Workout, Misfits and Wodehouse

Thursday morning was about watering the flower seedlings then free weights and standing exercises, a whole bank of both, 5lb each hand, 6lb each leg, then stretches, finishing with a walk.  

When I first got back into leg weights, I thought at first I hadn't put equal amounts into each sleeve. My left leg was so much weaker than the right, after surgery, that I know thought I'd put too much weight on it. Now they feel pretty much equal, so I must have gained strength.

After all that exertion, a rest with a few  minutes with a heating pad, and lunch of tuna mashed potatoes,  I was hardly able to stay awake for Misfits.

I managed it, and this is where I realize I lost track of time and forgot to order eggs and yogurt before the ordering window closed. Also cheese.

But I will survive, with cod, maybe battered, and maybe with tomatoes and olives in some sort of southern French invention. The tomatoes will also work with the available cheese and eggs in a bake.  

The apricots will make a sauce or a preserve thing, and the strawberries need no help. This week it's Envy apples, there being no Gala available. The fruit is so beautiful it's amazing that it's  sold at a discount for size, too big or small, or surplus. 

Coffee has become a vital early morning need, a simple Melitta pour over.

So that's Thursday, followed by a rest. 

A bit hot in the afternoon on the deck, near 90. But happy day everyone, whatever your weather.

I stayed out a while, then came in and dozed until teatime, chocolate pudding, strawberries and a pot of tea. I needed light relief from all that's going on and went for 

That did the trick.

In other protest news, there's a Not My King protest at the Trooping the Color event in London 

It seems that people who have a king don't want him and people whose current situation arose from rebelling against a king also don't want one. Bad time for kings. Maybe a different career path is indicated.

Misfits day and entertainment set up

I'm getting very independent with my Misfits now, bringing it in without help. Bit by bit, that is. I don't wrestle the whole box off the ground. 

Here's Ronald arriving on time and doing a nice job 

Apricots to replace apples this week, berries to go with yogurt, 

two oversized lemons, free with points, new supply of yellow potatoes. 

The last tiny couple of the previous batch of potatoes are sprouting and I'm planning to plant them in a container, to stretch the harvest.  Potting soil arrived this morning. Timing.

Little shells for tuna casserole, anchovies for flavor somewhere, maybe in the curried black beans happening tomorrow.  Spinach is a staple, I chuck it into a lot of dishes. 

And I sneaked in dark (virtuous) chocolate covered raisins, nutritious. My story and I'm a stickin to ut!

In other food/gardening news, the celery is moving along 

Today the DVD entertainment is a revisit of Gently. I remember liking this long ago, mainly for the actor playing Gently, but otherwise it will be like new.

Happy day everyone, it's hot here, high 80s, so it's about walking early, which I did, and slowing down in the afternoon,  which I might.

Grantchester and Misfits

Today I made a trip to the library to return Foyle and borrow a season of Grantchester on DVD. Lovely greetings on my  front step as I was leaving,  from a family member next door visiting Gary. 

We talked about Hippolyta, J's replaced shoulder, and physical therapy. I admired her new range of motion, and it was a good start to the day.

At the library there was a rush of feet and "Leez!!"  And it was P, the librarian in charge of the knitting group, running across the room, evidently pleased to see me up and doing. She added herself to the list of people telling me not to overdo.

In other medical news, I have officially retired Walker Two-step and Carol Cane, and Greta Grabber remains downstairs. Onward!

Before Misfits came, lunch was pasta with a sauce using the last of the pasta and the last of the spicy sausage, diced tomatoes, butter, garlic powder and dried onion. Grated fresh Parmesan over it. Plenty for a couple more meals and maybe additions to soup.

It's a while since I had a good pasta with a big sauce. This was spicy because of the sausage, no need for the dried peppers I usually add. 

Here's Misfits today 

I think the Gala apples are finished for now, so I need a different fruit for morning breaks. Breaks. As if I'm toiling away and needing a rest, yeah.

There goes Haleem 

So it's the first cantaloupe of the season. I'll give it a day or two then cut into it. Quite a small haul today, replacement avocado oil, I seem to use a lot, lazy lady's bread, canned peaches and blueberries, for desserts with yogurt. I've come to prefer this yogurt to Nancy's for now. 

Panko because there will be breaded shrimp at some point. Tony's chocolonely needs no explanation except that it's been a while. Fair trade sugar, more expensive but a better food chain than supermarket granulated. Also with an actual flavor, not just a hit of sweetness.

And peacefully getting on with it near the kitchen window, the celery heart is putting out growth. See the little sprouting bit in the middle.

Happy day everyone, I'm going to watch Grantchester with a pot of tea.

Rain again today, what a surprise. I still have two doors, destined for the outside storage area here and next door,  leaning against the living room wall, because there have still not been two consecutive dry days to prime and paint them. 

Handsome Son's development has been trying to pave and stripe the parking lots for weeks. Up to now one section is done and all the others are repeatedly rain delayed. 

The water company sent a flyer reminding us we're still under water restrictions from last year. Still not enough in the reservoirs to compensate for the drought. Maybe if they moved the reservoir to my backyard the drought would be addressed.

Happy day everyone. When all else fails, try a nap and a piece of chocolate.

Ted sez 

Meanwhile a riddle, Shug made me do it.

Brothers and sisters have I none

But that man's father is my father's son.

Who is "that man" in relation to the speaker?

