Losing a Pet

Muir's cat died yesterday. She was about 20 and very elusive. I think I maybe saw her once or twice, but it's still sad. I cry when a pet dies even when I don't know them! This morning I have a dentist appointment with a new dentist. I loved my old one, but I now have dental insurance through the state of Tennessee since I was a state employee and I had no choice but to find a dentist who honored the insurance. R. has been to him, but this is my first time and it's for a cleaning. After that we'll do some shopping in Knoxville and later the gym. While the weather is hot in the afternoons...90s..very low humidity and evenings are delightful..still no a/c at night. We're looking forward to the weekend and the start of college football!! Go Va Tech!! They play Boise State which should be tough. We'll see what they've got. .....later....

One Good Dog

I finished one book and now I need to recommend One Good Dog. I'm not very far into it, but I really like it. The author is Susan Wilson and it was reviewed in the NY Times and Book Page. The characters are a former corporate millionaire and a former pit bull fighter. We stayed up too late last night and I'm dragging today. Laundry is done, but not folded. R. is about to go to Walmart...nothing happening around here....later....

Who Knows?

Don't know what today will bring. We have no real plans. We thought of going to a movie, but there is nothing on that we really care to see. Breakfast is over and I just love Benton bacon! The NY Times puzzle in in the works. It's difficult today, but we'll keep at it. I guess I'll need to put on the a/c this afternoon as it's going into the 90s again. Did I say in yesterday's blog that we're going to Williamsburg in September? We've been there before, but I really like the area. We thought about Va. Beach, but we couldn't get a place right on the beach and I wanted to be able to wake up and out the door to walk on the beach. It was visible, but a walk across a road, etc. I opted for Williamsburg instead. There are some restaurants there that I love. ....later...

Flute and Violin

Two hours of this was a bit much. It is perfect music to listen to while lying in a tent or around a campfire, or just background music that is serene. The flute player is a Cherokee playing native flutes of all sizes and keys and the violinist is a woman who plays classical violin and is very talented. Next week the concert is Grassabillies...talk about one end of the spectrum to the other! On reading news..I ordered my Kindle. It is back ordered so I hope I get it before we go on vacation. We booked a resort in the Berkshire Mountains for the week of October 22nd. We may try to find a getaway sometime soon. Not sure what today will bring. I made a rice/citrus salad this morning and a peach cobbler. If we go to the lake I'll take that with us. ....later....

TGIF

For all of you poor ones who have to go to work today. Another nice morning. I actually had to turn on the a/c for a bit when I got back from the gym yesterday, but just long enough to cool down the house. Another nice evening. The Heritage Center in Townsend has concerts every Friday evening from late May through September. They are outside, although the seats are covered and ceiling fans all around. We haven't gone at all because it has been so beastly hot. However, tonight I think we will go. An Indian (American) flute player and a violinist are on stage. Last week they had Steve Kaufman..a world class blue grass picker from Maryville. It was a sellout, but we weren't there. We know him and have seen him many times. He's a New Jersey Jew who plays bluegrass and lives in Maryville. Go figure! The book I'm reading..The Girl Who Played With Fire is a "can't lay it down book", but I can't seem to just sit and read it due to other things that need doing around here. R. tried to find us a time share in Canada or somewhere north of here to visit and is coming up with nothing. I knew it was late to be looking for something...everyone wants to head north in the fall. Not sure what we'll do. Probably we'll go back down to the lake tomorrow for a few days so if I don't post you'll know where I am. ....later...

Nothing to Complain About

Even though I have nothing to talk about I'm happy about the cool mornings and nights. It got a little warm yesterday, but we still don't have the a/c on and sleeping with the doors and windows open is so nice!! I'm going to make a squash casserole for dinner tonight and will have a rotisserie chicken with that. To the gym this afternoon...I'm off to change the bed and then do a bit of cooking. I'll make a peach cobbler tomorrow....later....

