More This and That

Over and over I marvel at the blessings of my life: Each year has grown better than the last.     Lawrence Welk

I couldn't agree more. Like Maria in Sound of Music, "I must have done something good." 

I just received my real estate tax bill. Of the $2,860.39, $2,069.68 goes to Nixa Schools and $85.88 to the Junior College; $21.34 goes to Senior Citizens. I need to move to a county full of seniors.

We've had temperatures in the 80's November 7 and 8. Wow! Summer was back.

I have a friend who had a stroke which injured her right hand, and she has difficulty cooking. Her daughter keeps her supplied with meals, but I made her some healthful snacks.

Celery and peanut butter.

Carrots and Ranch dressing.

Grapes and Monterey Jack cheese

Apple slices

I gave them a water and lemon juice bath first

If you know of any quick and easy finger-food-type snacks, please let me know at patriciakaye1065@gmail.com - and I thank you in advance.

 

The cost-of-living increase in Social Security for 2024 is 3.2%, yet the cost increase of the part B Medicare Premium is 5.9%. Why is that? Is our Medicare going to cover the cost of medical care for the illegal immigrants flowing across our borders? If you know, please inform me.

Our leaves are past their prime. Autumn will soon be finished. The September Song says it all, "the days dwindle down to a precious few - September, November." Remember that oldie-but-goodie from Frank Sinatra?

The leaves are starting to fall off.

I recently came across some Betty Crocker muffin mixes at Dollar General. A little packet is only $1 and makes six muffins. I bought blueberry and triple berry packets. You only add 1/2 cup of milk or water, stir, pour into muffin lined tins and bake. Of course, the berries are artificial flavors and there are preservatives added with names you can't pronounce, but sometimes you just need to be a little bad and eat muffins for breakfast.

Friends Linda and Burt recently had dinner at the home of a friend, Judy, who entertains and decorates beautifully and allowed me to share some photos. She made some of the velvet pumpkins, and Linda said they were beautiful. The ones with longer curled stems were purchased.

I love-love-love these chairs.

I guess you can't afford the license fee if you drive a BMW. The blue tags expired in 2022. Maybe a little neglected damage as well.

Friend Mim took me to lunch at Casa Bella on Friday. Great service, very clean.

I had the Speedy Gonzales; a cheese enchilada and a beef taco,

 

and Mim had the chicken fajitas.

On my way back, I dropped my old vacuum and a fake plant at my local thrift store, and discovered they were having a really good sale.

I went back on Saturday and bought 55 VHS tapes and 34 books all for $14. I also got 3 binders and 1 DVD for $4. Books were 25 cents, VHS tapes were 10 cents, and the DVD and binders were $1.

Oops! Forgot this.

I know what you're thinking. Where is she going to put all that?

Ta da!

I'm shuffling TV's. My smart TV wasn't smart enough because I bought it in 2015, and my office TV was never smart. Now I have five TVs, so I'm figuring out all this streaming stuff your grandkids already taught you.

The Not-smart-enough TV is now in the office with a DVD player. I might get it a Roku later or I might just leave it as a DVD TV. The new LG above will go in the corner to replace the Not-at-all-smart TV with a Roku which will go in the kitchen.

This TV is larger and wouldn't fit. That's why I got another bookcase.

I still need to shuffle DVD's and VHS tapes between the family room and the office. I can play both VHS tapes and DVD's in the family room. 

I was so excited to get rid of cable (ATT U-verse), but when I called, I was informed that they don't prorate, so I still have to pay up to my scheduled date of 11-24. Oh, well. At least it's over. I now have lots of free TV and only two paid streaming services - PBS and BritBox.

PBS is only $5 per month and they send you a monthly TV Guide of your local programming - I guess the streaming part is the same for the US. I got a special rate of $2 per month for three months with BritBox; then it will be $90 for the year, or $9 per month. I'll pay for a year, because it will take me that long to see everything I want to see, so $7.50 per month instead of the $140+ per month for U-Verse. My land line and Wifi might go up a little as my bundle will be smaller, but I'll still be way ahead. 

 Terri wanted to know about the tapes and books, so here goes:

The DVD

VHS Tapes

Body Heat is one of my favorite Gotcha movies; I just read Absolute Power, so thought I'd like to see the movie. The middle on the right is a mystery tape. The spine says, "Justice for All." Guess I'll have to read Lonesome Dove or look for the video, since this is Return to Lonesome Dove. I've heard it's great.

I've always wondered about Wind in the Willows and Puddin' Head Wilson, and movies are quicker than books. I've never seen Les Miserables.

I decided it was worth 20 cents to check out Chi. Probably kin to Tai Chi? Richard Simmons is one of my favorites, and I will probably have abs like the picture the next time you see me.

Some decorating books.

Color Me Beautiful updated and expanded.

If I'm going to have great abs, I'll need great arms to go with them.

These are for Elly. She's been on a Vegetarian diet and is thinking of changing to Keto or Mediterranean. I'll check out the recipes and pass them on. I'm starting the ETRMMEL Diet. That's Eat The Rainbow Move More Eat Less Diet. I don't have time right now to count calories or carbs, so this seems logical.

That's all I have this week.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE