It worked!

I am in the process of putting up my winter clothes. And. I am happy to report that the coat hanger trick worked beautifully for me. Last fall I placed all the fall/winter clothes on hangers hung backwards in my closet. If I wore something I then replaced it in my closet with the hanger turned around. Today, any clothes on hangers that are still backward are being removed and donated. Voila! I have three bags full in the back seat of my car as I type. Spring cleaning. Easy peasy.

I have a pot of greens cooking on the stove. I have shucked four ears of corn for supper. I think I have a few butter beans in the fridge left from Sunday. I'll make some cornbread. Mr. Macho will be so happy. 

On my early morning walk yesterday I spotted this pair of shoes in a neighbor's yard. It looked so humorous that I snapped a photo. It looked like Cinderella had just stepped out and kept on going. 

My garden club pots at the library have a parsley plant that has gone buck wild. It is taller than me. I thought it was a weed until I got up close. 

I am growing potatoes and pumpkins in my compost. Will they last until harvest? Stay tuned.

Namaste.

Barometric pressure.

That must be what is making me feel stagnant this afternoon. That plus the adrenaline that was coursing through my body this morning.

On my way to Walmart this morning I was passed by multiple emergency vehicles driving at a high rate of speed. There were some police cars blocking entrances to the highway. I pulled over three different times to allow police cars to pass. Then I spotted an ambulance heading at a high rate in the opposite direction. On the second stop I called Mr. Macho. We've watched too many CSIs and crime shows for me not to know that, more than likely, a policeman had been shot. My biggest clue was the fact that there were multiple agencies represented in the speeding parade of cars. And. Did I say how fast they were going?!

Sure enough. Watching the mid-day news confirmed my suspicions that a policeman had been shot in the leg. There had been a high speed chase across three counties.

So I came home - roads still blocked to oncoming traffic. Investigations will go on well into the night, according to local news Twitter accounts.

I am coming down from the adrenaline. Haven't accomplished much. Got the grocery shopping done. A load of clothes in the wash. Some veggies roasting in the oven. Dot. Dot. Dot.

I picked these out my yard. The pansies are so satisfying. They just bloom and bloom. Happy little flowers. 

Saturday Mr. Macho constructed a frame for Daughter's upcoming art festival sale. He did a fabulous job on it. 

We had to run out and pick up the pegboard...and voila! 

Less than two weeks until the art festival. 

 ***

This is my last week of gardner classes. I have already started some volunteer hours. Will participate in another volunteer project tomorrow. I've got this. 

***

Wrapped up a year and a half Bible time line study last week. (Did you hear the angels sing their relief?!) I am glad to have completed it. The last bit I must confess I didn't do my homework very well. But I hung in there. Another study starts this week. It is promised to be lighter. Keep your finger crossed!

***

My veggies are calling. 

Namaste. 

No pictures.

Only words. It was a quick, good weekend. Ran down to the coast to visit Mom. Stayed with Beach Boy and his family.

Friday got off to a rocky start as I realized that our tax return, that I had picked up the day before, was incorrect. Early emails to our accountant...got him on the right track. Got away about when I had expected. Had an uneventful drive. Drove straight to Mom's and had a good visit. Sister from Virginia was there. We visited. Then Sister and I drove to Beach Boy's house. She visited for a while then went back to her condo. It was her last night there and she needed to get it cleaned up for her departure.

We ran and ate some supper then settled in for the night. I called Mr. Macho and got the news that our kitchen estimate had arrived in the mail. Let's just say we both suffered a case of sticker shock. (We are slowly accepting the fact that it is going to be expensive.) Mr. Macho was REALLY shocked. I thought I was being realistic, but even I underestimated.

The granddaughters like to sleep with people. So, I had one in my bed Friday night. She only butterfly kicked me once.

Saturday morning we lazed in our pjs until lunch time. After a peanut butter sandwich and a shower, I headed back over to visit Mom and Amanda. The two coast sisters joined us later and we all went to mass together. Amanda opted out of dinner with us since she was leaving for home early Sunday morning. The three of us left and ate at a nice restaurant at the Long Beach harbor. It was delish...panneed flounder with pasta and a good sauce, topped with shrimp and crab meat. Left their good company and headed back to son's house for a good night's sleep.

Up Sunday. Went to church with Beach Boy & family. Then to Mom's for more visit. Sister Mimi joined us for a really good mexican dinner. Spent the whole afternoon just chatting with Mom. It gets hard to leave her these days. Seeing her little face looking out the window at me as I was driving off nearly crushed me.

Beach Boy's girls are something else. I will miss having Millie's warm hug in the morning. She readily says, "I love you" frequently. It melts my heart.

Peyton slept with me again last night, but ended up in her Mom's bed before the night was over.

It was a good ride home until I got to Macon and a big truck threw a rock on my windshield. Ruined an otherwise good trip.

