Monday, March 6, 2023

January 2023


January was a cold and snowy day!!   We woke up on New year's Day and found a wet heavy snow had fallen, (only about 6 inches).  But it was so heavy that it bent over and pull one of my 13 year old lilac bushes out of the ground and bent over most of the other branches.  The rose bushes out front, were all bent over, hoping they survive.  Looks like we'll be replacing quite a few of our flowing shrubs this spring.
We continued to have lots of snow storms 2 or 3 times every week.  Near the end of the month, a friend of ours had extra tickets to a local community playhouse, so we went to see "Indiana Bones:", (yes you read right), at the Deseret Star Theatre.  We laughed and had a good time.  Other than that, it was a stay at home month.  Here's to a new year.

February 2023

.Another cold and snowy month...good for the water level.  The old time farmers used to say, "Snow in February, means good garden crops in the fall".  I'm hoping.


The first part of February, Dave and I went to Oahu, Hawaii for a week.
It was nice to get away from the Utah winter weather.  We took a whale watching boat tour, but didn't see any whales.  They had a "If you don't see any whales, you can re-book again for FREE".  Unfortunately, 2 days later the Trade winds kicked up, and small crafts were'nt allowed on the waters, so we didn't get to re-book the tour.  We also went to a magic show.  It was really good, a small, (9 people), audience.  Very up close and personal.  But I still couldn't figure out how he did the magic.  One day while at the mall, the "Kings Grand Hawaiian Bank" was doing a lunch time performance.  We found some great seats and had a wonderful performance.  And it was free.

5 Days after we got home from Hawaii, we woke up to 24 inches of snow.  Dave cleaned our drive and walk 2 times, and some wonderful neighbors, brought her children and her sister over, and they even shoveled it once, (so grateful to them).  It just kept coming!!).  No one went anywhere.  The governor issued a "Stay at home" alert.  So - we stayed at home.  We got more smaller storms on and off the rest of the month.  I know I'm sick of winter, but we sure do need the water.  The ski resorts are reporting over 56 feet of snow - so far!!

Be safe friends and family.  And start making your summer vacation plans.

Thursday, January 12, 2023

December 2022

And so the year finally drew to an end...   And a very cold month it was to end the year.
Dave and I had a very quiet stay at home month.  Dave continued to work at Honey Baked Ham, and I continued my physical therapy with the worker's comp doctors.  I was finally released to return to full work duty on December 28th, but I never was put back on the schedule and quite honestly will not ever return to Honey Baked again.
On the 3rd, we went to see the Broadway play "Moulin Rouge", at the Eccles Theater.  They brought the TONY award that the play won for Best Musical.  It was so cool to see this particular TONY up close.  It was quite beautiful.  The play had been set to new music, but pretty much followed the original story lines from the movie and original play.  Dave really like it, but I didn't care for the music so much.



On New Year's Eve, we went to see comedian, Bill Engvall, perform his last show.  He was officially retiring and it was a great 2 hour show.  We laughed so much, and had such great seats.  All the material was new, no repeat.  He told stories about his childhood, his wife and marriage, he and his buddies, and being 65 and getting older in life.  Stories that one could relate to an laugh about.  The show was taped, and we will definately watch it, when it is aired on a cable or pay-per-view show.  We found out that a friend, (the one who goes to Cabo alot that we met up with this year), also went.  He called Dave that night, and they laughed about the show all over again.  Before the show we had an early dinner at the Red Inguana Restaurant, a Mexican restaurant.  It was great food.  I haven't been there since I retired from Wells Fargo, and this was Dave's first time.  We both loved it, and left well fed.