The New Gym

We took a tour of the new gym this morning and it is really something. It won't be opened for another month, but I can't wait. They have a senior lounge and a senior are with machines, etc. as well as tanning room, room for palates and yoga, spinning room, basketball/volleyball court, movie room with machines, smoothie bar, 2 pools and more. Other than that we stopped at the store and got a few things and now I'll read until lunch and then to the gym. Linda and Vic got home yesterday and those kitty cats are happy now. .....later....

Finally!!!

The kitchen is finally completed and we are very pleased with it AND the weather has finally turned lovely. It was hot yesterday afternoon..about 90, but by 5 the humidity had dropped and I was able to turn off the a/cs. The evening was great and we were able to sit outside. We slept with doors and windows open and this morning it is downright chilly!! I have some cleaning to do today and will go over to Linda's and feed her kitty cats. I think they may be home tomorrow.

Richard has to go to Walmart and he has some other things to do around here.....later....

Finish the Kitchen

That is first on my agenda. The laundry is finishing up, but that's nothing. I need to have my kitchen back and everything in place. After that I'll feel so much better. Other than that I have no further plans. I do need to get busy reading. I got some reading in over the weekend but not enough. I haven't cooked since last Monday and it's starting to get to me. I've been eating cereal for breakfast (except for the weekend at the lake) and I'm over that! ......later....

Sorry

We left Friday afternoon to go to Jim and Tommie's lake house on Tellico Lake in Vonore. It's a TVA lake just about 40 minutes south of us. We had a great time and we really needed to get away. We sat around looking at the lake Friday afternoon and then took a ride to Madisonville. I had mentioned that I read an article about this place that sold ham and bacon, etc to places all over the country. Several people on the food network have mentioned this bacon. We stopped and got 2 pounds of thick cut bacon at $5. a pound. It is absolutely the best bacon I have ever eaten! Well worth the money. We came home Friday and ate, drank and were merry. Saturday we got up and had a great breakfast and then played some Skipbo. Jim and R. went out on the lake for a bit and after that we took a drive along an extremely curvy road and then up to Buck's Bald. Getting there was not one bit of fun. It was up a dirt road and I do mean up...with many switchbacks and drop offs on either side and Jim did not go slow at all. I was a wreck by the time we reached the top, however...the view was spectacular!!! 360 degrees of mountain. Going back down wasn't too bad...Jim went much slower and I closed my eyes. We got home safely and sat out on the deck, ate pizza and enjoyed the lake. Another plus to the weekend is their sweet dog, Phoebe. She is black and white..part Yorkie and part Jack Russell. She is Jim's shadow..everywhere he goes..she goes, but she also liked us. Jim and Tommie were on vacation this week, but are going back to work tomorrow. They have decided to stay at the lake house until the weather turns colder and go to work in Knoxville from there which is about 40 minutes for them. They have asked us to go back out and stay there as long as we want and have dinner ready for them when they get back. I think we will likely go back for a few days...maybe toward the middle of the week. We still have out kitchen to finish and some things to do around here. I can't blog from there...they have no connection. Anyway, it was a fun weekend....later....

Hot Tub Gone!

At the beginning of summer Jim Cox said he would take our hot tub and he was going to get it that weekend. Just then it turned very hot and he didn't get it. Yesterday he called and then came with 5 buddies and it is finally gone!! Other than that, we went to lunch and then to Lowe's to get more glue and a few other things. We have all of the cutting for the kitchen complete except for one small cut. Today I will go over to Linda's to feed the cats, fish, humming birds, etc. Later we will pack a few things and go to spend the night with Jim and Tommie at their lake house. They are both on vacation this week. We need to get away from our house and the kitchen mess. We decided we were in no hurry and it would be fun to go to the lake. I need to water my outside area and add food for my hummers.....later....

