Guava Jelly

 The other day I had guava jelly on my mind. Could not stop thinking about it! So, I got online and ordered me two small jars. I hadn't tasted any in a hundred years. The package came yesterday. I ripped right into it and brought out two small jars of jewel like jelly. 

I held the open jar up to my nose. Hmmmm. Even though I caught the faint aroma of guava, I was disappointed. It did not come close to the heavenly aroma we used to have as we drove along the roads of Mt. Tantulus on Oahu. Hubby was stationed there and on a Sunday afternoon we'd pile into our car and head out exploring. One of my favorite places was Mt. Tantulus. The narrow road was lined with foliage. Tall guava trees and other ones I don't remember what they were and underneath heavy vegetation of Ginger Lily. It was like being in a perfume factory. 

The guava fruit would fall from the trees, splat on the roadway then were run over by cars. The aroma was unbelievable. 

But, my jelly just didn't have that much of a scent. Could it be that I had not remembered correctly. Nope, that memory is very distinct. 

                                                                   And, then it hit me. 

When you get old, a lot of things go wrong. My smeller seems to have gone on strike. I just don't smell things like I used to. But, oh, I'll eat my jelly on a hot roll dripping with butter and my memory will give me that heavenly aroma I remember from so long ago. 

'Somebody Feed Phil'

 Being older and then getting caught in this horrific pandemic has caused me to stay inside much more than I normally would. There for awhile I was preparing a book for republishing so I was pretty busy but with that finished I find my days get long and boring.

                                       So, I am watching more television and reading more books. 

I just have to tell you about this new show I am watching on Netflix. There have been 4 seasons already and I had no idea it existed but I watched an episode the other day and am just about binge-watching to catch up. 

                                                              It's 'Somebody Feed Phil'. 

Phil Rosenthal was the creator of 'Everybody Loves Raymond'. With it put on the shelf he wanted to do something different. He is not used to being in front of the camera, nor does he cook..... but..... his new show stars Phil traveling around the world eating all these amazing dishes in all these amazing cities. I want to be part of his crew!

He has a child-like wonder as he samples each dish. He's goofy, unpolished, fun and you can just imagine being right there with him. Some people can't stand his goofiness, and there can be some awkward jokes that fall flat but for one, I enjoy someone having fun and loving life. 

So, I gotta run... I'm up to Season Two now and I don't want to miss a thing. You'll find me sitting in front of the screen, ice tea at hand and maybe a sandwich or some other something to nibble on and I am drooling over handmade tacos from Mexico City, learning how to eat crawfish in New Orleans or watching them dress up some hummus that looks so tempting in Tel Aviv. 

                                                  See you later! 

                              P. S. you'll have to let me know if you love Phil or hate him!!

Our Fall Festival

                      It's been a long time since I had a booth in a festival or craft fair. 

                                                          I mean a LONG time! 

But, yesterday I did it. It was a Mother-daughter affair and we had such a great time and we made some money and laughed and visited with people. But, man was I exhausted at the end of the day! These old bones knew they had been put through the wringer. This morning, even after a good night's sleep, I felt like a freight train had run over me. 

I had some copies of the novel "Springtime in Magnolia" that I had published back in 2014, just lying around in my way. And, I had my watercolors. Getting rid of those is like getting rid of your babies! It was hard for me but it thrilled me and lifted up my sagging confidence to have people come by and remark about how talented I was, how pretty the paintings were. I sold several and I sold some books, too. 

My daughter Shirley (she's the one with the bakery) had her fall sugar cookies. Everyone loves her cookies so we thought there for a bit that she was going to run out. All the bags filled with a dozen cookies were gone, so she opened up some packs of three and made some new 'dozen' bags. That helped. 

      It's good to get out, mingle with people, have some fun. It renews the spirit. 

After a scrambled egg and a cup of hot peach tea this morning, I think I am getting back to normal!! 

Craving Hot Biscuits

 I'm Southern....

And,  I love biscuits, the crust all crunchy, the middle soft and tender and dripping with melting butter. 

