Tuesday Things....

 Thanks so much everyone, for your comments on the previous blog. I hope I responded to all, but as I''m generally mainly Internet free on Sunday and have still been unpacking, if I have not I apologize. Also, hopefully moderation is going well and you are seeing your comments shortly after you post unless you live in a very different time zone, cause I think we'll keep it for awhile. Easier to eliminate the nasty Boomer guy or gal, everyone who wants to cure herpes and tell me exactly how, and a few other oddballs that seem to have come out of the woodwork.

I'm mainly unpacked to the point that the normal things of life (at least Covid life normal) have returned.  Walks, exercise class as home, sewing, knitting, painting, TV binging, reading, sitting outside and chatting and all the other stay at home life things are mainly back on track. I just found out yesterday that there is a hairdresser who comes to the community so I will be hopefully non shaggy sometime this week (can't cut my hair with clippers any more when there's no one to do the nape and such). I can start to get back to bogging about normal non move things, although I am sure there will stil be some posts about the Texas adjustment.

Still working on the food issue, however, both in terms  filling up the smaller pantry with all the needs and cooking for just for me. For the moment I'm going with the fake it till you make it philosophy. I just picked up a large order from Sam's, and another from Kroger (although somehow I forgot both tomato paste and canned tomatoes).  I have a bunch of sides (some of them admittedly microwavable like 90 second rice and the mini mashed potatoes for one),  frozen and fresh vegetables, bagged salads and a few other things like frozen biscuits and hushpuppies. I ordered bulk packages of some meats including chicken thighs and pork chops and crab cakes and for now I'll rely on what I have as I experiment with this cookng for one thing. In theory I've planned for carryout at least once a week, but if I don't need to take advantage of it, that would be good. Not ready to work on the "prepping" idea quite yet, especially since I haven't had any real shortages, just substitutions here and there in my orders.

I did go to Aldi though, and actually wandered inside, since I haven't had one around for many years, and got a few special things (crackers, snacks, German treats, apple sausage and a few other items ike baking stuff which really cannot be found for the price anywhere else). I broke down and got one of those turntable spice racks with all the spices as a starter set. I also grabbed a store made stuffed turkey breast (cranberries and sausage) meal-and looked over their remaining Advent calendars.  

While I could wax on about Aldi, (starting with German chocolates and bake goods and moving onto the special deals aisle), the best thing about Aldi at this time of year are their Advent calendars.  Wine advent calendars, Ale/brew Advent calendars, Chocolate Advent Calendars, gourmet cheese Advent calendars, hard seltzer Advent calendars, sparkling wine calendars, a bath fizzer calendar, and dog and cat treat calendars. I'm sure there are more I missed.  They stocked them a week ago today, and there are almost none left in store (my daughter gifted me a gourmet chocolate calendar and an emporium cheese selection calendar). Oh, there are also about ten kid versions!  

I do believe that I may be joining the afternoon nap group on some days. Wasn't sure if I would return to night owl status once living alone, or how my natural clock would go, but I seem to be going to bed at ten, falling asleep at eleven and waking up by seven-but still feeling the need for a liedown many afternoons. Even when I was doing social butterfly thing I tred to save the time after lunch dates for resting. This seems to work for now, for me anyway.

Today another gal came by knocking on the door to introduce herself, and there she was, mask down around her chin. I need to keep a mask by the front door for these situations. Our inner hallway is kind of half outside, open air with a covering and an elevator if you will, so I guess some folks consider it outside, but I want to keep on the way I am for now. 

After I have had my rest, dinner will be maple mustard pork chops and I want to begin on some painted Christmas cards. Not usually a card sender as such, but if there was ever a year to become one, I think this is it. I also have one of those tall, multicolored drawer rolling carts to put together for all the paints and markers and such. We'll see if I feel up to it, or if I save it for Sunday when SIL and D come over-they'll hang up all the pictures and do all of that labor that I need done

The final things to officially unpack (everything is is unpacked and organized in piles here and there), are the Christmas boxes. Normally I fall under the "one holiday at a time" umbrella. This year though, I don't see any sense in putting them in the storage room for a couple weeks, so the decor may go up pre Thanksgiving as I get to them!  Besides, I could use the cheer!