You all be the judge…

Is there any hope for my tomato plants??

Click on the photos to make them larger and don’t sugar coat it, tell me what you think.

  Beth

Wednesday, rant day…

I am on my way to the hospital to have a test redone today that was flubbed last week.  Not a happy camper. 

At least the sun is shining and it looks to be a nice day in the mid 80s.  My tomato plants look like they are at death’s door and I think I will have to be traveling a few hundred miles to Carole’s house to get a fresh tomato.    Oh well, I tried, and maybe I will try again next year.  We have had so much rain that I think they might be waterlogged.

I am not in the mood to do much today so the time I am home I will be watching the Anthony trial.  That case is riveting.  I bet the jurors are tired of it all and ready to go home!

Other than that, there is not much happening here today, and I am thankful for that.

  Beth

GUILTY!! GUILTY!! GUILTY!!

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/06/27/blagojevich.trial/index.html?eref=rss_us

Chicago (CNN) -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was convicted Monday on 17 of the 20 public corruption charges against him.

Finally!  Now perhaps Blago will have to get a haircut.

Made my day!

  Beth

The sun is shining…

finally after several days  of clouds, drizzle, thunderstorms, and temps in the 60s.  I haven’t had the air conditioner on for several days now although that is about to change mid week to temps in the 90s.  I like sunshine and 70s. 

 

Jim’s nephew Mike sent me some pics of my new great, great, niece.  She is adorable!!

Here is a picture of Mike with his new grandbaby.  Congratulations to all of them.

I am finally starting to feel better although I am still coughing some.Thank God for that as I haven’t had energy to do much and I have forced myself to keep the house clean.

Carole is doing much better and that is wonderful news!!

I have a roast and potatoes in the oven.  I am getting tired of TV dinners.  I cooked yesterday too.  lol

I hope you all are having a good weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

  Beth

Check this out…

Our blogging friend from Boston has created a video which showcases his musical talents.  Great job Paul.  I think you all should stop by and have a listen and tell him hi!

Finally the sun is shining here today.  It has been dreary and rainy here the last few days and the temp only got to the middle 60s.  Not saying I like it super hot but after all it is summertime and sunshine would be nice.

My tomato plants are struggling.  I guess that is what you get when you buy the half price stuff.    Oh well, I am enjoying just looking at them.  I think I will give them a shot of miracle grow and see if they snap out of it.

I am in the middle of laundry.  Yesterday I finished all of the cleaning including mopping the kitchen floor which I hate cause the kitchen chairs weigh a ton.  Not good for my poor old back.

This is just a quick update.  I am waiting with you all to see what Carole finds out from the orthopedist today.  I hope it is good news for you Twin.

Have a great weekend you all.  Stay safe and be happy!

  Beth

Update for Carole…

I spoke with Carole this morning.  She saw her doctor yesterday.

Her doctor said that she had an infection at the knee cap area, and he was alarmed at the swelling, so he ordered an x-Ray, which she will have to take to the orthopedist on Friday. The doctor also put her on an antibiotic,  and she told me this morning that her knee felt somewhat better so maybe the antibiotic is kicking in.  For those of you that weren’t clear on the extent of her injuries, she fractured her right wrist and her right arm is in a cast up to her elbow.  Both knees are banged up pretty bad but the right knee is worse.  She said to let you all know that she appreciates all thoughts and prayers for her.

I made the cookies yesterday and they were so good.  I had cookies for my lunch!!  YUMM!!  I shared with my kids and put the rest in the freezer.

I am just home from getting my hair cut so for about the next half hour or so I have nice spikey hair. 

It is a chilly dreary rainy morning checking in at 66 degrees.  I have turned the AC off and opened the windows for some fresh air.  I hope the sun is shining wherever you may be.  Stay safe and be happy!!

  Beth

Homemade cookies tomorrow…

I have just finished making cookie dough to bake tomorrow.  I find that cookies are easier to bake and hold their shape better if the dough is chilled thoroughly first.  I fixed old fashioned oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip dough.  The recipe for the oatmeal cookies is on my recipe space, the chocolate chip recipe is on the Nestle chocolate chip package.  I have tried many recipes for chocolate chip cookies and I haven’t found one yet that beats the recipe on the bag.  I will put some of the cookies in the freezer and share the rest with my daughter and son in law.

This has been a pretty miserable day weather wise.  A severe thunderstorm woke me up this morning at 5:30.  Lots of lightning and loud booms.  I turned over and went back to sleep for another hour and a half.  The sun tries to come out every now and then in between rain showers.

I have been out today, paying a bill and going to the grocery store.  I settled in to watch the trial which was recessed ASAP till tomorrow morning at 8 AM.  No verdict on the Blagojevich trial yet.  Trials fascinate me.  I sat on the jury in a federal drug case quite a few years ago and on the jury of a drunk driving case in my county.  That is the extent of my jury experience.  I wouldn’t mind doing jury duty again if it was in town here.  I sure don’t want to have to drive to Peoria,

I hope you all are having a sunny day.  Stay safe and be happy!

