Weekend ? What ?

     It's funny when you no longer go to work how the days just don't seem to matter.  I say, Jim and I are retired but that makes you visualize someone who now has the time to do all the things you didn't have time to do before.  Well, let's just say we do have the time but sadly not the money.  Don't feel sorry for us yet, as we are happy as larks (no I don't really know how happy they are but they sure do sing a pretty song).  Life is just great.  So when you are talking to someone about the weekend coming up you just don't get that happy feeling any more as everyday is the beginning of the weekend.  Am I right?
     Must tell you our stay at the Hotel Diamond was really fun and I enjoyed every minute of it.  It's a combination of ultra modern meets elegant furnishings.  The furniture in this room was gorgeous, huge elegant dressers with marble tops, medium size round table with elephant shaped legs, and they converted an old clothes closet into a cabinet for the flat screen tv.  It was all beautiful.  Then there was the rocking chair, OH MY GOD!,  beautiful dark wood, with scroll work on the back with the arm coming down into paws, leather seat and just adorable.  I swear I kept thinking I could get a rope, drop it out the window and put it in the trunk.  They would miss it, I'm sure, Maybe, OH stop.  I did enjoy it while I was there.  Then of course we had dinner in the dinning room.  I had crab legs, very, very good and Jim had shrimp scampy, Yum.  Everyone was very kind, welcoming, and made you feel at home.  We walked around downtown in the evening and enjoyed the cool weather.  It was great.
     Yes, we have our antenna up and running.  I say running but I don't really mean it's running just that it is working fine.  We now get about 40 channels and we are out in the country so if you are in a town you would probably get a lot more but hey, I'm not going to complain we (again) are happy as larks.  It's nice not having that 80.00 bill every month.  Just a one time price for the antenna and we are done.  The only thing I can say is my favorite channels, 9.1, 9.2 , 9.3, which are the pbs stations don't seem to come in in the evening.  Anyway not out here in the country, I imagine they still do in the city though.  Do you think they turn there power down at a certain time ?  That must be it.  Tootles
    
    

Games for Kindle ?

     Something new, any to me, games for the Kindle.  That's right, games.  I just downloaded them this morning and I swear I can't stop playing.  They are great fun and I can just imagine playing them at certain times when you are waiting for whatever reason.  I have played "Every Word" this morning and am about to try my hand at "Shuffled Row".  Did I mention they are free !  Something new for us to try out.  I don't know about you but I just love my Kindle and it just keeps getting better and better everyday.  I figure this will help keeping my thinking process working properly.  I don't know about you but I am always hearing we need to do more to keep using the thinking part of our brain, so here it is.  I did see they have crossword puzzles for the kindle.  It might be interesting, I will keep that in mind.

This is where we have our breakfast in the morning, we are facing south.  The orchard, straight ahead is peaches.  Once they have harvested them we are welcome to come over and take what we want.  You would be surprise how much they do leave behind.  Usually I make pies but this year I'm going to freeze what I can and make smoothies.  Jim loves smoothies as I do also but the difference is he loves his very, very, very cold and I do not.  In fact I don't need any ice.
Just to the right of the lawn chair and on the other side of the white rail is the ramp up to the pool.  It makes it very easy to go take a dip in the pool.  We don't have to step in the dirt or grass.  Of course I need to let the pool warm up for a few days before I step into it.
       Hope everything is going great for all of you.  You know, our summer is almost over.  I am looking forward to the fall weather.  Getting back into sweaters and sweatshirts.  You know the cover ups.  That's what I call them especially if I still haven't lost some of my tummy.  Hey, I have rearranged my body.  Doesn't that sound creepy !  You know what I mean.  I keep telling myself I just want to be healthy, and I do really but in the process I still want to lose some weight.  Tootles

Monday (need I say more)

