Glasses, bacon and salads

Today Don got his new glasses, they look different but very nice on him.  I had my new glasses tightened and they slipped down my nose and that drove me crazy!  Even if I only wear them mornings and late evenings.

We went to Sam's Club for bacon, we get the precooked kind that just needs to me microwaved for a few seconds.  It  comes in a large package and keeps a long time, so we won't need bacon for awhile.   We had pizza there for lunch, they have good pizza and not expensive.  Two slices and a large coke is $2.49.  Then we went looking for door mirrors to replace the one we have which has some damage from previous owner.  Didn't buy because not sure about the size.  Found it will work so need to go back.

For dinner we got salads from Wendy's.  Had a coupon that was expiring today.  They have good salads, I had a Mediterranean salad and Don had a strawberry salad.  Small malts were 50 cents so we got a couple.  Watched a show about a black butler in the White House through 8 presidents and the civil rights movement.

 

Got to get it done!

We ate breakfast at Panera this morning and then went to Walmart.  I am getting stuff for the motorhome, I have been looking for powdered Cheer detergent as can't use liquid in my RV washer.  I have looked at Walmart several times but decided to try once more before I ordered it from Amazon.  Sure enough they had 2 boxes, probably should have purchased both but got just one.

Finally got Don's old flip phone turned into Verizon - they give them to people who might have to call 911 - like abused women.

Don decided we have waited long enough to get an estimate on the repair of our bathroom ceiling after our upstairs neighbor had the water problem.  I decided to Text rather than phone and guess that was the trick.  Now upstairs man has to decide it he wants his insurance to pay or he pays.

We had bacon, tomato sandwiches for dinner.  Tomatoes from our deck garden.  Watched Barefoot In the Park, a movie form 1961.  Their classy hotel was $30 a day - could not get a camping spot for that now.


My heart goes out to her, know how it is.

Insurance

Checked the email on my phone to find our car and motor home  insurance had been canceled because we didn't pay.  Looked it up and we paid on Aug. 16 and they even sent us an email confirming.  Don called our agent who called the company.  Turns out it was canceled because we didn't pay quite enough.  Think they could have billed us or let us know but the chose to just cancel instead, guess they don't want us as costumers too bad.  Next year we will look for a new company, we did look this year but started too late to have time to check more than one.  Anyway the company has reconsidered and will bill us for the difference.  LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE>

Cleaned the house and caught up on stuff.

We got Ruben Sandwiches from Arby's for dinner, good.


This is going very close to our RV Park (just south of the red line).  I'm glad we are not there but concerned about our friends who are there.

Fog, no electricity, zucchini bread and cheesecake

Today we went to Cracker Barrow for breakfast and then across the highway to Fleet Farm, always an adventure.  I took back some shoes I decided were too similar to ones I have.  All we purchased was a big bag of mixed nuts.

We got home and hit the garage door opener button - nothing happened, door didn't open.  Our first thought was something was wrong with the opener or dead battery, etc.  Went in the front door to see that all the electricity was out.  It came back on shortly but had been out for awhile.  That rarely happens, second time that we know of.

We then read the Sunday newspapers.  We had fog in the morning, dense on our way to eat but lifted by noon.  Now humid.

Don grilled salmon and had a salad and Brenda's good zucchini bread, making that last as long as possible.  Then our pumpkin cheesecake that we brought home from last night eating out.

Saturday shopping and eating.

After being lazy most of the morning, we went to CVS Pharmacy for some specials.  We had our usual handful of coupons so ended up with $11 off or less than half price.

We decided to try the Shakopee Ruby Tuesdays which was open.  They had a special going for $12.99 - their salad bar, entry with two sides and dessert.  By the time we got to dessert we were too full so brought it home and still haven't eaten it.  The place was full.  Then another stop by Menards for a couple things Don wanted, was good to walk off dinner!

Getting to love HyVee Grocery store.

We went to Cub Foods and then HyVee.  We were behind a woman at HyVee that was having the cashier price match other stores ads.  We didn't know HyVee would do that.  She had bought a cantaloupe, which I'm sure is much better than the one we bought at Fresh Thyme, and had them price it down to Fresh Thyme's price.   Once again bakery items appeared in my basket.

We were headed to the Apple Valley Ruby Tuesday for dinner but it had already closed, just a week ago it was announced they would be closing some stores including this one.  I like their salad bar and the have interesting side dishes like spaghetti squash.  So we went to Panera.

Menards twice, disappointing food and Acapulco

We went to Menards as they came out with a new sales ad yesterday.  Of course they had only a couple things available.  Then we went to Lens Crafters to pick up my new glasses and to order Don's glasses and sun glasses.  We decided to try a different Menards but first stopped at McDonald's for lunch.  We did better at the second Menards.

