While I ate lunch I watched a Hallmark Crossword Mystery, and Jess was on her iPad and played with her Apple 2 Apples cards.
Chris came by to drop off walnuts that were on sale at Vince and Joe's for $2.99 a pound! I haven't seen that price in over a year or more. I called Lois when she left and we visited for 20 minutes.
My cousin, Karen, came this morning and prime painted the newly done ceiling patch. I'm so grateful that it is done. This summer I'll have the entire ceiling repainted, but it's good for now. She did a great job.
This has seemed like the longest week to me. Yesterday felt like Saturday or Sunday. I'm just glad the weekend IS finally here.
Jennifer took Jessie bowling this morning and met Brent, his mom and aide, Tom. They had a great time and Brent was super excited to see Jessie again! Jon did grocery shopping and I continued on redoing my book cases. Unfortunately, it has irritated my right foot that has arthritis and a bone spur on the side. It's really painful tonight.
Wednesday was a busy day. Jennifer was with Jessie and I went to Bible Study, the post office, bank and Walgreen's. There was so much mail that it wouldn't fit in our mailbox so they had to rubber band it and put one yellow slip in my box. Jess had a grand time sorting the mail and opening her (weekly home-made) card from Linda (from church).
Chris called in the afternoon and said she had some free time so she wanted to come visit since she was in the Romeo area anyway. I told her to come for dinner. I made beef stew (left overs from a roast beef dinner plus other veggies) and Red Lobster biscuits.
While we were talking after dinner, I told her she should stay the night. It was cold and dark and she didn't have to be anywhere in the morning so she stayed. That always makes us happy to have company.
This morning, Thursday, we had coffee cake for breakfast, then Chris had an idea for us to go to church and have a tour of the new addition. She called and made the arrangements and the 4 of us (Jon had yesterday and today off) went to Romeo. We showed Chris the new Independent Living building that is being built at Jon's work, she showed us a 30,000 square foot (yes, 30,000 is correct) house that is being built behind Big Red Apple Orchard and we drove by the old Romeo Middle School that is going to be torn down. Then while Chris watched Jessie, Jon and I got a grand tour of the new addition. It reminded me so much of when our past church (currently Stoney Creek Community) built the gymnasium in 2000. We were a huge part of that. When we were finished, we drove through Wendy's to get lunch and we took it up and ate "with the goats." Chris left after we got home and Jon went to Home Depot. I spent the rest of the afternoon rearranging my book cases in the dining room.
After dinner the 3 of us watched 2 episodes of "To Catch A Smuggler" and ate cheese-a-balls (as Jessie calls them!).
Unfortunately for Jessie, the weather this morning wasn't very good with the prediction to get worse (which it really didn't). Jane came anyway but they didn't go swimming. They spent the day playing games, doing homework and making a "stained glass" hanging picture. At lunch time the weather was better and Jane took Jess to Wendy's in Romeo for a drive thru lunch and they ate with the goats. When they got home they made chocolate chip cookies and played Apples 2 Apples.
I did a whole bunch of this and that and spent time on the phone taking care of a few problems plus 3 loads of wash. It was a very productive day for me. My back wasn't very good today so I did manage to sit down on Jon's couch and watch a Hallmark Mystery Movie he taped for me awhile ago.
Jess and I watched church on FB this morning then I worked on Brian and Julie's wedding centerpieces. She's coming tomorrow and we will begin assembling the flowers. I'll take a picture when we're all done.
Jess spent the day on, you guessed it ... her iPad. I ordered lunch from Marcus Grill. All 3 of us had chicken quesadillas. Jess took a nap when her iPad was being recharged. I also took a nap. Jon felt much better today but was very tired.
Jon and I watched Christmas With The Chosen, which was excellent. Now we'll have to watch The Chosen, because it was so good. I wasn't interested in watching another series, but after watching the Christmas special, it'll be one that we'll be watching. I'd like to see Jessie watch it, too.
It was a beautiful, sunshiny day. I don't know what the temps were but it was warm enough that I could work out on the deck. I spent several hours on justifying my check book, since I was 4 months behind. I'm caught up now. Next I need to do Jessie's check book.
