Simple Saturday

I didn’t wake up until 6:30 a.m. on Saturday. It was still cold (33 degrees) and windy. On a plus note, I never did see any snow or snowflakes. Must have been in the suburbs…

I got a coffee and filled in the Blog. That actually took two cups of coffee to complete.

Then I went and watched the morning news. It finished at 10:00 a.m. and I reluctantly got ready for the Saturday errands. It was a windy 35 degrees F., which is why I was reluctant!

I went to Kroger’s first. I was only buying things I knew I needed. The big ticket item was cat treats (I was almost out). I also got some more English muffins for my weekday breakfast and a few other miscellaneous items.

On the way back, I saw a beautiful small maple tree, gloriously colored. Since there are so few trees still left intact and in full color, I stopped and took a picture of it.

Next, I stopped at CVS. Then I went through the old Farmer Jack parking lot to Plymouth Road. I noticed (again) just how many trucks back up to both my neighbor’s and my backyards. So, I took a picture to show you. It’s like I have a truck stop, right out back!

View from parking lot

View from my back wall

Sidebar: If you are a long (long) time reader, you will remember two or three times in the past where trucks backed in to spend the night and ended up knocking down my wall. The landlord bitched, and later I bitched and they ended up replacing it several times. To prevent that from ever happening again, they put in massive cement things. But I realized today that they are only behind my yard, not my neighbor’s. Good luck, Rick!

Once inside, I stripped the bed and started the weekend wash. I went to take out the boneless pork chops (my Sunday dinner) and a pound of ground chuck (for today’s sloppy joes). I realized that, despite how small it is, I had no idea just what’s in the refrigerator freezer anymore.

So, I got out my big cooler and took everything out of it. I made a list as I put it all back and will post it. Even I was surprised!

Then I went out back and refilled the bird and squirrel feeder. Note: Despite the sunshine, it is so cold and windy that no birds or squirrels are moving about. Apparently, they are smarter than me.

My deciduous trees vary wildly in the amount of leaves left.

This one has almost no leaves

Right next to it, this one's still hanging on

Near the house, the two maples on the right are bare, the one on the left is still almost full

 

Back inside, I got the first load out of the washer and then started the second.  I cleaned the main bathroom and then took a break, reading in the living room.

Sidebar: November 1^st is Book Lovers Day, BTW.

After a while, I began to feel hungry. So, I went and browned the pound of ground chuck. I threw in a good handful of chopped sweet onions near the end (for crunch) and then drained the skillet. I added a can of Manwich and let that get happy and warm.

While it did, I toasted two slices of Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse Sourdough bread (I’m not that fond of hamburger buns). Then I assembled a thick sandwich, added a pickle to the plate and ate an easy-peasy, satisfying late lunch. I wished I’d had some chips, but I rarely buy them in a big bag. They go stale before I can finish them.

I cleaned up the mess and put away the leftovers, then I fired up the dishwasher.

I made the bed with the clean sheets and thought I’d take a nap. But, I couldn’t fall asleep. Annoyed at myself, I got up and reset all the clocks in the house.

I went back to reading until I called my Brother Carl. He’s found me a woodworking side job, building a computer desk for a mutual friend of ours. I have the dimensions, but I still need to call her to determine the style she wants.

I watched the nightly news and called her after that, figuring most people (except me) are done with dinner by then. Unfortunately, all I got was her voicemail. I told her she didn’t have to call me back, I’d try again tomorrow.

I was getting hungry again, so I warmed up a bowl of the kielbasa and sauerkraut. I checked the TV menu and found a couple to tape, but nothing compelling to watch. So, I read until bedtime, being that it's Book Lover’s Day and all…