I fixed chicken breasts for dinner that I bought already breaded in crumbs and Parmesan.  I thought they would be very good but disappointing.  We then had a cantaloupe we had bought at Fresh Thyme, it was green and tasteless like the watermelon we bought there last week.

We watched an old Elvis show "Fun in Acapulco", I must have seen it when it first came out in 1963, I never missed one of his shows but neither of us could remember the show.

Things to do , places to go

Don had his eye doctor appointment today, I don't usually go with him but we wanted to also go check on our motorhome which is in storage and the eye doctor is half was there.  They have good coffee in that doctor office, have a Kerug machine.

The motorhome was fine, batteries hardly discharged.  Our next visit will be to take it to a campground to load for our trip west and south.  I made campground reservations for this and just in time.  The golf Rider Cup is in MN the next week and that week the park is full and starting to fill the week before.

After the MH check and lunch at Culver's, I went to Kohl's.  I had a $10 coupon they sent for my birthday and a $5 bonus coupon plus 30% off.  I bought stuff that was end of season marked down, so didn't come to much money.

We got heroes from Arby's for dinner, not too hungry.

Thunder made up jump!

We went to Panera for breakfast and then to Walmart.  Didn't need much along the grocery line but some cleaning products, etc.  I always check the clearance rack and find something about 1 out of 100 times.  Today I found a denim capries marked down to half price.  Don had to stop by Staples and then it was home.

It got so humid for awhile we had to turn on the AC.  In the evening when we were watching TV there was a sudden super loud clap of thunder, made us both jump.  We didn't even know we had weather around.  We then got some rain and must of also gotten some during the night.

Slow Monday

My "beloved" house cleaning day.  It doesn't take long but is a pain, always glad when it is done.

Other than that a slow day!  Had leftovers for dinner.  No Olympics to watch on TV so continued with our watching of Graceland.

This is a panoramic of our townhouse, just experimenting with my camera/

Day four of my prolonged birthday celebration.

My birthday!!! We went out for breakfast and then came home and read the Sunday newspapers.  In the afternoon daughters Sheila and Brenda came over.  (We had the official celebration last Wednesday when we all could get together.)  Sheila brought cupcakes today and Brenda brought me some flowers and lottery scratch offs.  Didn't win anything but fun.  I had a lot of birthday wishes on Facebook and phone messages.

For dinner we went to Olive Garden.  We both had eggplant, couldn't eat it all so have enough for tomorrow night.  I now have officially celebrated by birthday!

Rain on and off all day, enough.

More rain today, at least no thunder during the night.  It is dark and damp.  Becca moved today to college at South Dakota State University along with her parents helping with transporting her things. I finally put away my great birthday gifts and picked up stuff around the house.

We waited for the rain to stop to go to Menards Home Store.  Later we went for dinner at Hong Wong, my favorite Chinese place.  We just got inside and the rain came down in sheets but the sun was shinning when we left.

IKEA day

Last night we didn't get much sleep, we had a thunder storm about 2 AM and then other storms right after each other.  I went to sleep about 5 AM, go got up tired.  OK now we have enough rain!

We went to IKEA this morning, walked thru the whole huge place but just purchased a container for coffee for the motorhome.  We also had lunch, a very good salmon burger and their free coffee.  Those Swedes know their coffee!  I had been wanting to go there all summer.

My left thumb became numb, I think from the way I had my arm on the IKEA cart and stayed that way the rest of the day.

We had leftovers from last night for dinner, too tired from lack of sleep and IKEA trip to go out to eat.

IKEA dinning room

Salmon sandwich

Celebrating the 19th Amendment today!

Don decided to change the oil in the car today, so meanwhile I cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms.  It is another hot and humid day.  We then went to the post-office and Cub Foods and McDonald's for lunch.  It rained again in the afternoon.

I fixed a casserole dish that was at one time a family favorite but don't think I had made it for at least 15 years.  One reason I hadn't made it is that it takes some items not usually in my cupboard, but I got everything together.  It was good, we ate about a third of it so will have leftovers for a couple meals.  We had watermelon for dessert, not a great melon, lots of rind little good stuff.

Watched more Olympics in the evening.


And none too soon-----------

Birthday celebration and new glasses

I went to Lens Crafters to order new glasses.  I wear contacts but need glasses for in-between times.  My old glasses are 6 years old.  They cost a lot more now!  The saleswoman took pictures of me wearing my top three choices and showed me them, side by side, on her tablet.  Really helped in choosing.  I got dark purple, just regular frames.  Hope they will be good for another 6 years.

We went to Culver's for lunch and waited and waited.  Meanwhile we could see cars moving along in drive thru.  After a slight complaint we got our food and coupons for sundaes next time.  Then we went to Fresh Thyme for raspberries for 88 cents a small carton.  Also picked up a few more things on sale.

