Medicine Bottle Ideas

I saw these nifty ideas to use the medicine bottles we all accumulate. Maybe at least one of these will pique your interest. B.B.

Sewing helpers

• Machine tools. I like to sew, and my sewing machine comes along on almost every extended RV trip we take. One medicine bottle neatly holds my machine bobbins. Another bottle contains machine needles, and yet another holds fabric pins. Larger bottles could corral different pressure feet and spools of thread, as well.
• Sewing kit. Here’s a tutorial that shows you how to make a bottle cap pin cushion (you won’t need a sewing machine for this). I followed the video directions to make a pin cushion for the cap of a medicine bottle. Inside the bottle, I store sewing needles and a thimble. A small spool of thread also fits inside. Now everything is in one convenient place when I need to replace a button.
• Buttons. Speaking of buttons, I keep a few white and black “shirt buttons” inside a bottle—just in case.

Coin corral

• Laundry coins. I keep quarters inside one of my medicine bottles. At least two dollars’ worth of coins will fit. I tuck the bottle into my clothes bag and the money is ready to use at the campground laundry.
• Shopping cart. If you shop at Aldi’s you’re probably familiar with their shopping cart policy. In order to get a cart, you’ll need a quarter. By keeping quarters inside a bottle in our car, I always have a coin ready for a cart.
• Snacks. When we receive change from fast food eateries, I slip the coins into a medicine bottle instead of dropping them in the car console or into the hidden depths of my purse. The bottle keeps the coins gathered together and we use the money for future snacks and treats.
• Parking meters. Our stash of coins in the bottles also comes in handy if we need coins for parking meters.

Jewelry

• Rings. I don’t always take my rings with us when we travel. If, however, we plan to be gone for an extended period of time, I’ll pack my rings inside a medicine bottle until I choose to wear them.
• Earrings. I also take along a few favorite pairs of earrings in a separate bottle. This keeps earrings paired and together in one place.

Personal care

• Hair care. Medicine bottles easily contain shampoo and conditioner for short RV trips. (Ditto for hand lotion.) I put a different color rubber band around the outside of each bottle for quick and easy identification. You could also use a permanent marker to label each bottle.
• Polish remover. I fill a larger bottle with cotton balls. Then I add fingernail polish remover to the bottle. Medicine bottles seal tightly so I have ready access to polish remover when we’re on the road. To use, simply insert your finger into the bottle and twist.
• Hair pins, clips. Store your hair clips, rubber bands, and pins inside a medicine bottle.

Campsite helpers

• Campfire. Coat cotton balls with Vaseline for quick fire starters. Store the fire starters inside a bottle and keep the bottle with the s’mores equipment or other campfire items.
• Matches. Medicine bottles work great for storing stick matches.
• First aid. Follow these directions to turn a medicine bottle into a first aid kit that will fit inside a pocket.

Hobbies, crafts, and more

• Craft supplies. If you take crafting supplies along as you RV, medicine bottles can help hold small items for you. Think beads, sequins, glitter, and more.
• Seed keeper. I store garden seeds inside medicine bottles. Use a permanent marker to label the bottles.
• Batteries. Keep high humidity away from batteries by storing them inside medicine bottles.
• Earbuds. I’m no longer losing my earbuds! Why? Because they “live” inside a medicine bottle when I’m not using them! Now they’re much easier to locate.
• Baking. Medicine bottles can store cake decorating tips and nozzles.
• Tool items. Keep track of small nuts, bolts, and screws by storing them inside medicine bottles.
• Knit, crochet, etc. Forget buying that ball winder. Instead, wind yarn around a medicine bottle. It will create the yarn ball with the central gap you need. Here are directions.

Inspired? I hope so. 

Myrla's Celebration of Life Video

I am hoping this can be viewed easily. Special thanks to Craig Cunningham for putting it together.

https://clipchamp.com/watch/wHInKuGVaGa?utm_source=share&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=watch

Myrla's Celebration of Life

 We celebrated Myrla's life in fine fashion. I visited with many of my cousins and Myrla's friends and enjoyed every one of them. It was a pleasure. She would have enjoyed it and would have been the first one to relate her many adventures; enhanced of course. She always greeted everyone with a smile and you were impelled to smile back.

Laugh of the day

Police report

If it ain't one thing...