Okay, so it isn't that bad.  I mean I get to go to the gym and see all my new friends.  We had a great time today, just working real hard and having fun.  We are all still worried about Edie and Barbara.  Edie is in the therapy center at the hospital.  So she is getting in on swimming.  We just miss her. I don't know if I told you, but she is 89, a tiny lady with white hair and wears blue sunglasses in the pool.  I told her she really looked cool.  Then there is Barbara, what an interesting lady to talk to.  Her love for sports is impressive.  She followed the soccer games faithfully and really enjoyed them, then watched and cheered for the, Tour de France, bike race.  She just really enjoys sports.  I think they feel she is having panic attacks.  I believe It really hit her hard when Edie fell and fractured her hip.  I do know she is afraid she will fall, as we all are really but you can't live your life that way.  Don't get me wrong I don't take chances.  I try to always watch where I am going for that pebble, bump, foot sticking out, hose or cord across the walk.  In fact just last spring I was at a small shopping mall with my family.  We had just come out of Subway, where we had had a delicious sandwich and was walking to the car.  Jim had stepped into a store and I was heading to the car with the rest of my family.  The curb was only about 2 to 3 inches and I took my Granddaughters elbow to step down, well low and behold, I don't know what happen but the parking lot was coming up to my face in a second.  It's so startling and you feel so foolish, I mean come on, 2 to 3 inches.  Somehow, I think my foot got twisted and down I went.  Although you never feel like your falling, you always feel the earth is coming up to you.  Funny how that works.  You see, I'm recovering from Guillain Barre Syndrome or GBS.  Andy Griffith had it and if you remember the author Joseph Heller (he wrote Catch 22, along with other books).  He also wrote, "No Laughing Matter," which is about his ordeal with GBS and how he and his good friend got through it.  I have had it three times and recovered the first and second time completely but with the third time it's been a lot harder.  The last time I had it was 1996 and I have recovered almost completely all but my legs and feet.  Mostly it's my feet which are still numb and sometimes tingley.  Like I said I just have to know where my feet are and where they land.  Ha!  Enough about that I got too much going on to even think about any of that.  That is why I love this class in the water.  Some people have had strokes, surgery, broken bones, been in car accidents, or like me recovering from GBS.  Once we are in the water everyone is the same.  We can water walk, which is wonderful and can really give you a good workout or use all the equipment they have for us, and really give yourself a heavy workout.  It's great, I love it. I'm just so grateful I found this place.
     We have drained our pool and are cleaning it out.  That is Jim is, as we speak.  I know the water will be very cold at first but it is August so we will most likely have some 100 degree days, probably many and if that happens, well, it won't take no time for it to warm up.  I don't mind it a little cold when you first get in because that is refreshing. 
     I've been shopping around for some exercise clothes.  Have you seen the prices of some of this stuff.  As I have told you we are on a fixed income and it's not very much.  That is why we joined the gym.  We have met some great people, we get out of the house, are doing exercise so getting healthy, and swimming which is the treat after the workout.  Hey, to some people it's a fast hour in the morning before work to us it's the whole morning and sometimes includes breakfast or lunch.  Vacations, forget about it, we ARE on vacation.  Anyway to get back to what I was saying I decided to go to the thrift stores and check out what they had.  Truth be told I can get better quality at a much lower price there.  I mean some of the brands I found I know are top of the line.  The great thing is I can spend very little, in fact while we were in the store he announced all the clothing was 99 cents for the rest of that day.  I guess they come up with different sales daily.  So if you have a thrift store in your neighborhood or you know where one is check it out.  You just might be surprised especially if you are looking for jeans or levi's what a bargain they are.  I even picked up a purse that I just love for 3.oo.  Tootles

Antenna on the way.....Getting closer to Kitty !

