Our Thrty- fourth Anniversary

Time flies when you're having fun and we've had a good run and hope to keep it going for many more!😊😊 I got a lot done yesterday with just a bit more to get done today. Later we'll be going to The Irish Pub for dinner. Yesterday was supposed to be a washout but the rain didn't come until the evening. We're getting some rain now but leaving soon for a nice weekend.....later

Cleaning Day

I'll be cleaning inside today and putting up spring decor. It was supposed to be a rainy day but the rain isn't coming until dinner time. Richard is heading to Walmart this morning so he won't have to dodge showers....Yesterday I had an appointment at Maryville Orthaepedic and got shots in both knees. They are both feeling do much better already!😁 it's pretty warm this morning already in the low sixties! Pretty soon I'll be planting my annuals. I took my indoor plants out yesterday......later

Getting Things Done

Our grass got its first cutting, wood got stacked and moved and deck got partially cleaned and hoses got reconnected. I may get the deck sprayed off so I can bring the rug up.  I may also bring my indoor plants out. The bird feeders were cleaned out and put away until fall. The fireplace also got cleaned out. Most of this was cheerfully done by my two sweet helper girls. I can't say enough about what sweet personalities they have. They enjoy everything they do. I gave them all of my craft paints and supplies and they were excited about that. When they were ready to go home they asked us if they could sing us a hymn. Of course we said yes and I said I'd play the piano for them.  We ended up singing hymns and as always they left with a hug for both of us and a "Have a blessed day goodbye".😊😊......later

Work Day

My helper girls are coming over today and we will tackle he deck. I hope to get it cleaned up and ready for flowers which will come soon. The bird feeders will be cleaned and put away until next fall. The squirrels made it necessary to put them away a bit sooner than usual. Soon the humming birds will appear and we'll put those feeders up. We have company coming for Easter dinner so hope to have the deck looking springy and fresh. Richard's contribution will be to connect all hoses and ready them for use. Happy. spring break for those enjoying them😀😀......later

Quiet Weekend

We mostly watched golf and basketball. I was not happy for the Duke loss. Now looking forward to final four and rooting for Loyola.   Now I'm gearing up for spring and Easter. We had our last fires this weekend and will get the fireplace cleaned this week and also work on getting the deck cleaned. Today after the gym we'll pick up our Easter ham. ..Laundry happening here and time to tend that.....later

Movie Time

Last night we watched Tree Billboards.....etc. It was On Demand and really a good movie! We weren't interested in any of the basketball games but happy to see Kentucky lost! ...yesterday my yearly appointment was great! All of my labs were even improved from last year and they were fine last year...makes me feel good! Still no heat and it was 59 in here this morning😣 We got some oil yesterday and furnace guy coming this morning to start things up. It's a cold morning but more warm weather is on the way! I posted yesterday afternoon about Richard's baking issues.. Happy Birthday wishes go out to Max who is 18 today!!😁 He is one sweet boy!!.....

Baking 101

Richard needs baking lessons. He loves to make banana nut bread and doesn't want my help. First of all it's his Mom's recipe and the recipe card was old and stained so I wrote it larger so he could see it better. He liked the old recipe. He made it a few weeks ago and it was dry. He said he may have put too much flour in it. When I asked him if he measured it he said he used the flour scoop and assumed it was 1 cup! Today I told him to measure and what cup to use. Instead he got the liquid measuring cup. I told him he wouldn't get the correct amount. So he got the dry measuring cup and didn't know you put the flour to the top and leveled it off. I think he did okay with the rest of it. This recipe calls for crisco and walnuts. I made it once with butter and pecans. He liked it and when I told him I used butter and pecans he said he knew it tasted different! After that I let him do it his way. It takes him twice as long and he has everything out on the counter but he is happy so that's worth it all.😁😁

No Heat

I woke up to a cold house😬. The thermostat reads 65! It is 30 outside this morning. We have oil heat and we have to be out of oil. We have a huge oil container below ground but it doesn't have a guage so we have no way of checking. I have a drs. appointment this morning and need to get my shower soon...not looking forward to stepping out of shower into a cold bathroom!. Richard not awake yet but he'll call and arrange a delivery ASAP!.  ........latet