I also did several loads of wash and took care of "her highness". She was on her iPad for most of the day. She also took a nap and watched home videos. Oh, yes. She also spent a good part of the day yelling at me whenever I cleared my throat or coughed. This is getting old. Very old. Very very old.
Jon didn't feel well at all because of the COVID shot he got yesterday. His arm is very painful and he felt like he had the flu. I hope he's better tomorrow. Randie also got her shot yesterday and wasn't feeling well either.
I made a phone order and Jennifer picked up our breakfast at Leo's Coney Island this morning. Jessie has been missing her breakfasts out, but this is the best we can do until February 1.
After breakfast I went upstairs and worked on my checkbook then Jessie had an eye doctor appointment to check on the eye that she scratched earlier last year. The outer layer of the cornea (it has 5 layers) did not seal well, so in the morning when she wakes it's scratching and irritating her. We have drops to put in that should help.
I did more paperwork when I got home and when Jennifer left rested my eyes as Jess was on her iPad. Jon had his first COVID shot. All seemed to go well except for a very sore arm. He worked 12 hours today. We saw him for about 5 minutes before he went upstairs to bed.
It was just Jess and me today, as there are no aides on Thursday and Joyce just back from Cuba so no Speech. It took me several hours to straighten up the house and do a load of clothes. Jessie's iPad ran out of battery so she took a nice long nap on the couch. I closed my eyes, too, since it was nice and quiet. The drywaller, Brian, finished up tonight and the tent has been removed. The ceiling looks great. That's about it!
I think part of Jessie's crabbiness is not getting out in public, so after Bible Study today I picked up Jessie and Jennifer and we went to Walgreen's to get some prescriptions and then Panera Bread to get a drive thru lunch. We ate in Kohl's parking lot, Jessie and Jennifer shopped at Petco and then we went to get the mail. She was a bit crabby when we got home, but settled down within a few minutes. She wanted to watch a home video, so she put the one on she wanted and began to watch it. When Jennifer leaves, she gets her iPad, but not tonight. She didn't ask for it until 5:30. She just wanted to watch her home video and look in one of our photo albums. That was a nice change.
Today is Darla's 7th birthday! The reason I took the girls to Petco was to get Darla some special treats for her special day. Jessie didn't want her to have the same treats we usually get and bought a bag of baked peanut butter flavored biscuits instead. At snack time a few minutes ago, Jessie gave her 4 of the treats. They were a hit!
While Jon and I went to Kroger's, Jane and Jessie played games until it was time to go to the Rec Center for swimming. Once again she had a great time. Lunch was in the van after ordering at Pita Pit, then shopping at Debby's Dollar. When they got home they played games, especially Apples 2 Apples. I had Jane show Jessie the calendar and remind her that there are 7 days in a week and tomorrow will NOT be Tuesday. I sure hope it helps.
Not only did we go to Kroger's, we stopped at AT&T to buy some lightening cords only they didn't have the length I wanted. Instead I purchased an iPhone 12! There was a sale and my "old" phone was paid off. Wow. This is my year for electronics. Yah, me!
I didn't have much to talk about yesterday so I just didn't blog. The highlight was Chris coming for dinner.
Today I would title my blog with: Do You Want To Build A Snowman? And then I would have said: "No, but how about a tent?" The drywaller was to come tonight at 4:30 and he said that we would have to cover everything with plastic. That didn't sound like a good idea to me because there is so much stuff in the dining room. So, Chris and I brainstormed last night and this afternoon I put up a "tent" around the ceiling that needed to be done. It's perfect! Good job, Nan!
I went to the foot doctor this morning and she said that the pain in my foot is due to my back. She said, "Do you have problems with your back?" Seriously? I told her my back was the back of a 120 year old. Arthritis and a bone spur are the latest culprits. Just my luck.
I called this morning and got an appointment at the dermatologist for Jessie this afternoon, as her hydronitisuperotivia is not going away this time after an antibiotic. Jessie has been so crabby the past week that we are all about ready to lose our minds. Two creams and a powder later and I hope it works this time.
Like I said, Jess has been super crabby. It did help that she was able to get in the van and at least go somewhere this afternoon. I should have taken her somewhere this weekend. She definitely needs to get out several times a week. I'm sure the boils under her arm aren't helping her attitude either.
