Turkey Time!

 I post this every year for those folks who find themselves staying home for the big day. It is tried and true. Today I went to the BIG H.E.B., you know the one at the corner of Ridge and Cage? They have the Butterball Turkey with white and dark meat.

Turkey for Two
Did you have a meal with friends and family on the holiday and miss all the turkey and dressing leftovers at your house? Or there are just the two of you, and you do not want to cook a big ol' turkey for two people. I discovered an easy way to have it all. 

Grease the sides of your crockpot or use one of those nifty slow cooker liners. Place a small package of dry stuffing mix (StoveTop) in the bottom. Sprinkle with about a 1/2 cup of water or chicken broth. Slice an onion and dice a celery stalk, and layer them on top of the stuffing. Place a thawed Butterball 3-pound turkey roast (found in your grocer's freezer) on top of celery and onion. Cook on low all day or high for 5 or more hours, and you have the best of both worlds. A scrumptious turkey dinner for two with some leftovers if you are moderate eaters.

Taste of Home’s Pumpkin Pie Pudding

Ingredients
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup biscuit/baking mix
2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
Whipped topping, optional
Read more:
Directions http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pumpkin-pie-pudding#ixzz3HYeQl3sp
In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Transfer to a 3-qt. slow cooker coated with cooking spray.
Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until a thermometer reads 160°. Serve in bowls with whipped topping if desired. Yield: 6 servings.

Happy Hour Discussions

 Happy hour every day from 4:00 to 5:00 pm, and then we go home. It has been said more than once that we should keep track of what we discuss because every day is a new adventure.

Yesterday I showed them my new toe socks. My toes are in love with each other, and when I walk, and I do a lot of it, my toes develop corns, calluses, and other interesting formations. I have tried lambs wool, Band-Aids, you name it. Toe socks are my newest and best solution.

Another one of our faithful contributors mentioned her newest hobby, String art rocks. It is intriguing! Don't we all need a new hobby? I sure like the idea. Whether I will have the impetus to get into it remains to be seen. Here is an example.

Our discussions take on many forms. The one above led to interesting rock formations. Petoskey Rocks were the next round of rock talk. 

Butch and I workamped in Northern Michigan one summer season. There was a gravel pit on my regular morning walk, and I discovered Petoskey rocks.

Found on the Internet in case you are interested. 

Petoskey stones are fossilized coral that were once part of a reef about 350 million years ago, now primarily found on the shores of Lake Michigan. They are characterized by a honeycomb pattern of six-sided corallites, the skeletons of the ancient coral polyps. These fossils are considered a prized rock for collection and crafts due to their distinct appearance. 

This is not an unusual occasion at Happy Hour. Personally, it is a refreshing part of my day, and I nearly always find out something I didn't know before.

Butch's Picture

This photo was taken in 2024 for the Trophy Garden directory. I was asked today for a picture of Butch to be put on the wall in the pool hall. I decided the easiest way for me to get it out there was to put it on the blog. He has a smile on his face in every picture I have of him!

Trivia a trifle short

Trivia was a trifle short of players last night. A good time was had by all who did come, and I will do a better job of advertising that we are back in business next week. Your next chance of having a great time with fun people in the main hall playing trivia will be next Tuesday night at 6:30 PM.

Candy took the above photo of me last night. I liked it. That is rare.

My thought for the day

I received word that another classmate has passed. Johnny Hamilton- Class of '61. I was writing a note to Alice, his wife, and came across the quote below. It rang a bell with me. I suppose it is our age, as most of us are in our 80s. Doesn't matter the age-it still hits you like a Mack truck when it happens. It has been two months now, and I can feel a slight lessening of the rollercoaster ride it has been.

Johnny was a big personality, and he will leave a hole not only among his family, classmates, and friends but far beyond that. If you have ever met Johnny, you will remember him. He was that kind of guy. 

My quote of the day.

• "A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it's in hot water." — Eleanor Roosevelt 

Further South

 I made my first trip this season, with the Danielsons, further south to Mexico for a pedicure and lunch. It was great as always. It was busy, which seemed odd so early in the season. The little town of Progreso was all spiffed up. It appeared a great deal of effort was put into getting things tidied up and rearranged for all of us Winter Texans. I barely recognised it. We went down to see Hector, and I asked about the current prices of the meds I take daily. I was surprised to find there had been a significant drop in Xereleto, a blood thinner. Since April, it had dropped from $45 a month to $25. This is a med I checked on in Iowa because I was unsure I would be able to come down here, and wondered what it was going to cost. With insurance, it would cost me $247 a month!  I won't rant and rave about the highway robbery taking place in the U.S.  I will let you do that!