 

I wrote this bit before hearing from those in the know about Covid. The message is that if you are fully vaccinated and have no symptoms it would be safe to go to the celebration of life for Myrla so we have changed our mind and will be going. 

Feel free to read the rest of my previous message.😃

...it's another. Our trip home was fine. Not as relaxing as in the motorhome but quicker. We arrived on Wednesday and it was much easier to make the transition from the car to the house than it was from the motorhome to the house. But then we are in a cold snap. It was 37 degrees when I got up this morning; tomorrow is supposed to be worse. Butch is itching to get outdoors and work and it is way too cold for comfort.

On our first day here we were very busy taking care of details and I finally got around to reading my texts I had one from Gary, our Missouri son, telling me he had tested positive for Covid. He is a teacher so it is not unusual for teachers to get it along with all the other issues teachers must deal with these days. We stayed with Gary and Susan overnight. Neither of us had too much contact but it could be enough. We don't know. They say to not test before 5 days to see if you have it because you could get a false reading so Monday we will be testing. Neither of us is sick, at least not yet.

Gary and Susan had planned to come to Myrla's celebration of life but of course, they cannot now. And then do we go?? We would so hate to be the cause of an outbreak so we are not going. My niece Karla and son Jason and Laura are going and I am thankful for that. I am the last remaining one of my immediate family and I am very disappointed that I will miss it. I am the oldest of our siblings and Myrla was the youngest. I do plan to have a gathering of cousins and friends later when it warms up!  Myrla's birthday was June 7th so I am thinking June 10th. More on that later.

So between being isolated for covid and the temps in the 30's there is not much going on right now. We can use some downtime.

Myrla's Obituary

Myrla F. Kloster

June 7, 1960 - April 2, 2023
From: Rockwell City, IA

---

Myrla F. Kloster

Born: June 7, 1960Died: April 2, 2023Age: 62

 Rockwell City – Myrla F. Kloster 62, passed away Sunday, April 2, 2023, at her home due to failing health.  Private Family burial took place at Lake Creek Township Cemetery, near Lake City. A Family conducted Celebration of life will be Saturday April 22, 2023 at the Calhoun County Expo Center, Calhoun Co. Fairgrounds in Rockwell City. Lunch will be served at 12:00 Noon with a Celebration of Life to follow.  Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.

     Myrla Kloster was survived by her sister Karyn (Paul) Juilfs of Pomeroy IA; brother Gail (Joan) Cripe of Jolley IA; sister Barb (Butch) Brooker of Jefferson IA; sisters-in-law Linda (Mike) Stotts of Lake City IA, and Betsy (Reggie) Gardner of Lake City, IA; many nieces and nephews; and dear friends. She was proceeded in death by Her Love Scott Acklin; her Mother Bertha Fern Cripe; father Merle Cripe, sisters, Jayne Turley and Theresa Arts; brother Richard Brock; and her very dear nephew Ryan Cripe of Fort Dodge IA.

     Myrla's life started out with her love of animals, she was on a horse from the time she could speak, winning a national tournament by the age of 7. She spent the rest of her life with a pet by her side, she had 2 dogs that she actually taught to talk, they said, "I love you and I'm hungry" she was the Dr. Doolittle of Iowa. She was involved in many activities as a child well into her adult life. In the late 80's she met her love Scott Acklin. They were together until his passing in 2016. They enjoyed their hotrod cars, their pets, a few fun Vegas trips and just spending time together. Myrla became his caretaker for many years and never shuttered at the challenge. She was his blessing.. She enjoyed time with her friends and family, She always greeted everyone with her endearing smile. She was known to many as the Tiny gal with Tall Tales. Myrla is already missed and will be missed forever. For such a tiny gal she had such a big presence. Her nieces and nephews will miss their Aunt Myrla Mouse.

Itinerary

 We will be leaving the RGV on Sunday, and headed for our friend's house in Canyon Lake (north of San Antonio) We will stay with Terry and Lisa Linder overnight.

Monday we are headed for Thackerville OK and the Winstar Casino. We stay at The Inn.

Tuesday will be our longest day and we will be in Peculiar MO with Gary and Susan Brooker.

Wednesday we will be traveling to Jefferson, unpacking and getting ready to go to Rockwell City for my sister Myrla's celebration of life on Saturday. 