Snowy Forecast

It's too dark for me to see if we're getting anything but if we get anything it will likely be just a dusting. I think the mountains are getting it. Today is the first full day of spring and we're expecting a freeze by Friday😣. The dogwoods aren't blooming yet and I don't even see buds yet on ours but lots of trees are in leaf now. Not much to talk about here. We'll head to the gym after lunch and just enjoy another fire this evening. ........later

Remains of Winter

Storms last night but mainly rain. Today it will get progressively colder with snow tonight. I'm thinking we'll have our last fires in the next few evenings. Yesterday I hit DSW after Richard's appointment and got two pairs! This morning I'll head to the lab in anticipation of yearly appointment on Thursday. Then get Max's birthday gift and mail it. He turns 18 on Friday!! I have such sweet memories of his visits here in the summer. He is such a sweet boy..now young man! ......later

Disappointment!

This basketball season has turned out to be a disappointment for us. First the vol men lost by 1 point. Yesterday Cincinnati lost and likely Xavier. I'm not sure about X but they were losing when I last checked. The Vol girls also lost yesterday.😣 .....We'll be heading to Knoxville later this morning for a dentist appointment. After that I want to go to DSW! Time for spring/summer shoes!...Looks like dicey weather later today..rain, hail, tornadoes!! Spring weather 😈...  Later

Movie Time

This week TCM has been showing Elizabeth Taylor films. Last night we watched Raintree County. It was long so we were up just past 11. I hadn't seen it and I liked it. Richard said it was dumb. This morning I'll head out for a haircut and maybe make a few other stops. We watched the Vols beat Wright State. Tomorrow they play Loyola....I made a comment on FB yesterday that generated many comments. I was responding to negative comments about the school walkout to protest school shootings. I was responding to idiots. Comments to my post were mainly positive. I know responding to idiots us futile but I just couldn't contain myself!...More coffee time!....later

More Cat News

Apparently Whiskers had a reaction to hershots on Tuesday and after 24 hours still wasn't eating or drinking and was lethargic. I called the vet and he wanted me to bring her in. We dropped her off for treatment and then went to the gym picking her up on the way home. He gave her two shots with no charge and she's back to her old self. When she got home she headed straight for her food and continued to be fine! Today..golf and basketball. Vols play Wright State....We finalized plans yesterday for a return trip to the Berkshires in October. This time The Seipels will be going with us. I hope they like it ad much as we do but whatever,it will be great to spend time together!....later

Whiskers

My kitty had a vet appointment yesterday for her yearly checkup. All went well and she got two injections. The vet said to watch her and if she didn't eat by today to give them a call. So far she hasn't eaten or drunk and I'm concerned. She went upstairs and hasn't come down since. I'll bring her down shortly and hope she eats soon. .....It's another cold morning here with a warmup expected tomorrow. ...Looking forward to another weekend of golf and basketball starting tomorrow... I can contain myself no longer...when, if ever, will Trump finally totally derail?!? How much longer can we have to deal with a non- functioning government??...Time to check on my kitty . .later

Caught in the Act

About a month ago I came out to the great room and looked on the deck to see a bird feeder upside down on the floor and both suet cakes gone! We later figured it was a possum and we started putting the feeder in the container with the seed at night. A few nights I forgot to do it and would find the same scene. Last night I remembered but it was already dark. I turned on the deck light and went out to do it and caught Mr. Raccoon in the act. He quickly scurried away but I found our thief! ....yesterday as we left for the gym it was snowing hard with huge, beautiful snowflakes. After working out we came out to bright sunshine. That's March for you.....Not much going on today but Whiskers has her yearly appointment at the vets......later

Quiet Weekend

We watched lots of basketball and golf. Its a bommer that Vols list to Kentucky😢.  It was great to see Tiger playing well and that made for hope that he continues to play well and stays healthy. ..Today is the 25th anniversary of our blizzard in '93. We were without electricity for 5 days but kept warm by the fireplace and cooked on our grill. We listened to music on our battery operated radio and had a fun time. We had plenty of wood and supplied neighbors with wood and food from our freezer. We had 3 feet of snow here. It's spitting snow and sleet here today ad a reminder but supposed to warm up by noon.....later

TGIF!