On the 12th Dave had to go in for minor out patient surgery.  He has once again been having trouble with his swallowing.  So the surgeon had to go in with a balloon type device and inflate in his throat near his esophagus.  He also scoped the area and removed a couple of small sections that were beign.  After a couple of hours, Dave was OK, and hasn't had a problem since.  He had this procedure a few years back, and so we knew what to expect.  
That closed out our year.  Here's hoping our friends and family had a good year, and have a happy and healthy new year ahead.  And to those friends who are finally taking to leap this coming year into retirement, welcome aboard!!  You're going to love it.  You'll find you're more busier than ever, but it's doing the things YOU want to do.  So just enjoy the ride, but keep busy.  HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.


 

Monday, January 2, 2023

October and November 2022

October meant that our garden just kept producing.  We now were going out every other day and bringing in more and more items.  The cooler temps were great for the garden.  Finally during the 3rd week of October, I got the feeling that we needed to clear the garden of everthing that we could, (with the exception of the carrots).  Even though no frost was predicted during the rest of the month, I still felt it was time to clear out the garden produce, (just to be safe).  Dave and I spent the whole afternoon on a Wednesday picking all the items that were left in the garden, and getting the garlic for next year planted and covered over.  We placed everything, (including the green tomatoes), in the garage, and then I could get as much as possible canned and into the freezer.  It was a good thing we did, becauce that Saturday, an unexpected killing frost hit.  Dave said - Good foresight on your part.
When people see our garden, and say "I wish or I dream of someday having a garden like yours".  I refer back to his photo.  I have even sent on facebook in response to a couple of people who have mentioned that they wish they had time to gave a garden.  This is so true...




On the 28th of October, Dave and I left for a cruise along the NE shores along New England and Canada.  Dave has always wanted to see the fall colors.  We were really a week to late, but there was still some color.  Our trip left New York, (NY), with stops in Newport, (RI), Boston, (MA), Barbor, (ME), Saint John Canada, Halifax Canada, and back to NY, (NY).  at total of 7 days and 7 nights.  
When we got into our room, I opened the curtains to the balcony, and this was the wonderful view we had of the Statue of Liberty.  It was a wonderful sight.


At our first stop in Newport, we stayed on the ship, and treated ourselfs to a couples massage.  It was wonderful.

The second stop was in Boston.  We took an historic "Duck tour" of the area.  There was so much to take in and learn.  We would like to go back and visit the area again and spend more time visiting and walking around the town.  So much history - everyone should visit Boston at least once, and take a guided tour.


Next we stopped at Bar Harbor, where we visited Acadia National Park.  Dave and I visited this park in the Spring several years ago, and so it was nice to go back and see it in the fall.  If you look very close, you will see a house in this photo.  This house belongs to the famous producer, Dick Wolf, (actually it now belongs to his ex-wife, she got it in the divorce).  Dave and I watch a lot of this shows, (the Law and Order series, The FIB series, The Chicago Fire, Med, and PD series.  The man reads a newspaper and see a show in the reporter's story, and it becomes a hit.

While in Bar Harbor, we made a stop for lunch to get one of Dave's favor meals.










Yup, you guessed it.  A lobster lunch with all the fixings.  It was so good and so fresh.










After, we walked around town, did a little shopping and I got to see the flower beds around town.  I do enjoy seeing how people accent their homes.












On our next stop, Saint John, we had a guided toured around the area, and then got a chance to stop and do a little shopping at one of the indoor local vendor marketplaces.  We picked up some maple syrup, a few gifts, and looked at all the booths.  It was interesting that even though the area was under British rule, everyone speaks French and all the street signs are in French.














Then our final destination was Halifx.  We has a guided tour of the coastal area.  And stop for lunch as a little cafe by the historic lighthouse.  A few people on the cruise ship told us that the clam chowder was the best they ever ate.  Dave and I weren't too impressed by it, nor their lobster roll.

We returned home on November 5th, and spent the weekend resting and getting ready for the holiday rush at Honey Baked Ham.



Once home, I got a chance to dig up my carrots.  Since they had a couple of frost to give them a nice sweet taste, I wanted to get them out of the ground before it froze to hard.  I have several that were quite large, but overall they were nice sized and the taste was excellent.