Almost packed

 We have finished many small projects in the last couple of weeks. It is very satisfying to know that they are taken care of and all these little chores will be done when we return. The artificial turf around the tree, the pruning of the oleander bushes, cleaning and organizing the utility room, and many others.

We are mostly packed. The remainder will be the kind we do on the day before departure. That is tomorrow. There is so much to learn these first few times and it takes time to develop a routine but I think we are there! 

These are phone pics. The camera is heavy and not always handy. The picture quality is much better with the camera and I feel I should apologize.

There is an onion field next to the golf course and Butch has been keeping track of the progress. I was with him yesterday. The "Jacks" are still there.

If you look close you can see the onions are about to head. Butch noticed they spray the tops to stop growth. They look dead when they do that but that is why you do not see the tops in the grocery store unless they have been there too long and have 'resprouted'.

The largest oleander bush flowered all winter. It is supposed to be a miniature but isn't.

It was way out of control and is cut back now.

Here is the oleander before its haircut.

We have a house finch nesting in our window sill and each time I move the blind to take a peak she gives me the "stink eye." She is sitting on two eggs.

Today is Tuesday

Five days from departure. The worst part of this is all the thinking that takes place. We recall with fondness the days we were full-timing and we could be ready for departure in no time at all...in comparison. I assume it will get easier the more times we do it. We hope to do this for many years to come. Most of you know how old we are and thus realize how tenuis that statement might be.

Things are very different around here now. Most of our fellow residents are gone or are about to be gone. I noticed this morning when I sat in front of this computer that I used to have trouble getting everything done that I needed to but now I am sitting here wondering if I have forgotten something because I feel as though I am pretty well caught up.

We are looking forward to a fun summer. They are all fun but this one just might be more fun! Our friends Pete and Jerilynn will be renting our RV site in our backyard. They have "youngsters" staying in their house so will be using their RV this summer for their living quarters. So playing pool, cards, and board games will be a part of our summer much like when we are in Texas. 👍

Stay tuned and drop by!

Alaska Rails Tours

 Wink and Dot are a couple in Trophy who are regulars at the 'Happy Hour' we attend regularly. Yesterday Wink was relating the time they went on an Alaska Rail Tour with John Hall. John Hall Tours works out of Lake City Minnesota. The story of their trip was riveting and got me all fired up about finding out the details. I also thought I knew several people who might like to know about it too. Wink said every detail of their trip was handled well and beyond expectation. Here is where you can find out more.

https://alaskarail.com/alaska-rail-tours/?gclid=CjwKCAjw586hBhBrEiwAQYEnHRnr1H1Su1Cp4N5_2YWVH8uSxAaBwkb2HRjG8D-hdPqoO4ew6ahFbxoCLkQQAvD_BwE

I told you 'Happy Hour' was educational!

Green Bean Recall

 I received this message from Butch's sister Marlene and thought it made an appropriate add-on to the last post.

Barb = When I started reading your note on the green bean recipe, I just knew you were going to tell a story on our oldest son.  I think of it every now and then – we were visiting Mom and Dad in Jefferson with the kids one weekend.  Danial was probably 7 or 8 yrs. Old  We were sitting down at the table to eat and Mom had made the green bean casserole where you put mashed potatoes on top of the casserole with cream of mushroom soup and some cheese. Danial puts some on his plate and tastes it, then said “ Hmm tastes better than you’d think to look at it-“ I don’t remember if Mom was amused or mad I just know I was quite embarrassed.  Marlene"

I am guessing she was amused because grandchildren are special. I enjoyed knowing there was more than one 'green bean' story.

Glad you enjoyed it! Sounds yummy! Glad you liked it! ReplyForward

Progress

 We are making progress on the transition from Texas to Iowa. I told Butch I had a brilliant idea! I am cooking everything I have in the freezer and we will eat leftovers all week. It seems to be working. Last night was pork loin and tonight we are invited to an easter meal at a friend's house. On the horizon are chicken and noodles and hamburger and green beans. The story is...

When Butch and I were in grade school, one of the cooks in the lunch room was Grandma Hanson. Grandma Hanson was a neighbor to the Brookers. Grandma Hanson knew the recipe she cooked at school for 'hamburger and green beans' and shared it with Butch's Mom because oddly enough it was a favorite for Butch. Those who know him will realize just how much of an oddity that is! I happen to like it too and our kids grew up with it and like it as well. It has always been my go-to choice when I couldn't think of anything else. I usually have everything on hand to put it together at all times. It is so simple I almost hesitate to tell you how to make it. 