Back to the old routine tomorrow.
Namaste.

Obviously I recuperated from the "revenge of the toilet gods". It was bad. My appetite did not return for a week. Every time I ate I felt nauseated. 

One of the first meals I enjoyed after recovering was this grilled banana and peanut butter sandwich. We channeled Elvis. It was one of his favorites. I drizzled ours with honey. 

Easter decorations are in place. 

My March chalk board messages were only slightly behind the 8 ball. 

The Super Carrot looked perfect for her ballet photo shoot. Daughter shared this photo with me. She also shared one of Merritt with her hair in rollers getting ready for the shoot. They were the same rollers my sister had used in high school. Then deeded to me when she no longer used them. Which I used. Then bequeathed them to Daughter. Who used them. And still finds them useful. Three generations using the same set of Clairol hot rollers. Who' have thought it?!

Friday I drove over to pick up 2 of the grandchildren after school. Daughter accompanied Son-in-Law to his doctor's appointment. Some pretty serious electrical issue with his heart. Their appointment was on time and they arrived back home quickly. I took my leave and made a few stops on the way home. First stop. Boiled peanuts. The Peanut Man can be seen on the roadside between here and there many a sunny day. Always on game weekends. I selected the original, salty version. 

Stop number two. Boiled crawfish. In Gordo. And. They were pretty good. Salty and spicy. 

Macho was glad I had picked up supper. 

***

The weekend went too quickly. We leaped forward with all our clocks. Sunday afternoon we took a drive and viewed the local Great American Bald Eagle nest. We actually got to see one of the adult eagles fly in and land. We were not too close and wished we had brought binoculars. But we could make out the head of the juvenile eagle in the nest. That was good enough for us. We had a good visit with Sister Paulette, made a quick trip to replace a desk light, and stopped for a chocolate milk shake ad some pickel-o's on the way home. All in all a good weekend.

Monday has been dreary but I have done laundry and cleaned bathrooms. That is good. Now. On with the week. Classes. Lunches. More classes. And a trip to the coast next weekend. 

Diving right in. 

Namaste. 

Day 4.

I am finally feeling a little normal today. This stomach bug was the worst. Even today I feel slighted nauseated around/after eating/smelling/thinking about food. I have ingested more calories today and am thinking clearer. I have had more energy.

It was a gorgeous day. I went on a slow, measured walk this morning. The sky was unbelievably blue. The temperature perfect.

I even cleaned two bathrooms this morning. And later put on a pot of red beans and rice. I do plan to eat a few bites. Maybe.

I have luxuriated in watching some old favorite movies the past two afternoon. Yesterday I enjoyed "Good Will Hunting".  It was good all over again. Robin Williams. Need I say more?

Today I dove into "Under The Tuscan Sun". Diane Lane. I just want to be her. And wear those clothes. And have fabulous gay friends that gift me tickets to foreign lands. And live in the villa. And cook gourmet meals for my laborers. Oh geez! In another life.

Macho deconstructed again today. The house is almost gone. Board by board. Bit by bit. He comes home dirty and tired. It is good.

I wish I could keep off these 5 pounds that I've dropped. I know. It will be back.

By the skin of my teeth I made it to both my gardner classes this week.
I am on track. Trying to stay there.
Namaste.

In like a lion.

Whew. Not a good start to this month.

Son-in-law was hospitalized with some pretty darn serious heart issues on Tuesday. Tests were run to figure it out. He will be released today...with good/bad news. Good news is there is no significant blockage. Bad news is there IS something the matter that he will see a doctor next week about a course of action. It is an electrical problem. We anxiously await the next step.

Tuesday, when Daughter called to tell me the news, I had planned to go be with her for the heart cath procedure on Wednesday. But. (Someone always has a big but.) I awoke at 3:00 in the morning. At first I thought I was just overly worried about SIL. Until 4:00 when the diarrhea started. Then the vomiting started about an hour later. They both lasted well into the morning. Throwing up is so un-fun. I mean. Really. It is so gross. This morning I still have the basement issues, though not as frequent. But I am popping peto bismal like candy. Smells are hitting me pretty hard. I couldn't even stomach the smell of coffee yesterday morning, and that is one of my most favorite aromas in the wide world. I did keep down a few crackers, water, a cup of mint tea, and about 4 bites of ramen noodles last night. This morning I have had 1.5 pieces of dried toast and half a cup of coffee. I had an errand that I needed to run this morning, and I accomplished that. Stopped by the Piggly Wiggly to pick up bread and bananas...and almost gagged on the smell of cigarette smoke when I walked in.  I have never noticed that smell in there before. I think I am just uber sensitive right now. I did tell my cashier but I don't think she appreciated my comment very much.

The day is cool and gorgeous. Thank goodness for that.
Namaste.