The beginning of May seems like a good time for a Bits and Pieces post, so here's what's going on for me right. I've used both Bits and Pieces and Right Now as labels, but since I couldn't choose, I'm calling this one Bits and Pieces Right Now.
Making - Lasagna,
bread, and brownies. We've got some friends that are caring for their
98-year-old mother who has dementia, at home. They have a visiting nurse
that comes three times/week, but that's really just to check vitals.
Some stories about their mother are funny, like the one where she swears
she sees monkeys and otters in the back yard, and how she has forgotten
that she has eaten so she often asks for six meals a day. She can't be
left alone and needs assistance almost hourly throughout the night, so caring for her is exhausting. I'm not sure how I can best help, so I made ziti,
garlic knots, and brownies before and decided that another meal was in
order. This lasagna is really not my best effort, but next time I'll make sure to use a deeper disposable pan.
Looking Forward To - My turn in the library queue for some of my holds, like Broken Country, The First Gentleman, The Names, and Turning to Birds.
Also Looking Forward To - Seeing what happens in the NJ Gubernatorial Race. I knew we would be voting for a new Governor in 2026, so I was quite surprised when a ballot showed up in my mail last week. I had completely forgotten about Primaries, and it seems as if everybody and their brother might be running. All I knew about some of the names on the ballot was who had posted the most signs in the neighborhood, and there were quite a few I hadn't heard about at all. Luckily for me, they all had websites saying they were the best and their opponents were the worst, but I did finally decide on one after seeing what he has accomplished as Mayor of Jersey City. The actual Primary election isn't until June 10th, but after that the field of 15 candidates will be narrowed down.
Hoping - That John plants something in the garden that I actually want. I use a lot of cherry tomatoes, chives, and shallots, but he doesn't know if there will be room for them. I have started chive seeds in a pot that I can use here, and I also have tomato seedlings, but I guess I'll just have to wait and see what gets planted in the garden.
Drinking - Peppermint tea, raspberry lemonade, and Yuengling. I hardly ever drink alcohol any more, but I really felt like having a beer. After a quick trip to the liquor store, now I have six five of them.
Wondering - If we are going to be experiencing another toilet paper shortage. Jon Stewart made an offhand comment about it in one of the episodes I watched yesterday, and I wondered what the reasoning might be. After reading about how tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber might affect the availability of northern bleached softwood kraft pulp (NBSK), a material derived from wood chips that is used to make toilet paper and paper towels, I understood. NBSK makes up about 30% of standard US bathroom tissue and 50% of paper towels. I can live without paper towels quite easily, but not toilet paper. Yes, I realize that by buying extra toilet paper now I'm contributing to shortages and possibly even creating one artificially. But aside from not seeing loved ones and the constant worry, the pandemic was awful because of shortages and I'm not looking forward to going through that again.
Ready For - High pollen season to be over. My car is yellow, my eyes are red and itchy, and I wake up feeling congested and headachey.
Grateful For - Sudafed, Motrin, and antihistamine eye drops.
Avoiding - Housework. I really should dust, vacuum, and mop the kitchen floor, but every day I say, "Fiddle-dee-dee!" like I'm Scarlett O'Hara and sit down to read or knit.
What's going on in your world right now?
the allergies are awful!! I can't take anything except steroid nasal spray. I don't want a TP shortage, lol. that was stressful.
