Cleaned the house again. It is cold out (thankfully no snow) so I'm not anxious to get outside.
I started reading the new John Dean book "Authoritarian Nightmare" about trump and the people who follow him. I have read most of the John Dean books on Nixon, he seems to have a good insight into what is going on in the government.
We got taco salads from Taco John's for dinner, a nice change in what we usually eat! Then watched another episode of The Crown.
Don went to McDonalds' for sausage egg McMuffins for breakfast along with the rolls he bought yesterday. Every eating place is closed to inside dining so have to do what we can.
We watched the Sunday news shows and in the afternoon read the Sunday newspaper. Hopefully we are all caught up on the news now!
For dinner we had a ham slice and the remaining Thanksgiving leftovers. Ended up being a lot of food. We watched some TV in the evening.
After drinking coffee and procrastinating we finally decided to start our Christmas decorating. Mostly Don got the boxes inside and I started going through them.
Our daughter Sheila invited us to come over to see our grandson's new puppy. It is darling of course, all puppies are darling but none cuter than a golden retriever puppy.
When we got home we earnestly started and finished decorating inside for Christmas. It's a lot of work and I always think "what goes up has to come down".
Don bought some steak to grill for dinner as it was a nice day and probably the warmest until spring.
Today is known as Black Friday as this is the day business' have enough sales to end the year in the black. They got no help from me as I'm already about finished Christmas shopping.
We did go to the grocery store, hardly anyone was there so a good day to shop except we didn't have much to buy. We picked up hamburgers at McDonalds for lunch.
We got our Christmas tree sat up but not decorated.
For dinner we had leftovers that our daughter sent home with us. We still have more for another meal or two. We are done with the current "season" of The Right Stuff so watched The Real Right Stuff. Was interesting.
We watched some of the Macy's Thanksgiving parade on TV before deciding we need to get some stuff done. I needed to put together the corn casserole we were taking to dinner at our daughter Sheila's house. We took a hour nap so we would be bright for dinner.
Dinner was great, good turkey and ham and all the desired side dishes. Pie for dessert. Lots of good conversation. (No political in fighting that some families have as we are all on the same page.)
Don went to Walmart for a few things while I sat in the car. Don't want to subject ourselves to anyone with covid 19. We had a couple other stops before picking up McDonalds' for lunch.
In the afternoon daughter Brenda and granddaughter Becca came for a visit. We hadn't seen Becca for a very long time as she lives out of town. They brought their dogs Java and Olie. Olie is Becca's dog which we had never seen, he is about 3 years old - a rescue and a good dog. Brenda's dog Java got stuck under the sofa so Becca had to crawl behind and rescue her!
We had leftover spaghetti for dinner.
What a dark, dismal day. We had freezing rain in the morning and then the clouds hung around all day. We didn't do much, caught up on things and computer work.
I made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. Then we watched some TV.
Monday, the only good thing is the afternoon when I can sit back and think "the house cleaning is done for a week". A lot of the job is putting things where they belong, wouldn't be such a job if we put things away after we used them!
We had KFC chicken for dinner and we were lucky. The crew at KFC seems to be lacking on IQ. We had to tell them several times at the drive-up speaker and at the window what we wanted. Then they tried to charge us too much. Two cars in front of us were waiting for their orders. Good thing they don't have a lot of people wanting to eat at KFC, maybe customers are distressed with the lack of intelligent help.
No breakfast out today a usual as all restaurants are shut down for a month. So I tried out my new electric skillet and made pancakes. We read the Sunday newspaper and watched the Sunday news shows.
I received a text from a friend that her husband had died early today from pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed just three weeks ago. He was a very nice, friendly man. He will be missed.
Sheila came over in the afternoon for a visit.
I put stuffed pork chops in the crockpot for dinner. This time I put some gravy on top and they were much better.
In the morning Don went to Menards home store. He had a number of things he wanted. After looking at all the big box stores' online, I found an electric skillet at Menards so Don picked that up also.
We picked up a pizza in the evening for dinner. I went along just to get some fresh air. Then we tried to catch up on recorded TV shows.
Big flamingo from daughter Brenda and plaque painted by friend Carolyn
Ate breakfast at HyVee. Our last meal in a restaurant for at least a month due to the covid shutdown - again. Then we got groceries at HyVee. They had a lot of specials and were loading the shelves as fast as people took the products off. One thing I really wanted was out, but I looked around at the boxes sitting in the asyle and found the item, opened the box and took what I wanted.
The temperature outside was Ok, but the wind made it feel cold. So after the grocery store we just went home. Don went out to bring home dinner at Pancheros. They have burritos that you tell them how you want your's filled.
