This and That

I didn't even bother with a post last week, as there was nothing exciting to tell, and no decent photos to share. It was a week of socializing, bad food, and a half day at the vet.

As my weed puller stood me up three times, I decided the new yardman is a woman, and that woman is me. I got a couple of mornings in, but I had commitments.

I met Rita at KFC where we had lousy food and lousy service. But we were headed to a talk at the library which was very worthwhile - enjoyable as well as educational. Larry Campbell lives in Branson, and he took a seven-week, 2,341 mile trip to follow the Missouri River from its source in Three Forks, Montana, to a point just above St. Louis, Missouri where it feeds into the Mississippi. What great photos and such entertaining stories. I bought his book as a gift, but discovered the Christian County Library System carries it, as well as the Greene County Library System. It can also be requested through any library which is a member of Mobius. Great photos and good maps.

When Mim, Fannie Mae, and I went to Sam's for a 4th of July hot dog, we were just finishing when a lady brought her hot dog and joined us. She gave me her card, and I called her to see if she would like to have lunch. I've been looking for a new friend who is single with no relatives. Someone to share holidays. We decided to have lunch at El Puente in Springfield. Her name is Ellie and she's probably the happiest person I've ever met. Delightful company and great food, but a chile rellano, a cheese enchilada, rice and beans are not the best choices for a foodie photo.

Saturday, Niece Terri, Nephew Raymond, and I went to see Queen Esther to celebrate their birthdays - Terri's half birthday and belated Raymond's birthday. It was just as magnificent as the first time, but no photos, and they're very strict about it. I took my opera glasses to check out the costumes this time, and they truly are works of art. And now I want a crown - one with lots of diamonds and precious stones (or fakes like the ones for the show).

Then more bad food, and surprisingly so as we went to Cracker Barrel. I should have ordered my usual chicken-fried chicken, but I chose the chicken-fried pork chops - tasteless and tough as an old boot. My hash-brown casserole was a pasty lump, almost stone cold, and my mustard greens were cooked with some sort of mystery meat and lukewarm. Again, not photo worthy.

Thursday morning was spent tracking down a vet for Stormy. She'd been sleeping a lot which I attributed to the heat and getting older; she wanted to isolate, not running to me in the morning, and not eating much. Wednesday night she refused her Greenies and treats, so I knew something was wrong.

Her new vet opens at 7:00 a.m. but a phone message said they were closed for two days for special dental training, and her old vet's phone said they were closed (no reason given), so I had just enough time to take her to the emergency vet in Springfield which closes at 8:00 a.m. I was in rush hour traffic, but made it just before 8:00. The door was locked. I pounded on the door and a girl came and said they don't take walk-ins after 7:00 and only do special treatments from 7 to 8. She did, however, refer me to a vet up the street who might take a walk-in. She did. A nice young lady named Karen Lea at the corner of St. Louis and Glenstone. They took Stormy right in and checked her physically - slight fever, no discernable problems. Would I like them to do blood work and a urinalysis? Yes, but how do you get a cat to tinkle in a cup? Poor baby, they do it with a needle. 

They do the lab work in house, so we waited. Nothing to see here. Should we do x-rays? Not expected to find anything, it would just be for peace of mind. Yes, I want to be at peace. So three-and-one-half hours later, we left $536 poorer, and no answers. 

She was given shots for fever, pain, appetite stimulant, and hydration. They said if she wasn't better within 24 hours to call. By evening, she was eating better, wanted her Greenies and treats, and got better and better each day until she was back to normal a few days later. Doctor said it might be pancreatitus; common for cats. 

One highlight of the week - I finished a book recommended by Katie, and I loved it.

The past week was just as busy, but lots of work involved. I got back to some yardwork, restocked my food, gave the house a lick-and-a-promise cleaning, and had friends over for lunch on Friday. I did another salad lunch due to the heat, and then Friday was rainy and 70's. At least I had hot soup.

The idea is to use my dishes and pass them on, but it's not working out too well. This is what I emailed Friend Linda in Kansas:

The idea is to use my table "stuff" and get rid of it, but I found I had the cute "bread and butter" dishes to match the snack sets, plus two others that are a size between these two, but divided for things like jams or pickles and olives - you know what I mean - so how can I part with them when they're so sweet?

The cups even have leaf designs on them. And the glasses remind me of tree trunks to go with the leaves, so they stay. And the yellow place mats match the yellow dishes I'm keeping, so how can I part with those?

And I have only four soup tureens, and one is a pumpkin, so how can I part with this one when it's so versatile? Besides, it's one of those made in a ceramics store, and I found it in a thrift store and I love finding those 

precious pieces someone painted by hand. And it even has a tray. How can I let it go?

I guess I could give up the napkins, but how much room do they need? Same with the napkin rings. Oh, well, better luck next time. I'll try to do the luau lunch if I can find some flank steak. I miss California shopping - groceries and otherwise.

Here's the table.

Tomato Basil Soup

Ham Salad

Macaroni Salad

Carrot Raisin Salad

24-hour Slaw

Bacon-cheese Spread

Pineapple Iced Tea

Frozen Chocolate Pie

Cherry-Pineapple Jello Dessert

Here are photos from my files of the desserts; none taken at the lunch.

No time for Midsomer Magic and Afternoon Tea this week. I did, however, realize that it can be nice eating alone. 

I had fried green tomatoes for breakfast one morning.

And French toast for dinner (sliced strawberries and strawberry freezer jam).

No commitments right now, so back to the War of the Weeds. I spent three hours in the yard this morning, and it wiped me out. I always say I'll only work two hours, but it's so easy to get carried away. Making progress, however, so worth being pooped the rest of the day. The mowers come tomorrow, so maybe I can start spraying the lawn on Tuesday. I'm supposed to wait two days, but neighbor Jeremy says he doesn't pay attention to that, so we'll see.

Question of the week: Are the Radical Dems trying to start a civil war with all this picking on Trump? And who is really running the country? Certainly not Joe Biden who doesn't even know where he is half the time and sometimes refers to Cackles as President Harris.

Recipes on request: patriciakaye1065@gmail.com