Happy New Year 2021

Wishing the best for all my family and friends! 

Happy NewYear in 2021!

December, 2020 The First Half of the Month!

 December 1 - 6 (Tuesday - Sunday)

This month starts the month of buying presents! I ordered some things from Amazon yesterday to get started. On Tuesday, I attended my WW Zoom meeting first thing. After lunch we worked on limbs in the front yard. We loaded the limbs in the back of the pickup and went to the dump to get rid of them. We also had three bags for the trash guys to pick up. Steve and I went to La Macarena for supper without Hazel or Linda. Wednesday was a slow day, I read a book in the morning. In the afternoon - Steve had a bad asthma episode. I thought I was going to have to call 911. But he finally was able to breathe normally. It kind of scared me. Also we watched the Steelers play the Ravens on Wednesday. The Corona virus has these football schedules all messed up. Thursday was gloomy and overcast with a high of 36 degrees. We did walk outside, even though it was chilly. We have been trying to walk outside most every day. It's a short route about a mile total. It only takes us about 20 minutes, but the dogs LOVE it! So we do it to keep our dogs happy. Friday we went to Stillwater for some more Christmas shopping and pick up supplies at Walmart. Saturday we tried to work on putting up our outside lights, but we needed bulbs. So we went back to Stillwater after checking all the stores in Perry (Dollar Store, Ace Hardware, and Tractor Supply) with no luck. We ended up getting some new strings of lights at Walmart because we could not find bulbs to match the lights we had. We also watched OSU beat TCU in football today! Yea! After we got around on Sunday, we got our outside lights and decorations put up. Also we watched football again! Imagine that!

Moon rise - Dec 1, 2020

Zoey putting on her mask!

Christmas Decorations - Outside

December 7 - 13 (Monday - Sunday)

The week started with Steve's annual appointment at the VA SCI clinic. They do a thorough checkup of his MS and he is doing good. We were out by noon and so we went to Kohl's to do some Christmas shopping ( with our mask on of course). We drove through McDonald's on our way home and that was about it for the day. Tuesday I tuned in  to the WW Zoom meeting - and new changes are coming for the virtual meetings. I did some other computer stuff then we had lunch and took a walk. We started to put up our Christmas tree but many of the branches would not light up. Steve couldn't trace down the problem - so we decided to buy a new tree. We went to supper with Hazel. Linda didn't join us because she went to a basketball game. So after supper we headed out to Stillwater and bought a new tree at Lowe's. We watched the Dallas Cowboys get beat after we got home. Wednesday started out with a bad phone call from Hazel - Her husband, Wayne died of Cardiac arrest at rehab. He was supposed to get to come home this week. This hit me like a ton of bricks. I lost all my desire to put up the tree. I felt sad all day for Hazel and it also made me sad to remember all the family members and friends I have lost. So sad. We did finally get the tree up and put out some Christmas decorations. Thursday, we went back to Stillwater to get Steve fitted for orthotics. He also got a new pair of shoes at Brown's Shoe store. Also we stopped at Lowe's to check on the kitchen remodel plan - but the girl who is in charge of that area was not there. That will be followed up on in the new year. We took a poinsettia to Hazel and gave her a hug. Later the dogs convinced us to take them for a walk and I started getting out my Christmas Cards. Friday we mailed some of our Christmas Cards and bought some more - because I didn't have enough. Later we met Kristi in OKC for lunch and some shopping. Steve bought another pair of shoes at REI - Oboz. That is the brand I bought for myself last summer. We also went to Penn Square Mall and back to Kohl's. By the time we got done and back home - we were pooped. Saturday we wrapped presents, did some errands in Perry and watched OK State beat Baylor in football. Sunday morning we woke up to snow! We  took some pictures of the snow while it was pretty. Also Steve had to get the snow off the satellite dish so we could watch TV. Dallas won their football game and we didn't do much today. 

Snow - across from our house Dec 13

November 2 -30, 2020 Highlights for the month!

 This month has been pretty routine. We have been doing all the regular chores like laundry, shopping and cooking. 

Early in the month we had to get more heartworm medicine for the dogs and get a replacement rabies tag for Poopsie - because she lost hers. We did a lot of yardwork - getting leaves and branches picked up and bagged for the trash service to pick up. 

We usually eat out with Linda and Hazel on Tuesday evenings. Sometimes it just one or the other depending on what is going on. On the 5th we went to CCC Lake and walked on the new trail - but there were a lot of branches down on it - so we will return after cleanup to walk here again. We also had Lowe's come out and measure our kitchen -we are thinking about new cabinets and a new stove plus some other updates.  Steve put a new threshold in the outside garage door. 

During the week of the 9th - I helped Steve in the garage. He put up some strips on the ceiling. When we had the foundation repair done back in 2013, they said we didn't need to put any piers under the garage. Well, guess what - we need them now - because we have cracks and the ceiling is sagging. On Saturday the 14th - I went to Enid and visited my sister Pam. We had lunch with Kim at Napoli's downtown. 