  Beth

Dreary rainy day…

but I brightened it up by cooking some fresh green beans with new potatoes, onion and ham.  I also fixed cornbread to go with it.  Yummy!!  Then I proceeded to sit down and eat a big bowl of it.  This is the only way I like green beans.  The canned green beans are awful I think, no matter how you doctor them up with bacon, onion, etc.  But then I am not much of a vegetable eater, except for green lima beans which I love.

This brought back memories of when Jim and I had our garden and we would grow green beans,  peas, tomatoes, etc.  Speaking of gardens, did you notice the tomato plant that rambling on has?  It is gorgeous with big tomatoes on it already.  I have been pining so and missing my garden so much.  Yesterday I was looking at the plants in Wal*Mart and I saw they were marking down the big potted tomato plants from $10 to $4.98.  I purchased two plants.  My daughter laughed at me asking what I would do with two tomato plants.  I told her I would just look out my back door at them and imagine I was looking at my garden back home.  Even if I don’t get one tomato from these plants I will consider it money well spent.

A picture of our garden back home.

Have any of you seen the nursing ads from Johnson & Johnson?  The one where the male nurse is giving a young girl her chemo shot and singing a banana song with her while he is doing it just tears me up.  In fact all of those ads promoting a nursing career are very moving.  I met some wonderful nurses during Jim’s illness and sadly I met a couple that were not so wonderful.

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

  Beth

I survived…

my visit to the doctor this morning.  She was very nice to me and didn’t scold much.  Since I went off the cholesterol med 3 months ago my kidney function improved dramatically.  All of my counts were good with the exception of the total cholesterol and the bad cholesterol  rising a bit.  Anyway, I had lost a couple of pounds and my BP was excellent.  I do not have to go back to see her until December.  HOORAY!!

My daughter took me and we stopped for lunch at The Olive Garden.  The chicken soup with the dumplings in it is SO GOOD!  We had soup, salad and breadsticks.  YUMMMM!!

Finally over the dreary rain that we have had all week.  We received right at 3 inches of rain this week.  I noticed rain water standing in some of the corn fields on the way to Peoria this morning.  The corn is looking good but it is way behind schedule because of the wet cold spring that we have had.

Today is beautiful though, checking in right now at 85 degrees to be in the 90s for the weekend which is a bit hot for me.  Just glad it has stopped raining for now as we have had over 6 inches of rain for the month of June so far.

And that is my update today.  Please continue to remember rambling on in your thoughts and prayers.  We all love you Twin!!
Beth

Carole update…

Just a quick update for Carole.  She had a runaway grocery cart yesterday in a supermarket parking lot.  She fell, landing on her right wrist.  Her wrist is broken and her right knee is severely injured.  She wanted me to let you all know that she will not be able to post or comment for awhile.  She is having a lot of pain but in spite of that she is our upbeat rambling on that we know and love. 

 

Get all better Twin!!

  Beth

Sunshine Award…

I have been given the Sunshine Award from my blogging friend of several years.  http://rappingonamelody.blogspot.com/  Thank you Fab!


In the spirit of this blessing I would like to pass it on to the following recipients below:
1.   http://ramblingon-ramblingon.blogspot.com/ 
2.  http://andsoitgoesonandon.blogspot.com/ 
3.  http://babblelots.blogspot.com/
4.  http://jumpingoutthewindows.blogspot.com/
5.  http://happyburrwoodlady.blogspot.com/
6.  http://morbidscorneroftheuniverse.blogspot.com/
7.  http://ladypfab1.blogspot.com/
8.  http://michiko-michiko-blogpostcom.blogspot.com/
9.  http://smmacarthur.blogspot.com/
10. http://virginia-wanderer.blogspot.com/ 
My blogging friends are all special to me so please, anyone that would like this award, I am giving it to you to post on your blog, just copy and paste.  The ones I have listed may choose to pass it on to others if they like.  I don’t think rambling on will be posting for a little bit but please stop by and let her know you are thinking of her.

  Beth

Up an at ‘em…

early this morning.  I had a fasting lab at the hospital this morning.  Not many people in the waiting room for me to observe.  I did notice one gentleman that came in and sat down.  He had a ‘Nam cap on showing he had served in Viet Nam.  What I noticed the most about him was the bling he had on.  On his left hand on the pinkie finger was a gold ring with a pretty good sized stone, not sure if it was diamond or what.  On the ring finger he had a gold ring with an inlay on top.  On the right hand was two more rings.  Around his neck was a heavy gold chain.  To each his own, perhaps he or his wife are hooked on QVC.  Anyway, that observation didn’t last long as he was there to be seen STAT.

Next, I got called in.  Only 2 tubes of blood drawn today as opposed to the usual 3 or 4.  I am thinking my lab will be off anyway because I have been sick for awhile.  I see my doctor on Thursday and I am sure she will have a good scolding to give me.  I finished my antibiotic yesterday although I am still coughing some.