But here goes; Brown one pound of hamburger in a medium to large skillet. Drain most of the grease leaving a tablespoon or two. Sprinkle a tablespoon or two of flour over the hamburger and stir till it is all incorporated. Add two cans of DRAINED green beans. Stir and add approximately 1 cup of milk. Salt and pepper to taste. There will not be much of a sauce because there isn't supposed to be.

And that, my friends, is all it takes! I have added onion at times and sometimes I will sprinkle a bit of cheese on it.  Some of our classmates think it is awful but we stand by it firmly as being quite tasty.

The food business of transitioning is the most difficult. But after this season I am sure I will have a plan that works on both ends. Practice makes perfect! Till next time.

One busy woman am I...

 This project has been in my head for quite some time but it has now come to pass. The flowering bush in the background is an Oleander and it started blooming shortly after we arrived and has bloomed all winter.

When I started on the project of finding pictures of Myrla it became difficult to stop looking at all kinds of photos.  This one was taken in Cumberland, a town of 300 people. You might guess it is a rural setting.

Our golfing years in Atlantic IA- Nishna Hills Golf Course

Pecan Bill in Magnolia Park

I can get caught up in this too easily and if I am going to make any headway on getting ready to roll on the 16th I had better quit with the stroll down memory lane. I enjoyed it.

I have several piles of this and that ready for their place in the car. Yesterday, Butch and I purchased a cooler and we will most likely find the ambient air in the north will be cooler enough.

Going through pictures

There were a few errors in this entry, so I cleaned it up and reposted it. BB

I was going through my photos looking for one of my sister Myrla when I came across these and decided to share them.

The guy on the left says, "She said to hold still! You would think we could do that for a second or two?"

When I biked with our Magnolia friends we came across this longhorn and they stopped long enough for me to get this photo.

Bernard Kelley, Butch Brooker, and Bill Brooker eating at Fat Daddy's on Highway 1015. About 2004 I am guessing.

Butch and Barb in 1982

When we lived in Cumberland Iowa I was told there was a family of fox

next to a country church so I drove out and took a few photos.

Butch and Angel had a special bond. This was a familiar sight with Angel getting brushed.

Myrla Pics

 

Myrla and Theresa

Myrla Cripe Kloster

 My sister Myrla passed away either late Saturday the 1st or Sunday the 2nd. She was 62. Myrla was my half-sister although I never felt halfway about her. I am sure her other sister on her fathers' side, Karen, never felt halfway about her either.

Myrla was a smoker and she started at a very young age. Her health deteriorated because of it but quitting was not something she would even consider. She chose her path and never wavered.

She was always fun and funny. A pleasure to be around if you didn't take her too seriously.

I could write a whole book about her. Perhaps another day...

Reality Set In!

 We are 18 days from take off!!! If that doesn't set a fire under us I don't know what will. It suddenly seems imminent. Let us see, what clothes to pack, can we eat all the food we have, don't forget this and then there is that. Where is the checklist?

Get the picture?

Recipes?

 Running out of fresh ideas for supper? Have you noticed the top of the blog page where you will find a recipes saved from the blog tab? I must admit I have not added any new ones lately. Even I can get inspired if I look at these recipes once in a while. Give it a try!

https://brooker3.blogspot.com/p/recipes.html

Polish Noodles Recipe

Polish Noodles (Cottage Cheese and Noodles)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter

• 1 small onion, diced

• 1 (16 ounce) package egg noodles

• 1 (16 ounce) package cottage cheese

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

Prep 10 m, Cook 20 m, Ready In 30 m

1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in melted butter until softened, 7 to 10 minutes.

2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook egg noodles in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 5 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.

3. Stir butter and onion mixture, cottage cheese, sour cream, sea salt, and black pepper into the noodles. Place the pot over medium heat; cook and stir until heated through and warm, 5 to 8 minutes.

Bean Bags Now?

Just what the old boy needs is another addictive hobby!

😁

And now end of season

 Many people have headed north and even more will be in this coming month. Easter seems to be a pivotal point for many. We will be leaving here on April 16th and arriving back in Jefferson on the 23rd. Our meandering ways persist despite no longer traveling with the motorhome.