One of the most exciting things that happened this week was this awesome machine that picked up the limbs in our yard. The City of Perry picked up limbs that were stacked at the curb. So these are pictures  I took out the window of "The Claw" picking up limbs at our place and the neighbor's house across the street. 

On the week starting the 14th - we walked at the fairgrounds here in town for a slight change. The weather has been very nice! I had Linda give me a perm - so my hair would curl  a little. We have also been watching a lot of football. OSU got beat by OU. It seemed like they didn't even show up. 

On the week starting the 23rd we did ordered a cover for our gazebo in the back yard. After checking it wasn't as expensive as we thought. It is a metal patio cover - and it's a funny shape. We got it from Garden Winds. We checked on Hazel's house one day and we got groceries for Thanksgiving. The kids arrived early Thanksgiving Day (middle of the night) and so we had our small group (5) for Thanksgiving dinner. We had turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, crescent rolls, pink party salad and pies. It was yummy. Then we watched more football! We did go to Stillwater shopping on Friday - but were disappointed with what was available to purchase.  We had lunch at the Palomino (Mexican food). It was pretty good. Saturday was more taking it easy and watching football The kids went home about 2:30. Steve and I walked after that. Sunday was more of the same: football and ordered some presents online. 

We bought a new bird feeder!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Steve & I decked out in our PPE for a safe Thanksgiving! LOL!

Today is Monday, the 30th and we are doing laundry, paying some bills and contemplating putting up Christmas decorations!

October 25 - November 1, 2020 Ice Storm!

Monday - Oct 26

Today was pretty routine stuff. We completed all our household chores and the laundry. We went to town and picked up the mail before the ice storm hit!

Tuesday - Oct 27

Today we woke up to ice and one limb down in the driveway. Then there were lots more limbs that came down throughout the morning. Our electricity went out and stayed out about 9:45. It had flickered some before that. So it was off all day. That meant we had no lights or TV. Lunch was a peanut butter sandwich with yogurt and an apple. We opened our blinds to let the sunlight in - that helped. We went out to the RV and decided to get it heated up so we could sleep in it if necessary. I mean - who wants to freeze? I also remember that we have an oil radiator heater in the garage that will run off electricity when we start the generator. So about 5:30 we took our chili fixings to the RV and made chili and ate supper. That extra heater really made it warm in the RV. In fact we got right down toasty. We watched a movie and went to bed in the RV. 

Wednesday -Oct 28

We got up about 9:00 AM and when I came in the house - we were in luck! The electricity was on. So we ran the dishwater and took our showers. I did some bill paying and bookkeeping. After lunch we watched TV and took it easy. Later we made went to Homeland for some extra groceries. The ice was melting and the branches were falling. We felt very thankful and fortunate that our electricity was on. Yea!

Thursday - Oct 29

While we were hanging out this morning - Kristi called. She wanted to know if we could meet up and then have the kids come here and stay to be warm. Their electricity was out and even though they were staying at the hotel where Kristi worked - it didn’t have electricity either. So we headed to OKC to meet up and get the kids. We ate at Red Robin - and it wasn’t the greatest today. Some of the food was lukewarm and the prices were pretty high for just burgers! Probably wont go back there for a while. We got home about 4:00 PM and everybody rested. I made Chicken Vegetable soup for supper. 

Friday - Oct 30

We  got up and around because we had planned to go to Walmart for groceries. But Cooper (the young man who mows our yard in the summer) called and he wanted to know if they could come and cut the tree limbs today. We said  absolutely. We then sat around and did very little this afternoon. Logan fixed us Pancakes for lunch and I cooked the turkey bacon. He really likes to cook pancakes. We watched TV and waited for the limbs to get cut. They finally got here and worked about 2 1/2 hours. For supper, we went to La Macarena and ate.

Saturday - Oct 31 Halloween

Today we got around. I showered and then we walked. We were giving the kids time to wake up. After they woke up, we all went to Walmart to get groceries and supplies. The kids went and picked out snacks  and  food they wanted. We returned home and watched football. OSU got beat by Texas and OU crushed Texas Tech. I made chicken pot pie for supper because Logan requested it. It turned out great! I even took a picture of it. 

We did nothing for Halloween - and had no Trick or Treaters. 

Full Moon on Halloween, 2020!

Chicken Pot Pie

Sunday - Nov 1

Again we got around and took a walk. Then we watched football. Later we met Kristi and returned the kids to her.  They had to return to work and school. And the hotel had electricity by then - so they wouldn’t freeze. 

Oct 12 - 25, 2020 The Things We Do

Monday - Oct 12

Today we did all the usual stuff including a walk. I finalized a blog post. Later we went to Enid to Harbor Freight to buy a transmission jack which will be used to lift the generator back into position when the work on it is completed.  I also got some flowers (Mums) for the front of the house. We stopped by and talked to my sister, Pam a little while and also went in to the Walmart Market. We got home and fixed supper and watched Monday Night Football.