I had an appointment with a surger for my torn rotor cuff.  He reviewed my MRI, and saw 3 tears.  He said the good thing was that the tears did not completely sever the muscle.  He gave me a cortisone shot and referred me to a physical therapist.  He said about 6 weeks and I should be major improvement. 
The Sunday before Thanksgiving, (the 20th of November), Dave and I were asked to go down to the Orem Honey Baked store to work.  Everything was going well, until 10 mintues before closing.  I was at the front of the store at a register.  I didn't see one of the young girls mopping.  She didn't properly clean up the wet floor, nor put up a wet floor a-frame sign.  I turned to walk to the back of the store, and the next thing I knew the General Manger was kneeing down on my right side saying, "Barb, are you ok?"  I don't know what happened, I still don't remember the fall, or even where exactly I fell.  I am not really sure if I blacked out for a couple of seconds.  Dave heard the GM, and came running from the back of the store to the front and knelt down on my left and said, "Barb, I'm here, can you hear me?".  I finally could get my breath, and could say, "Give me a minute".  I was laying in a very large puddle of water on the tile floor, and that's all I knew.  After a few more seconds, I finally said, "Dave, help me up".   Dave and the GM helped me up and into a chair.  The GM wanted to get me to the doctor, but I was so embarrassed.  I just kept saying, "Dave, take me home".  Dave took my home.  I have a killer headache, I hurt bad, and I could hardly walk.  Turned out the HR Benefits Mgr. said I needed to go get checked out for worker's comp.  The W/C doctor sent me to the ER for a MRI to check for a brain bleed.  I was diagnosed with a concussion, and sever contusions on my knees, back, front shoulders.  I was out of work for W/C physical therapy and doctor visits the rest of the year.  I had the headaches for over a month.
The last week of November, I had my annual checkup with my primary care doctor.  He noticed that I had not yet had a bone density scan.  He ordered one, and it turned our I have osteoprosis in my left hip and the right hip is starting to lose bone density also.  I was very lucky that I didn't break a hip when I fell.  I am now on medical that I take once a week to help rebuild some bone loss.  I feel like, I am suddenly falling apart!!
Dave and I spent Thanksgiving, just resting and didn't do much.  He is still working at Honey Baked Ham, while I am at home recoving from my fall.  We just did a little dinner, with only a few items.  It was nice.  Who knows, maybe next year we will go out to a nice restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner.
Here's hoping our friends have a nice holiday season and stay healthy and warm.


 





 

Sunday, December 25, 2022

September 2022

September began the riping of our garden, and the work to canning, freezing, and using up the bounty.

Our tomatoes were riping and we had some real nice size ones.  Our friends and neighbors were surprised at how large, sweet, and juicy our tomatoes were compared to theirs.  And our small salad tomatoes were so sweet and juicy also.










I would go out to the garden every 3 days and need to harvest quite a few.  The heat and lack of rain, just seemed to bring on the harvest faster.













And it wasn't just the tomatoes.  The squashes, green beans, potatoes, and corn also were ready almost all at once.












I canned 6 pints of marinara sauce, 6 pints of pasta sauce, and 6 quarts of tomatoes.  We gave away bags of tomatoes to friends and neighbors.  I baked several loafs of zucchini bread and zucchini cakes, and shredded and bagged zucchinni for the freezer to use this winter.  We ate most of the corn, it was so good, I only managed to freeze a small portion.  I put the butternut squash, spaghetti squash, and the few potatoes we dug in the garage to keep for use this winter.








Then I noticed, just as the apples were starting to get their yellow huish glow and getting ready to turn yellow, the birds were starting to flock to the tree.  Once again, it was a race out to the tree to pick the apples before the birds ate all of them down to the core.  They were so sweet and delicious.  We gave bags to our friends and neighbors, and they loved them.  At first they would ask, are they ripe?  We would answer yes, but you can let them set a couple days and they will get more yellow.  Most just ate them immediately.  I made a couple of cobblers, and an apple pie.  I slice some apples and put them in the freezer for this winter.  This was a good harvest from our little tree.