I can remember that I always loved my Mother's biscuits but I never did get the hang of making really good ones. Finally I gave up and just started whopping those cans on the edge of the counter so we could have biscuits for breakfast. 

The other day I got a hankering for a good hot biscuit. My track record is next to zero! But, I had a new recipe that I thought I'd try. Got it off facebook. It was supposed to be easy. Maybe easy would do the trick for me. 

So, I tried the recipe. I tell you, for supper that night all I had were two biscuits, buttered. One was slathered with muscadine jelly and the other I pour honey over it. I went to bed a happy gal.

But, when I  reheated one the next day I wasn't as thrilled so you better eat them hot. 

Check the fb post here. 

https://www.facebook.com/1040029619/posts/10221858212938056/

Saying Goodbye

             In January it  will be 11 years since I lost my sweet, wonderful husband. 

newly-weds

I'd cared for him for years. Alzheimers has a way of going on and on and on. But, now it was Jan 3, 2011 and he lay dying in a nursing home. The staff had called in the family and most of us were gathered around his bed. 

I don't know if my husband was aware he was going to meet the Lord in a few minutes but he was aware that his family was there. He focused his eyes on me. We had celebrated our 60 years of marriage just the month before and even though those last few years he hadn't known me most of the time, I realized that he knew who I was.

our 60th anniversary

I stood by his bed, so filled with grief. And, he reached his arms up to hug me just one more time. I bent down and held him tight. He soon breathed his last breath.

Knowing that this day was coming, I had made a lot of preparations of how things should be handled. But, I did not prepare for these last moments. It's something to think  about just the same as where the service will be held, the final resting place and even what flowers you'd want in the casket spray. I just never thought of this... this final saying goodbye. Maybe it was too painful to think about.

But, I have a huge regret!! I regret not softly singing (and hoping the family would join in) one of his favorite songs, 'Amazing Grace'. What a comfort that might have been to him and what a send off. But, I just wasn't prepared and did not think of it. 

People don't like to think of death. They made no preparations, They don't discuss it. But, death is as sure as birth. It needs to be included in your life planning! 

A Date Is A Date!!

Things happen when you finally decide to clean out a drawer (or a closet or behind the couch). 

There in the middle of a bunch of nothing important was this little red book. I'd totally forgotten all about it but sometime after I turned 80, I had ordered it from Amazon.

                                                I thought the name so befitting!   

I want to share one of Judith's poems with all of you.

---------------------------------------------

Fifty Years Later

Each morning we brush side by side in our double-sink bathroom,

And, share Metamucil along with our Multi-grain toast.

We search yet again through the house for our disappeared glasses

So we can read all the bad news in the Times and the Post.

He's 9:45 and I'm 10 at the dermatologist,

Which we'll follow by grocery shopping at Trader Joe's.

Tomorrow we'll sign up for classes in senior Pilates,

Then it's off to Assisted Living to see Cousin Rose.

Together we meet with our broker to get reassurance

That we'll die before there's no money to cover our bills.

Then we meet with our tax accountant to check on our broker.

Then we meet with our lawyer to write a few codicils.

He knows when he goes for his CAT scan that I'll gladly take him.

I know when I go for some blood work he'll come and he'll wait.

These are not like those torrid times on that beach in New Jersey,

But a date IS a date.

Judith Viorst

If You Can't Cry, Laugh!

                                 I'm just wondering how my sister is doing today.                                    

                                She's 9 years older than me so that makes her 96. 

We live about 800 miles apart and talk nearly every day. I couldn't reach her one day last week but thought she was just downstairs at her living facility playing blackjack. She loves that game. 

Then her daughter called and told me that Sis was in the hospital. She'd had a light stroke and Afib. They were supposed to move her to rehab day before yesterday but I haven't heard for sure.

                         I know, you all are saying 'why don't you call and find out?' 

My poor niece (she's 76) (Sis's only daughter) has had her hands full. I don't want to add to her burden. 