That really isn't the same as it was when we were working but it still has a certain different feeling. For one thing it means I don't cook. I usually do something fun. Today it will be brie with toasted bread and fruit....My eye appointment was fine and after that I went to Kroger and got a Boston Butt. They were all really big so I had the guy halve it and will do that in my instant pit on Sunday.....It's cold again and Monday will be the anniversary of Tennessee's big snowfall of 1993! I was off school for a week and we had no electricity for 5 days. For us at that time it was fun!! It wouldn't be fun today!....Tennessee plays in the SEC tournament tonight..Go Vols!!........later

Flurries and Cold

I wish I could just stay inside all day but I have my yearly appointment with my opthalmologist this morning and need to stop at Kroger's to pick up a few things. Yesterday I stopped at Food City after the gym but didn't get asparagus because they had it bundled in a 3 pound package....way to much for us to use. I'm yearning for spring and warm weather. I'm so anxious to get my herbs planted.. Lowe's had several early herbs and other plants out the other day. I did get some chives and they are on my window will now. Time for more coffee!.....latet

Back to Cold

It got to 60 yesterday with lots of sun but 37 this morning but that's better than the predicted 29 and much better than 4 which Muir said they have in Cincy. I haven't had a fire for a few days but will likely have on tonight... Soup was made yesterday and the recipe called for lentils but I used barley and it was a big hit with my soup gourmet! ...I got my kitchen cleaned from head to toe. Can't tell you how good that feels... Looking forward to some good basketball this weekend!... I was going to rant again about Trump but don't want to waste space on that egomaniac!....later

Spring Housecleaning

Does anyone remember when that was an event? Probably not. With so many women working outside of the home. I can remember my mother washing all of the windows inside and out,  cleaning the wallpaper and cleaning all of the carpets! I guess I carry a bit of that tradition. Yesterday I started cleaning out my kitchen cupboards and today I hope to do a complete hitchen cleaning....I woke up this morning to heavy rain. Tomorrow we may have snow flurries but all week it will warm to the 50s. It was 53 when I left the gym yesterday...Time for my second cup of coffee and then a shower....later

Another Lazy Weekend

We watched Ghandi on Saturday and I forgot how long it was. We saw it in the theater when we lived in Richmond. I could never sit that long in a theater now! I made the Pillsbury winning sweet rolls for Sunday and here's an alert for anyone who wants to make them...the recipe calls for cranberries and they are impossible to find now! I looked in 3 different grocery stores and no one had them. I used frozen cherries and that worked but will keep it he recipe and stock up on cranberries when they come out next fall....Now for Oscar review...Red Carpet was a big miss in my estimation. I usually look forward to stars in their beautiful dresses but few stars were interviewed and fashion not mentioned. I get it that serious subjects are taking center stage this year but We still need time to let go.  I didn't last long and went to bed shortly after 10. Happy to hear Gary Goldman won! Now we have more movies to see.......later

Great Movie

Darkest Hour with Gary Goldman as Churchill was an excellent movie. We are both suckers for anything about Churchill so we were happy. Now I hope Oldman gets an Oscar for his performance. We also had a yummy lunch at Cazzys. It was a rainy, sloppy day and we also got out Public fix. Today we're finally getting rid of 2 TVs, a microwave and a few other items that have been taking up space in our basement. I look forward to getting the basement in order now!!......later

Sloppy, Rainy Day

We picked a doozy of a day to go to Knoxville! It rained all night and still coming down and rain to continue all day. We will go to Public first and then have lunch at a Pub near there. After that movie time and we'll see Darkest Hour. Before heading home I'll run into Sam's to pick up walnuts. Last night we caught up on Homeland......later