The second week of September, our washer suddenly just stopped working, (it was about 16 years old, we had replaced it when we lived in the West Jordan house).  So, we went to Lowe's picked out a new one, and I had to do one week's laundry at the laundrymat.  Oh, how I hated that day.  I was so delighted when the new washing maching showed up.
Dave and I are doing really good.  His carpal tunnel surgery last month made a world of difference in his hands.  I've been going to a pain specialist for my left shoulder, (she diagnosed it as a torn rotator cuff).  So far, I've had an X-ray, a cat scan, and an MRI.  She said now my next step is to see a surgeon who specializes in this.  My appointment is next month, and we'll see how things go.  We are both still working at Honey Baked Ham, so are days are full and we keep busy. 



 

Monday, December 19, 2022

July and August 2022

 July and August were both very quiet months at our house.  The summer was hot and dry.  Our garden struggled, with the heat and lack of rain, (but we gave it an extra watering late in the afternoon on the days that were over over 100 - where was most everyday!!).  
Due to the heat, our peaches came on early, (the first part of August).  But, due to a late snowfall in April, most of the bloom were killed off, so our mother nature did a natural pruning for us.  Once the birds started flocking to the tree, we knew it was time to hurry out and pick as quickly as possible.  Our peaches were nice size, VERY sweet, and juicy. We gave away bags to friends and neighbors, and took some to work for our co-workers to enjoy.  Since we already had plenty of canned peaches on our pantry shelves and in our freezer we just enjoyed this years harvest as a gift everyday.  I made a couple of nice cobblers, and they were so good.  Anyone who came to visit, left with a small bag of fresh juicy, sweet peaches to enjoy.  There was one small mishap - as we were picking our peaches, there was a small branch, (left on the tree from when we were pruning the tree in the spring, about 7 inches long and 4 inches around, and just my forehead height).  Dave was on the top of the ladder and I was on the ground.  I wasn't wearing my glasses and so I didn't see the branch stump and ran right into it hard.  It knocked me flat on my rear, and I actually saw stars for a couple of minutes.  I had a gash across my forehead, and the worse headace ever for about a week.  Everyone said I had a concussion and should have went to the doctor, but eventually the headache went away and all was well.  Maybe the peaches helped, (LOL).
Dave and I still worked at Honey Baked Ham, which filled most of our days.  Dave went back to visit Jared for his birthday for a long weekend in August.  Dave also had carpal tunnel surgery performed on both is wrists in August.  So, since he couldn't work for 2 weeks at Honey Baked, I covered his shift and mine  - it was long and hard hours.  We also spent time cleaning our items that we had boxed up downstairs, and started downsizing.  Alot went to charity, and some went to book donation bins, and some directly to trash.  We realized that our family isn't interested in our stuff when we pass on, so we decided to deal with it now rather than leave it for them to throw away later.  We looked at some of our memories, talked about them, and then moved on.  Otherwise, it was just a typical summer at home.

Monday, November 14, 2022

Aunt Mae's tomatoes

The first part of June, I was storting through my seeds deciding what to plant and putting them into piles by dates, (one for first part of June, middle of June and end of June).
I happened to find this plastic bag in with the seeds, and I thought, "Mmm, what could this be.  I don't remember putting this here, and it's looks really old."