The other day when I went to Vince and Joe's I purchased 5# of boneless, skinless chicken thighs for 99 cents a pound. Tonight I made our "skinny dip" weight watchers coating and baked all the chicken with the coating. Jon purchased a yucca root the other day from Nino Salvaggio's and he cut it up for French fries that I did in the air fryer. We had brussel sprouts for the veggie and baked pears for dessert. Sounds good, doesn't it! While we were eating, Jessie exclaimed twice: "MMMMM. Good chicken!" That blessed my heart.
Jon worked. Jessie was on her iPad when she wasn't hiding upstairs from the men who came to repair the hole in our dining room ceiling. Today was the first of 4 days that they will be here. I can't wait for it to be done. It's going to be a mess around here for awhile.
Unlike yesterday that was so nice, today was dark, wet and chilly. Jon and I went to Sam's Club for a few things and came out with a basket full. We always do that. Then we went to Best Buy and picked up my new laptop and carry bag. We ate Applebee's Chicken Quesadillas in the van before stopping at the post office and heading home.
Jessie played games with Jennifer, worked on a new magnet board she got for Christmas and did numerous pages in one of her workbooks. She seemed to have a good day, although she's been a bit crabby.
There's nothing else to report. I'm going to have a cup of hot tea and wrap up with a blanket because I'm freezing!
Jess and I had hair appointments at 10:00 to get our hair cut. Jon had gone out earlier to English Gardens and Nino Salvaggio's. When we got home we decided to eat lunch out and I suggested we try Brown Iron Brew House and eat in one of their igloos. I was almost positive that we wouldn't get a reservation, but when we tried on-line, we took the last one for 12:30 p.m.! I was very excited since I've wanted to eat in one for a very long time.
Since the garage door opener was fixed, I didn't have to be downstairs to let Jennifer in so I stayed in bed longer and then gave Jessie a bath. After breakfast I went a got a much-needed pedicure while Jessie went outside and swung on her swing and listened to her Jesus songs. I was home for lunch after a quick trip to Michael's after the pedicure and we made BBQ bacon pizzas.
Instead of doing paperwork or whatever, I took an hour's nap before coming downstairs when Jennifer left. Then instead of doing something productive, I began reading a new book. I guess I'm just tired of doing stuff.
For dinner tonight we had home-made gyro sandwiches! Yum!
Our garage door opener on the outside doesn't work in the winter. After a month of not having it work, I finally called yesterday and A1 Garage Door company came out this morning. They said between 8 and 1:00 p.m. However, with my experience with service people, they never come early. Well. Today he did! I received a text at 7:45 to say he was on the way and the serviceman called at 7:55 and said he'd be there in about a half hour. Talk about getting ready in a hurry!
He was here from 8:20 to 9:40 a.m. A new garage door opener outside and reprogrammed "clickers" and a "tune up" on the door. PLUS, it appears that the door is beginning to split so he had to put a metal plate on the door, as well as other parts. It was either that or a new garage door.
At the same time as the service man was finishing up, I had a telehealth appointment with my primary physician to go over the ultrasound on my legs and blood work. All was OK. (I knew that already!) Now I need to go to a foot doctor.
Jane was with Jessie while all this was happening. They played numerous games before they left for swimming at 10:30. I had a half hour to put my feet up before the Merry Maids arrived to clean the house. When they left I went to Vince and Joe's. By the time I got home I could barely walk. While Jane and Jessie played Apples 2 Apples, I iced my foot and when Jane left I took a nap.
Jessie tried to tell me that tomorrow was church so that her next swimming day would only be a couple days away. It's going to be a long week.
While Jennifer was with Jessie, I went upstairs and worked on my files. I'm purging files I've not been in for several years and probably never will. I'm ready to put in 2021 receipts, etc. I also went through some of my Bible Studies and books and rearranged a few. I vacuumed with the hand vac around the edges in my bedroom, too. It feels a lot cleaner. Unfortunately, I was on my feet too much and they are hurting tonight!
Jessie did "homework" and took a nap. She made her own lunch and had a pretty good day. Jon worked 12 hours, came home at 7:25 and went up to bed at 8:15.
