water over the road on Lili's homeward route has receded as well. 

Bob said I was wrong.. one of the swimming pools" still has water!!  BTW.. the Kansas City area received 7 inches of rain in parts today!!

Looks like the KC area will have rain almost all week... no wonder I have been hearing fireworks all day. People don't want to wait till the 4th just in case it's too wet to set them off.

Happy Canada Day!!


Sunday, June 30, 2024

Interesting happening

 I was working on a bear in our family room and Bob was puttering around when he found a little girl , about 5 or 6 , climbing up the inside stairs!!The tale she told Bob was that she was riding her trike looking for someone and felt our house would be where this person was!!

Bob walked her  (Rose) and her bike towards the end of our cul-de-sac... no small kids at our end! And told her she should not go somewhere without telling her parents.

Bob found the father cleaning and fileting fish at the corner house... probably Rose's grandparents' house. When Bob told him about Rose he was pretty blase... more interested in the fish. But Rose's Mom wasn't!!

Then  Rose said she was going to ride her trike and find this person ( again)..Dad pretty quickly said "no" !

Some kids are pretty adventurous .. we had one that would disappear at a moments notice .Especially in department stores... clothing racks were her special hiding places.

Friday, June 28, 2024

RAIN

Took my grocery list and with Bob's assurance that even if things were gray and windy, there would be no rain. Well.. he was WRONG! I filled my trunk with grocery stuff and my purse with birthday cards for my daughter and grand daughter and headed home! As I turned into my cul-de-sac it started to pour!

After I honked for Bob to help me unload, I decided to wait the rain out.. No luck... he stood at the top of the steps and watched me dash inside. We decided that nothing would spoil and that we would wait it out inside!!

Awhile later we unloaded the car with just minor rain and got things into the house and put away!!

Guess I won't have to water the plants today!! 

Spent the afternoon reading and then cut out a big teddy bear...

Thursday, June 27, 2024

another busy morning

 It's been another busy morning... eye doctor appointment to see how my glaucoma is progressing... ( no everything was fine and the glaucoma hasn't gotten any worse.)

Then off to the Kansas side to pick up our finished pottery pieces. The pottery kiln fan had broken and it took awhile to get a new one and install it. Finally all the clay pieces people made could be picked up and taken home. Both Bob and I didn't quite remember our pieces... senior moment? But finally recognized them.

We had also brought some stained glass tools I had promised our clay teacher. She wanted to give making stained glass a try. I made stained glass way back when .... back in the '90's starting  in the '70's !  These things were part of our plans to de-clutter! I still have finished pieces stored  down in the basement!

Well... what will we be watching tonight?  The debate? I have mixed feelings about that.. maybe just wish that DJT just wouldn't show up. There's nothing he could do or say that would change our minds about him.

Monday, June 24, 2024

Busy morning

Much to our surprise ( especially since I was still in my pj's and robe) in came our teacher daughter and our grandson. Dominic had mowed his lawn - early since this afternoon is going to be HOT - and now wanted knife sharpening lessons.

So my daughter and I chit chatted, drank coffee  while Bob and Dominic worked on the knives.

After they left I got dressed etc and we headed out... first to the Farmer's place in Bates City for green beans, onions and potatoes - big and small. No tomatoes yet...the farmer says this has been a strange year. Then to the Oak Grove vet to pick an order for Older daughter's dogs. One thing for flea and tick prevention and the other for Harper to help her during the fireworks... the noise really does a number on Harper!! Not so for Scout...

Then home... where I spent "forever" cutting off the ends of the green beans. I'm sure it will be worth it at dinner time!!

The beans were worth it! Spent the afternoon finishing a book... how decadent!

ps... did manage to go out for the mail and take the trash bin down to the end of the driveway for tomorrow's pickup.. waited till it got dark and a bit cooler. FIREFLIES were out... first I've seen this year!