New Reads

Went to the library and checked out 5 new books. I started The Girl Who Played With Fire and like it already. I'm not very far into it. We headed up toward Kentucky yesterday about 10ish. We were about 20 miles from Jellico when the rain came in torrents and we decided it was only going to get worse as we headed north, so we got off 75 at Lake City and headed back south. We ended up somewhere just a bit north of Knoxville and had lunch at a new and cute Mexican restaurant. It was very good. From there we came back to Maryville and headed toward Monroe County. It was a nice drive..we got home just before 4. As we neared home we were driving with corn fields on either side of the road and what should appear but a chocolate poodle puppy crossing the road. We stopped as it headed into a corn field. I tried to coax it out, but it disappeared. We went on but R. turned around and we went back to look for it. Alas...no luck. I thought this might we it for us. When we saw it R. said,"Oh, here we go again." It was not to be. Now on the news front I need to vent. Re the mosque issue. They do have the right to build the mosque whether it is prudent is another issue. News Gingrich equated the situation to wanting to put a statue of a swastika next to the Holocaust Museum. He is such an idiot. Also...Sarah Palin(I even hate to type that name) and Glen Beck are planning a rally sometime next month on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial!! With that I'll leave to go back to our kitchen project. I can't wait until this is over...

Happy Birthday to My Honey

Now he's caught up to me. We are both the ripe old age of 72. I think we'll take a drive up into Kentucky, look at the scenery and have a nice lunch somewhere. We may be running to a lot of rain. More is expected here today and into Kentucky as well. We did make progress in the kitchen yesterday. We got a late start as R. had to go to Lowe's for a caulk gun and a few other items. If we go to Kentucky today the kitchen will be on hold until tomorrow. No project is ever as easy as you hope it to be. That holds true for this one. We did a lot of measuring and cutting and have one side completed. We have the opposite side and the sink area to do yet....later....

Work Day

We'll be starting the kitchen soon. R. just ate breakfast and I have to clear the counters and he'll bring up the materials and we'll get started. We're in no hurry and we plan to make this a leisurely job. I'm hoping we'll do one side of the kitchen today and the other tomorrow or Thursday. Tomorrow is his birthday and I keep asking him what he wants to do. So far no answer. I thought we would take a drive somewhere and have lunch, etc. Other than that I have nothing. Rain expected this afternoon with a bit of a drop in temperature...at least for a day or two. It shouldn't hit 90 today or tomorrow. Jack will soon be here to cut the grass and he will probably get it finished before the rains come.....later....

Busy Week

Dinner with Linda and Vic was fun. Vic brought me the bat house he made for me and it is the Cadillac of bat houses. I think we will have to wait until we close the awning to put it up. I will be taking care of Linda's cats, fish, flowers, and humming birds while they are gone. Her friend who was going to do it had to take her seriously ill husband to Cleveland Clinic. I'm going over this morning to see where everything is. Tomorrow we're finally going to start on the kitchen. We're putting a new back splash all around. I'll take a picture when we finish. I don't think it should take that long, but you never know. .....later....

Just Hanging Out

We went for a ride around Blount County yesterday..something we haven't done in quite a while. It was really too hot for anything else. We came home and watched the PGA and then some TV. Madison called me when she saw on her mom's phone that I had called. They got up early yesterday and saw the whole wolf pack as well as tons of other animals including a grizzly that was chasing a herd of bison that almost ran them down in their car. They were heading for Cody and a steak house for her birthday dinner. They'll bed home tomorrow. Madison has open house at school in the evening and Max is meeting the boys he will be riding with to school this year. I have all of my food prepared for tonight's dinner. R. is doing the vacuuming as I write this and I'll set the table and then relax for the rest of the afternoon. We had a very nice rain storm yesterday afternoon, but it didn't cool anything off. It's like a steam bath outside....later...

