Lots of Yakkety Yak today

It's 9 a.m. and the scene outside my window is about what it was yesterday and all week -- frosty white.  The sun is shining already, though, so it looks like things will warm up as the morning progresses.  My activities today are running along the same general lines they have all last week. I'll get to my sewing machine once I finish this post as I have a baby blanket top done (except for adding the borders). Need to assemble it with the backing and batting but that will probably be on hold for a few days.  I pulled out some old VHS movies to play while sewing. I have a small tv with a built-in VCR and it's relaxing to have old favorites playing in the background. I watched 'Sense & Sensibility' yesterday and even though I've seen it before, it's one of those movies I enjoy watching again.  When I got through that one, I stuck in 'The Color Purple'. Always one of my favorites.

I'm feeling awfully tired right now and I just remembered I was supposed to set the clocks forward last night. I hate that routine and I hate the way it takes a while to get my rhythm back in sync.

My brother, Les, called yesterday to tell me that our niece, Edwina, had received a package from one of her Pennsylvania cousins and she wanted Les to come pick it up. Seems our mother left instructions with one of her granddaughters to send this package. The letter enclosed with the package was interesting to me. And a tad strange.

My mother died two years ago this month and I can only guess why this letter and the package took so long to be sent. Laziness is all I can think of. At any rate, I am going to keep one of the urns. I've written about my relationship with my mother and have pretty much put the dysfunction to rest and accepted it for what it was.  Les sent me a picture of what the urns and other little trinkets she passed on look like. Well, on to other subjects.....

I decided to go back and finish watching 'The Favourite' since I had paid to rent it. It was okay but it wouldn't have been my choice for an Oscar nominee.  It was kind of stupid a lot of the time. But that's just me.  I did watch a James Cromwell flick on Amazon last night and it was excellent. 'Still Mine.'  A true story about a man building a house for his wife who has dementia. 

I also managed to finally finish reading a book. Becoming by Michelle Obama. It was pretty darn good too. I am working at turning off the tv to sit and read and I've rearranged my routine of reading in bed, hoping I'll get in the habit of getting more books under my belt.  Staying awake is the hardest part.

I fixed a yummy dinner yesterday in the crockpot. Sprinkled half a pkg. of ranch dry mix over two pork chops and put them in the pot for four hours on low with a can of cream of chicken soup. It made a wonderful gravy too. So easy and something I'll make again.  Mailman brought me a jury notice yesterday. As much as I'd like to serve, I'm going to try and get an exemption because of a certain health issue going on right now.

My fairly new recliner that I got at Costco a few months ago is already acting up much to my dismay.  It's an electric chair with vibrating and heat and with a foot rest that goes up and down automatically with a button. Until yesterday when it wouldn't work. I was irritated over the moon. I monkeyed with it and did it going again but I'm so disgusted that I'm hoping I can get Jenni to take it off my hands.  Sadly, it's a heavy ole chair and I'll have to hope Wayne can find someone to help him move it.

I saw the neatest video on Facebook yesterday. Google "cleaning tips by Blossom" and take a look for yourself. There are several. The one I watched showed cutting up a  piece of celery and boiling it in a frying pan that had been caked with burnt on crud.   Another one was pouring some koolaid in the toilet and letting it sit for five minutes. Cleaned it really great with a brush. Another was laying bounch dryer sheets on a dirty range top, sprinkling with water and letting it sit for 15 minutes. Cleaned up super easy.  And I loved the one with ketchup. Spread it in your sink and let it sit for 10 minutes. Rinse and the sink is good.  They also had dirty tools sitting overnight in a glass of beer and taking half a potato, dipping it in salt, and rubbing it on dirty pan bottoms and sides. I'm going to try that one out right away.

Mary and Andy got Jake a new double bed this weekend and a new kingsize for themselves so they've been busy disassembling and putting together new furniture.

Well, I guess I'd better get moving. Dinner dishes are waiting that I didn't feel like doing last night and I have a few stupid clocks to play with.