My nephew in law Mike and his wife Celeste stopped by to see me on the way home to Wisconsin.  My daughter and son in law came over and we had a very nice visit.  They have the cutest car.  It is a 1999 white Jaguar convertible.





Click on all pics to enlarge them.  I posted the second photo for Boston Boy to see.
 hope you all have a good week.  Stay safe and be happy.

  Beth

Blagojevich trial…

once again in the hand of the jury.  http://www.pjstar.com/free/x1725643348/Defense-lawyer-says-Blagojevich-made-no-shakedowns

The jury went home today after deliberating for only a few hours.  They will resume deliberation  again next Tuesday.  I am beyond knowing what I wish for that guy.  I really hope he goes to prison for a nice long stretch.  I am beginning to think our present governor is no better.

It was lovely and cool this morning when I got up at 55 degrees.  Right now it is 85 and sunny.

I am still not feeling great and coughing some at night even with the cough syrup although the coughing in the daytime has pretty much stopped.  I didn’t do much today, just piddled around but my body feels like it has gone a few rounds in the boxing ring.

 I hope you all have a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!

  Beth

So very true!

Click to enlarge.

  Beth

A big flake…

or a little flake?  I can’t figure out  the difference between oatmeal that has big flakes or oatmeal that has little flakes.  I do know the big flake oatmeal has a heftier price tag on it.  I recently bought the big flake oatmeal going under the assumption that bigger is better.  And you know what? it does taste different.  I am not a big fan of oatmeal, never have been, never will be.  There comes a time in one’s life when we have to do (or eat) things that we don’t want to.  Since my last fasting lab was not good cholesterol wise I have been eating oatmeal at least once a day, sometimes twice a day.  Some days it gets very discouraging, and then I think stroke or heart attack and I dig into that bowl of oatmeal again.  Like I said, the big flake oatmeal tastes different, not necessarily better, just different.  I don’t believe it is worth the difference in price so I won’t buy it again.

I got the cough syrup prescription and last night I slept all night long and didn’t start coughing till this morning.  I feel a ton better.  It is amazing what some sleep will do.

I had to park my car around front yesterday as we were told maintenance would be coming to do something to our parking area and driveway.  Didn’t happen so I am still parked around front.  I need to go to the store but I am afraid I will lose my parking spot. 

You all stay safe and be happy!!

  Beth

Still coughing…

a lot.  Otherwise I am feeling better.  I called the doctor’s office to see if I could get a prescription cough syrup called in.  I am waiting to hear the answer on that.  The over the counter cough syrup I have is like drinking water. doesn’t help a bit.

It is miserably hot today, to be in the mid to upper 90s.  The same predicted for all week.  The intense heat is not for me. 

That is all for my update.  I hope to feel well in a few days as my daughter’s co-worker sent me 2 sacks of rhubarb a few days ago.  I need energy to fix it. 

I hope you are all having a great week.

  Beth

Finally able to squawk a little bit…

Thank you all for the get well wishes.  I greatly appreciated them all.

I am still coughing a lot at night and not resting well.  I am getting my voice back a little  bit at a time.  Knock on wood, so far no major reaction from the antibiotic.  It is boring trying to recover.  I can’t read because my eyes are pretty well swollen shut.   The Anthony trial was all DNA evidence yesterday and the defendant sat there all stony faced. She is really a cold person and I find it very hard to believe that there are people like this in the world.  I feel like hopping through the TV screen and and shaking her really hard to see if she would show some emotion then.

It has been really hot  and humid here.  This morning it is raining and we are under a thunderstorm watch until noon.  Very dark outside.  So I will get caught up on the Bones episodes I have recorded on the DVR.

I see that I am getting some new neighbors in the 4 plex 2 doors down.  Deb, next door told me it was an 84 year old man and his wife.  As soon as I feel better I plan to bake an angel food cake for them. 

I about forgot to mention that North Pekin was having city wide garage sales (over 40) on Friday and Saturday and I missed them all. 

I hope you are all having a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

  Beth

Update…

The bug has taken my voice so I am off to see the physician’s assistant this morning.  I will give an update when I get back.
  Beth

UPDATE:  I have an upper respiratory infection,  I an trying a different antibiotic.

To comment…

or not to comment, that is the question.  I have tried guys and if you haven’t received a comment from me on your last couple of posts, it is not because I haven’t tried.  IE refuses to let me post a comment on Blogger.  Firefox part of the time and Chrome once in awhile.  I have tried several times on each post.

Another hot day in the heart of Illinois.  I have been to Kroger this morning for milk and bananas which ended up being a few sacks full.  Don’tcha just love it in the stores when you are walking down the refrigerated case aisles and the lights come on in the cases as you approach them and go off as you pass them?  I could use lights like that.

I think I have picked up a bug somewhere and have been doing some coughing and generally feel yucky.  I have to tough out anything like this because I am allergic to most antibiotics.  So this means I am going to have to  lounge around most of the day.  As for the Anthony trial, I am waiting to see the defendant get her just desserts. 

I am off now to fix me some hot tea with honey.  You all stay safe and be happy!!

  Beth