Last night was the final trivia session for the season. I was far too easy on them and will be tightening up those questions for the fall. It was fun as it always is.

We have been taking on chores and detailing our Texas home in preparation for our return. This year held a lot of things to juggle when we first arrived. We hope next fall can have us a little freer to do the fun stuff.

One of the truly fun highlights of our stay this season has been the "Happy Hour" that our neighbors to the north host every day at 4:00 PM. Everyone brings their own drink of choice. There is a clock on the wall so we don't overstay our welcome. Different people can be there on any given day. The conversation is often interesting, educational, funny, inspiring, and just plain fun! Gossip and controversial subjects are avoided and discouraged. It is one of the finest "Happy Hour" experiences I have ever enjoyed. I will miss it and have thoughts of trying to duplicate the experience in our up north home.

Candy sent me a couple of photos I liked.

The photo below referenced one of the trivia questions. Who was the songwriter and singer of this song?

Cute huh?

In A-1 shape.

 I am in pretty good shape for the shape I am in!

 There is quite a bit of Covid in the park. We aren't one of them. Our neighbor across the street is and she has COPD, COVID, and PNEUMONIA. She is in ICU and they put her on a ventilator but she signed a paper to be taken off of it. Her children have been called and told to get here because her chances of making it are slim. They are here now.

We are in Spring Cleaning mode. Or at least I am. Butch said we should wait till fall on some of this stuff and I set my feet because you get busy right away with getting reacquainted with friends and activities and it continues to get put off. So I am nearly finished with my list.

Here is a pic of one of my projects. Unfortunately, I did not get a before picture of this wind chime made from a teapot and silverware that was no longer silver. I am happy with the result!

Trivia Night 3/21

 Friend Candy does me a huge favor by taking and posting pictures. I am ever so grateful for her help. I gleaned these photos from her facebook entry. Thanks, Candy!

Renie took the night off to go to Progreso's Appreciation Day. Butch filled in for her. We have a very dedicated group of players. I asked who would be here next week and nearly all the hands went up. 

 Team I Don't Know

Team Brainiacs

Team Part Timers

Team Smartypants

Team Bottomless Pit

Feeling Much Better

I need a gremlin to come into my house and clean it stem to stern and then I can say I would be most happy. I am sure the gremlin will have to be me. 

We had a good time at Trivia last night despite the fact I made a few mistakes. I put the questions together when I was not feeling my best and there you have my excuse. I will fill in the players on my mistake next Tuesday(March 28th) when we will be doing our final trivia session of the season My mistake has something to do with a wig. 😕 Even so, a wig is not a hat!!

Urgent Care

 Update on findings. ER's are like ER's at hospitals. They are costly. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Urgent Cares are like mini doctors' offices. Limited hours, limited days. If you can make the Urgent Care facilities work for your ailment, it is the best choice. It will take research to know all the particulars. I have put this info into my phone. DHR Urgent Care 1421 N Col Rowe Blvd, McAllen, TX 78501  Hours are 7:00 AM 10 PM  Phone: (956) 362-5030

The one above happens to be the nearest Urgent Care to us.

Health Update

 Update on findings. ER's are like ER's at hospitals. They are costly. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Urgent Cares are like mini doctors' offices. Limited hours, limited days. If you can make the Urgent Care facilities work for your ailment, it is the best choice. It will take research to know all the particulars. I have put this info into my phone. DHR Urgent Care 1421 N Col Rowe Blvd, McAllen, TX 78501 

Closes 10 PM  Phone: (956) 362-5030

The one above happens to be the nearest one to us.

I thought I had this healthcare system in the RGV figured out. I did not. My plan from a few years ago was to establish a relationship with a clinic and a doctor and it seemed to work for a while. I kept getting letters from the clinic that my "doctor" had left but I would be assigned a new one. This happened several times. The last one "Dr. Arvan" left without my knowledge I found out yesterday. He wasn't worth much anyway.

I was diagnosed with Bronchitis a week ago at the Alamo ER and was on a regimen to rid me of the nasty stuff. Yesterday I decided I should be better than I was. I was getting frequent coughing fits that were unproductive. So I decided to see if I could get into the clinic. It seemed like the simplest way to go. I was told I was no longer affiliated with that clinic and my "doctor" was no longer there. I was caught way off guard by this. The cold, grumpy receptionist told me to go to an ER. They were full up with appointments, all the doctors were at lunch and I had no chance of being seen.