     We tried to get the antenna at Best Buy, they did have some but alas not the one we wanted.  The guy there was very helpful and showed us some on the internet at the store but we realized where we were looking on line they were a lot cheaper.   So we thanked him very much and left the store.  It cost $58. I believe and is on the way.  You know how that goes.  It could be here tomorrow or in two weeks so I just have to sit back and wait.  I will let you know how it works for us when we get it up and going.  Jim has already put the pole up and it will extend up another 10 feet once he puts it on the end.  We still are getting several channels just with our rabbit ears inside.  The guy from Best Buy was shocked that we even got any so he said we shouldn't have any trouble receiving more with an outside antenna.
     Yes, Jim is getting closer and closer to the Kitty.  I tell you he really puts on a show in the morning.  Jim and I go out in front and have our coffee in the morning, here is Kitty sitting on top of a trailer that has a tarp over it (it's full of garbage from the yard and needs to go to the dump but we won't talk about that right now).  Now keep in mind the Kitty is black and the tarp is medium blue, she shows up real plain ( I say she but we really don't know yet if it's a girl or a boy.  It does come out and greet Jim then scampers back in it's hiding place.  What's really cute is when it gets up on it's hind legs and prances forward with his front legs up in the air.  What a show we get to watch. I know Bella ( most of the time we call her puppers) our black little dog would love to play with it.  Maybe, we'll see, hopefully soon.
     Did I mention Jim has won a night at the Hotel Diamond in Chico and dinner at Johnny's, which is located in the Hotel.  Well......we are going Aug. the 4th.  I am very excited about it.  First, of course, we will go to the gym as the 4th is on a wed. then we will probably just walk around down town Chico as that is where the Hotel is.  Chico really does have some nice stores and they have really tried to keep there downtown going.  It's not easy in these times but they do have a beautiful park right across the street so we plan on doing some walking.  It will just be fun to try something different.  I will tell you all about it.  I'll try and take pictures.
     I spent about 3 hours on line this morning looking for a bathing suit.  I got so frustrated I wanted to cry, scream, yell or something.  You see I have been looking for a new suit as the one I bought about a month and half ago is really showing signs of wear (I am not Kidding)  I couldn't believe it.  Well I have wasted enough time and the suit will be falling off of me shortly and believe me we do not want that.  So I finally threw my hands up in the air and said we are going to town and I can't come back home without one.  The only place that had durable suits (yea right, look how long mine lasted) is Big Five.  I already tried JCPenney's and that was a joke as all your other regular stores would be so back to Big Five I went.  Thank God they were again on sale but I learned something that I hope will help...........Before you wear your suit you soak it in 1 Tablespoon of vinegar in 1 quart of water for 30 min. (I am doing that right now).  Then before you go in the pool you are to get under the shower and get it wet, it's suppose to stop it from soaking up so much chlorine and last but not least rinse the suit in cool water after you take it off.  You can even use a gentle soap and then rinse it.  Roll it up in a towel (do not use the ringers in the locker room, I always did as I thought that was a good thing, so much for what I know).  When you get home lay it over a chair on a towel to dry, do not hang in sun.  My Word, can you believe all that !  Believe me I will do all of that but I just wonder how my suits lasted all summer when I was in Junior High.  Let me tell you it was one suit a summer, period. 
     I've been reading some of the older published books that we get for free.  What a kick they are.  Some of them were written 1850 to 1870.  They really had a different way of telling a story.  Then I switched and now am reading  "The Goddess of Fried Okra," by Jean Brashear.  Check it out, it's funny.  I keep thinking what the readers in 1850 would think of the writing style now.  It does give you pause.   Tootles

Middle of the Week

Hello, Hello, and Hello !  I feel great today had a very good workout, good food and good company.  Now who could ask for anything more.
     We started out the day by getting up early and heading to the gym.  When you look in the frig. and there is one egg (our chickens have decided to lay their eggs all around the big front yard instead of in there pen, they all seem to only like the same nest for laying and Patty the big black chicken will not get off of it, so the other 6 chickens are protesting by scattering their eggs, we even found them in the goat pen) and no bread, no almond milk for what little cereal is left, the answer is, Eat At the Gym. The Cabana Cafe is great as the food is very healthy for you besides being delicious.  All the employee's there are super nice and the manager is our Aqua instructor.  I am so happy as besides doing my regular workout I think I told you I am also doing the rower.  Wow, what a heart pumper.  I feel this all over and I am telling you, no kidding, it is strengthening my bottom, stomach, and thighs a lot.  I do not want to fall so it's important that I keep my body in the best shape I can.  After our swim we stopped in at the Cafe again and split a sandwich before heading home.  I have such a good time visiting with everyone along with working out.  We are all a little concerned about one terrific lady, Barbara.  She is having some problems walking and wasn't able to come today.  Her husband did come but as he was about to go in the pool, Barbara called the gym and ask for him to come home as she was not doing well.  He said he was going to get her in to the Dr. and see what was going on.  We will find out Friday.  I already told you about Edie falling and fracturing her hip so as you might expect we are all concerned.  Please say a little pray for each of them.  They both have medical issues, as we all do, that is why I thank God we are all going to the gym.  It keeps illness, weakness, depression, and pain at bay.  We are all a close group and care very much about each other so, (Oh, no, she's going to lecture again)  have you gone to the gym in your area yet or started up a bunch of friends or neighborhood get together.  I don't care how you do it, Just Do It.  It's so important to your health and happiness to exercise, exercise, exercise.  Ride a bike, dance, like no one is watching, play basket ball, jog, run, skip, jump.......get the picture go, go now.
     I have to say I had joined a gym in another town (I think I have told you this before) and they were awful.  No doubt about it, just down right rude.  That is why I stress check it out first.  Take the tour and ask the people there how they like it and why.  I think it's important the gym have a Senior Wellness program, that way you are covered.  Once a month we have some kind of a social. O.K. enough.  I just want everyone to not miss out on the rest of your loooonnnnggg life.
     On a different note something I forgot to add last time about TV with no cable and only using antenna for digital ( I must stress this is for newer TV's, the older ones will also need to have a converter box along with the antenna).  Go to Titantv.com.  It's like the old TV guides and shows you what channels you will get and the programs.  I'm excited about the pbs channels as they have travel, cooking, painting, and lots more.  So check it out and save yourself some money
The also have the regular line up of evening shows.
     I'm sure you have already look at the new free books, if not.......I just picked up, "Goddess of Fried Okra," by Jean Brashear,   "Face of Betrayal," (Triple Threat #1) by Lis Wiehl and April Henry,   last but not least....."A Flower Blooms on Charlotte Street," by Milan McGraw Porpst.
     I'm sure you have noticed some of the books that are for free one day will cost you the next week.  They don't stay on the free list very long.  Some even only last a few hours so make sure you check it daily.  I would not want anyone to miss out on a good free book.  Good Health, Healthy Food, Tootles