When I asked Jessie what she wanted for breakfast she said that she wanted to stay upstairs in her bedroom, watch Pooh and have apple juice for breakfast! (Not in those words, of course.) NEVER in her entire life has she not wanted to eat something for breakfast (lunch or dinner, either!) I asked her several times thinking she'd change her mind. Nope. Just apple juice. I figured she wouldn't starve, so that's all she had.
After I watched church on FB, the 3 of us left and drove to my cousin Karen's home and looked at the progress on the 1860's house that is on the property. It's pretty incredible.
Karen went with us to the Dog House Tavern in Memphis and we ordered lunch, took it to the local park and had a picnic (in the van, of course!). It was a very nice time away from home. The drive there and back was awesome. The trees and bushes and some fields were covered with frost (or what ever you call it). Absolutely beautiful.
I finished a book this afternoon, rested and then Chris visited for awhile. We exchanged Christmas presents then Face Timed with her grandson, Travis. He said, "I'm going to be a big brother!" How exciting! It was sooo cute! Then he said, "I'm going to have a baby!" And that was even cuter. Congratulations Sean and Ashley. AND, Grandma Chris!
I was thinking about my blog for tonight and realized that I didn't blog last night! Yesterday, Friday, I called in a Leo's breakfast for Jessie, Jen and me and Jennifer picked it up before coming here. That was nice. We should do that more often.
I left at 10:15 to get the ultra sound done on my legs. I was able to come home, so that means there's no blood clots! That's always a good thing. When I finished I went to JoAnn Fabrics and Barnes and Noble. I ate a McDonald's chicken sandwich in the van on the way home. I also picked up the mail. The parking lot was packed with cars, yet there were only 6 people inside!
Jon had off and went to several stores this morning and then worked on garden plans for this summer.
Jessie was excited to have "Speech" this morning. I enjoyed my hour of quiet time. We picked up Lois when Jess was finished and went to the bank and Panera Bread for a drive-thru flat bread pizza lunch that we ate in Kohl's parking lot. We dropped off Lois and came home where I did some computer work then had a doctor's appointment for Jessie at 2:30 via Zoom.
Jane came at 3 and I left shortly after to go to my doctor's office, although I couldn't see him or the PA or NP that I usually see. My left foot is swollen and there is quite a bit of pain in my foot, too. Actually, the right foot is also swollen, but doesn't hurt. The NP I saw did some blood work and I have an ultrasound on both of my legs tomorrow to rule out blood clots.
I stopped at Best Buy on my way home and purchased another HP printer that does photos. It's just like the one I have that's bit the dust. I also purchased a 17" HP lap top that has a built-in DVD slot. I want to be able to do my own DVD Bible Studies when I get Jess up to bed after 10:00. I get that next Friday.
I was very glad that I had a quick dinner planned for tonight. Vince and Joe's Rotisserie chicken legs, squash that I fixed last night and instant stuffing. Dinner in 15 minutes!
I left for Bible Study at 9:50 a.m. and didn't return until around 2:30 p.m. After Bible Study (we watched the Christmas special from The Chosen, which was really good!) I went to Farm and Home in Romeo to look for a pink Yeti for Jessie (they didn't have one). I drove through McDonald's for lunch and ate in a parking lot near 31 Mile Road, along with several other people that were eating in their cars, too! I had to make 2 trips into the post office to get all my mail, Walgreen's for Jessie's prescriptions and Kroger's for gas for her van. When I got home Alicia came over to see if she could fix my garage door opener that doesn't work in the winter. No luck today. By then Jon was home and I was very tired.
Unfortunately, the storming of the Capital building took my attention for a hour or so instead of resting. I was so upset. We all have a right to our beliefs, but not violence. Those that disrespected our Capital and put so many people's lives in danger today belong to no party.
Jennifer was with Jess today and they painted for a long time, made a sticker-stained glass project, played a game and Jess took a couple hour nap.
This is a boring first-of-the -year blog. I need to take some pictures and liven it up a bit. Maybe tomorrow,.