Now, my sister and I are some years apart in age and we are very different in personality. I'm pretty laid back (well, except when I got mad at my waiter at Santa Fe the other day) but she is the type who has to know everything that is going on and doesn't mind sharing it with anybody she runs across. She tends to be bossy and she is a complainer big time. I don't know of a single meal they have served at her place that she didn't find something wrong with it. She's lived there 7 years. That's a lot of meals.

Anyway, I had to laugh at this. One night at the hospital, she refused to take her blood pressure meds so naturally her blood pressure shot up. So, they gave it to her in her IV. Later on she got all upset and told the nurse to tell that doctor he'd better learn how to give her her meds, that he didn't know what he was doing. Poor doctor, poor nurse. 

She has this little dog and I know it's company for her. Where she lives she can have a dog. But, if you fall, it's either two or three times, then you get moved to asst. living and thus... the dog wouldn't be allowed. She's had several falls, some pretty severe but she tells them that she's sick so they will bring her food to her room and then the staff won't see all the bruises when she goes down to the dining room. Clever thinking, I think. But, I know she needs more care than she is getting. It's just convincing her. 

Every Fall, on every Friday she calls me to find out what station and time 'our' football games are going to be played on Sat. My tv provider is not the same as hers so I have to do research so I can tell her where to find her game! I told her to use her tv screen guide but she has no clue. She told me that my giving her that information was my job now. But, of course she didn't call this Friday. Poor thing missed out on Bama and Auburn both winning! I cheered for the both of us. 

I guess you'd just have to know her to find this funny. Don't think that I am not aware that meds and being ill can make you do weird things. I hope you don't think I am being insensitive. I love my sister and miss her.

I learned when my husband had alzheimers that if you didn't find humor in bad situations, you were sunk. We all need to laugh and goodness knows, with the past year or two and all it's trials, there's been little to laugh about. 

Saturday is Football Day

 

It's Saturday!

My favorite day in  the Fall season!

I'll grab a snack, curl up in my recliner and settle in for some football.

And

even though MY TEAM is Alabama, I have been known to watch any game that SEC teams are playing. 

Call me prejudice but hey, I am a southern gal and SEC is my football! 

Roll Tide! 

Madder Than An Old Wet Hen

 

I am a laid-back kind of gal. Seldom get mad. Can't remember how long it's been since I was REALLY mad. 

But, honey, let me tell you. 

Day before yesterday I was madder than an old wet hen!!

I got my hair cut. It was 2 when I got out and I was hungry so I just drove to Santa Fe, a block away, and went in.

The place just had about 3-4 tables with people at them. Nice and quiet. Safe distancing.

I ordered a taco salad. It came back swimming in water. Guess they forgot to drain the lettuce but at least they did wash it.

I ate, saving my basket of chips and white sauce (Oh man, do I love that white sauce) to take home with me for an afternoon snack. 

I paid my bill and asked the waiter to fix my chips and sauce to go. He acted like I had asked for a bag of gold and then disappeared. 

So, as he came back by, I asked again. He came stomping out and flung a very small brown paper sack on the table. No container for the sauce. 

I put my chips in the bag. Waited, waited and finally he came back in my space so I asked for a container.

You know what he told me. "I'm busy". 

If he had had lots of customers, I could see it. I know they are short-handed now. But, I've been a customer there for seven years and by golly, I paid for those chips and sauce. 

I was steaming mad. I left the chips there and the sauce and walked out.

Man, I wish I had thought to pour that sauce over those chips in that little brown bag but I didn't. For once in my lifetime, I missed my chance to pitch a real hissy fit. 

So, if you are ever in Suffolk, Va. I would recommend that you not visit Santa Fe restaurant! I am mad at them. You'd be doing me and yourself a big favor if you ate elsewhere😀. 

The Life of a Hermit

This dog-nabbed pandemic has about turned me inside out and upside down. I am just not the gal I used to be. 

Sure, people change as they age and to tell the truth the last nineteen months has put a number on me.

                                                  I've just about become a hermit. 

