Ann

From the unbelievable lines in stores today, you would think a winter storm is coming.  Or Christmas.  Or both at the same time.

I'm done.  I'm home.  I'm exhausted.

The Italian beef, pasta salad, calico beans, funeral potatoes, and fruit salad dessert will be distributed.  You want it?  Come and get it but take it with you.  Ann and I will be spending quiet time together.

My mind will also be on a sweet person who is still mourning the loss of a beloved companion, and now dealing with her mother's passing.

I think I shared this recipe recently, too tired to check.

Italian beef

Make a paste -

1 tbsp pepper (use a little less if you don't want too much heat)

1 tbsp salt

1 tbsp garlic powder (not garlic salt)

1 tbsp Colman's dry mustard

1 tbsp worcestershire sauce

Spread over 3# or smaller rump or similar roast.  Add to crock pot with an inch or more of water, slow cook for 6 hours, let cool slightly, slice into thick pieces and then shred.  Return to pot and toss with liquid, another hour on low.  Can be roasted in heavy dutch oven with tight lid or pressure cooker.  So tasty I don't add cheese, pepper rings, or other condiments, just a crusty bun.  But does well with anything you would like to add.

I lay a towel over crock beneath lid to absorb excess moisture the last few hours before shredding.

We got in touch with someone in charge of this home based program and he was appalled that the provider contracted dropped the ball on every issue.  Does she have help yet?  No.  And will not until sometime next week.  He even offered to personally get her anything she needs in food or meds or supplies during this weekend.  We will continue and not take his generous offer.  One excellent employee who takes his responsibility to those in need seriously.

Be safe everyone.  

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Monster bags

 from the Dollar Tree.

Love 'em.  

And because of those kids' clothing filled bags, my Kohl's cash offered a great deal on MY gift.  I didn't get the cordless which is so much nicer to use, but plugging it in to charge for hours, limited run time, and chances of the battery expiring in the future, led me to rely on the cord that is continually cursed.

Made a number of calls today, no help.  No one working in the office after over two years.  And except for two responsible women, they won't return until time to sign for their pension.  With the holiday weekend, I doubt we will find out what the problem is until next week sometime.

We finished cutting the desk, counter, and drawer and reinstalled, looks so cute!  Now she needs a second sliding barn door to make passage easier to the bedroom and it is a perfect size, no wall or frame cutting involved.  Coming in next week, then assembly, priming, painting, installing.  She was in tears with frustration of not having help, and also because of misjudging the very large motorized chair.  The back extends much further than her previous.

My three month wait for initial visit with the new rheumatologist has been changed to virtual because of severe weather Friday, and that's OK.  I think.  Been having a flare up and am miserable.  The replaced front crowns aren't helping and after biting my painful tongue enough to bleed four times, I went for the sandpaper.  Dentist is closed until 2023 and I can't deal with this until then.

Ann is fixed and stitching continues as time allows.  But that's getting less and less.

As is my patience and temper.  Crabs can sometimes morph into sharks.  Big fricking hungry sharks.

Be safe everyone.  

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Should it stay or should it go

 I say go.  

In the 4th line my letters moved down after the P.  Row 5 will be too close, once stretched it will be more noticed.  I can remove/lower three letters to the P and all of row 5.  Other option is remove/raise all letters after the P which would be as it should.  Same amount of work, I'll decide today so I can continue.

Change of Christmas dinner plans.  Still no reply to calls, no help. Add the mess of bringing all items back home increasing the ridiculous clutter, I decided it would be a fiasco.  Crock pot Italian shredded beef, pasta salad, corn casserole, pickled and deviled eggs.  Boom.  Grab a plate, find a spot, when you want.  Sit down table set dinner .... was nice years ago.  Informal with no time demands is less stress for everyone.  

With tools out for modifying some areas of her house, we made a door for the cupboard I made years ago.  Matching aged pine is quite difficult, but I'm pleased with the result.  May be painted/aged at some point.

Yesterday was hours at the dentist, miserable result.  Second time....  not going through it again.

Have a nice day everyone.