The day Jessie has been waiting for ALL week! She finally got to go to the pool with Jane and then to Pita Pit for a carry out lunch. She was very excited when Jane arrived and then when they returned home they played numerous games. A good day for Jessie. Well, except for when I cut her toe nails tonight after a bath. She screams bloody murder. In my ear! Of course I'm not hurting her. It's just another sensory issue we've dealt with since she was a toddler. In the summer months I need to close all the windows in case someone hears her screaming. I'm sure it sounds like some is being tortured.
Jon and I went out for a couple hours this morning: Farm Bureau and Kohl's to pay bills, ACE Hardware, Tim Horton's for drinks and Kroger's for grocery shopping. That was tiring. After lunch I began changing over 2020 files to 2021. I hate this job, but the sooner I get it done, the better.
While Jennifer played games and did crafts with Jessie most of the day, Jon and I went to Panera Bread for a drive thru breakfast for me, the bank, ACE Hardware, Kroger's gas for Jon, Walgreen's for prescriptions and the post office for our mail. I took my half of the Christmas tree down then Jessie took her half down. The Christmas tree is now boxed up and in the garage until next November!
Jessie has been soooo crabby this past week and I warned Jennifer this morning when I left. However, when we got home she said she was really good and they had fun together. Go figure. As soon as we got settled, she started getting crabby again. Yup. Just for me. It's really getting on my nerves. She yells at me when I clear my throat, I cough, and I type on the computer. She demands her food NOW. She demands her drinks NOW. She wants to go swimming with Jane NOW. Nothing pleases her. I hope that going out with Jane will help her mood tomorrow.
We all woke to a surprise snow "storm" over night/early morning that made roads "a terrible mess", according to Jon on his way to work. Chris' boys suggested she stay home from church so she wasn't going to come after church. I called Lois and told them that I was going to cancel because I didn't feel like going out and shoveling the driveway or the sidewalk and porch. Selfish, but my back wasn't the greatest this morning. Plus, I don't like to keep Jess in the house alone for very long. Our snow removal company only comes when it's over 2", and it was about that.
My neighbor, Derrick, used his snow blower to do our front driveway. At 1:30 the snow removal company arrived. By then snow was melting, but I wasn't going to complain. I guess it was over 2".
For the past several months I've felt sick off and on. Like a sinus infection is beginning but really never comes. Some days I feel OK. Some days it comes and goes. Today was one of those days and when we were finished with lunch, I took a nice long, almost 3 hour nap. Felt fine when I woke up. Weird.
After dinner Jon, Jess and I watched 3 animal programs on his tv. It was nice that Jessie joined us and was off her iPad for awhile.
Back to a "normal" week tomorrow.
Not much to want to remember about this day. Nothing but work. Laundry, cleaning house, taking down Christmas decorations, fixing food. A rest here and there. Jon worked. Jessie was on her iPad most of the day. She even took a long nap in the early afternoon. I wish I could get her to do something else. She's pretty stubborn. Sometimes it's not worth trying. Next week we'll get back to "normal".
Talk about a boring and very quiet day! I refused to do any work around the house other than constantly cleaning up the kitchen after meals. We didn't eat breakfast until 11:00 and lunch until 2:30. I was going to have Ruth and Lois over for games and lunch, but the weather was predicted to be snowy and icy so I cancelled the "party". It's reschedule for Sunday when Chris can join us after church.
While Jessie took a long nap, I watched a Netflix movie, "Holiday In the Wild", which I really liked. Then while she was on her iPad I took a short nap before making hamburgers for dinner. That's really about it. I guess I'll start cleaning the house tomorrow and taking down Christmas decorations. Here's to another year!
I did a couple loads of wash and straightened the house. I fixed a nice beef roast dinner with carrots, onion and Jon's garden potatoes. It was a very good meal and I cut up all the extra food to make a beef pot pie one night.
Since Jon had to go to work on New Year's Day, he was in bed by 8:30. Jessie and I began a Hallmark Christmas movie at 8:00 and another one at 10:00. She was so interested in them that she wanted the next one that began at midnight. That wasn't going to happen. I've had enough of Hallmark Christmas movies to last me for years.
The booming and shooting began at 11:55 and didn't end until after 1:00 a.m. Some shook the house. That wasn't appreciated.
Like everyone else, I was glad to see 2020 be in the past. Just praying that 2021 will be a whole lot better.