Misfits today, I must be strong

Today Rameer delivered the Misfits box and took the ice and cooler bag.

This is about $60 in groceries. I must be getting stronger. Years ago I could scarcely lift $60 in groceries..

Anyway chicken drumsticks which I'll roast all at once and have ready for salads, soup, curry, whatever else I fancy. 

Plant based spicy sausage for spaghetti sauce, burger type things, shrimp for various meals, and I'm thinking of breading with panko, because the tofu sticks were so good. Maybe bread some chicken, too. 

Lime juice for afternoons on the deck. Oat milk to go with the muesli from last week, and because I'm too lazy this week to make my own. 

Yogurt to go into a nice cake recipe I'm swiping from blogger Beatrice, thank you. Also for afternoon tea on the deck. Berries with breakfast muesli.

Now a rest, then a walk maybe, and reading Trollope on the deck. This is the life!

Happy day everyone, what's your version of reading Victorian novelists on the deck?

Ted wants to know 

Misfits, smoothies, surprise and kind offers

Today is Misfits day, this time Ronald has the honors, and the morning shift.

Neighbor contractor Mike who designed the risers for my sofa saw the pink truck arrive and carried in the box for me.

I got a refund on the eggs because two arrived cracked, very unusual. The other ten are fine but eggs count as a unit so Misfits takes  the loss on the dozen.

Sugar because I use sugar, and this is organic and fair trade, or I suppose as fair as you can get in the sugar trade. Nice pack of hake, affordable white fish which will make fish cakes and whatever else I think of, maybe just battered and fried.  Spinach which will make an appearance below, along with berries and a couple of these apples.

You'll notice other things happening in the background on the stove too. That's because I finally got around to making the crunchy tofu sticks. So easy and I really enjoy them. 

I make a dozen sticks from one container of extra firm tofu. Simple batter, panko, fry in avocado oil, dipping sauce made of ketchup, soy sauce and a dash of oil. Done. Today's lunch was roast chicken chunks with tofu sticks.

I forgot a picture of mine, but they're pretty much like these

This also gives you the reference to find the recipe on YouTube.

And I found a smoothie idea on Shug's blog, thank you, Ivy,  which I tried with the ingredients I have, not much resemblance to the original. I don't like the name smoothie, a bit twee, but I do like the results, and definitely appreciate the reminder.

Gala apples, blueberries, spinach, milk, honey, blended 

Here's two instant breakfasts or something. It's a nice mix, not all smooth, more of a roughy, but good anyway.

Today was not all food. I made it to the mailbox and met a couple of neighbors on the way, who both offered help in the next little while, so nice. 

Then there was actual mail in the box, a beautiful pop-up from C, thank you so much. 

I've been playing with it. Local birds there, too. It's a great lift to my spirits on a grey cold day. 

Good day, and I'm recovering from yesterday's excitement. My shoulders definitely feel the results of lying for long periods on my back, arms stretched above my head.  But there's worse stuff around us,  not much to complain about really. 

Happy day everyone. I may need to wait a day to crochet, to give the shoulders a rest, but that's fine. I'm planning the stitch pattern, simple, the size, small, figuring out the hook and number of chains to start. For once I'm thinking ahead, amazingly.

And in more direct resistance,  I wrote an email to one of those treacherous Dems who voted for the SAVE act, which will disenfranchise millions, Jared Golden, of Maine. 

The others close their contacts to anyone outside their district.  If you're in the districts of Ed Case, Hawaii, Henry Cuellar, Texas, or Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Washington State, please give them your thoughts. Firmly. 

Misfits and Two Proud Walkers

Yesterday I asked on Freecycle if anyone had a walker, because it turns out I need not only  the downstairs one I already have from HP, but another for upstairs. I used to have a second one and donated it years ago.

Within minutes I had not just an offer, but a choice! With wheels or rubber feet. And the Freecycler said he'd deliver it today because they were going to be in the area on their way somewhere. So here it is 

And here's my benefactor getting in his car ready to help someone else 

When I thanked him he said, nah, it's what I do!  

And I made a couple of just-in-time discoveries. One is that the cortisone shot would put a three month delay on surgery, one that the bone density shot would put a six month delay. Good thing I hadn't had either yet. One scheduled next week, one the week after.  

I see the surgeon Monday,  to get surgery scheduling started, and have him confirm whether I have to bag one shot, postpone the other. The bone density doctor's nurse tells me the shot can usually be postponed safely, wants me to talk again after I see the surgeon.

It's all go. My new normal. I feel like a traffic cop directing all these medical and surgical threads.

Meanwhile Kareem brought the Misfits box, and took away the returns 

Small order this week. The "mystery color" chard turns out to be plain green this time. Tofu for crunchy sticks, because I liked that a lot, with a dipping sauce. Apples for midmornings, berries with the yogurt already in the fridge for desserts, sardines because it's been ages. 

Today I was a bit tired, after the doings of a couple of days, but anyway I changed the bed, did two loads of laundry, put everything away compulsively, did my PT work like a model patient, even cleaned and changed the filters on my hearing aids (!) and got into a Hamish Macbeth. 

Tonight I'm making a chickpea tuna salad. I might make flatbread since I'm all out of bread. I always need some form of bread around. 

Happy day everyone, when in doubt I overdo. But you don't have to.

Billie Takes a Stand: don't mess with me, mean people, you know who you are, making my food more expensive. I will bite your ankle.