I mean, we had to stay in, in the beginning, to keep ourselves from getting that awful stuff but my patience is wearing thin. 

I used to never leave the apartment without my Cannon camera. Heck, now, I seldom leave my apartment and then only to take care of things I can't at home. My camera is still hanging on the door, looking sad and lonely. I go out to get my hair cut, go to the doctor, and I even brave it ever once in a blue moon and go to an actual restaurant and have a nice meal. Who wants to take pictures of the beauty shop or the doctor sticking a thermometer in your mouth. Oh, yeah, they got those gadgets that can take your temperate if they just aim it at your forehead. What will they think of next? But, I have been known to take pictures of my food. 

I order my groceries to be delivered. I wonder what hermits do for food, oh well. I am sure they manage. But, I don't get the pleasure of squeezing a plum to see if it's ripe or pick up a melon to find the golden (ripe) spot on it's underside.  My shopper is doing that for me.

I don't have my housekeeper anymore. She refuses to get vaccinated. So, while I am holed up here, I am scrubbing, mopping and letting Romba vacumn my floors. Sometimes I let my dishes pile up in the sink. But, there's noone but me gonna see them so I can wash them whenever I darn well please. 

So, maybe being a hermit isn't so bad after all. I am reading some really good books. I just walk down the passageway to the other end of the building and there is a small library. There isn't even a librarian so you can make all the noise you want to. And, take as many books as you think you can read. 

And, I watch tv. I tape all the programs I want to watch now. And, I fast-forward through the commercials. I have been watching Jeopardy for years. And, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed Matt Amodeo. That guy was sharp. I thought it looked like he just hung back the night he lost. But, he's got more money than he'll ever need so if he was tired of it, then let someone else win. 

So, being a hermit is ok. Nobody to tell me what to do. When it gets 8 p.m. I crawl up in my bed and read 'til I fall  asleep. Ain't life grand. 

Hurrah For Fall, Not So for Vertigo!

 I have a question............

Do any of you suffer from vertigo?  

If so, would you share your ways of dealing with it? 

I have had it off and on (mostly on) for two weeks and it has finally cleared up. I am so tired of feeling like my world is spinning out of control. 

                                                             

                                                        Now, on to better things. 

Our gardens, that different residents have here at the Commons, are about gone now but I did notice some flowers hanging on to the end... 

I think it is a wonderful thing that they provide space for those who want to garden and I have been the lucky recipient of some crisp cucumbers and some juicy red tomatoes in the past. So nice to have friends who share! 

And, of course, I continue to watch the wildlife around here. 

The Osprey have been gone nearly 2 months. But, the heron still provides plenty of entertainment.

And, the deer. 

Is Fall your favorite time of year? I've about decided that it is mine. Took me long enough to choose, now didn't it? hehe.

But, I love the comfort Fall brings, the warm quilt, the fire, the hot cocoa and tea and the scents of cinnamon and allspice. 

Yep, it's my favorite! 

Being Thankful

 I think that we so often forget to be thankful. We have spent our lives achieving goals, being successful, making money, buying stuff. We don't stop to remember those people who have so little or nothing at all. 

They are the homeless, freezing in the winter, roasting in the summer heat, sleeping on makeshift beds made of cardboard, being hungry. I just can't imagine having to live like that and yet people do. 

And, there are those who have lost their jobs or have illness in the family that is draining every penny.

It's scary to think of what we take for granted can so easily slip away from us. Remember that old saying "There, but by the grace of God, go I". 

Be thankful for the small things, blessings sent from above, a like a good meal, a clean bed and a roof over your head. 

I remember one Christmas my women's club friends were all gathered together to celebrate Thanksgiving and our task was to tell what you were thankful for. Everybody said things like, 'A good job', 'a loving family', I'm healthy, and so on.... until we got to my friend Lynetta. She was a small woman, sort of prissy, so she stood up and announced, "I am thankful for clean sheets and an indoor toilet." And, she curtsied and sat back down. We all just roared with laughter.