This morning I had a podiatrist appointment again for the cyst on my foot. It is getting much better. The doctor removed some built up scar tissue causing it to bleed and hurt but probably for the benefit of healing.
Don went to Panera to pick up salads for dinner. Our nearby Panera was closed so he went to another one not too far away. We called to see why the close one was closed, we thought maybe permanently closed due to the impending shutdown, but they said they had an "equipment problem". Should be open Saturday.
We enjoyed weather in the 50's today. Most of the snow is melted except where it was plowed into a hill.
We watched some TV we had taped in the evening.
We went to Perkins this morning for potato pancakes. They are always good but today one of mine looked over done, when I cut into it the middle was raw. Obviously something happened in the kitchen. I sent it back and got two replacements. I usually don't complain but I didn't want to miss out on my third pancake.
Then we went to Walmart, didn't need so much this week. From there Don wanted to go to Harbor Freight for some tool thing. We had a slow afternoon and had leftovers from last night for dinner. Watched some TV, we are getting many weekly shows we have taped lined up to watch.
It was another warm day, warm for us - around 50 degrees, but the wind was really blowing!
Our state's governor announced today that he has decided to do a partial shut down because of covid 19. All bars and restaurants will be closed to inside service. They can still do carry-out. A few other restrictions.
Again I spent considerable time on the internet Christmas shopping. I also made a list of things I want to buy at Walmart or Target. Put in another Amazon order as today I got two things I ordered Saturday!
It is warmer out today and snow is disappearing from the streets and driveways at least. Suppose to be a warmer than normal week. I'm not talking hot but in the 40's, warmer than average.
The news is bad about the corona virus. More cases and more deaths. Government is talking about some closedowns. No one wants that but what else can be done?
House cleaning Monday, always a thrill. I also shopped some more online for Christmas gifts and have another order ready, just need to think it over a day.
No precipitation was forecast but we had some snowflakes in the morning, nothing to accumulate.
We had leftovers for dinner and then watched some recorded shows on TV.
We ate breakfast at HyVee. Our car should automatically go to that store as we go there so much! Then we stopped at Target to pick up what I had ordered yesterday. It was ready for us. Our daughters came for a visit later in the morning. It was a good chance to try out my new Keurig coffee maker, we had hot apple cider.
After a nice nap, I worked on ordering Christmas gifts but actually only ordered loose tea for the ice tea I make. I am unable to find it in the grocery stores - like usual. We got most of the Sunday newspapers read.
I had put pork chops in the crock pot with a cream of mushroom soup. The chops were very tender for dinner. We watched some TV.
A day to do stuff at home. I put an order in at Target - one part a gift for a granddaughter and the other part a gift for myself. I got myself a Keurig coffee maker. I wanted it for hot apple cider and hot chocolate, which I ordered some. I got a notice right away that the order was ready to pick up, we will do so tomorrow.
We got dinner from Panera and then watched some television.
We ate breakfast at HyVee. They have good breakfasts but change the ordering process every time we go in, we did it wrong today and got a lecture from the server. We are now suppose to order before going into the dinning room. I guess.
Then we did our grocery shopping, mostly just picking up some very good specials they had for Friday 13th. HyVee did a terrible job clearing their sidewalks, I suppose they thought they would melt. It made walking outside very treacherous.
We got a big shipment from Amazon and then I spent considerable time on the internet again - Christmas shopping. Everything I ordered from Amazon arrived today even though I took their Saturday delivery option. All I ordered arrived and looks fine.
Back to HyVee for Chinese dinners to bring home.
We went to Panera for breakfast bagels and then to Walmart. I hadn't been in Walmart for some time so I had a number of things to buy. They had pallets stacked high of products sitting in the aisles, made it hard to get around in some areas in the electric scooter.
In the afternoon it started snowing again. We got about 2 inches which they didn't bother to plow so the road and our driveway were slick. There was a big pile up on the interstate closing it for 9 hours, a few minor injuries and no deaths at least.
We are finally getting some network television shows, more to come. Good to have something to watch. We had honey barbecue boneless chicken wings and Texas toast for dinner along with a salad.
This is the day we think of and thank the people who have defended the country in the armed services.
Today we actually did get to Sam's Club. We bought a few things - most things are in such large quantities. Was good to see what they have available.
Our roads were plowed about 4 AM, woke me up to the scraping sound. With the ice underneath they didn't do a very good job but the warm sun melted the ice and by evening the roads were in fair shape.
We had roast leftovers for dinner in the form of hot beef sandwiches.
We were going shopping at Sam's Club today. We had been a member for many years but let it drop, but now we have joined again. About the time we were leaving it started with freezing rain. Later it turned to snow. We got about 4 inches by evening. We decided it wasn't important enough to go to Sam's to get out in this weather so stayed home.