ReplyDeleteYou had a lot to say in this post, and I loved it. You are very kind to make meals for caregivers, Bonny. It is a thoughtful package of love and goodwill to do so. Yes, everyone running for office is perfect and angelic, and everyone else is the devil. No wonder our electorate is so uninformed. They never talk about issues anymore. It takes real initiative to find out what they are about past the perfectly posed pictures of hem with their families. I am really appalled that people vote based on signs and photos. Oops, sorry, got off on a tangent. :( What is John planting? All gardens must have tomatoes! In the south, he would be tarred and feather for no tomatoes. Thanks for the John Stewart recommendation. I remember when everyone thought he was radical. Isn't that a hoot? My SIL confessed she was buying a lot of TP yesterday. I ordered a bidet hand wand a couple of weeks ago, but I guess I need to get some TP. I have a 12 pack of Yuengling in my frig. I don't drink it often, but I like knowing it is in there for emergencies, which happen more frequently than in the past. It's hard to beat
ReplyDeleteIs there a limit on word counts in comments HAHAHA I don't know how that got posted without my permission. Pollen season is just about over down here, so hang in there. I have stopped using my Nasocort as a trial. It gets me through the worst of it with less agony. Ditto on housework. I wish someone would send me such a whimsical email. OK, I'm done, because the length of this comment is just embarrassing. :)
DeleteAllergies really are bad right now. I can tell because I've had itchy eyes and that's not a symptom I usually have. Thank goodness for antihistamines! You are so kind to make a meal for your friends, and I'm sure they'll enjoy it all the more because of the care that went into it. I hope that now if something not-so-great happens, you can dismiss it by saying, "At least I didn't lose my peacock!"
ReplyDeleteYou are so kind Bonny to prepare food for your friends and I am sure they greatly appreciate it. John HAS to plant tomatoes - it is a crime not to do so! When I was little, a man who lived up the street from my grandparents in Vermont had a flock of peacocks. If I remember correctly, they can kind of be nasty! Maybe it got lost from Grounds for Sculpture? We are still sleeping with windows open at night, but both Fletch and I are coughing and clearing our throats all night long! Allergies seem worse than ever. I'm in queue and so close to getting a number of books - probably it will be an avalanche in the next week or so (not a bad problem).
ReplyDeleteLovely yarn! I hate to admit it but I'm still hoarding TP and other things that caused me anxiety during lockdown. I've got a whole shelf filled with pasta, rice and dried beans and I've started putting money in envelopes in our safe.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you should be ashamed to admit "hoarding"; I call it being prepared!
DeleteI just finished Turning to Birds and I loved it! So much! We have a neighbor with dementia and watching the family effort to keep him in his home is heartwarming. But, yes, they are all exhausted with the effort. I expertly avoided housework but I fear that next week I won't be able to ignore it any longer! Sigh. But that peacock... and your neighbor thinking that you somehow lost a peacock is the funniest thing ever!
ReplyDeleteMaking a meal for a caregiver is a very kind thing to do and helpful for them. The pretty sock yarn almost matches the peacock. They are screechers though. Oy, I hadn't even considered a toilet paper shortage. Today I saw something about the threat of a bird flu epidemic. With our current president, this feels all too familiar.
ReplyDeleteNo peacock sightings here either! Hope you get those cherry tomatoes in the garden - seems like a very bountiful use for a very tiny plot of garden? or maybe John just doesn't LIKE cherry tomatoes?
ReplyDeleteThis is a great newsy post but the email about the peacock really takes the cake! I think you're so thoughtful to make those meals for your friends and I'm sure it was well received and greatly appreciated. Do we need to sit John down and have a chat about his garden? I'm willing to explain that a happy wife means a happy life in case he hasn't figured that out just yet. Our yellow pollen is just starting and I'm already over it!
ReplyDeleteOh, THE PEACOCK! We just have turkeys around here . . .
ReplyDeleteI know that bringing meals to stressed families is such a wonderful gift. What a lovely gesture for your friends. I can't imagine the strain of long-term care of an elder with dementia, but I'm sure they appreciate having a home-cooked meal delivered (with love). And John???? What are you thinking??? Cherry tomatoes. Chives. Shallots.
How thoughtful of you to make a meal for your friends! I'm sure it was appreciated! That peacock is gorgeous! The only large birds around here are hawks, turkey vultures, and turkeys. When I lived in NY a white peahen hung around the backyard of one of the doctors I worked with because he fed it cereal every morning!
ReplyDeleteWe still don't know who the peacock belongs to, but if I do happen to see him I'll try to feed him some cereal!
Delete