Flowers!

 

Tuesday - Oct 13

While I was attending my WW Zoom meeting - the guy from Cummins (Onan) called. He had a new plan for the exhaust part we need. Basically the part had come in that was ordered- but it wasn’t exactly right. The salesman wanted Steve to look at it and see if it would work or we need to order a different one and wait for it to arrive. Steve had to make some modifications to it to make it work-and he chose that route. We went on to El Reno to pickup Logan and Austyn. Then we met Kristi at Cheddars in Yukon for supper. Logan was on fall break (he missed a day of school) and he was coming home with us to help Steve fix the generator. We also exchanged vehicles again. 

 

Logan and the dogs!

Wednesday - Oct 14

After the routine morning stuff, the guys worked on the generator and also made a trip to the hardware store for bolts, etc. Then we ate lunch at home. We went to Ponca City after lunch because I had a Mammogram scheduled. We completed that  and I don’t have to have another 6 month checkup! Yea! Next on the list was Lowe’s for  some bolts and Walmart for more groceries. I swear some of these stores are getting rich off of us- mainly Walmart and Lowe’s and a few others. 

Thursday - Oct 15

The guys worked on the generator and I worked on the blog. After lunch it was more or the same. We did go to La Macarena for fajitas! Yum!

Friday - Oct 16

I found out this morning that one of my cousins, Steve Martin, who lives in Woodward, passed away. I made arrangements with my sisters to send flowers. This is sad when we lose the people we grew up with. Today we  did the routine things and worked on the generator most of the day. 

Saturday - Oct 17

Another day of working on the generator, from 9-3. Then we rested. Logan wanted to drive- so we went out to the country and let him drive the pickup. He is ready to get his permit - but  the offices are booked and he hasn’t been able to get it yet. 

Sunday - Oct 18

Today we took it easy and watched football most of the day. We finished off with a trip to Stillwater to eat at Texas Roadhouse. 

Monday - Oct 19

After doing the morning routine, we watched TV a bit and waited for Logan to wake up. He wanted to go drive again - so we went north of town. Some lady stopped on the dirt road and wanted to know what we were doing. We told her we were just walking our dogs, but she sure was suspicious of us and asked Steve a lot of questions, which irritated him. Finally she moved along and we got back in the pickup to let Logan drive. We saw two deer when we started back to town. I think maybe the lady thought we were looking for a place to hunt- but we weren’t. We love deer too much to hunt them! We just like to take their pictures! Awhile after lunch we drove to OKC and met Kristi at Target - so Logan could return home and attend school. 

 

I'm sure this is helping us become smarter!

Tuesday - Oct 20

It was a regular Tuesday, with WW Zoom meeting, a walk and then bill paying. We also paid the insurance on our vehicles. After lunch we worked on trimming some of the branches on the trees in the front yard. And neither one of us were thinking very good and Steve had an asthma attack from those trees! He finally got to feeling better. The trees in front are Sycamores and he really has a problem with them. He has to wear his special mask to be able to work around them. We enjoyed supper at La Macarena with Linda & Hazel. 

Wednesday - Oct 21

Today’s big adventure was going to Walmart for groceries and supplies. I also got my flu and pneumonia shots. We got a birthday card and a Walmart card for Steve’s sister, Terry and sent it. After we unloaded our groceries and had lunch we hauled off the trees branches to the dump. I made Chicken Black Bean Enchilada casserole for supper.

Thursday - Oct 22

Today was my 6 month checkup with my doctor in Ponca City. I went fasting so I could get labs drawn. He thought  I was doing great and I didn’t argue with him. We picked up some items I needed at Walgreens and then went home.  This evening we watched a program about bears. This was provided over Zoom by the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation.  It showed a grizzly bear at Echo Lake! Boy were we surprised - we have never seen any bears there during our summers. We will have to be mindful! We really enjoyed the bear presentation and you can watch it on their website if you are interested.

Wild turkeys in our neighborhood

Wild turkeys roosting on a house in our neighborhood!

Friday - Oct 23

After our walk and other morning routines I stopped at the YMCA and picked up some free masks. We did a few other errands around town and then went home. We ate lunch at home and then drove to OKC to the VA for an appointment Steve had. Steve got his flu shot while we were there also! When we got home we were pooped so we rested. 

Steve's pickup rolled over 100,000 miles today!

Saturday & Sunday - Oct 24 & 25

We worked on picking up leaves and sticks in the front yard and mowed some of the leaves to get rid of them. We also covered our outside water faucets because a freeze is predicted. We finished in time to watch OU and OSU win their football games. We did some online window shopping for kitchen cabinets. Man is that tiresome. Supper was sheet pan Hawaiian Chicken.

Sunday we went to Walmart because I had to pick up my meds and I got a shingles shot. Then we watched more football. I made chili for supper.