We returned to the park and took a nap before happy hour. It was a pleasant day.

Routine

I am developing a routine. Of course I am! It is human nature. My mail is getting here from Iowa at such speed that I have never seen before. I get previews of my mail. It is reassuring to know what is coming. It is a guess, but I think I will be able to wrap up the last of the loose ends soon.

I am still playing pool most days. It isn't going all that well. Time should take care of it.

Tonight is the first trivia session. There are lots of people who haven't arrived yet, so I expect a light crowd.

There are lots of adjustments to being single; some by choice, some by necessity. Time will take care of that, too.

Taken by me in 2012

Proof

 Well, I proved it once again! I can force myself to do things that give me small butterflies and chores I don't really want to do. I drove to the grocery store today for the second time. It may not be a big deal to you, but it is to me. :-) Do any of you remember this symbol for a smile in the early days of the Internet?  Just thought I would throw that in there.

This is not the entire cartoon; however, it is the part that made me smile.:-)

Time for an update

 I know it is time to touch base; however, not much is going on for me, and quite frankly, I am okay with that. 

I am playing pool every day at 1:00. That will change when more of the guys get here and fill up the pool hall. Then I will have to stick with Mondays and Tuesdays and find different slots of time on the other days. I know I can play with the men, and I am not opposed to it, and playing now and then is okay, but I can't see making a habit of it.

I planned on going to Mexico today with Gina and Carl, and then somebody opened the door to the northern tundra. Dropping from 95 down to 49 is nobody's idea of fun. Two days ago, the AC was working overtime, and today the furnace is doing the same. Oh, what a puzzling world we live in!

Today, my plan is to get trivia info up and running for the first official event next Tuesday night at 6:30 PM in the Main hall. Renie has agreed to step in and help train a new scorekeeper. It will be fun having her help me get started.

I really like pineapple! So the other day at the grocery store, I picked up some Pineapple soda on a whim. That purchase has led to a discovery. I have drunk 3 of the six that I purchased. I chose to indulge each of them at my supper meal. Every time I did was followed by a "multiple-trips-to-the-bathroom" night. I do not know if it is the chemicals or the carbination, or something else. The lesson is learned! Anyone want a Pineapple soda? I have 3 that are up for grabs.

I DID IT!

 This Sunday morning, I arose at my usual time of 6:00AM, waited till it was light outside, and ventured forth to the streets of Alamo, Texas, in my car! First stop was the Blue Wave Car Wash. After the windshield was replaced, they advised not to expose it to high-powered water for at least two days. I happily obliged because I didn't want to anyway. 😇 I waited till Sunday morning because traffic is much lighter than on any other day of the week. I am proud to announce that I washed the car, purchased groceries, and returned to my South Texas home without incident.

Most of the people who know me also know it has been a very long time since I drove anywhere. However, this past summer, I worked hard to get back to the confident driver I once was. Butch loved to drive, and I loved to let him. This is but one of the many changes that long-married couples deal with when one passes. I told myself I would do it when I had to, and now I have to. Done Deal!

Be OK - Song by Ingrid Michaelson

 Earlier this month, I went to the clinic for my usual exam before heading south. The song "Be Ok" was playing. I asked the receptionist if they were doing that just for me. She laughed and said, "No, but if you want to think so, it can be." It fit so perfectly for me, it has become a new favorite.

You can find it here:https://youtu.be/vpMI8Qu5fsc?si=0L8ZwWLD2H4zG5Mh

Settling in

 I am doing well in my southern home. There are enough of our closer friends here to keep me busy, so the days are going fast. 

Yesterday, I had the windshield replaced by SafeLite, and what a pleasant experience it was. The two fellows who were doing the work, and by some discounts, were able to save me a little over one hundred dollars. I appreciated their efforts. The speed and the quality of work were top-notch. 

Today I had the park model power-washed. It is something we do each season. I usually wait till our neighbors get here and schedule both of us at the same time, but this year I wanted to get the outside spiffed up quickly. It could be a little cooler, though. It is running in the low nineties. I hear it is supposed to cool off some next week.

So far things are going as expected and appreciated, smoothly.

Texas

 We arrived yesterday afternoon at about two. The travel went well except for the rock the size of a tennis ball that hit the windshield. Fortunately, it hit in the middle and high up, so it didn't impair vision. It was pretty scary when it happened. Jason saw it coming and ducked. It was loud.

