Grocery Shopping (Finally)

I didn't wake up until after 7:00 AM (with the alarm buzzing since 6:30). I jumped up in a panic and looked out the window. Whew! Thank God all the neighbors trash cans were still full. So, I threw on some clothes, gathered up yesterday's trash and took the two bags out to the road.

Back inside, I filled in the Blog and posted it. I took the now-hard baguette and cut it into chunks for the birds and squirrels, and then I pitched it outside under the bird feeder.

I started making my breakfast about 8:30 AM. I cooked up a batch of the Irish steel cut oatmeal. I have a lot of buttermilk left from those onion strips and I love it on top of this porridge (that's the traditional Irish way).

So, I spooned up a small bowlful when it was ready (you can't eat a lot of this stuff, I've learned), sprinkled it with some salt and topped it with a splash of buttermilk.

Lu called me while I was finishing up, to thank me for the card and present (it was a small, antique brass ladle I thought would look good in her and Sadie's kitchen). She had just opened it up, having taken an extended weekend trip to a ski lodge in northern Pennsylvania. The woman never ceases to surprise me!

I shaved and showered, got dressed and headed out to the now-dreaded real grocery shopping trip. As you may have noticed, I have been just popping into local small markets for weeks now. But, I am running seriously low on lots of staples (paper products, cleaning products, various vinegars and cooking oil, etc.). So, it's time to bite the bullet and go to Meijer's (it should have been Kroger's as I like it better, but Meijer's had the better deals, this time).

Interesting factoid: I am not wearing a winter coat, but my spring one today. Yes, its that warm (45 degrees at 11:00 AM) already, here.

I was very proud of myself for sticking to my list! I didn't make one impulse buy!! And, everything I bought (other than nine items I really needed) was on sale. But, I still spent $134.88!!!

I had a groaning cart when I pushed through the "out" door. I unloaded it into the truck and headed home.

After treating the cats, I put that bill I needed to send in the mailbox and then began to unload the car. This took forever and putting it all away took longer yet. The only enjoyment I had was throwing the plastic bags on the kitchen floor. They float in the air for a bit, you see, and Caley thinks they are toys. So, she bats them about and half the time gets her head stuck in them. It's quite amusing!

I checked the phone and saw my brother Jim had called. So, I called him back. He wanted to let me know that, with the coming of spring, he was about to put the cottage up for sale. I immediately volunteered to help clean out the basement (or whatever) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I still feel embarrassed and ashamed I left it all to others (mostly Joe and Kathy as I recall) regarding the New Baltimore house. I know I was in a stupid sling after my operation, but still...

BTW: My back hurts...

So, having all the stuff put away, I decided to take the rest of the day off. I still have two books left and they (and the couch) are calling me. I suppose I should do "something" but I don't know what that "something would be and I don't feel like it. So, I filled in the Blog to date and at 2:30 PM, I grabbed the next book and hit the couch...

I read on either the couch or the bed the rest of the afternoon. I made another Cuban sandwich for dinner (I bought some hoagie buns) along with some crinkle-cut fries I baked in the toaster oven.

I watched some TV but went to sleep early.