Yard Ornaments

These are my Three Little Pigs.  I have them amongst my mint.  I made them in ceramics class years ago.  No, I did not form them myself, they came out of a mold.  When I reveal that, it's' funny how some people react.... Oh well, I thought you designed them.  So somehow there value has just dropped way down.  I did paint them and that was fun, anywho just wanted to give a little history on my pigs.  Ha!  They were originally presents that I gave away, to family.  Well you know how that goes, they don't know what to do with them and they can't just throw them away so here they come back to you and I certainly don't know what to do with them, so here they are in my herb garden.  Don't think I mentioned they are piggy banks, guess they just didn't have any change to put in them ,what with the bank and atm cards now, who has change anymore.  The little lamb on the side is one half of a cake pan my Mom use to bake my birthday cakes in.  I don't know what happened to the other half.  Did I ever feel special when she made that.  Oh, the good old days !
     I think I mentioned before we no longer have cable or any other company
 to watch all those thousands of channels.  What we do have right now is nothing.  That is we turn our tv on and  right now we get about 6 channels, 5 very good and one snowy (the older crowd will get the snowy) This friday we are getting the antenna for digital and should get several more channels.  Not that I think we need so many.  Let's face it with the thousands of channels how many times did you say....." Honey, there is nothing on".  At least this way we are saving ourselves 80. plus every month.  Hey, that's a lot of moola. I'll let you know how many more channels we get and the quality.
     This morning it is down right cold.  I am not kidding.  Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, just surprised and a nice one at that. 
     I'm fixing up a new area outside for reading or just sitting quietly and drinking tea.  Right now Jim is clearing it and we are putting in a box planter.  Will take a picture of it when it's done.
     We have a new kitty !  Well, we don't actually have it yet.  It just showed up at the far corner of the outside yard.  We have another cat there, that is not very social and seems happy to be fed and just left alone.  This new kitty, is all black, I think, as I nor Jim has been able to get very close before is skitters away and hides amongst the bushes and we are unable to see it.  Jim is feeding it of course so hopefully in time it will become more friendly.  Jim just came in and said Elviria our black cat is rolling around in the grass a few feet away from the kitty, and the kitty is inching up.  Well see !   Tootles

Adeline watches over my herbs.

She has been with me for a long time.  I love to dress her up in different costumes.  I once had her dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Then of course I took two sticks painted them red and white strips added some old shoes, that I had painted bright red with glitter on them, stuck them on the end of the sticks put them half under some shrubs in my yard and WaaLaa!  The Witch of the West or was it East, I can't remember but you get the picture.  I really have fun just putting her everywhere.  My kids think I'm a little crazy but I think it's fun.  Wish I had several more.  I'm always looking.
      Hey, I'm excited about going to the gym tomorrow, not only for the exercise and the swim class but we (seniors) are having a cooking class.  It seems a chef , I believe from Chico, is going to show us healthy cooking.  I believe he is going to demonstrate how to and what ingredients.  I don't think we are going to do anything other then try out what he makes. (I think).  It should be interesting and different.  I'm all for trying new things.
     I've been swimming off and on today.  Taking advantage of our pool.  It sure cools you off fast and I get in some of my exercises. 
     We watched the movie "Gran Torino", with Clint Eastwood.  I know, I know it has a lot of bad language and racial slurs but and that is a big but, the movie itself has such a good lesson.  Especially about American family life today, what with cell phones, texting, and the disconnection with each other even in the same room. Somewhere along the line respect and manners have lost there way.  It also shows you to have a more open mind, what you assume isn't always what really is going on.  I have to say I liked the Movie very much even with the language and such as that was the only way to tell the story.  If you haven't seen it, Do so.  I think it's something we all should see. Tootles