When we pulled into our parking spot at Trophy, we were greeted with 3 large wasp nests across the front of the park model. Lots of wasp activity! I went to the office and made out a work order to have them sprayed. We then went to Dirty Al's Bayu Grill in McAllen for a very early supper. It was DEE-LISHUSS! 

When we came back, the manager had sprayed for the wasps. A neighbor told us it was a lively event!

Jason has done a good job of getting all the details taken care of to settle in. Butch had told him what would need to be done, and he remembered it.

We played pool for a while, but were too tired to really get into it.

Windshield:

Till next time!

Today's Greeting

 Jason and I will be headed for South Texas tomorrow. See ya'all soon. And to those I leave behind-See you next Spring!

Life goes on...

I tried to find a photo worthy of this post and finally settled on this one. This pampas grass and the sign are on the bike trail, a place I frequently take pictures. I haven't walked the trail in the past 2 days due to frigid temperatures. When it is in the forties in the early morning, I pass.

 I am slowly getting ready for the journey south. Jason and I have wrapped up the outside chores. Next week, we will wrap up the inside ones and head south. I am looking forward to it. This house has suddenly become too large. 

I don't mind being alone; in fact, I enjoy it. But it can be too much of a good thing, too. It will take me a while to find the balance of it all. The process will be good for me. I have always embraced change, and that will hold true. I do have plans. 

Till next time...

For the record...

 The celebration of Butch's life was fantastic. It was indeed everything it should be. Two days after his death, I put together a slideshow, and the boys helped me get it ready for the big day. It worked like a charm. My friend and sister-in-law, Keri, put together the food, the serving of it, and the cleanup. Emily, Leo and Keri's daughter put together and had printed the memorial folder. The come-and-go theme worked well. The Depot was a great place to have it. I was able to see so many people! The weather was perfect. I do not recall even one snafu.

Today I mailed the last of the thank you cards, dropped off a deposit at the bank, and took a donation to the food bank. I followed up with getting a covid and flu shot, along with a quick trip to the grocery store. I was out of cottage cheese. For many of you who think I don't drive, I do now. I still do not like to drive, even more so when I am stressed, and I have had a fair amount of that in the year 2025. I am getting more and more comfortable behind the wheel. When Butch and I chose the house we live in, one of the main things I loved was that it was a mile from nearly everything, and walking a mile is something I can do with ease.

Yesterday I was bragging that I had a day without tears. Today in the grocery store, I ran into one of the guys with whom Butch played fast-pitch softball for many years. I shed a few.

Each day is a bit better.

I'm Back

 I am back and closer to being the same person I was ...hmmm, let's say last year.

Hindsight is 20/20, and I can look back and see this coming. It has to be a blessing for it to be that way. Can you imagine looking at a calendar that is marked with the date of your demise? Or the demise of your closest friend? We're better off not knowing.

I am adjusting. There is plenty to keep me busy because, right on schedule, I will be going to Texas, and that's only a couple of weeks away.

The dreaded paperwork is 99% completed. That truly is the part that gave me the most angst. The boys helped me through that, and I am lucky to have them.

I have many friends who have walked this path before me, and they have been helpful in every way. Actually, there have not been any surprises. The entire process has been as expected, difficult but doable. I feel better this week than last, and the plan is to feel better next week than this one. Eventually, finding my way through this new and different way of living.

Looking for it...

 In getting ready for the celebration of Butch's life, I have been looking for things. To be specific, I am looking for a book recording people who have come to other events in our lives. I haven't found any of them yet. However, I did come across my diaries and journals of my entire life. I got hooked and started reminiscing.

I came across an entry that made me laugh, and I know I didn't laugh when I wrote it.

Here it is: "My mother had a breast removed. In thinking about it, I have put it on the back burner. She has too."

What made me laugh? She has two!!

I hope you can see the humor also! My mother lived a long life after this event.

Most Frequently Asked ?

 I'm still fuzzy-headed. My confidence in dealing with stuff is about a 4. I can hear a word, any special word and start crying. The paperwork is something I wish were in my past. I want to wake up some morning with the only decision I have to make being "Do I have to do laundry?". I still find it hard to believe...

I know so many who have already walked this path. We all know it is coming. Knowing doesn't help much. 

I was talking to my friend Sherri Clark last night, and she advised me to change 'Bad Days and Good Days' to 'Hard Days and Easy Days.' I can see the value in that.

Hey! You asked me how I was doing! ❤

Saw this today...

 Here is a photo of our son, Rich's, granddaughter, and our great-granddaughter, Scarlett. And she has two sisters just as beautiful as she is. I want to thank their Dad, Anthony, for posting this so I could see her. She is ready for homecoming.