So we went to DHR Emergency room. It happened to be the closest. I was treated well. We were there for 3-4 hours but the system was well run. The bottom line is that I am dealing with a virus and there is naught to do but get through it. I have no infection. They tested me for over 40 viruses and I have Human metapneumovirus. It means I will have a cough of various degrees until I don't. The doctor said another week or more.

So it seems that if you are in the RGV and need to see a doctor go to one of the freestanding ER's. They are all over the place. Some are called Urgent Care but they are essentially all the same and all connected in one way or another. The day of having your own personal doctor is pretty much behind us. Sad but true.

Sunday Pool

From Bits and Pieces:

There was a full rack of players signed up for Sundays Scotch Mixed Doubles 3/19/23. With 12 teams playing it means everyone played 11 games.

4 Teams tied for first with each winning 8 games:

Barb Brooker and Paul Kelleher -8 wins, Claudette Hogenson and Marcel Tessier-8 wins, Linda Gabel and Lonnie Hull -8 wins, Janet Brown and Greg Dowhaniuk-8 wins.

1 team won 7 games: Beverly McEnany and Kinley Poulson 

1 team won 6 games: Terry Thompson and Barb Utech

Next week's games (Sunday, 3/26/23) will be the last one of the season. The sign-up sheet is on the east wall. Join the fun!

Barb Brooker

Binge watched

 Butch and I binge-watched 1923. It is part of the Yellowstone series. For the uninitiated, there is lots of violence, but the storyline is riveting.

Better? ...yes

I have one more day of antibiotics. This bronchitis episode has not been an easy journey. I did have one middle-of-the-night epiphany that has helped improve everything. I was having these extended dry cough episodes that were scaring everyone in the room including me. I also was unable to sleep, literally, unable to sleep. 15 minutes max and the next coughing fit would commence. The cough syrup I was taking (Robitussin) was red. Very bright cherry red. I have a great-granddaughter who is unable to tolerate any red dye. I think I know where she got it. I stopped taking it and everything has improved. At least I can sleep. So yes, I am better. Not completely over it but greatly improved.

80's Party?

Pictures?

I haven't done much with pictures/photos and that has always been a big part of my posts and my life actually. So this morning I was looking at some I have taken of late and will get some on here this morning.

You can most likely tell this is my medicine counter where I keep track of the meds I am taking, times, amounts etc. Hopefully I can wipe this clean come Monday.

 

This was taken March 12th when it was 100 degrees. Old news now as it is in the 70's.

My friend Susan Van Howeling sent me this picture of her snowman. Later her dog, Indy ate the eyes and the buttons (raisins and almonds). 

My friend Sherri Clark sent me flowers for my birthday! A very special surprise!

My friend Liz and her fellow, Chico were in the Alamo Tx parade. Liz is also my hairdresser.

Elvis was the theme this year.

Bob Wollin rode his bike in the parade.

Trophy Gardens is a consistent winner in this annual parade.

This is a special picture of mine. I took it in Cumberland Iowa backyard sometime in the '90s. It was such a serendipity moment!

Suggestion

 Do your best to never get 3 days behind on the daily details of life! Catching up can be a whole new area of stress!

Cough, Cough Update 2

 The difference, for those of you who have wondered, between Acute Bronchitis and any other kind is that the other kind is Chronic Bronchitis. You get the Acute status if it is the first time you have had it. Otherwise, you are Chronic. You can only be Acute once.😳

Another first time for me is taking liquid antibiotics. At the drug store, the clerk said, "I will be right back." as he took off for parts unknown. So when he returned I asked what he was doing and he said, "Mixing your antibiotic powder with water." I did not know this was something they did. It makes perfect sense though because when you swallow it coats your bronchia on the way down. The feeling is pleasant, the flavor is gawd awful! They flavor it with cherry but it doesn't taste like any cherry I have ever tasted.

I was well enough to get trivia done with the help of Renie. It went well. We had our usual 5 teams interspersed with some new faces. I heard lots of talk about who is going home and when so I know it is winding down and the teams will be much smaller for the next two trivia nights. I have wracked up several questions for our Iowa trivia players. If I have plenty of sessions in my bag of tricks it takes the pressure off.