The Movie

We had a good time yesterday..I got my things I needed at Michaels and we had a delicious lunch at Red Lobster. We saw The Children are All Right. I new lesbians were the main characters, but I thought it was going to be a comedy...it wasn't. I had a few uncomfortable moments at the start, but ended up liking it a lot. After the movie we went to the Fresh Market and got the rest of what we need for dinner tomorrow night and then came home. As I told R...I liked every part of the day except when I was outside. My petunias are really looking sad and leggy. I think I'll switch a few pots around today and maybe ditch the petunias on the front stoop. On the house down the street...I got return calls from mortgage company and the environmental health dept. The house is still in the process of bankruptcy and the bank can do nothing at this time. I got forms from the health dept. and printed extras for the neighbors and filled and sent mine in. I was thinking that I might suggest to neighbors to get together some morning and clean up the junk in the front. We'll see....don't know what we're going to do today. We decided it was too far to go to Franklin for just a day. Maybe we'll do that another time and stay the night.....later....

Knoxville Today

A few stops...Carolina Pottery..Michaels..lunch...the movies. We're going to see the Julianne Moore, Annette Benning movie..I forget the name. Going to the Fresh Market for some things for Sunday's dinner. Tomorrow we may be going to Franklin...a suburb of Nashville. We was a thing on the PBS show..Tennessee Crossroads and want to check out this shop. We'll also have lunch and then back home. The news on the derelict house is I called the mortgage company and reported it. I'm waiting for a call back as to what they will do about it. I also called the health department and reported it. I left a message and they haven't called back yet so I'm going to call them again in a few minutes. I'll keep on their ass until something is done. Now I need to shower and get myself ready....later....

Idiot Neighbors

This rental house in our neighborhood has been an eyesore for quite awhile. The couple living there kept their dog tied out barking in all kinds of weather. There were toys and junk strewn all over the yard, yadda, yadda, yadda. Just recently the grass had not been cut and it looked like no one was there. They abandoned the place and left the dog and cats inside!! Three of the neighbors (us and 2 others) took the bull by the horns and called authorities. The SPCA came and got the animals and I finally contacted the owner of the house who lives in North Carolina. However they filed for bankruptcy and I have the name of the mortgage company holding it. I'll be calling them this morning and then going on from there. It's always something. Later I'll be going to the gym...R. going to Walmart and then the gym and this morning I'm going to be doing some housework. Last night we had thunder storms and quite a bit of rain.....later....

Nothing Interesting

Ihave nothing interesting to say, as usual. I washed my slipcover for the couch...easy...putting it back on..not so easy. I have it half done. R. will help with the rest. Just staying in most of the day to stay cool. We'll both go to the gym this afternoon. The pool ends up my routine and that is the best part. It was 81 here at 6 this morning when I got up. ....later....

A Day of Cooking

Here are some pictures of Eric when we were in the mountains. The other pictures are of my eggplant draining on paper towels prior to my frying them. I did that this morning. The worst part of the job is the frying and that is done. I have yet to assemble the dish. I'm hoping to get 2 large and 1 or 2 smaller dishes. I'll have one this weekend when Linda and Vic come over and the others will go in the freezer. Other than that I'll be going to the gym this afternoon and staying out of the awful heat. Now I must go and assemble and clean up my kitchen....later....

Bengals

I hope that wasn't a glimpse of the coming season! Watched the game on and off. Watched the food channel for the next winner of food challenge. Laundry is almost finished this morning and flowers are watered. We have had 52 straight days of over 90 degree temps with a week of the same. I'm sure this will break a record. We talked to friends from Virginia last evening and they want us to come to Buena Vista for a weekend of pickin' in September. We said we would come if the weather is going to be cooler. Billy is a banjo player and they go to many of these things. I'm off to fold clothes, shower and then read my new book. I loved Off Season, but if you read it have tissues handy!