I made a roast for dinner, watched some TV - a slow day.
This will be the last nice day for awhile. Winter sets in again tomorrow.
We cleaned the house and put away stuff. Did some wash.
In the afternoon I got a package, thought it was an early delivery from Amazon but it was something much better - a surprise gift from a high school friend, Carolyn. (Carolyn and I collaborated on many schemes in high school - let's say some borderline.) She is an artist, painting in oil. She sent me a picture she painted of flamingos. It is beautiful and perfect being she sent it to me!
We had "camper eggs" for dinner.
The newspaper and news shows are all about Biden and Harris winning the election. Also about how trump is going to fight the results - what a poor, childish looser.
We went for breakfast at Denny's, then Don made a stop at Menards. Our daughters came over for a visit in the afternoon.
Being the weather remains nice we grill again - bacon wrapped sirloin steak. In the evening we finished watching the Sunday news shows and read the newspapers.
BIDEN is our president elect! Not all states are counted but he has enough electoral college votes.
We watched election news on TV in the morning.
Don put up the outside Christmas lights early being the weather is so nice. Our neighbors put theirs up as well, they lopped over into our part of the yard but we don't really care.
For dinner we had leftover Chinese food from last night. Biden and Harris gave speeches in the evening followed by fireworks and drones spelling out words, etc. The news showed people in the streets celebrating!
Still no news on the election, the numbers are staying tight. How long, just depends on many things. Biden made a good speech saying he wants to be everyone's president and heal the nation but he wants all votes counted.
By evening my cellulitis was much better by the evening - at last. My foot still hurts a lot when I walk, darn.
We had a bagel at Panera this morning and then we went to HyVee for groceries. All the handicap parking spots were full, very unusual. I was worried that no electric cart but there were a couple available.
Back to HyVee in the evening for Chinese dinners.
Still no new president. The numbers have stayed about the same. In the evening trump got on TV to complain about all his imagined voter fraud and ballots that were appearing out of thin air, etc. The network we were watching cut him off because of all the lies he was spreading. Meanwhile Biden was saying he wants every ballot counted.
My cellulitis is about the same today, still red and swollen and my foot still hurts. We stuck around home. Grilled brats for dinner. Then watched some more of the election stuff. Not much else on TV.
First thing I wanted to know this morning was how the voting was going. Biden looks to be ahead, but not a sure thing.
I had a podiatrist appointment today. He took a lot of old skin off my problem foot and in the process found another small blister. When I took my shoe off at his office I noticed what looked like cellulitis, it must have just started. The doctor mentioned that right off and gave me an antibiotic prescription. No wonder I had chills during the night. He also gave me a prescription for some antibiotic lotion, when Don went to fill that prescription they told him it was $140.00 and they didn't have it on hand, would have to order. Don called me and I said forget it. The antibiotic pills were only $9.00.
My foot was really hurting the rest of the day.
We went out for dinner and got to the parking lot when I realized I was going to vomit and I did. Don went in and got some carry-out. When we got home I just, just made it to the bathroom to vomit some more. Then I felt much better but only ate soda crackers and ginger ale for the evening.
We watched some more of the election returns. The TV channel we watch is pro Biden so they were finding ways he could win. To be honest - still a toss-up.
Such nice weather for November, breaking temperature records! Nice day for voting, we voted by mail a couple weeks ago so don't have to deal with crowds. We watched returns on TV until about 11PM when things seemed to be stuck. Looked like maybe trump was ahead but still hope for Biden.
In the morning we went to the new Menards (home store). It is only about four blocks from our house, a huge store and very nice. It was my first time there, I took an electric cart and really cruised around the store. Don had several things he wanted as usual. I bought some pine scented wax for my warmer, a whole $1.99.
I made tuna casserole for dinner, not Don's favorite but mine.
Once again it's Monday and my day to clean the house. I'm always glad when it is done and done for the week less a few little pick up jobs!
In the afternoon I spent some time on the computer and caught up on some things. We grilled pork chops for dinner as the weather has taken a turn to the warmer.
We got an extra hour of sleep thanks to going off Daylight Savings Time. We went to Valley Cafe for the second time, they have good breakfasts - particularly their omlets. Some of the same people were there as last time so must be regulars.
Came home and watched the Sunday News Shows and read the Sunday newspaper as usual. Everything is about the election at this point. One network show all but declared Biden as winner then the other network show was leaning toward trump. So it is a toss-up and nerve wracking.
Sheila came over for a visit in the afternoon. We got sandwiches from Arby's for dinner and watched some more news. Now, thanks to DST, we go to bed an hour later so we were getting tired early!