In the evening I celebrated an early birthday with our family.  This was a good time to get everyone together.  We went to Osaka Japanese Steakhouse hibachi table.  They always have great food, too much food but great.  Then we went to the Dennis' home for cake and ice cream.  I got some great gifts:  a shirt from each Sheila and Brenda, necklace, wine (Bad Ass Rhubarb), gift card, candy, nuts, bag and more.  It was a fun evening and a super way to celebrate.  THANKS to all.

Eyes good to go more miles!

Today was my annual eye doctor appointment.  All is well, don't need new contacts.  Eyes are healthy.  The Optometrist I have been going to for over 20 years has retired, I miss him and his nerdy sense of humor.  I went to the same clinic so they have my records.  The new Doctor seemed fine, he won't be retiring for a long, long time as he is probably not 30 years old.  Afterward we went to Walmart for groceries, a hot and humid day.

In the late afternoon it rained like crazy.  There was a lot of thunder but not severe storms.  It was right at rush hour so we felt sorry for the people traveling home from work in the heavy rain.  We decided to not go out to eat but to eat frozen dinners that had been sitting in our freezer for awhile.

This popped up on my Facebook from 4 years ago.  Miss these good friends, hopefully we can see them this fall in South Dakota.

Same old Monday

Even though I am retired it still seems like Monday's come around all too fast.  Time to clean the house, wash cloths, etc.

We again had bacon, lettuce, tomato, sprouts sandwiches.  Sheila came over later in the evening for a visit.

Watched more Olympics.

Olympics make America proud

It was breakfast at Cracker Barrow, it seemed to fill up fast today.  Then we went across the highway to Fleet Farm, hadn't been there for awhile.  And home to read the papers.

We had for dinner a couple of the huge pork chops we bought a package of a couple weeks ago, left over baked potatoes from last night and tomatoes, cucumbers and our first green pepper from our patio garden.

We watched more Olympics.  Brenda texted that they had gotten home from Texas.

These two and their co-Olympians are what is making America Great.

Nice Saturday

I got to sleep 20 minutes extra!  Wow, my time keeping husband was so nice to me.  We watched some Olympics while drinking our coffee this morning.  Then I took pictures of all our house, closets, electronics, etc. as the insurance people instructed us.

We sat outside awhile, nice day - not too hot, not too humid.  Then we went for the steak dinner at HyVee.  They have the best rolls, like popovers.  They call them honey butter rolls.  We are still watching Olympics in the evening.

Another movie, well surpassed our record.

It rained more last night but has cleared today.  We went to HyVee for a few groceries and of course a bakery item.  In the afternoon we went to the show Jason Bourne.  It was good, about the same as past Bourne shows.  A couple of good vehicle races, they sure ruined at lot of cars in Vegas!

After the show we went to dinner at Panera.  It was raining when we got out of the show and continued raining until after we got home.  Hope this is enough rain with what we got the other night to green up our lawn.

In the evening we watched more Olympics.

Dirty door and taco salad

Cleaned the bathrooms and kitchen today.  I took all my pictures off the refrigerator and found some mold of all things on the refrigerator door.  I used some bleach cleaner, actually had to use it twice to get the mold off.  Guess I need to clean there more often, probably had been more than a year.  Then I sorted out the pictures and put back about half.  I get a collection sometimes.

After that I started the Taco Salad for dinner.  I haven't made that for years.  It tasted good, a good for a change.  I have a hard time trying to come up with meals, Don is no help.  I ask him what he wants and he says "you always come up with something good".  NO help.

We watched more Olympics, the USA is doing well.


So much for trying to stay non-political.  Just think this says it all----

 

Rain and more rain

We went to breakfast at Panera and then were going to a house/car/motorhome insurance person.  Called to confirm and she wasn't available until 11 AM.  So we went to CVS and Fresh Thyme, still too early so we went home for awhile.  We had a lot of insurance questions, we want to be fully covered but not over-insured.  Fine line.  In the afternoon the contractor, Jay, came to estimate our damage repair costs do to our neighbors water leak.  Jay knows exactly what needs to me done and how to do the work so it will not be as big of a project as we had predicted.

We went to Arby's for dinner.  We could see on our phones' weather app a massive storm coming our way and it did pour for awhile and rain on and off all night.  I heard we got about 4 inches.  We really needed rain, the grass was looking bad.  Brenda and family were flying to Texas, their airplane got off just in time.

.

Pizza

Being a hot and humid day was forecast we went grocery shopping early.  Went to Sam's Club and Walmart.  Needed some allergy meds from Sam's, allergies are still in the air.  While coming home we got sprinkled on, no rain was forecast but the weather map looked like some nasty stuff south of us.  A little later the sun was out in full force.