I opened it up and found 2 newspaper clipping from January 1996, and I recongnized my Aunt Mae's handwriting on them.  I sat down and read them.  They were about different type of very large producing red and yellow tomatoes, their origins, and so forth.  She and I always had gardening in our blood, and we would sit and talk about it for hours.  I learned so much about it from her and my Uncle Minter.  They grew large garden every year, and would can hundreds of quart jars of produce to fill their cellar shelves.  Many a times I would visit and come home with my little car loaded down with enough boxes of canned food to last me until the next visit.  I would returned with her empty jars, and she would have another box ready for me to take back.  I think in her heart, they knew that was what sustained Mike and I during my college years, (when my income was very limited).  I also noticed to small folded pieced of paper along with the articles.?..
One was marked "Big Red Tomatoes" and the other "Big Yellow Tomatoes".  I opened them and inside were the seeds.  I chuckled at first, and them thought, "I've planted seeds that were 5 and 6 years old, and they grew.  Let's give these a try.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained".  I looked up to the heavens, and said, "It's in your hands now Aunt Mae.  You and the good Lord".  It's late in the season, but let's give it a try.  So I planted 6 red and 6 yellow.  A dozen and it still left me a few seeds.








I put 1 seed in each pot of starting mix, watered them, covered them with plastic wrap and set them in the south kitchen window.  I watched over them like a mother hen.  After about 2 weeksm they actually sprouted!!  I removed the plastic wrap, keep watering them, kept them in the window, moving them around, (so each of a share of the sunlight).  And they kept growing.  They were my little babies.  I called them Aunt Mae's tomatoes.  I had the outside of the pots marked R or Y, so I knew which were red or yellow.
After a couple more weeks, when they had their true leaves and were really looking like true tomatoes, and the outside temps were in the very low 70's, I took them outside to start harding them off.
Dumb me.  It got a little to windy and I lost all my yellow tomatoes and only my red tomatoes survived, (they were protected my a large planter of basil that was sitting in front of it).  So for a whole week I fussed and babied my red starts, and kept looking up and saying, "help my Aunt Mae.  They got to make into the ground".
Finally in July I had enough root system and the leafs looked nice and full and green.  I planted the 6 little guys, gave them some fertilizer and a good drink of water.  I looked heavenly and said, "I've done all I know how".









Once a week, I would feed them my special "banana water', so they would get potassium.  Man did it help them bloom.  They loved the hot weather we had this year, being in the good earth, and getting regular waterings.

Unfortunately the middle of August I lost 2 plants to curly leaf, and 1 go a fungus.  But I still had 3 left.   Many gardeners in our area were losing whole gardens to the fungs and pests.  The rest of my garden suffered just a few plant losses, but nothing major, (only 1 or 2 but bed).




Finally the middle of August I had green tomatoes!!!  And they were good sized ones.  I looked to the heavens and said, "Thanks Aunt Mae".  I told Dave, "Come look at Aunt Mae's tomatoes".  We had quite a few tomatoes and loads of bloom.  Dave said, "How old were those seeds?"  I said 26 years.  He shook his head.










10 days later I took a photo to show the size.  You can see by the light change in color, it is getting ready to ripen.  I was almost afraid to touch it, for fear it would fall off the branch.  You can see that there are others hanging on the branch close by.











Finally, September 6th, I couldn't wait any longer, so I picked one of the ripe tomatoes.  You can see, it's fairly large.  I left it on the counter for a couple days to continue ripening.  Everyday, Dave would ask, "Can we cut it now?"  Finally, we cut it up, and it was delicious.  All the tomatoes from the 3 plants were large, meaty, heavy, and so sweet.  I would pick up a slice of tomato, look upwards and say, "Thank you Aunt Mae".  

I did save tomato seeds from 2 different tomatoes, (just to be on the save side), for future planting.

From seed to ripe tomato in about 3 months - from 26 years old seeds.   Moral:  Take good care of your seeds, and they will produce.

Side note:  My Aunt Mae passed away in 2015, at the age of 91, just 4 months shy of her 92nd birthday.  She was sharp as a tack until the end, quick wit, and didn't hold her tongue when she thought you needed put in your place.  And, I still miss her today.  I carry much of what she taught me through life.  She was very much my second mother.