Thanks for taking the time to visit.

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Saturday

So this is Ann so far.  Working on the blue section and that is so much easier than the prior rows.  I do need to finish the diamond band before I forget completely.  When I was mounting for a framer, part of the job was to look over the work and mention any obvious omissions or possible errors.  There were quite a few and I have been more cautious of leaving an area to return to later.  Sometimes, I forget!

This is the fern after snowfall, and I wonder how much longer it will retain color before shriveling to brown.

If you've wondering about Carole, as usual with my state's agencies and employees that can't be fired, no one has shown yet.  Or called.  The orders were...

to have meds delivered 

an aide to go over them with her and get into the pill box for a full week

the no sodium meals were to be delivered for the freezer (week at a time)

the incontinence pads

the protective bed pads

the aides to help with mobility, preparing meals, taking meds, bathing

the personal safety device to call for help

to accompany her in a transport to the doctor office

Not. one. thing. has. been. done. including a simple phone call to report that there will be a delay, problem, ask if she was with someone, got her meds, is she safe, does she have food.  This was set up by a case worker a week before, and except for a shortage of caregivers, no other issues were mentioned.  The pharmacy delivers, not a caregiver.  The meals are delivered by an agency, not a caregiver.  The underwear is delivered by mail, not a caregiver.  The safety alert is installed by the company, not a caregiver.  Leaving a bilateral amputee of 84 with no food, medication, or care is inexcusable.  Dangerous, irresponsible, inexcusable.  But not surprising because even supervisors in charge of employees that are paid to do nothing, are not held accountable.  This bullshit of protecting any government branch employee not being required to do their job, no consequence, no firings, especially managers, infuriates me.  She came home on Thursday, Friday afternoon I made calls, and was told that they MAY call her and set up a few things next Tuesday or Wednesday.  What would a patient do that did not have family willing to take over?  We got her pills straightened out after several hours and many pharmacy calls and trips.  We took oatmeal, eggs, farina, and some bland food over, Matt's girlfriend has been helping her with personal tasks.  I have dentist and doc appts Monday and Chris will be at work.  Making meals tomorrow, and Mark has another project to remove the built in desk with countertop and cut down/reinstall so she can get into the kitchen.  Even after measuring the width of the chair including those wonky wheels, she is barely getting through areas thought would be easy.

It's flosstube weekend and I am looking forward to my fav star's posting.

Christmas in a week, Monday is hours at the dentist, then a doc visit, Tuesday baking nutrolls after court, Wednesday chiropractor + a second batch of nutrolls since I screwed up the first, Thursday I need to accompany her to her doctor via transport, Friday is my new rheumatologist out of town, Saturday to her house to prepare table and such for .... Sunday, Christmas ravioli dinner.  Must plan a day in there to make sauce, meatballs, ribs.  Yikes.

Stitch away folks, stitch away.

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Next year?

 Yes!

Couldn't sleep.  Dim lights, total quiet, hot pack on my low back.  Ahhh.  A few Advil and a cold drink to soothe my dryness.  Monkey (Missy) staring at things that are not there is freaking me out while a loud noise of something falling behind me is puzzling.  Thought browsing a little online would be nice, lots of catching up to do.  And then I see them.  BOOM!

Huge ornaments for outdoor decorating!  How did I miss these?  I am not one to have large Christmas displays, prefer fewer and simple.  Holy balls of jingle.  I love these!!  Two on my front deck with lit tree or large hanging star and I'm in!  From Amazon, Pottery Barn, Grandin Road, many offers. Some are basically beach balls, some need a pump to keep them inflated, some ($$$$) are resin.  

If I can come up with a way to create my own, I may give it a shot next year.  Right now in the morning fog, a balance ball is all I'm coming up with that is 30" or more.  Then again, my memory issue may erase this by next year, or my meno issue may change my mind about it.

They just really struck a chord and surprised me!

Have a good day folks.  You know where I'll be.

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Winner

 Hi folks.  Back home.  Until tomorrow.

Winner of the Kogut is Cathie J.  

Thanks to all for participating! 

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