We had a long debate of where to go for dinner.  We have about anything one would want in a few miles of here but nothing sounded good.  Finally I Googled dinning out and up came Pizza.  We had not had pizza in a long time so it tasted very good.

We watched about 3 hours of Olympics in the evening, swimming and gymnastics.

House is clean for another week!

Clean the house day.  For some reason my back hurts today, maybe psychological as I would rather not clean the house.

We have extreme heat warnings for today and for the next couple of days.  Still summer!

We stayed home for dinner, had leftovers supplemented with bacon, lettuce, tomato sandwiched.

A Sunday in August

We went to Denny's for breakfast, they have their new Buttermilk pancakes which are good.  Then to Menards Home Store for some things that were on sale.  We are now starting to think of what we will need in the motorhome in just over a month.

Brenda came for a visit in the afternoon.  Becca is at her college sorority making plans for the upcoming school year.

We got the Sunday papers digested for the week.

I forgot to take the steak out of the freezer for dinner, but with the help of the microwave got it ready for the grill.

Watched more Olympics in the evening.

Avocado kind of day.

Last night we watched most of the opening ceremony of the Olympics.  Now I am anxious to see some of the events like gymnastics, swimming, volleyball and recaps of others..

We did stuff around the house and in the evening we went to TGI Fridays for dinner.  We had a coupon for a free full rack of baby back ribs dinner which Don ordered.  My stomach was still a bit upset so I oped for the Cobb salad with salmon.  The salad was very good with lots of bacon and avocado and a dinner size chunk of salmon.  I was expecting just some flaked salmon in the salad.  I had avocado vinaigrette dressing which was a good change.

We watched more Olympics on TV in the evening.

Cold soup and cranberry bread!

I had a surprise when I opened our bedroom shade this morning, a man was outside my window.  I left the window area as fast as possible.  Then I realized a crew was working on replacing the missing edging around our townhouse.  I got up my nerve and went back to open the window.  Rather than replace the missing edging they pulled it all up from around the side of the house to the front of the deck and put in new and then filled in with new rock.  Looks nice.

We went to HyVee for a few groceries and again a bakery item appeared in my cart.  I got several spices for the motorhome which were $1 each, good deal.

Don needed to go to Harbor Freight which is north on the I 494 loop so as long as we were going that way we ate dinner at Q Cumbers.  They had cold soup which was excellent:  tomato base with chopped tomatoes, shrimp, herbs and spices and a lot of chopped avocados.  Also had excellent bread made with cranberries and rice flour.  I should have limited my eating to the soup and bread but of course I had more (it is a buffet).  Then my stomach was upset all night.


Sometimes the truth is a bitter pill!

Rain morning, humid afternoon

Finally gave up on the printer working last night, thought of a couple other things I could try today when I get up my stamina.  Yesterday I deleted the driver and loaded in a new driver but not even that helped.  Don had to have the printer so we hooked up the printer we use in the motorhome, an older one.  Of course it didn't work.  I think when I installed Windows 10 it did not keep the old driver, so had to install the driver, it worked BUT out of ink.  We had some ink but had trouble installing and then the alignment page would not work.   FINALLY about 10 PM and me frazzled and Don telling me to keep calm which did not help at all, we got Don's stuff printed.

We went out for breakfast at Panera today, the sky was black and I wanted to stay home, but no we went.  On the way it started raining hard, we got inside as fast as possible but we both got wet.  We stayed until the heavy rain stopped.  We need the rain, our grass is dry.  We decided to wait and go to HyVee tomorrow which met I had to readjust my menu for dinner tonight.  Which was actually a good idea as I had some stuff we needed to eat.  I had gotten some pork chops thinking they were the usual 1 inch thick type but these were about 2 inches thick.  Very good but too much meat.

Hot enough for you?

Another hot day, we went to Cub Foods today for a few groceries.

I spent tooooo much time trying to get the printer to work, will try again tomorrow.  We had 5 Guys hamburgers for dinner.

Need proof?

We went to Walmart for a few groceries, already hot and humid at 9 AM.  Going to be a day to stay by the AC.  Brenda and Becca came over for a visit and to give me the pickles that Lisa has asked her to delver to me.  I teased Brenda about purposelessly forgetting.

We stayed home for dinner, chicken Kiev.


Proof she gave me the pickles.

August 1, 2016

Stay at home day!  Well not that exciting that it merits a "!".  The best part is that daughter Sheila came for a visit.  They are leaving on vacation Wednesday so I'm sure her time was limited.  Talked to daughter Brenda later.

Got the house cleaned.  Had some of our home grown tomatoes in Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato sandwiches for dinner.