Tax Free Weekend

We spent the day on the road yesterday taking Eric back. It was a pleasant enough drive with no bad weather like last week. We'll get our house back to normal this week. I'll be making my yearly eggplant parmisignia on Tuesday and will have Linda and Vic over sometime next weekend to celebrate Linda's and Richard's birthdays. N ext week we'll finally start on our kitchen backsplash! Soon we'll be heading to Walmart where R. will get a new pair of tennis shoes and I'll get the ingredients for the eggplant. The Bengals are on tonight so we'll watch part of that...Go Bengals!! It seems very quiet around here. After we decide on a trip and take that I'll start seriously campaigning for a dog. R. is so adamately opposed to getting one, but I still think and joy they bring outweighs the sadness in losing one. This recent loss has been the worst because we have no other dog here right now. At first I was okay with no dog and rationalized not having to clean up messes, brush and give daily meds, worry when we were gone, enjoying freedom from vet costs, but now it seems that those things were worth it. We'll see.....later....

Phone Woes

You can't know how much I hate having to call with problems of my cell phone. However, I guess it was my fault this time. When our credit card info was stolen in May I forgot to contact my phone service about the change in my number and I discovered yesterday I had lost service. I'll be on the phone forever explaining everything to people who can't understand me any better than I can understand them!! It's hot again, but the humidity is supposed to be dropping all day. We'll be going to Knoxville again to the movies. Yesterday we at lunch at Rafferty's and then went to Sam's, The Fresh Market and the Art Museum. I finished my Linda Fairstein book and have started Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons. I love her and have been trying to get this book ever since it came out in 2008. It was finally on the shelf last week. I highly recommend her books. I think my favorite of hers is Up Island which takes place on Martha's Vineyard. We'll be heading to Virginia tomorrow to take Eric back....later....

To Knoxville

We'll be off around noon to go to Sam's and then the Knoxville Art Museum and the Fresh Market. Sometime in between we'll squeeze in lunch somewhere. It's very hot again so we won't be spending any more time outdoors than absolutely necessary. Tomorrow we'll take in a movie.....later....

Busy this Morning

I had an early Drs. appointment and I left first to get gas, then my appointment and then to Walmart. I'm home now and lunch is over. I'll take Eric to the mall this afternoon for the jumping thing. We had such a cool and refreshing time yesterday. We put our chairs in the water and except for eating lunch, that is where we stayed. I read my book, R. did a puzzle and Eric tubed and played in the water. It was lovely and there was a nice breeze all afternoon. Today it's hotter than yesterday...I hate it! I am so tired of this relentless heat! I think we'll go to eh movies tomorrow....I need to fix Eric some lunch now...later.....

106 Heat Index

We're headed to the mountains. Yesterday we went to the pool and enjoyed a cool swim. It was very empty...couldn't believe it, but school has started in this county...not in Knoxville yet. I have the games and food packed for our trip to the mountains. We'll plop our chairs in the stream and enjoy the cool water. It's always at least 10 degrees cooler up there. I need to go give my flowers a cool drink before we leave....later....

Same Old Monday

Hot again and we'll be heading to the pool after lunch. The laundry is done, the flowers are watered, humming bird food is made, etc. We had dinner at the new Olive Garden in town yesterday early evening. I was afraid it would be really crowded, but it wasn't. We usually go for lunch and get lunch portions. We all came home with leftovers from our meal. R. and I will have that for dinner. Eric will have his for lunch. Nothing else to report....later....

Happy Birthday, Richard, Jr.

We made the trip to pick up Eric yesterday...4 hrs. up, 4 hrs. back. We ran into heavy rain for a bit in Virginia on the way up, but on the way back, much more for longer. We finally ran out of it in Bristol. We just hung around last night, watched tv., etc. We had brunch this morning and did our usual. The NY Times puzzle is solved and lunch is over. I'm about to shower and then read my book. We're going out to Olive Garden for dinner with Richard for his birthday. I think we will go to the pool tomorrow. We had rain here yesterday while we were gone and then more overnight, although none of us heard it.....later....