Ragbrai Route 2023

It will be going through Jefferson but not an overnight stop. We live 2 1/2 blocks from the route so if you would like a nearly front-row seat stop on by. That will also be our 64th wedding anniversary, and "No" we have no special plans other than watching Ragbrai go through periodically.

Day 3: Tuesday, July 25 Carroll to Ames

Cough,cough update

 We have both recovered somewhat. Butch is fine. We spent 6 hours in a free-standing ER yesterday with my ailment. Acute Bronchitis. Didn't get home till after 10:00 so will get my meds this morning. The good news is I was tested for covid twice in two days -both negative. We felt the 6-hour stay was excessive but they are understaffed and there was a shift change in there, which adds to the confusion. Other than that the care was excellent and they were very thorough. I enjoyed the nebulizer very much. It gave me instant relief. So back to normal!

Grocery store trips are taking on a different perspective since we are heading north in about a month. No large jars of anything. Nothing in excess that requires freezing. It is probably the biggest and most challenging part of the 6-month/6-month procedure.

The weather has taken a turn. It went from 100 degrees one day to 70 the next. Predicting the weather has always been iffy but it seems nearly impossible now. It seems that every prediction can turn into a major event of gargantuan proportions. I always check the weather on the entire route before we head out. We have only been caught off guard one time that I remember and that was in San Antonio; an 8-inch deluge on the interstate, in the motorhome lasting about 30 minutes. Expect the unexpected!

Tuesday Trivia tonight in the main hall at 6:30 PM. Two after this one then no more till fall. 

And then...a head cold!

 Butch brought me a cold from the pool hall. Yes, we tested and yes we were negative. This brings back the days of old when every season I would get blessed with a head cold brought home from the pool hall.

There is nothing to do but medicate for it the best you can, stay away from people, sleep and wait. I am doing my best to achieve those goals. Every time I take a nap, and that is often, I hope to wake up and have it magically gone. So far that hasn't worked.

We had our place power washed by Steves Wash and Wax and they did an excellent job. The difference was amazing. I said it was my Birthday present because in the past Butch would insist he could do it and better than they could. And there may have been a time when that was true but looking up and working above his head brings about a great deal of pain and so it is time to take advantage of all that money you worked so hard to obtain. "Who are you saving it for?" is a common saying around our house these days.

The wind doth blow but we will have no snow and if we stay put we can continue to believe that to be true. It seems the first of March starts the exodus back north and we can never quite understand it because in the last 5 years or so there has been at least one snowstorm after we went back to Iowa in middle to late April.

We currently have no appointments anywhere and that is fine by me. I am ready to have the pace slow down a bit and we don't even participate in all the things we could.

Yes, I did it again

I was sitting at the kitchen table doing Diamond art when I happen to think about how long has it been since I posted. so I came over to the computer and found out it has been several days. and quite a lot has happened in several days, nothing really significant. 

This is going to be a rant. A while back I purchased a new computer. It was a Microsoft product. I had a few issues with it but figured it was because of all the new-fangled stuff and that I would soon get used to it. The very first thing I noticed was that it was very slow about half the speed of my Chromebook. The second thing was the files to apps and it seemed they had wiped out many of the things I counted on using, mostly related to pictures. I was still willing to stumble through and find solutions but then I didn’t shut down my computer one night and noticed at about 3:00 AM that it was running so I closed the lid. At about 5:30 AM, I noticed it was still running! So I figured it must have been a large update and went back to bed. When I next noticed my computer at about 8:00AM it was still running so I gave it my attention and noticed it was VERY hot. And it would not let me shut it down in a preferred manner so I shut it down in an unpreferred manner and let it cool off. After it cooled off I restarted it and much to my surprise I lost the Network/Internet driver. By this time I am as hot as the computer! So I put it all aside until I cooled off. After much thought, research and experimentation I decided to return the blasted thing to Costco and so I did.

I knew I was going back to multiple updates, purchasing malware and virus protection,and a generally slower machine but it was one of those deals where you don’t realize how irritating it is until you are once again dealing with it. Me and my Chromebook will remain besties!

Another thing that happened is that I became an 80-year-old woman on March 6th. This one stung a bit. It seems to be a number that I find bothersome. I will get used to it because they will not be able to change it at Costco.